Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review (2025): The Powerhouse That’s Still Relevant

Milesh Kumar

Publish on: 1 January, 2025

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which first dropped on January 31, 2024, is now an absolute steal. Thanks to the S25 launch, prices have dipped big-time — you can grab the 256GB model for around $705 or go for the 512GB version at about $819 (down from $1,299/$1,419). That’s a serious Black Friday 2025 win.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Design & Build

Materials: Grade 2 titanium frame, Corning Gorilla Armor (front/back) for 4x scratch resistance, 75% less glare.
Dimensions & Weight: 6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 inches, 232 g—bulkier than S25 slim (7.2 mm, 162 g) but premium.
Durability: IP68 water-resistant (1.5 m fresh water, 30 min), matching the S25 Ultra’s waterproof rating. Avoid saltwater.
Colors: Titanium Black, Gray, Violet, and Yellow; exclusives (Blue, Green, and Orange) at Samsung.com.
S Pen: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra pen (Bluetooth-enabled, in-slot charging) for notes, sketches, and remote camera control.
US Availability: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra unlocked ($$705 for 256GB, $759 for 512GB) at Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Best Buy, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Amazon, Walmart, and MetroPCS.

Display & Audio

Screen: 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120×1440, 1-120Hz LTPO, 2600 nits—outshines iPhone 16 Pro Max (2000 nits).
Display Features: Gorilla Armor (anti-reflective), flat for precise Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra pen use, HDR10+.
Audio: Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos—crisp for streaming. No 3.5mm jack, but Bluetooth 5.3 excels.

Performance & Software

Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (3.39 GHz), ~1.65M AnTuTu, 2200/6800 Geekbench 6 (single/multi-core).
Performance: Handles Genshin Impact and multitasking with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM. Slightly behind the S25’s Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Storage: 256GB, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 512GB, 1TB (UFS 4.0), no microSD.
Software: One UI 7 (Android 15), 7 years of updates (to Android 21).
Galaxy AI: Live Translate, Circle to Search, Note Assist, Generative Edit—X users praise AI but note bloatware.
US Connectivity: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra MetroPCS and other carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 5G sub-6GHz/mmWave), Wi-Fi 7, UWB, NFC.

Read Also: 
1. Top 5G Phones Under $800 for 2025
2. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: The Foldable Phone That’s Stealing 2025

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Camera

Main Camera: 200MP (f/1.7, OIS), stunning detail for cropping.
Telephoto 1: 50MP 5x (f/3.4, OIS), sharper than the S23 Ultra’s 10x.
Telephoto 2: 10MP 3x (f/2.4), great for portraits.
Ultrawide: 12MP (f/2.2, 120°), vibrant wide shots.
Selfie: 12MP (f/2.2), crisp selfies.
Features: ProVisual Engine, Nightography AI, Generative Edit, 8K 30 fps/4K 60 fps video, Super HDR.
Performance: Daylight shots pop, low light is clean, and 5x zoom excels, but 100x Space Zoom is soft past 30x. Outperforms S25 (50MP) for editing. X users note motion blur in fast shots.

Comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max

Feature	Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra	iPhone 16 Pro Max
Display	6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X 3088x1440px 120Hz, 2600 nits Gorilla Glass Armor	6.9″ OLED (Super Retina XDR) 2868x1320px 120Hz, up to 2000 nits Ceramic Shield
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4nm, Octa-core, Adreno 750 GPU)	A18 Pro (3nm, Hexa-core, Apple GPU)
RAM	12GB (LPDDR5X)	8GB (LPDDR5)
Storage	256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 4.0)	256GB/512GB/1TB (NVMe)
Main Camera(s)	Quad: 200MP (main) + 12MP (ultra-wide) + 10MP (3x tele) + 50MP (5x tele)	Triple: 48MP (main) + 48MP (ultrawide) + 12MP (5x periscope tele)
Front Camera	12MP	12MP
Battery	5,000mAh 45W wired, 15W wireless	4,685mAh 27W wired, 25W wireless, MagSafe
Operating System	Android 14 (7 years support)	iOS 18 (7 years support)
Build	Titanium frame, Gorilla Glass, S Pen	Titanium frame, Ceramic Shield
Unique Features	S Pen, advanced zoom, lower reflectivity screen	Action Button, camera features, MagSafe
Biometrics	Ultrasonic fingerprint, face unlock	FaceID
Dimensions / Weight	162.3 x 79 x 8.6mm / 233g	163.0 x 77.6 x 8.25mm / 227g
Price (Aug 2025)	~$705 (varies, often discounted) Amazon	~$1,350

Battery & Charging

Capacity: 5000 mAh, 7-8 h screen-on-time (gaming, 5G), 1.5 days moderate use.
Charging: 45W wired (65% in ~30 min), 15W wireless (Qi, magnetic case needed, unlike S25’s Qi2), 4.5W reverse wireless.
US Note: No Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra charger included; budget $25 for a 45W USB-C charger (available at Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Amazon).
Performance: Solid but lags behind OnePlus 13 (80W). X posts mention battery dips post-One UI 7, fixed by updates.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra by storage (ROM) in both USD and INR

Storage (ROM)	Price in USD (Unlocked, avg.)	Price in INR (India MRP, avg.)
256GB	$705	₹82,749
512GB	$759	₹129,998
1TB	$799	₹159,999

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Pros & Cons

Pros:

Stunning 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED with 2600 nits.
200MP camera with epic zoom and AI.
7 years of updates (to Android 21).
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra pen for productivity.
IP68 titanium build for durability.

Cons:

Bulky at 232 g, not S25 slim.
45W charging is slower than rivals.
No Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra charger included.
100x zoom soft past 30x.

Who Should Buy the S24 Ultra in 2025?

Power Users: Maximum performance, multitasking, heavy gaming, and creative workflows.
Content Creators: Best camera versatility, in-depth controls, and S Pen for quick edits and notes.
Long-Term Buyers: With a promised 7 years of updates, your investment stays secure.
Productivity Enthusiasts: S Pen, big screen, AI features for business, notes, and reminders.

Value in 2025

With the S25 Ultra being only a subtle refinement, the S24 Ultra—now widely discounted—is a steal for its capabilities. It still outperforms most competitors in display, camera dependability, and software experience. For many, the inclusion of the S Pen and Samsung’s One UI make it the most complete Android flagship available this year.