Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: Specs, Performance, vs iPhone 15

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has had a controversial launch, but I have been testing it, and this is my definitive review of Samsung’s flagship phone of the year.

• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra release date: Available now!
• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra issues: Minor scratches and thermal throttling under heavy load.
• The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review is a good phone, but the S24 Ultra is a significant upgrade.
• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra case: Plenty of options available online and in stores.

Below is the in-depth review of Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Vs iPhone 15 the mighty contenders, for sure!

Build and Durability

Starting with display, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is four times stronger than the competition’s glass (iPhone 15 and iPhone 16), this phone is still not difficult to damage, and the screen is still wearing and tearing like every other phone.

Display

Samsung’s S24 Ultra has a flat-screen that doesn’t have the problems usually associated with flat screens, and it has a screen that reduces glare almost wholly.

Dark mode in S24 is now a dark grey.

User Interface

It’s instantly clear that the screen is the next logical step up for all screens, and it retains its colour accuracy and contrariness irrespective of whether you’re sitting next to a window or bright sunlight casting over you. 

Software Features

Samsung’s new software is smoother than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the phone looks nice, too. It’s the first Samsung phone out of the box gorgeous.

The quick panel, the way it’s organised, rounded corners, the precise even spacing between every section like yes, the lock screen and the fact that you can now add widgets, change up the style, scale your clock to the exact size you want.

There are problems with this software, but the prevailing feeling is that there’s a lot to like about it. 

For example, the video and microphone effects are very similar to the iPhone, and the haptics are fantastic. Samsung’s first titanium phone has an animated volume rocker with seven years of OS updates, and even if you’re not going to use your phone for seven years, it still retains more of its value.

Camera

The S24 Ultra’s cameras are improved, but they are not groundbreaking. The app is more intuitive, the animations are smoother, and the capture speed is impressive.

The Galaxy S8+ has a good camera and vastly improved software. It might be my favourite Android skin, and I’ll get to the AI stuff in a minute, but I want to touch on the cameras first.

The S24 Ultras cameras are a significant improvement over the S23 Ultras, but not in the way we expected. 

Samsung has yet to do much to break new ground or showcase the most cutting-edge tech the company offers.

AI Features

Galaxy AI is a feature that lets you make subtle adjustments to things that aren’t quite right, but it’s still a bit long, considering that on a big day out, you might take 30 photos.

Instant Translation is a feature in WhatsApp that lets you translate messages instantly. 

It works across all your messaging apps, including SMS, WhatsApp and Instagram, and makes communicating with people you otherwise might be challenging.

Just whip this SP pen out and write even when my phone’s locked so I’m not retracted.

In one of the most first-world situations ever, I was sitting in my kitchen, and I remembered we were running out of this snack, so I pulled out my Samsung, zoomed into that snack, and entered Circle to find out what they were called.

The Circle to Search feature makes your phone feel like a personal interactive interface with the world. 

The instant slow-mo feature is a top-tier idea with good execution, but the phone sometimes lags at the start till it catches up, and the live call translation could be better. 

Samsung has made this excellent AI, but it still needs to improve. There are also some general caveats for all of this AI stuff.

Concerns and Caveats

Samsung’s AI is based on Google tech, so even some things that seem exclusive to Samsung will stay that way for a while. Secondly, many of these AI features rely on Samsung’s online servers.

Performance

This phone is fast enough to run my entire childhood library of PlayStation 2 games, including upscaling them to run in HD, and it does it without any problems.

The phone is fast, but it does get hot, and the performance dips after prolonged stress. It is not negligible, but more is needed to make people buy the phone.

You can tell the difference between this and a dedicated gaming phone, but I’ve only seen those thermal issues when using benchmarks, and the battery life lasts for ages.

A Compelling Contender, but Not Quite a Farewell to iPhone

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15: Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra? Well, S24 Ultra is fantastic, offering a refined software experience, a capable camera system, and impressive performance. Innovative AI features add convenience.

 However, durability concerns, occasional thermal throttling, and bloatware keep it from becoming the ultimate iPhone killer.

 If you’re open to Android and value innovation, it’s a strong contender. But it might not be enough for die-hard iPhone users to switch just yet.