June Wan/ZDNET
New product launches are always exciting, especially if you’re looking to choose your next smartphone. But while these launches are fun, they can also be overwhelming, with companies delivering a lot of information in a short amount of time. Today’s Samsung Unpacked event was no different.
Also: Every product Samsung announced at Unpacked 2024
Samsung hosted its Unpacked event in San Jose, where it largely focused on the new features of the Galaxy S24 lineup of smartphones. From increased battery life to artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, all three of the Samsung Galaxy S24 smartphones are some of the best options available on the market right now. The key to success is knowing how to choose the right one for you.
Specifications
| Galaxy S24 | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $799 | $999 | $1,299 |
| Display | 6.2″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2600 nits peak, Always-on | 6.7″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2600 nits peak, Always-on | 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2600 nits peak, Always-on |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels | 1440 x 3088 pixels | 1440 x 3088 pixels |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Main camera | 50MP f/1.8 wide, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto – 8K at 24/30fps, 4K at 30/60fps | 50MP f/1.8 wide, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto – 8K at 24/30fps, 4K at 30/60/120fps | 200MP f/1.7 wide, 12MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto – 8K at 24/30fps, 4K at 30/60/120fps |
| Front camera | 12MP f2.2 – 4K at 60fps | 12MP f2.2 – 4K at 60fps | 12MP f2.2 – 4K at 60fps |
| OS | Android 14 | Android 14 | Android 14 |
| Battery | 4,000mAh, 50% in 30 minutes | 4,900mAh, 65% in 30 minutes | 5,000mAh, 65% in 30 minutes |
| Durability | IP68, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with aluminum frame | IP68, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with aluminum frame | IP68, Gorilla Glass Armor with titanium frame |
| Colors | Onyx Black, Marble Grey, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow | Onyx Black, Marble Grey, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow | Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow |
You should buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if…
1. You want to make the most of Samsung’s new AI features
The brand new Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra may not be a huge hardware upgrade when compared to its previous version, the S23 Ultra, but its new AI features make daily use a far superior experience in comparison. And the included S Pen and large 6.8-inch display help you make the most of it.
Galaxy S24 users can use ‘Circle to Search’, a new feature that lets you circle an area in an image and run a Google search. The included S Pen that comes with the Ultra series is perfect to use for this purpose, giving users the precision necessary to encircle what they want to search for and leave out anything they don’t. Also: The best Android phonesOther new AI features coming to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra include: Generative Edit, which lets you move and edit subjects in photos, using AI to generate backgrounds or expand images; Live Translate, which features real-time translation during voice calls; Transcript Assist, which can transcribe voice memos and notes; and Chat Assist, which can help you generate text for emails, text messages, and more.
2. You want a top-of-the-line camera
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra still has a 200MP main camera, but the telephoto module got an upgrade from a 10MP to 50MP with 5x optical zoom. New improvements and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 also result in clearer photos in low-light conditions. This capability helps reduce noise in photos taken at night or in dark areas while delivering more detail that typically wouldn’t be captured with other cameras.
There’s also a new AI Zoom feature that brings up the clarity and detail in long-distance shots by filling in areas that are blurry or not in focus.
