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| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: The Ultimate Flagship Smartphone |
Introduction
If you are looking for the best smartphone money can buy, you might want to check out the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. This is the phone that Samsung has been working towards for years, and it shows. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has everything you could ask for in a flagship phone: a stunning display, a powerful processor, a versatile camera system, a long-lasting battery, and a sleek design. But is it worth the hefty price tag? And how does it compare to its rivals? In this review, we will answer these questions and more, as we explore the pros and cons of the Galaxy S24
Display
The display on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is one of the best features of the phone. It is a 6.8-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X screen, with a resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The display is bright, sharp, and vibrant, with excellent contrast and color accuracy. It also supports HDR10+ and has a peak brightness of 2600 nits, which makes it easy to see even in direct sunlight.
The display also has some unique features that set it apart from other phones. For one, it has an anti-reflective and anti-scratch coating, which reduces glare and fingerprints, and makes the screen more durable. The display also has a variable refresh rate, which means it can adjust the refresh rate depending on the content and the battery level. This helps save power and improve performance. The display also has a built-in fingerprint scanner, which is fast and reliable.
The only downside of the display is that it does not support Dolby Vision, which is a more advanced HDR format that some streaming services and movies use. This means that you might not get the full benefit of the HDR content on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. However, this is a minor issue, as the display still looks amazing with HDR10+.
Performance
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which is one of the most advanced processors on the market. The chipset has a 4nm architecture, which means it is more efficient and powerful than the previous generation. The chipset also has an integrated 5G modem, which supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave bands, as well as Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra also has 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage, which means it can handle any task you throw at it. Whether you are gaming, multitasking, or streaming, the Galaxy S24 Ultra will deliver smooth and fast performance. The phone also has a cooling system, which prevents overheating and throttling.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra also has some AI features that enhance the performance and functionality of the phone. For example, the phone has a feature called Circle to Search, which lets you select any text or image on the screen and search for it on the web. The phone also has a feature called Live Translation, which lets you translate any text or speech on the screen in real-time. These features are useful and convenient, but they can also cause some delays and glitches, as they rely on the cloud and the internet connection.
Camera
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a quad-camera setup on the back, which consists of a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens, a 10MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. The front camera is a 12MP sensor. The camera system on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is one of the most versatile and impressive on the market, as it can capture stunning photos and videos in various scenarios and modes.
The main camera has a large sensor, which allows it to capture more light and detail, especially in low-light situations. The main camera also has a multi-directional PDAF, which means it can focus on any direction and any distance. The main camera also has a laser autofocus, which helps with accuracy and speed. The main camera also has an OIS, which helps with stability and reduces blur.
The periscope telephoto lens has a 5x optical zoom, which means it can zoom in without losing quality. The periscope telephoto lens also has a PDAF and an OIS, which help with focus and stability. The periscope telephoto lens also has a high resolution, which allows it to capture more detail and clarity.
The telephoto lens has a 3x optical zoom, which means it can zoom in without losing quality. The telephoto lens also has a dual-pixel PDAF and an OIS, which help with focus and stability. The telephoto lens also has a decent resolution, which allows it to capture good-quality photos and videos.
The ultrawide lens has a 120-degree field of view, which means it can capture more of the scene. The ultrawide lens also has a dual-pixel PDAF, which helps with focus and speed. The ultrawide lens also has a super steady video mode, which helps with stability and smoothness.
The front camera has a dual-pixel PDAF, which helps with focus and speed. The front camera also has a decent resolution, which allows it to capture good-quality selfies and videos.
The camera system on the Galaxy S24 Ultra also has a lot of modes and features that enhance the photography and videography experience. For example, the phone has a feature called Director’s View, which lets you see and switch between all the cameras while recording a video. The phone also has a feature called Single Take, which lets you capture multiple photos and videos with one tap. The phone also has a feature called Pro Mode, which lets you adjust the settings manually. The phone also has a feature called Night Mode, which lets you capture better photos and videos in low-light situations.
The camera system on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is not perfect, though. There are some issues and drawbacks that might affect the quality and experience of the camera. For example, the main camera has a fixed aperture, which means it cannot adjust the amount of light that enters the lens. This might result in overexposed or underexposed photos and videos, depending on the lighting conditions. The main camera also has a tendency to oversharpen and oversaturate the images, which might make them look unnatural and artificial. The main camera also has a problem with edge distortion, which might make the objects on the edges of the frame look stretched or warped.
