👍 Pros
- Unrivaled display brightness and clarity
- Exceptional camera versatility with 5x optical zoom
- Titanium build offers premium durability
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 still a powerhouse
- Long-term software support (up to 7 major Android upgrades)
👎 Cons
- Charging speed is noticeably slow by 2026 standards
- Slightly heavy and bulky design
- Price point, even discounted, might be high for its age
- No expandable storage option
- Thermal management can be an issue under heavy load
Expert Review & Rating
Quick Overview
In a world saturated with iterative smartphone updates, does the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, now in 2026, still hold its ground as a titan, or has it become a relic of a bygone era?
The Best Features
Let’s talk about that display. The 6.8-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel on the S24 Ultra is still, frankly, breathtaking. With 2600 nits peak brightness and Corning Gorilla Armor, it’s not just vibrant; it’s practically invincible in direct sunlight and feels incredibly premium. This isn’t just a screen; it’s a window into your digital world that refuses to be dimmed. Then there’s the camera system. The 200 MP main sensor captures incredible detail, but the real magic lies in the telephoto capabilities. That 5x optical zoom from the 50 MP periscope lens, coupled with the 3x optical from the 10 MP, offers an unparalleled range for capturing distant subjects without losing quality. It’s genuinely useful, allowing for creative shots and detailed close-ups that most phones still struggle with. Finally, the titanium frame and Gorilla Armor glass on both front and back mean this phone can take a beating. It feels robust, substantial, and exudes a durability that inspires confidence.
Performance & Daily Usage
Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) still delivers. Apps launch instantly. Multitasking is fluid. One UI 8.5, coupled with Android 14, feels responsive and polished. Gaming performance remains top-tier for most titles. However, push it hard with extended gaming sessions or heavy video editing, and you’ll notice the thermal management isn’t quite as refined as newer chips. It gets warm. Not alarmingly hot, but certainly noticeable. For everyday tasks, it’s a champ. For sustained, intensive workloads, it shows its age slightly.
The Compromises
Here’s where reality bites in 2026. The charging speed is simply not competitive anymore. 45W wired charging, while decent in 2024, feels sluggish compared to the 80W, 100W, or even 120W solutions prevalent today. Waiting 30 minutes for 65% battery feels like an eternity. The phone’s sheer size and weight, at 232g, can also be a point of contention for many. It’s a chunky device, and while the titanium adds premium feel, it doesn’t make it lighter. And let’s not forget, no expandable storage. For a ‘power user’ device, this is still a baffling omission.
Is It Worth Buying?
The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s incredible display and versatile camera system are still its absolute best features, while its dated charging speed remains its biggest Achilles’ heel. In 2026, for its current estimated price of around $500, it’s still a surprisingly viable option, especially if photography and screen quality are your absolute priorities and you don’t mind a slightly slower charge or a heftier device.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
While the 5000 mAh battery was excellent at launch, battery degradation over two years means you might not get the same 'all-day' performance as new. However, for moderate users, it should still comfortably last a full day, especially with Samsung's software optimizations.
Absolutely. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was a flagship chip and remains highly capable. While newer Gen 4 and Gen 5 chips offer marginal improvements, the 8 Gen 3 will still handle virtually all demanding applications and high-fidelity games with ease, though thermal management might be less efficient than its successors.
Many of the S24 Ultra's initial AI features, like Circle to Search and live translation, have become more common across the industry. While still functional, they might not feel as 'revolutionary' as they did at launch, as newer models have integrated more advanced and nuanced AI capabilities. However, Samsung's commitment to software updates means some improvements have likely been pushed.