Samsung Galaxy S24+ Vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra: Is Bigger Always Better?

Samsung Galaxy S24+ Vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra: Is Bigger Always Better?
  • Samsung Galaxy S24+

    Average success

    Elegant package for 7 years

    Small changes to the S24+ over its predecessor make it one of the best big-screen phones out there without significantly increasing its actual size and weight. High-end design, powerful hardware and constantly improving software make it a tough choice.

    specialists
    • An almost unique display
    • Appropriate size and weight
    • Excellent performance
    Disadvantages:
    • Few changes compared to the S23+
    • It gets an Exynos SoC in Europe
    • No Wi-Fi 7
  • Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

    great and responsible

    Nothing beats the features or the price.

    Galaxy's biggest and most advanced model, the S24 Ultra, may be superior, but it's hard to ignore. The performance, battery life, and camera features are simply out of this world, as is the longevity of Samsung's promised next-level Android updates.

    specialists
    • Tons of screen space
    • Ultra high quality camera
    • Integrated S Pen
    Disadvantages:
    • A little too big for some
    • The camera is still blurry.
    • It costs a huge amount of money

The Samsung Galaxy S24 family may not feature a revolutionary redesign, but it offers some valuable generational improvements that are worth considering and is still among the best Android phones around.

While the base S24 is virtually identical to the S24+, the S24 Ultra has some key improvements that make it a worthy choice for those who demand the best. But are these improvements worth paying the new price? In most cases yes, but not for all.

Price, availability and features

First of all, the price is what differentiates the two high-end devices more than anything else. Neither are cheap, of course, but the 256GB Ultra costs $300 more than the $1,000 Plus. The 256GB upgrade costs $120 each, while the one TB Ultra version costs $1,660 without trade-ins, rebates or reseller offers.

As for availability, both will be available on all major networks in all major markets immediately after launch in late January 2024. This, of course, is not surprising, since the Galaxy S series has become the most popular family of high-end Android smartphones in the United States in recent years.


  • Samsung Galaxy S24+ Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
    SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
    RAM: 12 GB 12 GB
    storage 256 GB or 512 GB 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB
    battery 4900 mAh 5000 mAh
    Ports USB-C: USB-C:
    Operating System Android 14 and 6.1 UI Android 14 with OneUI 6.1
    Front camera 12 megapixels, f/2.2 12 megapixels, f/2.2
    backup camera 50 MP, f/1.8 primary optical stabilization; 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle lens; 10 MP telephoto lens, f/2.4 (3x zoom) 200 MP, primary aperture f/1.7; 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle lens; 10MP telephoto lens (3x); 50 MP telephoto lens, f/3.4 (5x)
    Connection: NFC, UWB UWB, NFC
    Dimensions: 158.5 × 76.2 × 7.6 mm 162.6 × 79.0 × 8.6 mm
    Colors Black Onyx, Gray Marble, Cobalt Violet, Yellow Yellow, Jade Green, Sapphire Blue and Sandstone Orange. Titanium Black, Titanium Grey, Titanium Purple, Titanium Yellow
    Display type AMOLED, 1-120 Hz LTPO AMOLED, 1-120 Hz
    The weight 197 g 233 g
    Download speed 45W wired, 15W wireless 45W wired, 15W wireless
    IP rating IP68 IP68
    Price: 1000 USD 1300 dollars
    needle NO Includes S Pen
    Screen sizes 6.7 inches 6.8", 19.3:9
    Screen resolution 3120×1440 3088×1440
    Payment options USB-C wired, Qi wireless Wired, wireless, reverse charging
    mobile 4G LTE, 5G (Sub-6 and mmWave) 5G mmWave and Sub-6, LTE
    WiFi connection Wi-Fi 6e, Wi-Fi Direct Wi-Fi 7:
    Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.3

design

Similar languages, different feelings

At first glance, it becomes clear that these two phones belong to the same family. The color schemes are almost the same, the camera lenses are different in placement, but they look a little different and the sizes are a little different. But his collection tells a different story.

