Naturally, with its latest launch Samsung has tried to oust itself yet again – so what changes are we seeing from the premium end of the Galaxy lineup this time around? Let’s take a look at the Galaxy S24 Ultra vs the Galaxy S23 Ultra to deduce whether or not the upgrade is worth it. With the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung aims to perfect the winning formula it has been refining since the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
This time around, we’ve got a phone that draws on AI features, a better chip, and a brighter and flatter display – let’s explore the full breadth of the changes and improvements to help you make an informed decision and which S Ultra might be your match.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S23 Ultra specs
| Spec | Galaxy S24 Ultra | Galaxy S23 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 162.6 × 79.0 × 8.6mm | 163.3 × 78 × 8.9mm |
| Weight | 233g | 234g |
| Display | 6.8″ LTPO AMOLED | 6.8″ AMOLED |
| Refresh rate | 1-120Hz | 1-120Hz |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB |
| RAM | 12GB | 8GB or 12GB |
| Rear Cameras | 200MP, f/1.7 main; 12MP, f/2.2 ultrawide; 10MP telephoto (3x); 50MP, f/3.4 telephoto (5x) | 200MP f/1.7 OIS main, 12MP f/2.2 wide (120°), 10MP f/2.4 OIS zoom (3x), 10MP f/4.9 OISzoom (10x) |
| Front Camera | 12MP, f/2.2 | 12MP, f/2.2 |
| Battery / charging speeds | 5,000 mAh / 45W wired, 15W wireless | 5,000 mAh / 45W wired, 15W wireless |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Software | Android 14 with OneUI 6.1 | Android 13 with OneUI 5.1 |
| Durability | Titanium frame, Corning Gorilla Glass Armor, IP68 rating | Gorilla Glass Victus 2, IP68 rating |
| Colors | Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow (Samsung.com exclusive – Titanium Green, Titanium Orange, Titanium Blue) | Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S23 Ultra – display and design
When it comes to the display and design, we’re seeing another smaller spec bump mixed into the familiar formula for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The display of the Galaxy S23 Ultra was already impressive, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra is completely on par. The device features a 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a dynamically switching 1-120Hz refresh rate, delivering smooth and vibrant visuals. Actually, the S24 Ultra gets a boost when it comes to brightness, holding a 2600 nits peak brightness in comparison to 1,750 nits for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. This improvement brings Samsung’s flagship device on par with competitors such as Google’s Pixel 8 Pro and Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, both of which offer peak brightness levels above 2,000 nits.
When it comes to the design, the Galaxy S24 Ultra does retain a similar design language to the S23 Ultra – they’re definitely related in that sense. However, there are a few more significant differences from when you compare the S23 Ultra to the S22 Ultra. Some may rejoyce, as Samsung has finally ditched the curved screen in favor of a flat screen and sides, making the new flashy titanium frame more visible. The glass back panel has also had a durability upgrade, getting Gorilla Glass Victus 2 instead of Gorilla Glass Victus.
Aside from that, the only other main difference comes in terms of the available colorways. They’re not too far removed, with the Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender colors of the S23 Ultra becoming Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S23 Ultra – camera specs
The camera capabilities of the Galaxy S23 Ultra were already impressive, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra brings a couple of noteworthy upgrades. One of the most significant changes involves the telephoto/periscope camera configuration, as the Galaxy S24 Ultra has now replaced the 10MP 3X telephoto camera with a 5X one, and has dropped the ultra-long 10MP 10X periscope camera in favor of a new and improved 50MP 5X optical zoom telephoto.
The main camera has retained its 200MP resolution, but it features a larger and improved sensor to enhance its imaging capabilities. The ultra-wide and front-facing cameras have remained unchanged. Overall, the Galaxy S24 Ultra aims to provide users with even more versatile and high-quality photography options, and will be looking to compete with the current smartphone market favorites.
The elephant in the room here is that the Galaxy S24 comes natively supporting Galaxy AI’s photo editing suite, the so-called ProVisual Engine. This will get you a range of generative AI features under the guise of Generative Edit and Edit Suggest, and a wealth of other capabilities we’re excited to try out when we get hands-on with the device. Luckily, Galaxy AI features will be rolled out onto the S23 Ultra in due time.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S23 Ultra – price
Price is always a crucial factor when considering an upgrade, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra is all set to come bearing its Ultra price tag. The Galaxy S23 Ultra was praised for its top-of-the-line features but also came with a hefty price tag, starting at $1199,99 for the base storage model. Following in its predecessor’s footsteps, the S24 Ultra also starts above the 1K mark – in fact, the generational leap in power comes with a price tag that’s $100 more expensive than the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The S24 Ultra starts at $1,299.99 / £1,249 for 256GB of storage, going up to $1,419.99 / £1,349 for 512GB of storage, and finally $1,659.99 / £1,549 for 1TB of storage.
Marla’s thoughts
As expected, Samsung’s high-end phone is getting even more high-end: the powerful chipset of the Galaxy S24 Ultra is encased in a more premium build, with a brighter screen and potentially better camera. It’s still an evolutionary upgrade rather than a revolutionary one, but the boat has been rocked by the focus on super-charging the capabilities and functionalities of the smartphone through Galaxy AI. As well as photo editing, other AI features to come to the device include live translations and Chat Assist. If you’re desperate for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Galaxy AI, investing in an S24 Ultra could be the way to go – however, this is not to underplay the capabilities of the S23 Ultra, which is still a powerful and premium smartphone that will likely go down in price following the launch of its successor.
