Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review

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

Samsung’s Ultra has always been a declaration of excess—a device that throws every conceivable piece of technology into a single, monolithic slab. For years, the formula was simple: bigger screen, more cameras, and a silo for the S Pen. But the Galaxy S24 Ultra feels different. It arrives not just as an iterative hardware bump, but as Samsung’s vessel for a new paradigm: the “AI Phone.” It’s a bold claim, but after extensive testing, it’s clear this isn’t just marketing fluff. This is a refined powerhouse that subtly, and sometimes clumsily, nudges us toward the future of mobile computing.

A Flat-Out Brilliant Design

The first thing you’ll notice is the screen. It’s flat. After years of championing curved displays, Samsung has finally relented, and the result is an unequivocal triumph. The change eliminates accidental touches, reduces glare, and, most importantly, provides a perfect canvas for the S Pen. Writing from edge to edge is no longer an awkward exercise in avoiding a curved precipice.

This stellar screen is wrapped in a new titanium frame. While it may seem like a reaction to Apple, the material choice feels purposeful here. The matte finish offers a superior grip compared to the polished aluminum of its predecessor, and it contributes to a subtle but noticeable reduction in weight. The build quality is, as expected, impeccable. Paired with the new Corning Gorilla Armor glass on the front—which boasts impressive scratch resistance and a jaw-dropping 75% reduction in reflections—the S24 Ultra feels less like a fragile piece of tech and more like a premium, durable tool.

Performance That Powers the Future

Under the hood, the “Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy” chipset continues Samsung’s tradition of using a slightly overclocked version of Qualcomm’s best. The real-world result is effortless power. Graphically intense games like Genshin Impact run flawlessly at max settings, and navigating the One UI 6.1 interface is liquid-smooth. More importantly, this silicon is the engine for the phone’s AI ambitions. A significantly larger vapor chamber ensures that the device remains cool under sustained load, whether you’re gaming for an hour or using the processor-intensive AI editing tools. The battery life remains a strong point, easily lasting a full day of heavy use. The only lingering disappointment is the charging speed, which remains capped at 45W, feeling sluggish compared to the triple-digit speeds offered by competitors.

Galaxy AI: Gimmick or Game-Changer?

This is the S24 Ultra’s central thesis. “Galaxy AI” is a suite of features baked into the core experience, and the results are a mixed bag of genuine utility and party tricks. The standout feature is “Circle to Search,” a collaboration with Google that lets you circle anything on your screen to initiate a search. It’s fast, intuitive, and genuinely changes how you interact with your phone.

Other features, like Live Translate for phone calls and generative photo editing, are more nascent. Live Translate works, but it can be clunky, with awkward pauses that disrupt the flow of conversation. The photo editing tools are powerful—letting you move subjects, remove reflections, and expand backgrounds—but they require a network connection and leave a watermark, reminding you that the magic is happening in the cloud, not on your device. While not every feature is a home run, they represent a meaningful and promising first step. Samsung has also committed to seven years of OS and security updates, a massive leap that provides incredible long-term value and ensures these AI features will evolve for years to come.

A Calculated Camera Shift

The camera system sees its most significant change in years. Samsung has swapped the vaunted 10x optical periscope lens for a 5x optical lens with a much larger, higher-resolution 50MP sensor. On paper, this sounds like a downgrade for long-range zoom enthusiasts. In practice, it’s a clever trade-off. The new 5x lens produces stunningly detailed and clean shots at its native length, especially in lower light. The phone then uses sensor cropping and AI-powered processing to deliver a “10x optical quality” image that, in most good lighting conditions, is nearly indistinguishable from its predecessor’s. The main 200MP sensor remains an absolute powerhouse, and the entire system, governed by the new “ProVisual Engine,” delivers the vibrant, detailed, and versatile photography experience we’ve come to expect from an Ultra.

The Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a statement of refinement and a bold step into an AI-driven future. The move to a flat, anti-reflective screen is a game-changing quality-of-life improvement, and the titanium build elevates the phone’s premium feel. While the Galaxy AI features are still in their infancy, their potential is undeniable, and the promise of seven years of updates makes this an unusually smart long-term investment. It’s undeniably expensive, and its charging speeds are dated, but these are minor complaints on an otherwise spectacular device.

This phone isn’t for everyone. It’s for the power user, the mobile creative, and the S Pen loyalist who demands the absolute pinnacle of Android hardware. If you want a device that excels at everything and offers a tangible glimpse into the future of smartphones, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is, without question, the one to beat.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon