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UPDATE (July 12, 2024): A new security patch is rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. The company’s flagship smartphone is now receiving the July 2024 Android security patch. You can read more about it at the very end of the article.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra was announced today, alongside its siblings, the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+. In this article, we’re focusing on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, though. That is Samsung’s most powerful new smartphone. We already have plenty of coverage on the site, and more is coming. In this article, however, we’ll try to sum up everything you need to know about the device, kind of. Ranging from the phone’s specs, new features, where you can buy the device, its colors, and more. We’ll kick things off with the phone’s specifications and more from there. So, let’s get started, shall we?
Galaxy S24 Ultra specs
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has the most powerful specs in the series. The phone features a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. That is a ‘Super Smooth’ display which offers an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). It’s also flat, just like the panel on the other two phones. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 fuels the phone, while you’ll find 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM on the inside. Samsung also offers three different storage options here, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB UFS 4.0 storage options for the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
A 5,000mAh battery is also a part of the package, while the phone supports 45W wired charging. It also supports Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (15W), and Wireless PowerShare (reverse wireless charging). Do note that a charge is not a part of the package, however. Android 14 comes pre-installed here, along with Samsung’s OneUI 6.1. The device is IP68 certified for water and dust resistance and also comes with Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 7.
What about the cameras? That is one of the main focuses of this smartphone after all. The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a 200-megapixel main camera (f/1.7 aperture, OIS, 85-degree FoV). The second camera on the back is a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV). The third camera is a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (f/2.4 aperture, 3x optical zoom, 36-degree FoV). The last camera on the back is a 50-megapixel telephoto unit (f/3.4 aperture, 5x optical zoom, 22-degree FoV). On the front, you’ll find a 12-megapixel shooter (f/2.2 aperture, 80-degree FoV). The Galaxy S24 Ultra measures 162.3 x 79 x 8.6mm, while it weighs 232 grams.
How much does the Galaxy S24 Ultra cost?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the most expensive model in the series. The device’s pricing starts at $1,299, for the 256GB storage option. Do note that you can also get 512GB and 1TB storage models if you want, if you’re ready to pay more, of course.
Where can I buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
You’ll be able to buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra at all of the usual places. That goes for both the carriers and the retailers.
– Samsung
– Amazon
– Best Buy
– AT&T
– T-Mobile
– Verizon
What carriers does it work on?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will be supported by all three major US carriers, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. That doesn’t exactly come as a surprise. In addition to that, any MVNO that runs on these networks will support the devices. That includes Boost Mobile. Cricket, MetroPCS, and many other MVNOs.
What colors does the Galaxy S24 Ultra come in?
Samsung announced 7 colors overall for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The thing is, three of those colors are Samsung.com exclusive. The ones that are generally available are Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, and TItanium Yellow. The exclusive ones are Jade Green, Sandstone Orange, and Sapphire Blue.
What new upgrades does the Galaxy S24 Ultra have over the Galaxy S23 Ultra?
Let’s see what’s new with the Galaxy S24 Ultra compared to its predecessor, shall we? Do note that we’ll list some of the most notable changes below, but there are many more included, of course.
Flat display
This is one of the very few hardware differences between the two phones. The Galaxy S23 Ultra did not have a display that was extremely curved, but the curve was there. Well, the Galaxy S24 Ultra delivers a flat display and is the first ‘Ultra’ phone from the company that did that… ever. There is a display camera hole up top, as was last year, but the display itself is flat. The bezels around it are very thin still, though. The phone is a bit wider because of that, so do note that.
Quad Tele System
With the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung announced something called the ‘Quad Tele System’. What does that mean? Well, it’s basically a term Samsung is using for its new camera system. There is a new 5x optical zoom lens included on the back. The Quad Tele System “works with the 50MP sensor to enable optical-quality performance at zoom levels from 2x, 3x, 5x to 10x magnification thanks to Adaptive Pixel Sensor”. Images can be zoomed up to 100x, though.
Upgraded Nightography
Samsung claims it has upgraded the camera performance in low light scenarios. That goes for both photos and videos. The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a larger pixel size for that purpose, a 1.4um pixel size. Those pixels are 60% bigger than the ones on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The blur should also be reduced thanks to a new, wider optical image stabilizer (OIS). There’s also a dedicated ISP Block for noise reduction to consider.
Better thermal control system
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra features a 1.9 times larger vapor chamber than the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The company says that it thus offers “an optical thermal control system”, and improves device surface temperature. This will definitely come in handy, especially if you’re a gamer and tend to fire up truly graphically-intensive games.
Live Translate
With One UI 6.1, Samsung also introduced a bunch of new software features. Live Translate definitely draws the most attention to itself, though. That is a two-way, real-time voice and text translation service during phone calls, as long as you’re making them via the default app. So, for example, you can use it to book a reservation while you’re in another country, if you don’t speak the language, of course.
Interpreter, Chat Assist & more software features
Interpreter is another One UI 6.1 feature included here. It can translate live conversations on a split-screen view. Chat Assist, on the other hand, can help you perfect conversational tones and thus your communication in general. Note Assist is available in Samsung Notes, and it features AI-generated summaries, template creation, and cover creation. Transcript Assist uses AI and speech-to-text tech to transcribe, summarize, and even translate recordings. These are the most notable additions.
What cases are available for the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
There are plenty of accessories available from Samsung.com. You’ll find mostly cases there, though, some official ones, and some third-party ones. When it comes to official ones, the ‘Shield Case‘ is available for $27.99. The ‘Vegan Leather‘ case costs $47.99, while the ‘S-View Wallet Case‘ will set you back $39.99. The ‘Ultra Clear Gadget Case‘ can be yours for $39.99 (all shown below). There are many more options available at Samsung.com. You can check out the link below if you’d like to browse. Many cases are available in several color options, actually.