The S24+ looks like a premium device, but the Ultra takes it a step further and oozes luxury. The rounded edges (even smoother than the S24+ compared to its predecessor) make it a real pleasure to hold and perhaps look more iPhone-like than before, which is a good thing in terms of design. While you can't easily tell the colors of the two phones apart in the photos, the larger phone's titanium frame and overall look look a little better.

The difference is even more noticeable in the hand. Although the Ultra is only 4mm taller and wider, it is noticeably 10% thicker and almost 20% heavier. It's not a flip phone, but it's the heaviest and most popular flagship flat phone you can buy. Like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the thin titanium frame doesn't do much to shave off the grams.

Finally, the Ultra has a slight advantage in terms of durability. In the race to strike a better balance between scratch and tear resistance, the new Gorilla Glass Armor on the front shows superior durability like we've never seen before. This is a worthy testament to the durability of this expensive device.

Display

And again the two best.

In terms of screen quality, some major things have changed since the S23 family, although there wasn't much to improve upon. The S24+ finally gets a resolution that brings it in line with the QHD+ screens of yesterday's S Series Plus models. Both now boast a ridiculous maximum brightness of 2,600 nits and offer high-quality HDR, although both still lack Dolby Vision support and instead standardize on the less desirable (but still excellent) HDR10+ protocol.

The Ultra has an extra 0.1 inches of diagonal space, and both see a bit more space thanks to softer edges and the lack of a curved screen concept. Aside from the increased brightness and the aforementioned Gorilla Glass armor, the Ultra's display remains largely unchanged, putting it at or near the top when it comes to high-end smartphone displays. In comparison, however, the S24+ looks more like its pricier cousin than ever.

software

Almost equal

This time, Samsung is betting on next-generation software using machine learning tools instead of revolutionary hardware or design changes in its latest flagships. This means you still have the much-lauded OneUI interface, which is intuitive and relatively customizable. While it may not be for everyone, there are good reasons why it continues to receive high ratings from users and experts alike.

Unlike Google's first AI offering, Samsung's expanded feature set is still in development, but it's already promising. Interestingly, some of the most useful parts of the Galaxy AI toolkit are actually based on Google's Gemini AI model, which we think is a pretty good sign. We also think Samsung's promise to bring back some AI features to the S23 family is a good thing. if it does with the S24, we think the S24 series will be available after the flagship goes on sale next year. to get new opportunities. .

For now, the latest Galaxy software remains a fairly subtle and potentially promising asset for these two new devices. How it will compete with Google in the long run remains to be seen, but it already excels as an AI voice recorder. However, there are no significant software differences between them.

However, stylus integration remains one of the main areas of use where the Ultra continues to excel. As big as the S24+ is, Samsung has kept the premium features of the S Pen for the larger phone, giving its flagship model a higher level of functionality and multi-tasking. As always, it can be inserted into the S24 Ultra's case and removed with a quick tap of the barely removable cover. Like its predecessor, the Ultra Pen outperforms all other smartphones in terms of performance.

A new standard for software durability

To keep up with Google and its lesser-known user interface, Samsung now guarantees at least seven full Android updates, followed by another year of security patches. We're big fans, as this will not only keep these phones in people's pockets longer, but also improve the used phone market. As the majority of power users move to new high-end phones, will today's flagships still be at the top of the list five years from now? There's still no consensus on this, but they'll probably still be better than the mid-range options.

Execution

compete with each other

Each has the latest Galaxy Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor powering all the numbers. It's an overclocked version of Qualcomm's current flagship SoC based on Gen 2 for performance and, to a lesser extent, efficiency. We had no complaints with the last Snapdragon chip, and we have no complaints with this one either.

Both the phones have 12GB of RAM, so they offer almost the same performance and remain among the best in the world. Given the clock speed, small instruction set improvements, and our early benchmark results, this bad boy hardware should have no problem complying with Samsung's new 7-year Android update policy.

