Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5G Review: Titanium Design, 200MP Camera & Galaxy AI Powerhouse

If you could draw a wish list for a no-compromise Android phone, it would look a lot like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5G. This is Samsung’s “everything phone”: a titanium-framed slab with a massive, flat 6.8-inch display, a 200MP camera system, Wi-Fi 7, and an S Pen tucked inside the chassis. But the real twist is Galaxy AI—the system-level tools that help you search, translate, summarize, and even clean up photos in a few taps. It’s the most feature-complete Galaxy to date and one of the most forward-looking phones you can buy. 

Highlights at a glance

• Premium build: Titanium frame, IP68 rating, flat 6.8-inch QHD+ LTPO AMOLED (1–120Hz) with Corning® Gorilla® Armor for better scratch resistance and lower reflections; peak brightness up to 2600 nits. 

• Cameras: 200MP main + 12MP ultra-wide + 10MP 3× telephoto + 50MP 5× periscope; 8K video recording and improved long-range zoom with up to 100× digital. 

• Performance & connectivity: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, 12GB RAM, up to 1TB storage, 5G, Wi-Fi 7, UWB. 

• Battery & charging: 5000mAh, 45W wired fast charging (Samsung quotes ~65% in ~30 minutes with an approved 45W adapter), 15W wireless, reverse wireless charging.

• S Pen: Built-in stylus with system-level support for notes, sketching, screenshots, camera shutter control, and precision editing. 

• Longevity: Up to seven generations of Android OS upgrades and seven years of security updates for the S24 series. 

• Galaxy AI: Circle to Search (with Google), Live Translate, Note Assist, Generative Edit, and more; Samsung notes Galaxy AI features are free to use until the end of 2025. 

Design & Display: flat, bright, durable

Samsung dialed back curved edges and went with a flat 6.8-inch display that’s easier to write on with the S Pen and nicer for reading and gaming at the edges. The titanium frame adds rigidity without shouting for attention—it feels reassuringly dense, with clean lines and the familiar floating camera rings on the back. The phone is still rated IP68 for dust and water resistance.

Two display upgrades matter in real life. First, the anti-reflective Corning® Gorilla® Armor cover glass helps reduce glare and scratches, so the screen stays readable outdoors and resists micro-marks from everyday use. Corning’s own materials explain this layer is engineered to cut reflections significantly compared to typical smartphone glass and enhance scratch resistance. Second, the panel pushes up to 2600 nits peak brightness, which keeps maps, messages, and photos visible in direct sunlight. Combine that with LTPO 1–120Hz for smoother scrolling and battery savings, and you’ve got one of the best screens on any phone. 

Real-world wins

• Reading outside: Compared to older devices, the S24 Ultra stays readable at noon without shielding it with your hand.

• Stylus accuracy: The flat glass reduces pen “edge drift” when writing or tracing near the borders.

• Longevity: Fewer hairline scratches and less glare help a screen protector-free setup (if you prefer) look cleaner for longer.

Performance & Connectivity: built for heavy users

Under the hood, Samsung uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy—a tuned version of Qualcomm’s flagship chip—paired with 12GB RAM and up to 1TB of storage, depending on configuration. This setup delivers top-tier performance for multitasking, 4K video edits, gaming, and AI features. For network and accessory flexibility, you also get 5G, UWB, and Wi-Fi 7. Qualcomm has highlighted the S24 Ultra as one of the early mass-market Wi-Fi 7 phones, which future-proofs your home network if you upgrade your router. 

Daily performance takeaways

• Games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile run smoothly with high frame rates and consistent thermals.

• Pro apps can juggle large photo libraries, RAW edits, or note-taking with PDF annotations without slowdown.

• Connectivity is excellent: quick AirDrop-style file swaps via Quick Share, precise device tracking with UWB tags, and better throughput/latency on Wi-Fi 7 networks.

Cameras: 200MP detail, smarter zoom

Samsung’s camera hardware takes a balanced approach:

• Main: 200MP wide (f/1.7)

• Ultra-wide: 12MP (f/2.2)

• Telephoto 1: 10MP 3× optical

• Telephoto 2: 50MP 5× periscope optical

This combo keeps everyday flexibility (0.6× to 5×) crystal clear and still gives you digital zoom up to 100× for moon shots or stage events. For video, you can shoot 8K up to 30fps, while 4K offers higher-frame options including 120fps for detailed slow-motion. If you’re a creator, the stabilization and HDR tuning are strong, and the high-resolution main sensor gives you headroom to crop or reframe without losing much quality. 

Where it stands out

• 5× portrait range: The 50MP periscope at 5× is a sweet spot—faces stay flattering without distortion, and background separation looks natural.

• Low light: Night mode has matured; colors are less neon, and noise is better controlled, especially at 1× and 3×.

• Video quality: 8K is niche but sharp; most people will love 4K60 for a clean, smooth look, and 4K120 for cinematic slow-mo in good light.

Practical tips

• Use 2× or 5× for portraits to avoid wide-angle distortion.

• Shoot 200MP only when you have time to hold steady and good light; it’s great for landscapes or product shots you plan to crop.

• In mixed lighting, tap to expose for faces, then lock focus/exposure for consistent results.

Galaxy AI: where the “Ultra” feels new

The S24 Ultra’s most meaningful change isn’t a spec—it’s Galaxy AI, a toolkit that quietly speeds up everyday tasks. A few standouts:

Circle to Search (with Google)

Press and hold the home gesture, circle anything on screen, and instantly search for it—no app switching. It’s brilliant for identifying products, landmarks, fonts, or a dish on a menu. If you collaborate or shop a lot on mobile, this becomes second nature. 

