Over the course of a year, I used a lot of phones, and when I finished the review cycle, I moved my SIM card to my favorite device. In the past, this was limited to OnePlus or Google; OxygenOS offers everything I want in an Android interface, and while the camera isn’t the best, the smoothness and customizability of the software means I’ll inevitably return to a OnePlus phone.
hardwired
In Hardwired, AC Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda takes an in-depth look at all things hardware, including phones, storage servers, and routers.
Likewise, the Pixel has its shortcomings — mostly in terms of hardware — but Google’s unique software features combined with a great camera make using the Pixel a joy. I’ve found myself using Samsung phones more and more in recent years; last year, I called the Galaxy S23 Ultra one of my favorite phones, and I used the device for more than three months straight.
So when I got my hands on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, I thought it would be just as exciting as its predecessor – but I was wrong. As it turns out, this phone looks too much like the Galaxy S23 Ultra; even though it has a titanium chassis, it weighs the same, which immediately takes the shine off the device. By comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is 19 grams lighter than its predecessor, and the difference is noticeable – it’s noticeably easier to hold and use, and I imagine Samsung will offer similar benefits.
In fact, I didn’t notice any major differences between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and its predecessor in day-to-day use. I’ve tested enough phones to know that we’re past the point where we’re seeing generational gains year over year, but even on the usual iterative update cycle, the Galaxy S24 Ultra isn’t pushing that forward in a meaningful way.
Aside from a brighter AMOLED panel and updated internal hardware, Samsung hasn’t made any real changes. The cameras are the same as last year, but to Samsung’s credit, they’ve tweaked the algorithms to deliver better results, which is noticeable in low-light conditions and when using the telephoto lens.
But even so, the Galaxy S24 Ultra isn’t the best camera phone you can buy today — far from it. In fact, upgrading from the Honor Magic 6 Pro to the Galaxy S24 Ultra feels like a downgrade. This year’s flagships have significantly raised the bar, especially with the Chinese brand offering top-notch cameras across the board.
The Xiaomi Mi 14 Ultra, Honor Magic 6 Pro, OPPO Find X7 Ultra, and Vivo X100 Pro all have better camera suites than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and they offer versatile lenses for capturing great photos and videos in any situation. Meanwhile, Samsung is positioning AI as a key differentiator for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and as someone who’s ambivalent about generative AI, I just don’t care about all the new features.
I was hoping Samsung would deliver an exciting upgrade over the Galaxy S23 Ultra, but the brand chose to play it safe and launch a phone that doesn’t make any sense. No wonder I decided to switch to Xiaomi Mi 14 Ultra as soon as it came out.
While other brands push the boundaries of camera technology every year, Samsung rides the wave and remains relevant because of its unique market positioning. Samsung is the largest Android manufacturer by a wide margin, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra being the only flagship option in North America besides the Pixel 8 Pro.
Samsung’s biggest Chinese rival has no foothold in the United States, so the brand doesn’t have to worry about its dominance in the region. That’s unlikely to change anytime soon, so Samsung doesn’t really need to innovate or offer upgrades beyond the bare minimum.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra isn’t a bad phone by any stretch of the imagination. It just doesn’t offer any material upgrades over its predecessor, which ultimately makes it boring. As someone who uses over 75 cell phones a year, I’m very picky about the devices I use on a daily basis. But in 2024, the Galaxy S24 Ultra cannot meet the requirements. This is a good option if you have an older device and want to upgrade – it didn’t work for me.