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The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the most feature-complete Android phone you can buy in 2026 — and after three months of testing alongside the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Google Pixel 8 Pro, and OnePlus 12, our editors recommend the S24 Ultra as the best Android phone for power users, productivity-focused buyers, and anyone who wants every feature, including ones you might never use. The S24 Ultra isn't a small upgrade over the S23 Ultra — it's a meaningful redesign with a titanium frame, the new flat 6.8" display, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip, and Samsung's first generation of Galaxy AI features.
What makes the S24 Ultra stand out in 2026 is the combination of features no other phone offers in one package: a built-in S Pen for note-taking and drawing, the best zoom camera on any mainstream phone (5x optical, 100x digital Space Zoom), and 7 years of OS and security updates — longer than any iPhone has ever been promised. If you keep your phone for 5+ years, the S24 Ultra is the only flagship Android that will still be receiving major updates in 2031.
Samsung made four major changes from the S23 Ultra. First, Galaxy AI features are integrated throughout the phone — Live Translate during phone calls, Circle to Search by long-pressing the home button, Note Assist for summarizing notes, AI photo editing in Gallery, and Generative Edit that fills in image gaps with AI. These features are free for 7 years (Samsung confirmed at launch), unlike Apple's similarly-priced subscription approach. Second, the titanium frame replaces the previous aluminum, dropping weight by 11g while increasing strength. Third, the flat display replaces the curved-edge design fans either loved or hated — most reviewers prefer the flat screen for productivity and S Pen use. Fourth, the new Corning Gorilla Armor screen reduces reflections by 75% and is genuinely the most readable phone display in direct sunlight we've tested.
The downsides? It's expensive at full retail, the S Pen has lost Bluetooth functionality (no more remote camera shutter or app control gestures), and Galaxy AI features are powerful but not transformative — most are conveniences, not life-changers. Read our full comparison tool to stack the S24 Ultra against the iPhone 15 Pro Max or Pixel 8 Pro.
The camera system is where the S24 Ultra genuinely outclasses every iPhone and most Android competitors. The 200MP main sensor uses pixel binning to deliver 12MP photos with extraordinary detail, and the dedicated 50MP 5x optical telephoto replaces the S23's 10x optical lens — a controversial change. In practice, the new 5x optical with 50MP sensor produces sharper, more detailed photos at 5-15x zoom than the old 10x optical with 10MP sensor did at 10-30x zoom. 100x Space Zoom is gimmicky but occasionally useful (reading distant signs, identifying birds). Find more flagship phone comparisons on our Electronics category page.
Skip the S24 Ultra if you don't use the S Pen (consider the regular Galaxy S24 or S24+ for $300-500 less), if you prefer a smaller phone (the S24 Ultra is large at 6.8"), or if you're deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem with AirPods, Apple Watch, and iCloud (the iPhone 15 Pro Max will integrate better). For Android users who want the most capable phone in 2026, the S24 Ultra at $1,099 is the easiest premium recommendation we make. Visit Samsung's official product page →
Complete technical specifications as published by Samsung. Verified against the Galaxy S24 Ultra official tech specs page.
