Review · Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review (2026): 2024 Phone of the Year, Now Discounted
Won Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. Now $300+ off launch — same camera array, S Pen, and 7-year update commitment as the S25 Ultra at significantly less. The strongest Android value at flagship-tier in 2026.
By SmartphoneAwards Editorial · Published · Updated
Pros
- MKBHD's 2024 Phone of the Year
- Now $899–$999 (down from $1,299 launch)
- Same camera and S Pen as S25 Ultra
- Seven years of major Android updates
Cons
- One generation behind on chipset (8 Gen 3 vs 8 Elite)
- 232g — heavy
- One UI 6 less polished than One UI 7 on S25 Ultra
- Marginally dimmer display than S25 Ultra
Why it won Phone of the Year
MKBHD's 2024 award called out the S24 Ultra as 'the most capable Android phone of the year' — 200MP main, 5x periscope, S Pen, and Samsung's then-new 7-year update commitment. Two years on, every one of those advantages still holds, and the price has dropped meaningfully.
Display & build
6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 120Hz. Brightness peaks lower than the S25 Ultra (~2,200 nits typical vs 2,600) but still excellent. Titanium frame, S Pen housing, IP68.
Performance
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (US variant). Roughly 30% slower than 8 Elite in the S25 Ultra but still excellent for everyday use and gaming. Galaxy AI features work identically to launch — most have rolled forward.
Camera
Quad camera: 200MP main + 50MP 5x periscope + 10MP 3x telephoto + 12MP ultrawide. Same hardware as the S25 Ultra. Processing is roughly 90% as good — Samsung's pipeline updates have been mostly software-based and many have rolled back to the S24 Ultra.
S Pen & software
Same S Pen as the S25 Ultra. One UI 6 → 7 → 8 has rolled out cleanly. Galaxy AI is fully supported and most features work identically to the S25 Ultra.
Verdict · 5.0 / 5
Buy the S24 Ultra at the discount — same fundamental capability as the S25 Ultra at $300+ less, and won MKBHD's 2024 Phone of the Year for good reason. Only buy the S25 Ultra if you specifically want the latest chipset, brightest display, or Snapdragon 8 Elite efficiency.
🛒 Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra on AmazonAlternatives to consider
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra still worth buying in 2026?
Yes — won MKBHD's 2024 Phone of the Year. Now $899–$999 (vs $1,299 S25 Ultra) with the same camera, S Pen, and 7-year update commitment.
S24 Ultra or S25 Ultra: which to buy?
S24 Ultra at the discount unless you specifically want Snapdragon 8 Elite or the latest Galaxy AI feature set. The S25 Ultra is a refinement — the S24 Ultra is the value pick.
How long will the S24 Ultra be supported?
Through 2031 — Samsung's 7-year update commitment from the S24 launch in early 2024. Five+ years of remaining support in 2026.
How we rate
Our editorial score is anchored to outcomes from MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025), then refined for everyday usability. Phone of the Year winners earn 5/5; category winners 4.5/5; runners-up 4/5; otherwise we score on merit. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.