Samsung’s first Unpacked launch event of the year brought the Galaxy S24 series of smartphones.
The regular S24 and S24+ are very capable handsets, but those who purchase the top-of-the-line S24 Ultra model will benefit from a selection of exclusive features.
And despite Samsung’s focus on artificial intelligence, none of this is relevant to Galaxy AI. So let’s see what this year’s Ultra has in store for you compared to its siblings and many rivals.
Titanium construction
For the first time – and yes, following in Apple’s footsteps – Samsung has opted for a titanium construction, which gives the phone an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.
The titanium frame is one of the most significant differences between the S24 Ultra and the S24/S24 Plus in the design and construction department.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It’s worth noting that the Ultra’s smaller siblings get an upgrade to “Armor Aluminum 2.0” and have a matte finish, as well as a more rounded shape for better grip.
Corning Gorilla Armor
The other big construction difference is that the Ultra is the only model to feature a special glass front in the form of Corning Gorilla Armor.
In fact, no other phone on the market has this material. Samsung tells us that not only is it four times stronger than a traditional case, but it also offers 75% less reflection. This should make it easier to use in bright conditions, especially when combined with a maximum brightness of 2600 nits.
However, it’s worth noting that the previously ultra-exclusive LTPO display, which allows the refresh rate to automatically adjust between 1 and 120Hz, is also now available on the standard and Plus models.
Quad telephoto camera
Samsung has been pushing its telephoto capabilities for a long time and this year is no different. To that end, the Galaxy S24 Ultra arrives with a new “Quad Telephoto” network.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
For starters, that means it has a new 5x optical telephoto lens for taking close-up photos of your subject from afar. This is an improvement over the S23 Ultra’s 3x lens and can be combined with the 50MP main sensor to get a 10x zoom level.
With 2x and 3x also available, this is how Samsung can call it a Quad telephoto lens. But with the hybrid nature of the 10x, it’s not the native optical zoom you’d expect and hope for.
Both the S24 and S24 Plus feature dual telephoto lenses in the form of 2x and 3x.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (UK)
If you’re in the UK, the S24 Ultra has a different processor than its stablemates. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy is an overclocked version of the processor found in competitors such as the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro.
Some markets, including the United States, will see the entire S24 range benefit from this chipset. But in the UK, the S24 and S24+ will instead be powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2400.
S-Pen stylus
It’s nothing new this year, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra remains the only phone in the lineup to come with Samsung’s popular S Pen.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It slots into the bottom of the phone for convenience and can be used for a wide range of tasks, giving you a Galaxy Note-like experience despite that line being discontinued.
More storage
It’s not particularly exciting, but if you want 1TB of storage on your phone (like some people do), you’ll have to get the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The standard S24 maxes out at 256GB, while the S24+ offers up to 512GB.
Without support for expandable storage, make sure you choose the right option.
However, many key features are available on all three S24 phones, including a range of AI features and seven years of software updates.
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