I don't care about 2025 phones, I'm using this old gem
Ye olde Galaxy Note 20 Ultra - peak? (Image credit - PhoneArena)
The external upgrades the Galaxy S24 Ultra introduced also feel great. So, the rounded frame is still there, but it now has a matte-ish titanium finish, so it's not as slippery as before. The screen doesn't have an Edge curve, but the glass does arch into the edges of the phone ever so slightly for a "best of both worlds" look and feel. I also prefer the back of the old S24 Ultra more to the new S25 Ultra. I've been very vocal about disliking the "floating lens" design of the Galaxy S25 cameras. And when it was revealed by teardowns that these big rings are just for show and the lenses underneath them are just as big as the ones on the S24 series before them — that was it for me. No lint-collectors in my pocket!
S24 Ultra looking sophisticated (Image credit - PhoneArena) The back of the S24 Ultra still looks like a great balance between bulk and utilitarian high-tech to me.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the first time we got to experience Samsung's new Gorilla Armor glass for the screen. It's an ultra-tough glass with a very potent anti-reflective coating on top. You'd think that only helps with outdoor visibility, but it has in fact made the screen colors and brightness pop out more in any scenario. And I am saying "Samsung's", because that's a Samsung-exclusive glass — I've asked Corning representers about using it in other phones, and they shut me down pretty quickly. As far as I could surmise, it's a product of partnership — it's basically a Gorilla Glass Victus but with a Samsung-made anti-glare coating on top.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs S24 Ultra, notice the reduced reflection and visibility behind it (Image credit - PhoneArena)
My theory is backed up by the fact that Samsung used the same -70% screen glare coating on the Galaxy Tab S10 series, even though they are not Gorilla Glass-equipped.
Also, it's not just about the anti-reflectivity. I've found the Gorilla Armor glass to probably the most scratch-resistant glass I've had on a phone. You know how you always get mysterious mini scratches on the glass two months in? From just keeping your phone in your pocket and on a table, and babying it as much as you can? Yeah, in a year and a half, the Galaxy S24 Ultra I've been using has none of those, miraculously.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs S24 Ultra - can't catch a scratch (Image credit - PhoneArena) This has been in my pocket, or laptop bag, or backpack, I have dropped it a couple of times, too. Aside from some minor spotting on the coating itself, which I can't even capture in a photo, the glass itself is absolutely pristine. There is a very big difference between the processors that we get in flagship phones and the processors we get in the so-called midrangers. The performance gap between a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was absolutely massive. And you can rest assured that the new Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 still can't even get close enough to even eat the dust of last year's 8 Gen 3 that's in the S24 Ultra. What I am saying is that these processors are made to be super-powerful, and it's going to take more than a year to make the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy feel outdated. In fact, it's still overqualified and over-specced for anything the Google Play Store can throw at it.Hence why I barely have felt the need to upgrade from this phone in terms of performance or software needs. Yes, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is also overkill, so why replace one beast with another? OK, "showing its age" is a bit harsh. It's just that this year's Galaxy S25 Ultra did make great improvements in how the image pipeline treats fine details and oversharpening. For pixel-peepers, the new model's photos do look more realistic, softer yet clear, more pleasing on the eye. That is, if you are taking your time A/B-ing the same samples between both phones. Fact is, when the Galaxy S24 Ultra came out last year, it topped the score on our camera benchmark test. Sure, this year's model scored a couple of points extra, but that does not immediately make the old one bad, does it?
I've learned to predict and rely on the Galaxy S24 Ultra 's camera. Even the 100x super zoom, which I used to meme on — I've used on a couple of occasions for an actual task. No, not spying on my neighbor — more like reading a signpost that's far away, or identifying an object.
One point we rarely talk about is the speakers. I am pretty satisfied with the stereo speakers of the S24 Ultra. It has a surprising amount of detail in the bass. Volume is slightly on the weak-ish side and has a little bit of that midrange hump that's inherent with the small acoustic spaces. But, in general, surprisingly full and pleasing speakers — I can binge YouTube while washing the dishes or even play a tune just fine on those.I've also learned to use the S Pen over the years — as mentioned, previous Galaxy Note fan. I like scribbling directly over my calendar or taking notes by hand. It's a different type of creative process, rather than just typing them out on a keyboard. People who carry around small notepads to take cryptic scribbles with arrows and squiggly lines all around them get it. The Samsung S Pen has been perfected long ago and has had a perfect feel and response for years now.I wish I could praise DeX here, too, but I haven't used it nearly as much lately. Ever since Apple gave the iPad Pro a bit more capabilities with external monitors and multi-tasking, that's what I've been using for my digital nomad needs. Now, One UI 7 is an acquired taste for me. Here's hoping Samsung corrects course with One UI 8.
I'd say it's still a very solid phone. I will be swapping away from it very soon, simply because I need to step out of my comfort zone and explore other phones and operating systems out there. Got to keep the knowledge in the old noggin fresh, and gain new perspectives on what phones offer and what challenges users face.
But, if you are looking for a solid phone, and you want to pay "old flagship" money for it — yeah, go for it!
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