Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
“ It ’s the same , ” said my friend when I designate him theSamsung Galaxy S24 Ultraand theSamsung Galaxy S23 Ultratogether , tell you all you need to know about the design changes between the latest Ultra telephone set and its predecessor .
But is that the full story ? I ’ve used the S24 Ultra over the weekend and have a few thoughts to share ahead of my full review , which is occur soon , and they may help with any preorder decision you may be induce this calendar week .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
One big design change
My friend ’s blunt observation about the design is n’t inaccurate at all , but there is one alteration I do want to talk about — the switch to a flat screen . combine with the flatter sides on the S24 Ultra , it makes the headphone feel bulkier in your hand . The S23 Ultra is amazingly svelte - feeling when you hold it , with the curvier anatomy more comfortably baby-sit in the palm of your hand .
Even if it is mostly an optical illusion as both screen door are the same size , the Galaxy S24 Ultra ’s flat screen more effectively shows off the enormous size of the 6.8 - inch Super AMOLED panel , which is also accentuated by the smaller scummy bezel . But most notably , it ’s much more well-situated to write on when you practice the S Pen stylus . The lustrelessness means the heel inkpad of your hand rests more of course , and requires less awareness to keep in place when you ’re writing .
lastly , the Gorilla Armor drinking glass is noticeably less meditative than the Galaxy S23 Ultra ’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 glass , and it ’s also potential to spot the increase in overall luminance . outdoors on a ( fairly , as I survive in the U.K. ) gay day , the S24 Ultra ’s screen shines , and I ca n’t ideate any spot where you ’ll be squinting at it because it ’s too dim .
Galaxy S23 Ultra (left) and Galaxy S24 UltraAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
There are some very slight difference in resonance and chroma , with the S23 Ultra amping the colour a piddling more than its replacement , but I doubt you ’d notice unless the two were to be test side by side .
Battery life and performance so far
I put my SIM card in the Galaxy S24 Ultra on Friday morning and did n’t want to charge the battery until Sunday dark when I go to bottom , and it still had 25 % remaining . Over the weekend , my total screen clip amounted to five time of day , and use let in taking photos , using GPS , and streaming TV , plus the usual calls , message , and social connection apps .
Out of the boxwood , the Galaxy S24 is configured to operate the screen at FHD+ firmness , with an adaptative refresh rate , and without the always - on screen dynamic . I changed the always - on screen door to operate throughout the mean solar day , plus I link the phone to a smart ring using Bluetooth .
Nothing strenuous , but considering this also included all the screen background activity setting up a unexampled phone include , it ’s a strong performance . The Galaxy S24 Ultra and theQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3for Galaxy processor are shaping up to be a very efficient pairing , and there ’s no question mark over the immix speed either , as the phone utterly flies .
Galaxy S23 Ultra (left) and Galaxy S24 UltraAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Importantly , it ’s faster in area where the Galaxy S23 Ultra lacked . I ’ve been taking photos back - to - back with both phones , and it has been most noticeable in the camera app . From necessitate photos at 30x rapid growth to burst modal value images , the S24 Ultra react a beat or so quicker than the S23 Ultra , and although it wo n’t affect everyone all the time , it gain using the television camera a more liquid , svelte experience .
I ’m only a few days into using the Galaxy S24 Ultra , so these are only preliminary assessments . But so far , no alarm Vanessa Stephen have ring , and no terrible problems compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra have appear either . retentive battery liveliness and superfast performance , plus an fabulously bright , less reflective and stronger covert that makes the S Pen well to habituate ? I ’ll take those over any cursory design freshen up every solar day .
What about the AI?
When I first used the Galaxy S24 Ultra , the new Galaxy AI features I tried impress me . But what about now that I ’ve spent some time with the phone ?
I ’ve not had any reason to use the version features , the message hint , or the annotation - aim enhancements , and I doubt that many the great unwashed will be using them on a daily basis . However , the Circle to Search by Google feature is something I ’ll use more regularly .
The simple gesture to activate it is fundamental , as is its speed , reliability , and accuracy . you may see a few screenshots above of it acknowledge items and objects from my Instagram feed , Chrome , and photos . It takes just moment to do this , and it murder the trouble of knowing what to ask Google for search for something you ’ve only seen in a pic . At the moment , it will send you to internet site to buy items , number links to Google Maps and other general sites for landmarks , and so on . However , it does n’t look for people , so do n’t expect it to answer “ Who Is that ? ” elan interrogative .
Galaxy S23 Ultra (left) and Galaxy S24 UltraAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
I ’ve also tried out another AI - enhanced feature in the photographic camera : the S24 Ultra ’s car slow - movement mode . When you take a standard video , you may tap and hold the screen during playback , and the headphone slack the video down for you while filling in the “ lose ” frames so it appears smooth and uninterrupted . It ’s highly convincing , and you may have fun redaction and save the slow - down video separately .
The Galaxy S24 Ultra ’s AI toolkit is n’t so comprehensive you ’ll use every feature every twenty-four hours , but when you do , it all seems to work very well and provides some delectation at the same sentence . It ’s all very well judged and implemented .
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is off to a good start
If it sounds like I ’m being gain over by the Galaxy S24 Ultra , it ’s because I am . It ’s a superb smartphone , but it needs to be for thenew $ 1,300 start price . I ca n’t say with certainty whether you should buy it yet — that ’s come in the review — but what about an upgrade if you already own a Samsung Ultra phone ?
No one is potential to be consideringan upgrade from the S23 Ultra to the S24 Ultradue to the design , and even the change from aluminum to atomic number 22 is n’t worth swapping your sometime phone for either . But what about the interior ? Over the weekend , I have n’t felt like I ’m simply using the Galaxy S23 Ultra all over again thanks to the screen changes , the public presentation , and the AI tool .
There ’s also a lot more to come , as I have n’t tight essay the photos , played many biz , or experimented with the various AI features I may only employ on an occasional basis . There ’s always a concern about earpiece that see essentially the same as the honest-to-god model — specifically that it will feel , operate , and acquit like the old one too . The Galaxy S24 Ultra is very much an all - new sound for 2024 , and the class col between it and the S23 Ultra is obvious when you use it .
Galaxy S23 Ultra (left) and Galaxy S24 UltraAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
However , if the Galaxy S23 Ultra is in your hand now , and knowing that at least some of the AI features will come to it later this year , the other adjustment are n’t so momentous that you should rush to upgrade . But if you have aGalaxy S22 Ultraor earlier , then the Galaxy S24 Ultra will credibly await a draw more tempting , and I suppose it ’ll be a solid update . Newcomers to Samsung ’s Ultra phones are sound to be blown away by this monolithic , staggeringly open , and truly - new - depsite - the - design smartphone . So far , the S24 Ultra is a great start to the year , and my full recap will be coming soon .
Portrait mode, edited in Lightroom for Samsung appAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
10x zoom, edited in Lightroom for Samsung appAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Edited in Lightroom for Samsung appAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
