Updated December 11: article originally posted December 9.
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra is shaping up to be the leading smartphone of 2024 when it launches early next year. Now we know how the flagship handset stacks up against its powerful predecessor.
Detail of the camera of the Galaxy S23 Ultra (Photo by Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Update: Sunday December 10. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has to beat its predecessor, but it must also take on the best of the 2024 generation. The elephant in the room is the iPhone 16 Pro Max. While it might not be launched until the year's second half, there is always an offset, thanks to the six-month gap between the Apple and Samsung launches.
The team at PhoneArena have taken all the details we know about the S24 Ultra and the iPhone 16 Pro Max to compile a comparative render of the two devices. It’s a touch early to be sure on some details—such as the iPhone’s projected weight—but key differences are on show.
You can see the rounded corners of the iPhone against the angular corners of the Galaxy. The different implementations of iOS and OneUI are visible, although with OneUI being based on Android, a user can easily replace the launcher. Apple users are left with whatever Apple decides for them. The camera is the biggest differentiator and no doubt where many of 2024’s smartphone comparisons will occur.
Samsung is expected to upgrade the Galaxy S24 Ultra with a new 50-megapixel x5 telephoto lens, which is on show in the render. That could force Apple’s hand to match the Android flagship with its x5 telephoto lens for the 16 Pro Max and potentially the 16 Pro.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the marker that every other smartphone in 2024 will be measured against.
Concept renders, Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Update: Monday December 11: While Samsung may be pushing the boat on with many of the Galaxy S24 Ultra specifications to beat the competition, the base Galaxy S24 may struggle with the wave of AI and ML software that Samsung’s Gauss AI software will demand.
According to the team at Mizuho Securities, Samsung will be sticking with 8 GB of RAM for the Galaxy S24. Given the demands that Samsung Gauss will place on the hardware—especially for code running 100 percent locally—the low level of RAM could lead to a less-than-wonderful experience for the S24 owners. Given the Galaxy S24 Ultra was initially expected to come with a 16 GB option, but is now looking to be limited to 12 GB, this is a pain that will be felt across the S24 portfolio.
The Samsung Experience Store in London (Photo by Olly Curtis/Future via Getty Images)
Recent leaked images compare the current top-of-the-line Galaxy handset—the Galaxy S23 Ultra—with its highly anticipated replacement. The broad formula for Samsung’s largest-screened smartphone remains the same, but the evolution of the Ultra line is clear to see.
The first change can be seen in the storage space for the S-Pen. Samsung is introducing a new S-Pen stylus with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. While it should work with other Galaxy devices, including a storage compartment in the body reinforces the notion that the Galaxy S and the S-Pen are designed to work together.
The top of the new S-Pen barrel is less rounded than before, meaning the pen will now sit flush with the edges of the Galaxy S24, reducing unwanted ejections.
Then, there is the speaker grille. The Galaxy S23 Ultra saw the lower speaker tucked away behind six small holes in the case; the Galaxy S24 Ultra has moved towards a single bar cutout. This looks to be a cosmetic decision rather than practical (the S24 Ultra is expected to continue achieving the IP68 rating of the S23 Ultra). I’m curious to see if this aesthetic continues throughout the new handset.
Finally, you have the volume button. It’s often overlooked,2 but the external switches and buttons on any smartphone contribute massively to the tactile feel of the phone. Buttons in awkward places or with poor physical feedback can impact its perception. So it’s worth noting Samsung has moved the volume rockers and made the rocker a touch wider and thicker.
What you can’t see directly is Samsung’s move to a titanium chassis, dropping the overall weight of the handset and increasing its strength. While Apple blazed this trail with the iPhone 15 Pro, given the time it takes to design and certify a new handset, Samsung will have decided long before Apple’s reveal to move to titanium.
The Galaxy S24 family, including the S24 Ultra and S-Pen, will launch in early 2024 at a “Galaxy Unpacked” event that is widely expected to take place on January 17th.
Now read how Samsung will bring AI to the Galaxy S24 Ultra...
