Here is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra! The 2024 edition is still the most complete smartphone among Samsung smartphones. How does it compare to the Galaxy S23 Ultra? Let’s look at this closely.
Samsung has just announced its latest generation, the Galaxy S24. This is a big blow for them, especially since Apple has overtaken them in the race to be the largest seller of smartphones in the world. We will focus on the big part of the range, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It is often the most popular in the family, the one with the strongest technical sheet.
Let’s go head-to-head: Galaxy S24 Ultra versus Galaxy S23 Ultra, just to see what Samsung has boosted in its flagship.
Not really the same, but almost
In terms of looks, Samsung plays the Apple with a titanium chassis, more solid against scratches and more homogeneous borders. But, the two generations are very similar. We are still in an iteration of the Galaxy Note with a very rectangular appearance.
The weight doesn’t change too much, we’re at 232 grams, compared to 234 grams for the old one. Titanium, instead of aluminum, is therefore not here to reduce the weight of the device, but to improve its resistance.
The screen, still a 6.8-inch monster, but with little extras: it is planted, it has less reflections, -75% according to Samsung, and it hits higher in brightness: 48% more (2600 nits , against 1750). Why is this important? For HDR, vibrant colors, and reading your screen when you’re in the dark.
It keeps its LTPO panel which runs from 1 to 120 Hz, perfect for saving battery. This improves the experience in animations and games, and it optimizes power consumption when playing without interacting with the screen.
The battery, no revolution, still 5000 mAh, 45 W in wired charging, 15 W in wireless (Qi), and there is even reverse wireless at 4.5 W… But hey, we were hoping for Qi2 for more juice and MagSafe magnets, so it’s a disappointment here.
In terms of power, we go from Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 to 8 Gen 3, still in 4 nm. Qualcomm is stagnating on engraving finesse, but they still boost the CPU and GPU quite a bit. The NPU, for its part, completely doubles in performance! Where the S24 Ultra stands out from the S23 is with the Galaxy AI functions thatOmar peeled : lots of cool features, but not available on older Galaxy S.
Besides, Samsung did well by keeping the Snapdragon for the S Ultra. They put the Exynos back on the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus, and it’s a risk. With the Snapdragon, we can expect fewer heating concerns, more autonomy and the famous 5G modem that Apple is also buying. Moreover, this Snapdragon also performs in photos with its Spectra and its triple ISP.
Precisely, for photography, the main camera does not change, still the 200 megapixel sensor, f/1.7. The ultra wide-angle and the x3, the same. But the telephoto lens, there is a change: we go from x10 to x5, with a 50 megapixel sensor (f/1.3), and that allows you to film in 8K even with the x5 zoom. Samsung must have thought that the x5 would be more practical than the x10, even if it’s a bit surprising at first glance.
For connectivity, Samsung is upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 on the S24 Ultra, in addition to Bluetooth 5.3. Wi-Fi 7 is the latest standard, and it packs a punch: more bandwidth, incredible transfer speeds and, above all, better management of saturated networks. It is also a story of future proofing : with Wi-Fi 7, your phone is ready for the next few years, ready to take advantage of the latest developments on the internet without flinching.
7 years of updates
On the software side, Samsung is making a big move: the S24 Ultra will be entitled to seven years of Android updates and security patches. This is unheard of, even in the Android world. That puts it on par with iPhones, and even better, in terms of software longevity.
With a repairability rating of 8.5 out of 10, Samsung gives you every reason to keep this phone as long as possible. It’s great for your wallet and the planet.
Now let’s talk about prices:
- 1469 euros for the 256 GB model
- 1589 euros for 512 GB
- 1829 euros for 1 TB
It’s a bit of a bitter pill to swallow. The S23 Ultra launched at 1,419 euros, so the base model is a little more expensive this time. Good news for large storage: the 512 GB and 1 TB versions have decreased (1599 euros and 1839 euros previously).
Where to buy
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra at the best price?
Where to buy
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra at the best price?
What do you think: S23 Ultra or S24 Ultra?
To conclude, the technical evolution between the S23 Ultra and the S24 Ultra is not as spectacular as one might have hoped. We will have to wait to see how these changes translate into real performance and autonomy.
But, if you already have the Galaxy S23 Ultra, there’s no reason to jump for joy for a change. The difference doesn’t really justify the change, especially considering the price. On the other hand, if you are in a dilemma between the two models, good luck in making your choice.
On the software side, the S24 Ultra has something to tip the scales: these seven years of updates are solid, and it’s a strong argument, especially in the Android world. Add to that the new AI features, and you have a package that may be worth it, depending on your needs.
In short, if you’re the type to keep your smartphone for a while and you’re a fan of the latest tech news, the S24 Ultra could be a good investment. But, for others, there is no pressing reason to upgrade to the latest generation.