Battery life

Better than ever!

Unlike the S22+'s suboptimal battery, the S24+ builds on its predecessor's excellent battery. We expect the S24 series to remain within striking distance of the best phones for battery life this year, largely thanks to continued improvements in chip performance. Much of this is due to the SoC, which has higher performance and less heat loss than before. We couldn't drain the battery in a day of moderate to heavy use. Since they have the same number of pixels and most of the other hardware, battery life should stay roughly the same throughout the life of the Plus and Ultra.

However, there are certain areas where the Ultra can deliver better results in the long run. First, Wi-Fi 6E outperforms Wi-Fi 7 on the S24+ Ultra. This new standard won't affect actual speeds in most conditions, but it may slightly affect Wi-Fi performance in a few years when Wi-Fi 7 routers are more widely used.

Another small note on performance and performance is Samsung's continued insistence on using its own Exynos chip in the European Galaxy S24 and S24+. Of course, early indications are that the Exynos 2400 can already match Snapdragon's industry-leading hardware, but that's probably not entirely true, and the AB S24+ will have a slightly shorter battery life. .

No load change

As for charging, so far so good, but there are still some minor concerns with the more complex models. The maximum speed of 45 W is not too low, but it is slightly behind the competition. Both phones go from empty to half in about 30 minutes before slowing down. This is acceptable for most users.

Considering these phones start at $1,000, we don't think it's too much to ask for faster speeds, but it's not the end of the world either. Unless you're an advanced user and don't expect a 50 percent charge in minutes, we doubt you'll have any issues with this.

Cameras

Where are the fixes?

For understanding. Samsung cameras are not bad. Come on. They take great pictures and videos (mostly), with vivid colors and particularly impressive telephoto capabilities. This is where the Ultra really wins with its 5x periscope zoom lens, which delivers the best telephoto results you'll find on a phone.

It's also nice to see Samsung's image processing produce more realistic shadows than last year in both cases. Combined with a 200-megapixel main lens, it produces some of the best night shots ever seen on a Samsung phone. As far as hardware goes, the Ultra's cameras are better on paper, although, with the exception of the Plus' modest 3x optical zoom, they're no real-world experience.

However, the crux of the problem remains the same for both phones. With smartphones expected to cost more than $1,000 in 2024, Samsung's inability to master the move is nothing short of criminal. Our extensive testing revealed noticeable blurring issues not only on fast-moving subjects like our furry four-legged friends, but also on relatively slow-moving subjects like a stationary city bus in medium lighting conditions. In perfect lighting, the problem is a little less noticeable, but we're a little confused as to why it's still an issue. While this isn't a cause for concern, the repeated blurring allows both phones to be among the best camera phones on the market.

Which one is right for you?

Bigger isn't always better, and the mid-sized Galaxy S now looks more like its pricier alternative than ever. Although the market is skewing towards the larger of the two (the Ultra has overtaken the Plus in recent years), the S24+ is a fantastic choice for most people as the best all-rounder. Its form factor makes it much more convenient. . without adding anything else in terms of screen real estate or sacrificing image quality. Since all the hardware is pretty much the same except for the cameras, this is probably the best option for most people.

Samsung Galaxy S24+

The best decision

Get a lot for a little less

The S24+ looks more like Goldilocks than a normal baby. It has a huge screen and almost the same hardware as its more expensive sibling. It's also 25% cheaper and comes with the same impressive 7-year renewal promise.

However, the S24 Ultra will satisfy power users, stylus enthusiasts and people who demand the best. It's a fantastic phone in every way except the pictures, and Samsung's 7-year software warranty makes it a worthwhile investment. If you're willing to spend a few hundred more, you won't be disappointed with Samsung's best flagship this year.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Premium and expensive

The best of the best

Big, modern and with more phones than people need, the S24 Ultra will satisfy you if you demand the best and don't mind the price. Its cameras, design and display represent the best of Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Review | Attractive big update.

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