Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
It ’s hard not to lust after the biggest andmost powerful smartphoneon the market place , and at the second , that ’s theSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultra . Samsung ’s fresh flagship is here , and it ’s but one of the best smartphones you’re able to buy today . The Galaxy S24 Ultra is n’t just another smartphone ; it ’s extremely powerful and has some of themost advanced AI featureswe’ve ever see on a phone , along with an excellent camera and battery lifetime . Simply put , it ’s majuscule .
But you know what ? You don’thaveto purchase it . As good as it is , the Galaxy S24 Ultra is only one of a routine of smartphones you’re able to buy , and many of them are as just as the S24 Ultra — and may even top it in a few central style .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Not sure about leave out $ 1,300 on Samsung ’s latest ? Here are five smartphones you should buy instead of the Galaxy S24 Ultra .
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
What is theSamsung Galaxy S24 Plus ? but put , it ’s the phone that made usforget about the Galaxy S24 Ultra . After a great review , we were set to place the S24 Ultra at the top of the Samsung pile and call it good for another year . Then , the Galaxy S24 Plus dropped into our sprightliness .
In light , it ’s the S24 Ultra with all the “ extra ” carefully removed . sure enough , you do n’t get the Ultra ’s S Pen or periscope zoom lens , but did you really ask those ? Because what you get for a full $ 300 less is the same gamy - focal ratio Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor , the same 1440p AMOLED presentation with a 1 - 120Hz active refresh rate , and 45W charging stop number . Yes , you ’re taking a hit in the stamp battery and silver screen size departments , but these decreases are absolutely flyspeck , as you ’ll lose 0.1 of an in from the concealment ’s sloping measurement and 100mAh of a 5,000mAh electric battery . It ’s so modest a variety as to be unnoticeable , and the same applies to the camera too . The S24 Plus does n’t have the sky - gamy megapixel tally of its cock-a-hoop sib , but it does n’t need them , as it deport wild results each time .
you could get more from the S24 Ultra , that ’s for sure — but are those extras really deserving $ 300 to you ? That ’s a question only you could answer , of course . But as far as we ’re pertain , the S24 Plus is phenomenal value for the money and just the best Samsung Galaxy S this year .
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
It ’s all too easygoing to forget about yesterday ’s toy when that new model is sit right there , but it ’s worth remembering that “ new ” does n’t always mean “ better . ”
OK , so it kind of does , andyes , the S24 Ultra istechnicallybetter , but theSamsung Galaxy S23 Ultrais still an incredible phone . liken with the newer mannequin , the differences are scarce noticeable and can only be pinpointed by diving into the spec sheets . The honest-to-god exemplar is a gram lite , has a fistful fewer pixel in the display , and has a slightly older processor . It ’s still a strapping , premium - feeling brick , with a gorgeous exhibit and a transcendent amount of processing oink hidden beneath a gorgeous invention .
The S24 Ultra has Galaxy AI as its raw newspaper headline feature , but aboveboard , you’re able to throw off thatwithout concern too much about it . The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is still a heck of a circumstances of smartphone , and as a bonus , it actually has a fiddling morsel more than the new manakin . call back the S24 Ultra ’s 5x periscope zoom lens ? The S23 Ultra has a 10x zoom lens , which is uproariously so extra when you depend back at it . Who want that ? No one , which is why Samsung deteriorate it . But that ’s the whole rationality why the Ultra tune subsist , and we should celebrate when it turns the dial to 11 . Buy the Galaxy S23 Ultra rather , and grab a nice discount for almost the same phone .
OnePlus 12
TheOnePlus 12isn’t a flagship killer ( that ’s theOnePlus 12R ) , but there ’s a firm argument it ’s a Galaxy S24 Ultra killer .
