Samsung S24 Ultra Review - Goodbye iPhone?

Galaxy S24 Ultra: Definitive Review

Key Concepts:

• Titanium Frame
• Durability
• Screen Glare Reduction
• One UI Software
• 7 Years of OS Updates
• Instagram/Snapchat Story Quality
• Face Scanning Technology
• Samsung Services Push
• Signal Strength
• Camera Improvements (Software-focused)
• Generative Image Editor
• Galaxy AI (Translation, Summarization, Circle to Search, Instant Slow-mo)
• AI Feature Limitations (Google Tech Reliance, Paid Subscription Post-2025)
• Performance and Thermal Throttling
• Battery Life

Design and Durability

• The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a titanium frame, replacing aluminum.
• The screen uses new glass claimed to be four times stronger.
• Despite the new materials, the phone is still susceptible to scratches and wear. The matte texture on the sides is a thin layer that reveals a glossy finish when scratched.
• The screen is not immune to scratches.
• The design is aesthetically pleasing, with even screen borders and a comfortable texture.
• The flat screen design is well-implemented due to the curved body.

Screen Technology

• Significant reduction in screen glare, making it the best screen on a phone.
• The anti-glare technology allows for consistent color accuracy and contrast regardless of ambient lighting conditions.

Software and User Experience

• Samsung's One UI has improved significantly, addressing previous issues.
• Voice notes now have crystal clear audio quality.
• The phone feels fluid and smooth, rivaling the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
• Scrolling acceleration and app animations have been refined.
• The UI is visually appealing, with well-organized quick panels and rounded corners.
• The lock screen is customizable with widgets and adjustable clock sizes.
• The new dark mode uses a dark gray color, reducing eye strain.
• Video call effects and microphone effects are available system-wide.
• Haptics are improved, making typing more enjoyable.
• Good Lock provides extensive customization options, including animated volume rockers.
• 7 years of OS updates are promised, increasing the phone's value and longevity.

Software Downgrades and Issues

• Instagram and Snapchat stories still suffer from subpar quality, especially videos.
• Samsung's face scanner is slow and unreliable, lacking infrared 3D scanning technology.
• Audio quality is slightly inferior to the iPhone, with less loudness and fullness.
• The absence of MagSafe is a downgrade for wireless charging and accessory use.
• Samsung aggressively promotes its services, such as Samsung Pass.
• Signal strength can be weak, with frequent drops to 2-3 bars outside and 0-1 bars inside.

Camera Performance

• The S24 Ultra cameras offer improvements over the S23 Ultra, but not in expected areas like detail or low-light performance.
• The camera app is more user-friendly, with smoother animations and faster capture speeds.
• The screen's brightness enhances visibility in all lighting conditions.
• The software overhaul has made the camera nicer to use.
• The editing capabilities are powerful, including the ability to apply portrait mode effects to photos of photos.

Generative Image Editor

• The generative image editor is a "cooler feature" but not as practical as other improvements.
• It allows users to move or remove objects and people in photos.
• The feature is somewhat cumbersome to use, requiring multiple steps and processing time.

Galaxy AI Features

• Instant Translation: Excellent for cross-language communication in messaging apps. It automatically detects languages and translates messages in real-time. However, Samsung's translation quality is not as good as Google's.
• AI Summarization: Summarizes forum discussions and notes. The Samsung browser is now preferred due to its summarization capabilities.
• Note Organization: AI helps organize notes by categorizing them and generating AI-powered covers.
• Circle to Search: A game-changing feature that allows users to search for anything on their screen by circling it. It is seamless and accurate, making the phone feel like an interactive interface with the world.
• Instant Slow-mo: Creates slow-motion videos by inserting in-between frames. It is a good idea with good execution but needs further refinement.

AI Feature Limitations

• Live Call Translation: Significantly worse than text message translation due to real-time processing demands.
• Many AI features rely on Google tech and may not remain exclusive to Samsung.
• The online AI features will only be free until the end of 2025, after which a subscription fee may be required.

Performance and Battery

• The S24 Ultra is the fastest Samsung phone to date.
• It can emulate PlayStation 2 games smoothly, even upscaling them to HD.
• The phone experiences thermal throttling under sustained heavy loads, such as prolonged gaming.
• Battery life is the best ever in a Samsung flagship, with 8-9 hours of screen-on time per charge.
• Battery drain is more noticeable during high-intensity tasks like gaming.

Conclusion

• The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a significant upgrade, addressing many long-standing issues with Samsung phones.
• The software is polished and user-friendly, and the AI features are genuinely useful.
• The phone's fundamentals have been improved, allowing users to appreciate the extras like the anti-reflective screen and updated materials.
• The iPhone is being relegated to a secondary phone.
• It is unclear how many of the new features will be available on older Samsung devices with software updates.
• If you're on an s23 right now hang on to find out.