I still remember that a decade ago, when I was in Bangalore, I saw an ad for Samsung Star, my first touchscreen phone. I headed to a mobile store a few days later and got that phone. At that time, it was one of the newer touch phones with resistive touch. I never thought I’d use the Galaxy S24 Ultra a decade later.
After getting the Samsung Star, I moved to Galaxy Fit during my college days and then bought a Google Nexus 5 (I loved that phone). I then gifted myself the OnePlus 3T on one of my birthdays (this was the first phone I bought using my money), and I upgraded to the Samsung S20 FE 5G, which was my last phone.
It’s been over 3 months since I’ve been using the ultimate flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Even with the S25 Ultra out, I still feel that the S24 Ultra is quite relevant. PS: will be sprinkling photos from my S24 Ultra across the post!
In this blog post, I’ll share my review of the S24 Ultra and why I absolutely love it!
Background Story – Why I upgraded to S24 Ultra?
Upgrading from the OnePlus 3T was quite a task, especially with OnePlus announcing the 9 series with the Hasselblad partnership and improved cameras. It was a wonderful phone with an amazing build. That was the phone I would have upgraded to; however, when I tried that phone in person at the store, it didn’t quite amaze me. The cameras weren’t quite there.
Instead, I tried the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G – this was Samsung’s first non-flagship S series device in India with a Snapdragon processor. Samsung is notorious for shipping phones with their Exynos processors in India. While the situation with Exynos has improved in the last few years, it’s still not the best when compared to Exynos.
I had an amazing experience with my S20 until it started misbehaving a few months ago. It was around November last year that it randomly started restarting. It used just to hang when I did some actions and restarted. I couldn’t find a pattern of situations when it crashed. So I decided to reflash the phone with an older stable version of the ROM. PS: If you don’t have a Windows PC, it’s difficult to flash.
Since I was travelling to the USA in November last year to attend KubeCon Salt Lake City, I thought it was a good time to upgrade the phone. Also, during the Black Friday week, I was looking at some good deals. Unfortunately, the phone completely froze and restarted during my transit in Paris, and I was scared then. So an upgrade was on the cards for sure. But which phone?
Samsung S24 Ultra vs iPhone 16 Pro – the contenders
I’ve been an Android user ever since Nexus 5. Not only a user, but I’ve also developed apps on Android and just love the ecosystem and the customization options available on Android. On the Apple side of things, I’ve been a user of iPad and iPad Mini for quite some time. During my trip to KubeCon Chicago, I purchased the Macbook Air M2, which I absolutely love. So I wasn’t alien to the Apple ecosystem.
Why S24+
The only reason I was leaning toward S24+ was because of its size and features that are almost similar to those of S24 Ultra. It was smaller and had the same camera setup except the 200-megapixel camera and the s-pen, which I felt was an overkill for my usage. The absence of these features meant a lower price as well. So, I was quite fixed on this one.
Why iPhone 16 Pro
Ever since I used the iPad, I’ve been in love with the fluidity of iOS. The Macbook went a notch further with its super amazing battery life. Plus, the Apple ecosystem, with Macbook and iPad, for sharing media and screens, is just amazing. That was one reason I was considering the iPhone 16 Pro, as well. The only (and the major) concern was getting used to the OS. I still struggle when someone hands me their iPhone to click their pics – I have no idea how that thing works!
The Winner – S24 Ultra
The S24 Ultra was a dream phone, sort of, for me. After using the S20 FE, I was sure that I’d want to have the Ultra phone someday. I still remember that I was at Best Buy in Salt Lake City and spent almost 30 minutes just holding the S24+ and the S24 Ultra and was confused. While I loved the form factor of S24+, I didn’t want to come back to India and regret not buying the S24 Ultra when I could.
So, with that thought, I finally decided to get the S24 Ultra during the Black Friday deal at Best Buy. I got this for $999, which, when converted, cost me around INR 91,000, which I felt was a very good deal considering the prices of S24 Ultra back then in India.
S24 Ultra Review
Features I’ve Fallen For
The S24 Ultra has completely changed how I use my phone. Coming from the S20 FE, these upgrades aren’t just numbers on a spec sheet – they’re game-changers in my daily life.
That Screen Though 🎯
That screen has me hooked in ways I never expected. The brightness is so intense that I can actually read stuff under the harsh sun. Plus, the extra screen real estate makes my terrible typing more bearable. Also, the sheer colour and photo-viewing experience are just so good!
Camera Magic 📸
The camera system feels like pure magic. The portrait mode makes me look like I hired a professional photographer, and it makes me look good. Check out my stories on Instagram. Not a big user of the 100x zoom, but the moon shots are amazing. In general, the simple point-and-shoot generates some great photos.
Below are some photos I took from the S24 Ultra – scaled down.
Haptics Done Right ✨
The haptics on this thing are butter-smooth. I know a lot of you would be like, “But it’s just vibrations.” But the way it works is just so good. Whether it’s using the camera shutter or just receiving a notification, the haptics feel so good and with just the right level of vibration.
OneUI Goodness 🎨
Ever since I used the S20 FE, I have loved the OneUI. It has so many practical features inbuilt that I don’t need extra apps. For instance, the basic gallery has some great features for editing photos, so I barely felt the need to get a separate app. Whether I need to make a reel, collage, or GIF, the gallery app does a great job. Even the other customization options are to the point, and the whole experience is just so smooth. I’m just waiting for the OneUI 7 to hit S24 Ultra.
The S Pen has its moments ✍️
As for the S Pen, it has its moments, I don’t use it often. It’s great for signing documents and perfect for precise photo editing. Plus, it’s amazing to click photos, especially when I’m alone. It did a great job of clicking portrait shots of me. Check out my Las Vegas highlights on Instagram.
Mixed Feelings
Not everything about the S24 Ultra has been a smooth ride. After three months, there are a couple of things that still make me pause and occasionally question my choices – even though I love this phone overall.
The Phone is Huge!
As someone who used to slip the S20 FE into any pocket comfortably, the S24 Ultra feels like carrying a small tablet. Sure, that massive screen is fantastic, but using it one-handed is difficult. (Thanks to the one-handed mode that makes it easier to use) Finding pants with pockets big enough has become a genuine consideration.
The S Pen
You’d think having a built-in stylus would revolutionize how I use my phone, but honestly? Most days, I forget it’s even there. Yes, it’s incredibly precise when I need to edit photos or sign documents, and showing off the air commands to friends is fun. But for the premium I paid partly for this feature, I can’t help but feel a bit guilty about how rarely I actually use it.
No Regrets With The S24 Ultra
After three months of living with the S24 Ultra, and with the S25 Ultra out already, I’m still convinced I made the right choice, quirks and all. Yes, it’s huge, and yes, the S Pen mostly serves as an expensive fidget toy, but the stunning display, incredible cameras, and refined user experience make up for these minor gripes.
Is it worth the flagship price tag? If you’re coming from an older phone like my S20 FE, absolutely. The upgrades in everyday use are noticeable and meaningful. Even with the S25 series announced, I feel the S24 Ultra is still a very good flagship phone for most people.
Further, if you have any queries regarding this trip and route, please feel free to ask in the comments below, tweet me at @Atulmaharaj, DM on Instagram or Get In Touch.