| Display type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X with LTPO 1-120Hz |
| Size | 6.8 inches diagonal |
| Resolution | 3120 × 1440 pixels (QHD+) |
| Pixel density | 505 ppi |
| Peak brightness | 2,600 nits (typical 1,750 nits) |
| Cover material | Corning Gorilla Armor — 75% less reflection |
| Refresh rate | 1-120Hz adaptive |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (overclocked) |
| CPU cores | 1× 3.39 GHz Cortex-X4 + 5× 3.1 GHz + 2× 2.27 GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 750 (943 MHz) |
| RAM | 12 GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB UFS 4.0 |
| microSD slot | Not supported |
| Main camera | 200MP wide, f/1.7, OIS, dual pixel PDAF |
| Ultra-wide | 12MP, f/2.2, 120° FoV, dual pixel PDAF |
| Telephoto (3x) | 10MP, f/2.4, OIS, 3x optical zoom |
| Telephoto (5x) | 50MP, f/3.4, OIS, 5x optical zoom (NEW) |
| Front camera | 12MP, f/2.2, dual pixel PDAF |
| Max digital zoom | 100x Space Zoom (AI-enhanced) |
| Video recording | 8K @ 30fps, 4K @ 60/30fps, slow motion 240fps |
| Battery capacity | 5,000 mAh |
| Battery life | Up to 26 hours video playback |
| Wired charging | 45W Super Fast Charging (0-65% in 30 minutes) |
| Wireless charging | 15W Qi wireless |
| Reverse wireless | 4.5W Wireless PowerShare |
| S Pen | Included, slot in body, latency <9ms |
| S Pen Bluetooth | Removed (S24 Ultra change vs S23 Ultra) |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| 5G | Sub-6 + mmWave |
| USB | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 with DisplayPort output |
| Biometrics | Ultrasonic fingerprint + 2D face recognition |
| Frame material | Titanium (Grade 2) |
| Dimensions | 162.3 × 79.0 × 8.6 mm |
| Weight | 232 g |
| Water resistance | IP68 — up to 1.5m for 30 minutes |
| Available colors | Titanium Black, Gray, Yellow, Violet, Blue |
| Operating system | One UI 6.1 on Android 14 (upgradeable to Android 21) |
| OS updates | 7 major Android version updates |
| Security updates | 7 years of monthly security patches |
| Galaxy AI | Free for 7 years (post-2025 features may require subscription) |
| Samsung support | samsung.com/support |
After three months of daily use across travel, work calls, photography, and gaming, here's our honest take on Samsung's flagship.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the smartphone our editors recommend to anyone who wants the most capable Android phone money can buy — power users, productivity enthusiasts, and people who want to keep their phone for 5-7 years. At full $1,299 retail it's expensive; at the current $1,099 deal price, it's the best Android flagship value of 2026. Buy on Samsung's official website →
Samsung ships the Galaxy S24 Ultra in minimal packaging — no charger, no headphones, but everything you need to get started.
Samsung does not include a USB-C wall charger, headphones, or earbuds — you'll need to use your own or buy them separately. The included USB-C cable is C-to-C only, so older USB-A wall adapters won't work without an adapter. To get the full 45W charging speed, you need a compatible 45W+ Power Delivery USB-C charger (Samsung's official 45W charger is $50, third-party Anker or UGREEN options are $25-35). Consider a screen protector and case at purchase — even with Gorilla Armor, the 6.8" screen is expensive to repair. Visit samsung.com for official cases, screen protectors, and accessories.
Side-by-side spec comparison with the three closest premium flagships — iPhone 15 Pro Max, Google Pixel 8 Pro, and OnePlus 12.
| Feature | Galaxy S24 Ultra Pick | iPhone 15 Pro Max | Pixel 8 Pro | OnePlus 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current price (256GB) | $1,099 | $1,199 | $899 | $799 Cheapest |
| Display | 6.8" QHD+ AMOLED 2,600 nits Brightest | 6.7" Super Retina XDR 2,000 nits | 6.7" LTPO OLED 2,400 nits | 6.82" LTPO AMOLED 4,500 nits (peak) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy | Apple A17 Pro | Google Tensor G3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Main camera | 200MP Highest MP | 48MP | 50MP | 50MP (Hasselblad) |
| Optical zoom | 5x (50MP telephoto) Best zoom | 5x (12MP telephoto) | 5x (48MP telephoto) | 3x (64MP telephoto) |
| Stylus / S Pen | S Pen included | No | No | No |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 4,422 mAh | 5,050 mAh | 5,400 mAh Largest |
| Wired charging | 45W | 27W | 30W | 100W Fastest |
| OS update commitment | 7 years Longest | 5-6 years (typical Apple) | 7 years | 4 years |
| Frame material | Titanium | Titanium | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Best for | Power users, S Pen, zoom, longevity | iPhone ecosystem, video | Best Android camera AI | Performance value, fast charging |
6,200 verified reviews from real buyers who logged real time with the phone. The S24 Ultra has one of the highest user ratings of any Android flagship we track.