All Galaxy S24 Ultra accessories (Samsung.com)
Should I buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra?
The answer to this question will vary, of course. It all depends on what’s your budget, and what device you own at the moment. If you’re using the Galaxy S23 Ultra, then the answer is probably… no. There are always those of you who will look to upgrade each year, but there’s really no need for it. Even compared directly to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Galaxy S23 Ultra looks great on paper.
We’ll, of course, have to test out the Galaxy S24 Ultra in order to get a clear picture of what it has to offer. Looking at the two phones on paper, however, there’s really no need to upgrade. If you do have a weaker device, and you’re looking to get the best Samsung has to offer, this phone does have a lot to offer. There are plenty of new software features, improved cameras, even better performance-related specs, and much more.
…
Updated February 1, 2024:
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is now available to purchase worldwide. The pre-order period ended, and the phone is now available, as well as its siblings. Various deals are offered around the world, though those depend on the market you’re in. For the US, specifically, there are some great trade-in deals available, amongst others.
You can get up to $750 in trade-in credit for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, plus you also get the Smart View Wallet Case. On top of that, Samsung is offering some bundle deals. If you want to get a Galaxy Watch 6 with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, you can grab a 35% discount. If you want a pair of earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro will cost you $79.
Best Buy also has a trick up its sleeve. It’s giving away gift cards with your Galaxy S24 purchase. if you get the Galaxy S24 Ultra, you’re eligible to get a $150 gift card. All the links you’ll need are listed earlier in the article.
Updated March 4, 2024:
In addition to the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is also getting the Android security update for March 2024. The update is now rolling out to both Canada and Europe, but users in the US should start getting this update soon too. As the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes in a Snapdragon variant only, unlike its siblings, that’s the model we’re talking about here. This update only delivers security patches, don’t expect to see new features, at least based on what we know thus far.
Updated March 26, 2024:
Samsung has started rolling out a new security update to its flagship smartphones, and it comes early. The Android security update is rolling out to the Galaxy S24 series, including the ‘Ultra’ model. That update started rolling out in South Korea and Europe. In Korea, the firmware version is S92xNKSU1AXCA, while in Europe it’s S92xBXXU1AXCA. The update is coming to more markets soon. It weighs 797.83MB in Korea and 920.97MB in Europe, which is a lot, but do keep in mind it includes various camera fixes, which kind of explains the size. Samsung did not reveal what security patches it issued, but we do know what camera improvements have been released.
With this update, the company improved the white balance accuracy and exposure. On top of that, the low-light image quality has been improved too, while the color accuracy in the ExpertRAW camera app has been fixed. Samsung boosted text clarity in high-zoom shots as well. The last entry in the changelog reveals that the Instant Slow Mo feature now offers support for videos with 480×480 pixels resolution.
Updated April 1, 2024:
The Galaxy S24 Ultra users in the US are now getting the April 2024 security patch. That update started rolling out to some other markets about a week before it arrived to the US. It not only improves the security, however. Some camera improvements are also a part of the package. Do note that the update is quite large, so you may want to use your WiFi connection in order to update.
So, what’s new in the camera department? Well, Samsung has improved the white balance accuracy and exposure. The company also improved low-light image quality on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and its siblings. You’ll be glad to know that text clarity has been improved in high-range zoom shots, in case you take plenty of those. The Instant Slow Mo feature can now take videos at 480×480 pixels of resolution. The last entry in the changelog states that the color accuracy has been improved in the ExpertRAW camera app. Do note that you’ll need to update that app directly in order to get this change, however.
Updated May 10, 2024:
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra are now receiving a new Android security update, the one for May 2024. This update is rolling out in both the US and Europe, amongst other markets. It weighs around 500MB, and it includes over 50 vulnerability patches. Well, 55 in total, to be exact. 30 of those are aimed at Android OS directly, while the remaining 25 are Galaxy-specific (for One UI). That being said, Google patched up three critical security flaws with the May update, while Samsung also tackled a couple. Do note that this update is rolling out in waves, so it may take a while before you get it.
Updated May 29, 2024:
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has started receiving a second May 2024 update. This particular update seems to be all about bug fixes and system stability, though. It does fix an extremely annoying camera issue that the phone had, in relation to video. It fixes a video rattling issue that the phone suffered from. We cannot say if it fixed the battery drain problem just yet, though. The update itself weighs around 430MB, and it did start rolling out in Thailand first, but it already spread to other markets. So, chances are it’s coming to your phone soon.
Updated June 17, 2024: (June 2024 security update)
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is now getting a new software update. This is the June 2024 Android security update. Samsung started rolling it out to all of its Galaxy S24 series devices, and the rollout started in the US and Korea. Do note that the scope spread since the initial release, though. This update delivers 60 security fixes, at least one of which is for a critical flaw that was found. What is not included, however, are all the camera updates that were expected. Samsung could release that update later this month unless it was postponed further, we’ll have to wait and see.
Updated July 12, 2024: (July 2024 security update)
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is now receiving a new Android security update, one for July 2024. This update doesn’t deliver any new features, it seems, and the rollout has started in South Korea. It’s expected to quickly spread to other markets, though. The update is said to weigh 537.37MB, and a changelog was not provided. It is noted that the update is all about boosting security, though, so don’t expect any major features here… despite the size of the update itself. A new update with camera boost is expected next month, in August.