The periscope telephoto lens has a narrow aperture, which means it cannot capture enough light in low-light situations. This might result in noisy and blurry photos and videos, especially when zooming in. The periscope telephoto lens also has a problem with chromatic aberration, which might make the colors on the edges of the frame look fringed or distorted.
The telephoto lens has a similar problem with the aperture, which might affect the quality of the photos and videos in low-light situations. The telephoto lens also has a problem with the zoom range, which might make it redundant or useless, as the periscope telephoto lens can do the same job better.
The ultrawide lens has a problem with distortion, which might make the objects on the edges of the frame look curved or bent. The ultrawide lens also has a problem with the dynamic range, which might make the highlights or shadows look too bright or too dark, depending on the lighting conditions.
The front camera has a problem with the resolution, which might make the selfies and videos look pixelated or grainy, especially when zooming in or cropping. The front camera also has a problem with the dynamic range, which might make the background or foreground look too bright or too dark, depending on the lighting conditions.
The camera system on the Galaxy S24 Ultra also has a problem with the night mode, which might make the photos and videos look worse than without it. The night mode might make the images look too soft or too noisy, depending on the situation. The night mode might also make the colors look too warm or too cold, depending on the white balance. The night mode might also make the exposure look too long or too short, depending on the shutter speed.
Battery
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 5000mAh battery, which is one of the largest and longest-lasting batteries on the market. The battery can easily last for a full day of heavy use, or even more than a day of moderate use. The battery also supports fast charging, both wired and wireless, which can replenish the battery quickly and conveniently. The battery also supports reverse wireless charging, which can charge other devices wirelessly, such as earbuds or smartwatches.
The battery on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is not flawless, though. There are some factors and features that might drain the battery faster than expected. For example, the display, especially at high resolution and refresh rate, might consume a lot of power. The 5G, especially at mmWave bands, might also consume a lot of power. The AI features, especially the ones that require cloud processing, might also consume a lot of power.
The battery on the Galaxy S24 Ultra also does not support the latest wireless charging standard, which is Qi2. This means that the phone cannot use the magnetic wireless chargers that some other phones can use, such as the iPhone 15 or the Pixel 7. This might limit the compatibility and convenience of the wireless charging experience.
Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a premium and elegant design, which reflects its high-end status. The phone has a glass front and back, which are protected by Corning’s Gorilla Armor, which is a new and improved version of Gorilla Glass, which is more resistant to scratches and cracks. The phone also has a titanium frame, which is stronger and lighter than aluminum, and gives the phone a sleek and sturdy feel. The phone comes in two colors: black and silver, both of which look classy and sophisticated.
The phone has a minimalistic and symmetrical design, with thin bezels and a centered punch-hole camera on the front. The phone also has a curved edge display, which adds to the aesthetic and ergonomic appeal of the phone. The phone also has a metal power button and volume rocker on the right side and a SIM tray on the top. The phone does not have a headphone jack, but it does have a USB-C port and a speaker grille on the bottom.
The phone has a large and prominent camera module on the back, which houses the four rear cameras and the flash. The camera module also has a laser autofocus sensor and a microphone. The camera module protrudes slightly from the back, which might cause some wobble when the phone is placed on a flat surface. However, the phone also comes with a protective case, which can prevent this issue and also protect the phone from drops and scratches.
The phone also has a stylus, which is called the S Pen. The S Pen is stored inside the phone and can be ejected by pressing a button on the bottom. The S Pen is a useful and convenient tool, which can be used for various tasks, such as writing, drawing, editing, and controlling the phone. The S Pen also has a Bluetooth connection, which allows it to perform gestures and actions, such as taking photos, playing music, or launching apps. The S Pen also has an accelerometer and a gyro, which can detect the orientation and movement of the pen. The S Pen also has a battery, which can be charged wirelessly by placing it inside the phone.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a design that is both beautiful and functional, and that matches its premium and elegant status. The phone has a high-quality build and materials, and a refined and polished look. The phone also has a stylus, which adds to the versatility and productivity of the phone. The phone is a pleasure to hold and use, and a joy to look at.