I was holding onto my Note 20 Ultra because I love the S Pen. Finally upgraded after 4 years and the difference is wild. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is so much faster, the 5x optical zoom is genuinely incredible for street photography around Osaka, and Galaxy AI's Live Translate has been a game-changer for me at international meetings. The flat display is much better for handwritten notes than the curved Note display was. I'll keep this phone for at least another 4 years given the 7-year update promise. Bought it for $1,099 through the deal here, saved $200.
My wife is from Tamil Nadu and her parents only speak Tamil. I'm from Punjab and my Tamil is basic at best. Live Translate during phone calls translates both directions in real time — I can finally have actual conversations with my in-laws without my wife translating every sentence. This single feature has improved my family relationships measurably. The phone itself is fast, the camera is fantastic, the screen is gorgeous. But Live Translate is the killer feature for me. Worth every rupee.
I was a die-hard iPhone user (iPhone 6, X, 12, 14 Pro). The compare tool here showed me the iPhone 15 Pro Max vs S24 Ultra side by side and the S Pen + 7 years of updates + the camera zoom convinced me to switch. Two months in, the only thing I miss is iMessage with my American friends. Everything else — the screen, the AI features, the customization, the multitasking — is genuinely better than what I left behind. Galaxy AI's Note Assist summarizes my work meeting notes automatically. Mind blown.
I'm a part-time travel photographer and the S24 Ultra has replaced my mirrorless camera for 80% of my shooting. The 200MP main sensor captures detail I had to pay $2,500 for two years ago. The 5x optical telephoto is sharp enough that I rarely need the 10x I had on my S23. Pro mode gives me full RAW output with manual controls. Editing in Galaxy AI for object removal saved me hours of Photoshop work last weekend. For my Instagram-style photography work, this phone is genuinely all I need now.
Singapore travel for work is constant. Used to lug my laptop everywhere just to use Excel and Slack on hotel TVs. The S24 Ultra plus DeX through the USB-C port to a hotel TV gives me a full desktop experience — proper windowed apps, keyboard support, mouse cursor. I bought a foldable Bluetooth keyboard ($45) and now I leave my laptop home for short trips. Battery life on the phone is surprisingly good even with all this Galaxy AI stuff running. Saved myself a lot of back pain not carrying a laptop everywhere.
Honest 4-star review. The S24 Ultra is genuinely a better phone than the S23 Ultra in almost every way — better screen, better camera, faster, lighter despite being titanium. BUT Samsung quietly removed Bluetooth from the S Pen. On the S23 Ultra I used the S Pen as a remote camera shutter for group photos, as a PowerPoint clicker for work presentations, and for app gestures. All gone. Samsung's reason was "low usage" but it was a power-user feature that defined the Note/Ultra brand. 4 stars instead of 5 specifically because of this regression. Otherwise excellent.
Casablanca summers are brutal — direct sun, glare from white walls everywhere. My old phones (Galaxy Note 10, then S22) were nearly unreadable outside without shielding the screen. The Gorilla Armor display on the S24 Ultra is a different planet. 75% less reflection is real — I can read messages on the beach without squinting. 2,600 nit peak brightness means I can take photos in bright sun and actually see what I'm framing. As someone who lives in a sunny climate, this single upgrade made the phone worth it for me. Love love love.
I bought the S24 Ultra primarily for the camera but the S Pen has quietly become my most-used feature. Handwritten notes during meetings (auto-converted to text via Galaxy AI), signing PDFs without printing, marking up photos for my husband's home renovation project, drawing diagrams during phone calls. It's the productivity tool I didn't know I was missing for 8 years of using non-S Pen phones. The flat screen makes the S Pen experience way better than the curved S22 Ultra had. Genuinely sad my next phone might not have one.
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