Generative Edit (Photos)

Move or remove objects, straighten horizons, and let AI fill gaps. Is it magic? Not always. But for vacation pics with a photobomber or a crooked horizon, it’s a huge time saver. 

Live Translate & Interpreter

Live Translate works in the phone app for real-time voice calls, while Interpreter helps you have bilingual conversations face-to-face. For travelers, students, and global teams, this is one of the most practical AI features on any phone right now. 

Note Assist & Transcript Assist

If you live in Samsung Notes, Note Assist can summarize, create outlines, and format text; Transcript Assist can turn recordings into searchable text. Paired with the S Pen, it’s a mobile researcher’s dream. 

Samsung has said Galaxy AI features are free to use until the end of 2025 on supported devices. It’s worth keeping an eye on what happens after that, but for now you’re getting the full suite without extra cost. 

Battery & Charging: all-day, then some

The 5000mAh cell is familiar, and that’s fine because it’s still a winning capacity for a big-screen phone. With mixed use (messages, social, maps, a few photos, and light gaming), the S24 Ultra comfortably makes it through a long day. If you push the camera and hotspot for hours, you’ll still get to evening with discipline around brightness and refresh rate.

When you do need a top-up, Samsung rates the phone for 45W wired fast charging—the company quotes roughly 65% in about 30 minutes with a compatible 45W adapter and USB-C cable. There’s also Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 and Wireless PowerShare for topping up earbuds or a watch on the go. (As always, your actual speeds depend on your charger and thermal conditions.)

Real-world charging habits

• Keep a 45W PPS charger at your desk for quick lunchtime boosts.

• Use Wireless PowerShare to charge Galaxy Buds on a flight, no cables needed.

• Enable adaptive battery settings and keep the refresh rate on adaptive for the best balance of smoothness and efficiency.

S Pen: still a superpower

The built-in S Pen remains a major reason to pick the Ultra over almost any other flagship. Jot a phone number on the lock screen, trace a diagram, sign a PDF, fine-tune a photo mask, or use the pen as a remote shutter for group shots. If you’ve never used a stylus, it sounds niche; in practice, it’s like having a mouse and notepad right inside your phone. The integration is seamless, charging happens inside the device, and the tools in Samsung Notes are deep enough for students, designers, and field workers alike. 

Software & Longevity: long support, safer bet

The S24 series launched with Android 14 / One UI 6.1, and Samsung committed to seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates. That’s a big deal if you keep your phone for four-plus years, or you’re buying for a business fleet that values standardization and long-term patches. With Knox security and regular feature drops, the Ultra should age gracefully—especially with AI features that can improve over time.

Who should buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra 5G?

Buy it if you:

• Want the most complete Android phone with a stylus, long support window, and top-tier screen and cameras.

• Rely on your phone for work and study—note-taking, recording, translating, and quick content creation.

• Shoot a lot of photos and video, especially portraits and travel where 3× and 5× optical zoom shines.

• Care about network future-proofing with Wi-Fi 7 and UWB. 

Consider something else if you:

• Prefer a smaller, lighter phone (the S24 Ultra is unapologetically big).

• Don’t care about the S Pen or AI tools—you might save money with the Galaxy S24+ or the previous-gen Ultra.

• Are deeply invested in another ecosystem and don’t want to change services/features.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Gorgeous, bright flat display with Gorilla Armor that cuts reflections. 

• Versatile camera system with excellent 3×/5× shots and 8K/4K high-frame video. 

• Galaxy AI genuinely saves time for search, translation, notes, and photo fixes. 

• S Pen is still unmatched for precision input on a phone. 

• Long updates (up to 7 OS + 7 years security) for better value over time. 

• Wi-Fi 7, UWB, and plenty of storage/RAM options. 

Cons

• Big and hefty; one-hand use can be awkward.

• Fast charging is good but not class-leading on paper (you still need Samsung’s 45W PPS to hit top speeds).

• Generative photo edits can look imperfect in tricky scenes (though they keep improving). 

Practical examples: how the S24 Ultra changes your day

• At work: Record a meeting, then use Transcript Assist to generate notes and action items. Mark up a PDF with the S Pen and send it off without opening a laptop. 

• Traveling: Use Live Translate to book a table by phone. Snap low-light street scenes, then crop in thanks to the 200MP sensor and 5× periscope. Navigate city streets with that super-bright display. 

• Shopping & learning: Circle to Search the sweater you saw in a video or a concept mentioned in an article; jump straight to results without leaving the page. 

• Content creation: Film in 4K60 for smooth clips, switch to 4K120 for slow-mo b-roll, then do a quick color tweak and thumbnail sketch with the S Pen before posting. 

Verdict: still the Android phone to beat

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5G is the rare phone that does almost everything well and keeps improving through software. The titanium build and Gorilla Armor display make it tougher; the cameras are versatile without gimmicks; Wi-Fi 7 and UWB prepare you for the next few years; and Galaxy AI removes friction from daily tasks in ways that feel practical, not flashy. Add seven years of updates and the built-in S Pen, and you’ve got a device that earns its “Ultra” name not just on launch day, but for the long haul. If you’re after a do-it-all flagship that’s as capable at work as it is for travel and content creation, this is an easy top pick.