OnePlus made a name for itself by focusing on the raw specs and cutting out as many extraneous features as possible — and in that gumption , it ’s the ideological opponent of the S24 Ultra , as the specs , not the special features , are the intellect to purchase this phone . It ’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 , giving it the same bad brain as the S24 Ultra , but then OnePlus threw in up to 512 GB of storage and a truly derisory up to 16 GB of RAM . back that up is a1Hz to 120Hz refresh rateon a 1440p display that ’s just as large as the S24 Ultra ’s . This headphone can easily trade punches with the brawny Ultra and stay stand round after round . It ’s even a loyal charger , thanks to the blindingly fast 80 - W charging speed .
The photographic camera is n’t as good , but it ’s still a solid hit man , and it ’s easy balance out by the vast gulf in price . The OnePlus 12 commence at $ 800 , an incredible $ 500 difference in price . allot , that ’s for the cornerstone 256 GB example with 12 GB of RAM , but that ’s adequate to the spec offered by the canonical S24 Ultra , so it evens out . If you want a big telephone set with big specs , then grab the OnePlus 12 and save a bucket of cash .
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Google ’s Pixel line is n’t as unwashed as Samsung ’s Galaxy , but it ’s made a unattackable reputation for itself , and for some very full reason .
In former years , we ’d have instantly plug the Google Pixel telephone as the honest camera sound , but this year , the Galaxy S24 Ultra has taken a shameful win in ourS24 Ultra vs. Pixel 8 Pro photographic camera comparison . But even with that in mind , there are still many enceinte reasons to beak theGoogle Pixel 8 Proover Samsung ’s huge smartphone . The camera system is still incredible and takes guesswork with superior real - spirit colors , eschewing the vivacious saturation Samsung lean to opt for in its photographic camera . While the all-embracing - slant and telephoto shots are n’t as firm as Samsung ’s , it would be a mistake to believe the Pixel 8 Pro does n’t have an unbelievable camera system .
That ’s not all Google ’s biggest Modern phone has going for it . It ’s a similar size to the S24 Ultra , so you ’re not missing out in that section , and it has similar show specs , too , let in the 120Hz dynamic refresh rate . The Google - madeTensor G3processor is sinewy and fast , and it even has similar AI features to the S24 Ultra — because Googledid it first .
The barrage spirit falters a small number , offering only a single twenty-four hours per charge , but the Pixel ’s reading of Android makes up for that with a crack - clean port and utile features that do n’t bulk up the headphone . While we love One UI on the S24 Ultra , there ’s no doubt that there ’s a lot of extra stuff confuse in there , and purist will sleep together what Google volunteer .
The concluding point is the price . The Pixel 8 Pro is a big phone with similar power , camera organization , and features to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra , but it does it at a much lower price . The Google Pixel 8 Pro starting line from $ 999 , a full $ 300 less than the S24 Ultra , and upgrade to 256 GB of storage ( pose it on equivalence with the Ultra ) will cost $ 1,059 — still well below what you ’ll pay for Samsung ’s up-to-the-minute .
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
A hard reason to buy the S24 Ultra is because it provides the cut border of smartphone technical school with exceedingly sinewy eyeglasses , a very impressive television camera , and almost the most advanced video display money can buy . Why almost ? Because theSamsung Galaxy omega Fold 5exists , and if you ’re already spending at least $ 1,300 on a smartphone , why not go all - in and buythemost thinning - edge gadget or else ?
In terminal figure of specs , it ’s similar to the S24 Ultra , even if it ’s not quite as knock-down . The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a stellar splintering with more mogul than you ’re ever probable to need , and the photographic camera is still excellent . But we all love what the real draw here is : the folding screen . The 7.6 - in internal showing has the same refresh charge per unit as the S24 Ultra while offer almost twice the width . When using such a large pill - like cover is n’t feasible , there ’s also a 6.2 - inch display on the exterior .
Unlike most of the options on this list , the Z Fold 5 is more expensive than the S24 Ultra , with cost start at $ 1,799 . But when you ’re looking to pay an already big amount of money on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and clearly want to get a bit extra , why not go a little bit further andreallyshoot for the champion ?
