Design & Build
At first PHONEARENA glance, both phones share a similar design, with their angular frames, quad-camera setups, and large 6.8-inch displays. However, the Galaxy S24 Ultra features a more premium build, swapping the aluminum frame of the S23 Ultra for a lighter, stronger titanium frame. This change makes the S24 Ultra slightly lighter, weighing 232g compared to the S23 Ultra's 234g, and the display is flat, whereas the S23 Ultra has a slight curve at the edges
The color options differ as well. The S24 Ultra comes in a wider array of titanium hues, such as Titanium Violet, Titanium Gray, and Titanium Yellow, while the S23 Ultra is available in Phantom Black, Green, Lavender, and other shades
Display
Both models feature a 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering sharp visuals and smooth scrolling. However, the S24 Ultra takes the lead with a significantly brighter screen, boasting a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, which outshines the S23 Ultra's 1,750 nits. This makes the S24 Ultra more readable in bright outdoor conditions
Samsung galaxy s23 ultra vs galaxy s24 ultra camera Capabilities
In terms of photography, the Galaxy S24 Ultra retains the 200MP main camera of its predecessor but introduces some changes in the telephoto department. The S24 Ultra opts for a 50MP periscope lens with 5x optical zoom, a downgrade from the S23 Ultra’s 10MP periscope lens with 10x zoom. While the zoom power has been reduced, the S24 Ultra’s camera system benefits from Samsung’s AI-powered enhancements, which improve image quality in various lighting conditions. The ultra-wide and telephoto cameras remain similar, with both offering 12MP and 10MP resolutions, respectively
Performance
The biggest performance leap comes from the processor. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which offers better efficiency, higher clock speeds, and enhanced gaming capabilities. In benchmark tests, the S24 Ultra consistently outperforms the S23 Ultra, particularly in tasks requiring high performance, such as gaming and multitasking
However, in day-to-day use, the performance difference may not be very noticeable unless you push the devices to their limits.
Battery & Charging
Both phones have a 5,000mAh battery, but the S24 Ultra shows improvements in power efficiency, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, allowing it to last slightly longer on a single charge. Additionally, both devices support 45W fast charging, with no major improvements in this area
Galaxy S24 Ultra Price vs Galaxy S23 Ultra's Price
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at $1,299 in the U.S., which is a $100 increase from the Galaxy S23 Ultra's launch price of $1,199. Both phones come with 256GB of storage in their base models. In Europe, the S24 Ultra is priced around €1,449 for the 256GB variant, with higher prices for larger storage options.
The price increase for the S24 Ultra reflects upgrades like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and enhanced camera features
Verdict
If you already own the Galaxy S23 Ultra, upgrading to the S24 Ultra may not be essential unless you’re drawn to the brighter display, new titanium build, or improved AI features. For those coming from older devices, however, the S24 Ultra presents itself as a refined and more polished version of one of Samsung’s best phones to date. The performance boost and subtle design improvements make it a solid choice for power users.
In terms of price, the S24 Ultra starts at $1,299, which is $100 more than the S23 Ultra's launch price. While this price bump may deter some, the S24 Ultra offers enough upgrades to justify the cost for those seeking the best that Samsung has to offer.