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The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is due to be announced today, and as always, it will be one of the best phones of the year. But, what has been improved since the previous Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
This article was written before the announcement, and I have not been provided any press releases. So, the comparisons are based on the rumoured specification. With it being so close to launch, most of the specs should be accurate, but I will update them when it is officially announced.
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked January 2024
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs S23 Ultra Specification Comparison
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 3), titanium frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm | 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm |
| Weight | 234 g | 234 g |
| Display | 6.8 inches Dynamic AMOLED 3 | 6.8 inches Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3088 pixels | 1440 x 3088 pixels |
| Pixel Density | 500 ppi | 500 ppi |
| Refresh Rate | 1~144 Hz adaptive | 1~120 Hz adaptive |
| Peak Brightness | 2600 nits (peak) | 1750 nits (peak) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750 Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Qualcomm SM8550 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| CPU | Octa-core | Octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 740 |
| RAM | 12GB/16GB LPDDR5X | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0 | 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0 |
| microSD Slot | No | No |
| Front Camera | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm | 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm |
| Rear Camera | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3″, 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, Laser AF, OIS | 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3″, 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, Laser AF, OIS |
| 50 MP, (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom | 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52″, 1.12µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom | |
| 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52″, 1.12µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom | 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52″, 1.12µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom | |
| 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, Super Steady video | 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″, 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, Super Steady video | |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 | 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless | 45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless |
| Android Version | Android 14, One UI 6 | Android 13, One UI 5 |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs S24 Plus vs S24
Main Differences
Phone technology has plateaued for a while now, and most flagship phones only offer incremental upgrades. This seems to be especially true with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. In Samsung’s defence, they have an amazing phone, and it is the best-selling flagship Android phone, so they don’t really need to be too adventurous with their updates. However, I am sure many people would have liked to see some significant upgrades.
A quick overview of what has changed/improved:
- Improved Display:
- High peak brightness and possibly higher refresh rate.
- Tougher Gorilla Glass Victus 3
- Chipset/RAM/Storage:
- New Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3 (which is a significant improvement vs the Gen 2)
- Possibly higher base RAM of 12GB
- Camera:
- Main periscope lens gets a significant upgrade to a 50MP sensor vs 10MP, but 5x zoom instead of 10x
- Comms:
- Upgraded to WiFi 7
- Possibly upgraded with Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Build and Design
The build of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to be very similar to its predecessor, with the same 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm dimensions and 234g weight. Both phones feature a glass front and back panels. However, while the S23 Ultra has an aluminium frame, leaks point to the S24 Ultra upgrading to a more premium titanium frame for added durability, similar to the recent iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. The size, weight and IP68 dust/water resistance rating are expected to remain unchanged though.
Display
The displays of the S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra are also expected to be very similar. Both will likely feature a 6.8 inch Dynamic AMOLED panel with a 1440 x 3088 pixel resolution and centered hole-punch front camera. The pixel density should, therefore, remain at an extremely sharp 500 ppi on both models.
However, while the S23 Ultra has a variable refresh rate of 1-120 Hz, the S24 Ultra may up this to 1-144 Hz for even smoother scrolling and animations. The peak brightness is also rumoured to see a boost from 1750 nits to 2000 or 2600 nits on the S24 Ultra, allowing for better visibility in very bright conditions. The panel technology is also said to be upgraded to “Dynamic AMOLED 3” versus “Dynamic AMOLED 2X” on the S23 Ultra.
Chipset, RAM and Storage
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will certainly feature the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, while the S23 Ultra houses the previous generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Both are octa-core chipsets built on 4nm process technology. While the CPU cores may remain the same, the GPU is likely to see some improvements with the newer 8 Gen 3 silicon.
I have benchmarked the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 on the iQOO 12 and found it had a significant performance improvement vs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
As for memory, both phones offer ultra-fast LPDDR5X RAM. It is believed the S24 Ultra will have 12GB of RAM minimum, whereas the S23 Ultra had an 8GB option. Some leaks point to a higher-tier 16GB RAM option being made available on the S24 Ultra model.
Internal UFS 4.0 storage options are set to remain unchanged at 256GB, 512GB and 1TB on both handsets. Neither phone features a microSD card slot for further expansion.
Front Camera
The front-facing selfie cameras on the Galaxy S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra are expected to be identical – featuring a 12MP sensor with f/2.2 aperture lens and 26mm focal length. As Samsung’s flagship phone cameras are already excellent, there may be little need for upgrades in this department.
Rear Camera
Now, this is where things may get more interesting. The S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra share the same formidable 200MP, f/1.7 main wide camera. However, rumours point to the telephoto and ultrawide cameras being different.
The S23 Ultra has two 10MP telephoto cameras – one with 3x optical zoom and one periscope lens with 10x optical zoom.
Leaks suggest the S24 Ultra will switch the telephoto lens config to a 50MP 5x telephoto zoom and a 10MP 3x optical zoom. The 50MP 5x zoom camera should be much more practical than the previous configuration.
Some rumours have suggested a trio of 10MP telephotos covering 3x, 10x and possibly 30x optical zoom ranges.
The 12MP, f/2.2, and 120-degree ultrawide are expected to remain unchanged, though.
These tweaked telephoto lenses could give the S24 Ultra greater photographic flexibility than its predecessor. Improved AI photo processing and filters enabled by the newer chipset should also result in some image quality improvements.
Personally, I’d prefer if they ditched the low resolution 10MP zoom lens. Not only is 10MP quite low resolution, but it uses a very small 1/3.52″. I would have loved to see the ultra-wide lens get a significant upgrade.
Connectivity, Bluetooth and WiFi
Connectivity specs are also likely to see a boost on the S24 Ultra. While both phones offer 5G and LTE cellular data, Wi-Fi may be stepped up from WiFi 6E to the significantly better WiFi 7 standard. Bluetooth is expected to remain at version 5.3 on both models, though.
It is also believed that the S24 Ultra will feature Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving), much like the iPhone.
Battery and Charging
Unlikely many rival phones, the battery capacity is tipped to stay the same on the S24 Ultra at 5000 mAh.
Some rumours indicated that faster charging may be introduced, with 65W wired charging replacing 45W charging on the S23 Ultra model. Both phones offer 15W wireless charging, but reverse wireless charging may also see a boost from 4.5W to 10W with the S24 Ultra.
However, recent updates have indicated the wired charging will remain at the same 45W.
Android Version
As you would expect, the newer S24 Ultra will ship with the latest Android 14 OS and Samsung One UI 6 software interface out of the box. The S23 Ultra currently runs Android 13 and One UI 5, but should see an update to Android 14 later in 2024. However, the S24 Ultra should continue to get OS updates for a year or so longer than its predecessor.
Conclusion
While the core specs and capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra are expected to remain similar to the excellent S23 Ultra, upgrades are predicted across the board – including to the build quality, display brightness, chipset, and camera hardware.
While this may not be the most exciting product launch due to the incremental changes, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is inevitably going to be one of the best flagship Android phones for 2024.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
