Samsung Galaxy S24U Review

The Age of AI is Here: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review

For years, the smartphone “ultra” category has been a battle of escalating specifications—more megapixels, bigger batteries, faster chips. With the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung is signaling a paradigm shift. This isn’t just about having the best hardware; it’s about making that hardware smarter. By baking “Galaxy AI” into the core of the user experience, Samsung isn’t just releasing another flagship; it’s presenting its vision for the future of mobile computing. The question is, does this AI-powered vision justify its ultra-premium price tag?

A Refined and Resilient Design

At first glance, the S24 Ultra looks strikingly familiar, but the key changes are felt, not just seen. The biggest and most welcome evolution is the screen. Samsung has finally abandoned the curved display edges for a completely flat panel. This is a monumental win for usability, eliminating accidental touches and transforming the S Pen experience from a good one to a flawless one. Writing or drawing near the edges is no longer a frustrating exercise. The new Gorilla Armor glass covering this display is also a standout, drastically cutting down on reflections and making outdoor viewing a genuine pleasure.

The other major physical change is the switch to a titanium frame. While it may feel like a response to a certain competitor, the effect is undeniable. The phone feels more premium and secure in the hand, with a subtle, matte texture that resists fingerprints far better than the polished aluminum of its predecessor. It’s a subtle refinement, not a revolution, but it elevates the device’s tactile quality to a new level. The S24 Ultra remains a large, unapologetically boxy phone, but these changes make it the most practical and durable Ultra yet.

Performance and the AI Engine

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset delivers the blistering performance we’ve come to expect from a top-tier flagship. Apps open instantly, multitasking is seamless, and the most demanding games run without a hint of stutter, aided by a significantly larger vapor chamber for improved thermal management. But the real story of this chip isn’t just raw speed; it’s its optimization for on-device AI.

This is where Galaxy AI comes to life. Features like “Circle to Search,” a collaboration with Google, are brilliantly intuitive—simply circle anything on your screen to get search results. It feels like a genuine superpower for your phone. Other features, like Live Translate for phone calls or Generative Edit for photos, showcase the raw potential of AI. While Live Translate can feel a bit clunky in practice, and Generative Edit raises questions about photo authenticity, their utility is undeniable. More practical tools, like Note Assist’s ability to auto-format and summarize your scribbles, or Browsing Assist’s power to condense long articles, are features that will save you real time, every single day.

A Smarter, Not Just Stronger, Camera

Samsung’s camera philosophy has also pivoted from pure hardware might to AI-powered finesse. The most controversial change is the replacement of the 10x optical telephoto lens with a 5x optical lens backed by a higher-resolution 50MP sensor. For many, this is a net positive. The new 5x zoom produces stunningly detailed and versatile shots in a range people actually use, and the larger sensor provides excellent 10x “optical quality” zoom through a clever crop. The 200MP main sensor, enhanced by the new ProVisual AI engine, continues to deliver vibrant, sharp images with impressive dynamic range. While the extreme 100x “Space Zoom” might be a marginal step back from the S23 Ultra, the overall camera system feels more practical, consistent, and intelligent for everyday photography.

The Verdict: A Practical Vision of the Future

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a statement piece. It’s a declaration that the future of smartphones lies not just in better specs, but in deeply integrated, useful intelligence. The move to a flat screen and a titanium frame are significant quality-of-life improvements that address long-standing user feedback. The seven-year promise of OS and security updates is a massive value proposition, finally giving Android a true answer to Apple’s longevity.

This phone is not for everyone. Its price is astronomical, and its design is more iterative than innovative. However, for the ultimate power user, the mobile professional who lives by the S Pen, or the tech enthusiast eager to embrace the first wave of meaningful on-device AI, the S24 Ultra is without equal. It’s the most refined, capable, and forward-thinking smartphone Samsung has ever built, trading revolutionary hardware leaps for an intelligent software evolution that feels genuinely useful.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon