I have been primarily using the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for the past several weeks and it has been quite a fascinating experience to actually use the phone. Similar to the past years, the Ultra is Samsung’s top of the line phone with some notable features including built in S Pen. The camera and the processor that is featured in the Galaxy S23 Ultra have improved a lot. One aspect is a significant number of new AI features, which are introduced in this year and perform quite well.
Design and Build: SOLID & SLEEK
First of all, regarding the dimensions, the S24 Ultra is a rather big device as it has 162 x 74 x 8. 9 mm. This is six by seventy-nine by eight respectively. 6 mm and its weight was 233 grams. It is slightly smaller than last year, though not markedly so – although the front is notably flatter and the angles are more squared-off, so the phone has an even more obviously rectangular shape than its predecessor. The case of S24 Ultra is made of titanium which gives it a very premium look and feel while being very hard wearing. The Corning Gorilla Glass Armor not only improves the physical scratch and breakage protection but at the same time does an appreciable job in minimizing the issues of screen glare. Albeit being a big phone that I can still comfortably fit into my pocket, it is rather thin.
Display: Visual Excellence
The S24 Ultra comes with a magnificent 6. Again, there is an 8-inch with an AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, with a density of 315 ppi and a resolution of 3120 * 1440. It runs at a standard of 2340 by 1080 pixels; while it is not as sharp as the larger, the screen looks good, and results in better battery duration. The screen refresh rate is standard variable 120 Hz to ensure fast scrolling and an impressive appearance. The display of the phone is among the best with clear and bright colors and black shading. The only physical detailing is a small circular notch on the top for the front-facing camera and the main camera is placed on the back of the phone with the sensors.
Performance: Powerful and Efficient
In the S24 Ultra, it comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which is a step up from the previous Gen 2 used in S23 Ultra, in my opinion. The phone is designed in a way that it can run the many operations and heavy applications without lagging. It also supports a higher capacity NPU (Neural Processing Unit), from which it boosts up AI characteristics. One issue that may affect battery life, however, is its usage, and in this respect, battery life is rather remarkable and should suffice for a user’s one full day work.
It is a touch screen device running Android 14, Samsung’s One UI 6. 1 skin thus making it more friendly to use because it has a well polished look. In this regard, the Samsung brand has made significant progress by offering seven years of software and security updates to maintain the gadget up to date and secure for as long as possible.
S Pen: This is a useful reference for every student and might as well be turned into a more handy tool.
Another accolade of the S24 Ultra is that it houses the S Pen stylus which is stored in the notch at the underbelly of the gadget. It remains very helpful for correcting the photo, writing notes, and drawing with a tablet with good resolution. Thanks to the flatter surface, the use of S Pen is much easier and more comfortable than in the case of S23 Ultra. Whether one is taking brief notes or drawing complex pictures the S Pen improves the use of the phone in one way or the other.
Camera: Advanced Photography
There has been a lot of improvements in the camera department on the S24 Ultra. The primary camera features 200-megapixel with an aperture of f/1. 7 and an 85-degree field of
view. Samsung also uses Adaptive Pixel technology in the camera so the camera merges 16 pixels into one to give a clear 12MP image. You can also change the resolution to 50MP or 200MP albeit in a higher capacity where the memory is utilized. Consequently in use I realized that 12MPs are than sufficient for general use while the higher MPs are well suited for detailed photos and when large prints are needed.
The major camera feature focussing on this year is the zoom lens. The S24 Ultra still features 10MP of the 3x zoom lens and an aperture that is f/2. 4 and a 36-degree field of view but replaces the 10MP 10x optical lens with the new 50MP 5x optical lens with f/3. 4 and a 22-degree field of view. It is true that the optical zoom has been reduced but due to the large sensor size, the 10x zoom photos look good. The main camera as well as the two zoom lenses both come with an optical image stabilization mechanism that facilitates the capturing of excellent images even in low light conditions.
In general the camera system is great and truly shines in a range of light conditions. Among the functions, one can remember the zoom, which allows creating detailed shots without going very close to the object.
AI Features: It borders on the smart and the practical.
In S24 Ultra, Samsung has incorporated many new advanced AI features than the previous released phones. One can mention Circle to Search as one of the most outstanding features of the application. In a photo, video, or webpage, if you press down at the bottom of the screen and circle section of an image, you will be able to Google it. This feature is called Smart Search, which was made in cooperation with Google and its mechanism is almost identical to Google Lens.
Another great innovation it has is the Live Translate, through which you can have real-time conversation translation within the Samsung Phone application. At the moment it can translate 11 languages and several dialects of both English and Spanish. Live Translate is especially very beneficial when greeting or making calls, booking an appointment, or attending to any kind of transactional call in a foreign language. Besides, the Interpreter app on the control panel, designed for real-time translation, can function perfectly without the internet.
The S24 Ultra still comes with Google Translate app in which users can translate texts and images in various languages but this can only be done when connected to the internet.
It also more AI capabilities, for instance, it can be used to produce automatic transcripts and summaries of voice recordings and a feature known as Magic Eraser that lets the user wipe out objects from photos that are unwanted. The slow motion suitable describes a frame-by-frame video feature that enables you to make regular recordings become slow motion videos with AI creating all the frames in between. All of these features are quite practical in use and it is entertaining to play with them.
Additional Features: Intermediate
Some of the features worth noting in the S24 Ultra are something that differ it from almost all the Android phones. The Dex feature enables the attachment of the device to a larger screen either through Bluetooth connection or by a USB- C cable giving it a more fully-fledge desktop feel. This can find good application in business organizations where the general productivity and flexibility can be enhanced.
Final Thoughts: A Flagship Worth the Investment
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the most powerful and complete Android phone I’ve used. Its large size and premium price tag of around R23,000 for the 256GB model may deter some buyers, but it offers unparalleled features and performance. For those who want the best that Android has to offer, the S24 Ultra is an excellent choice. The S24 and S24+ models provide similar capabilities at lower prices, but the Ultra’s better zoom capabilities and S Pen make it the standout option.
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a mobile photographer, or someone who simply wants a top-tier smartphone, the S24 Ultra is a fantastic device. It’s a remarkable combination of cutting-edge technology, innovative features, and reliable performance, making it well worth the investment.
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
