Latest news with #GalaxyS24Ultra
Phone Arena
a day ago
- Phone Arena
Even if other S26 models vary, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may stick with this chipset
The Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra for reference. | Image by PhoneArena Excited about the Galaxy S26? Are you already saving money to get that Samsung goodness in about six months (Sammy is expected to drop a new batch of flagship phones at the very beginning of 2026)? I suspect many of you definitely are, and want to know all there is about the Galaxy S26 lineup: and among the most important questions one can ask is about chipsets: When it comes to chipsets, sometimes Samsung goes with Qualcomm's Snapdragon silicon for all of its models in a given device family. Like it did with the Galaxy S25 lineup. Earlier, Samsung sometimes offered an Exynos chipset for different markets across the world – so, people got different phones depending on where they live. Different hardware for different markets is something I'm not thrilled about at all, but I'm not calling the shots over at Samsung headquarters. Those who are after the Galaxy S26 Ultra might be glad to know that – not that we expected it to be the other way – the maxed-out flagship will most likely utilize the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. This is not a prediction, but a credible rumor, and it comes straight out of the S26 Ultra 's first firmware file. The file includes a reference to a chipset labeled "PMK8850". This identifier closely follows the naming convention of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite (model number 8750), which powers the Galaxy S25 Ultra . Based on this pattern, PMK8850 is likely the internal model number for Qualcomm's next high-end mobile processor – probably named the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 is expected to feature a redesigned Oryon CPU architecture. Reports indicate the chip could reach clock speeds up to 4.6GHz in its standard form, and even higher – around 4.74GHz – in a special, customized "for Galaxy" version. This latter version may be the one referenced in the performance projections show the new chip offering up to 25% better overall speed and significant improvements in graphics performance. Qualcomm is expected to unveil the chip officially in September, so we'll definitely keep you posted on for the Galaxy S26 Ultra itself, early leaks hint at a large 6.9-inch OLED screen with enhancements in brightness and color accuracy. The camera system may include a 200MP main sensor with a wider aperture for improved low-light performance, and a new 50MP periscope lens offering 5x optical zoom. Memory options could include 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM, with a 5,000mAh battery, which I can't say thrills me. Not at all, now that we're expecting mid-range phones with 10,000 mAh capacity batteries in the very near future.
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is controversial in this key way, but let me tell you why that's a good thing
Most of us like islands, right? Some folks immediately start to paint long, white-sanded beaches with picturesque dunes and palm trees, while others get that inner buzz of being on a small piece of land, surrounded by I like islands that have a nice, big X on their maps. With a dotted line to the X, where the treasure lies.I also like camera that's the protruded part of a phone's rear panel, surrounding and housing the camera(s). As a rule of thumb, the bigger the island, the higher the chances there's a real treasure to be found. The Galaxy S26 Ultra, for example, might grow a camera island on its back, per the latest leaks. Very hush-hush stuff. Although it seems pretty logical, once one comes to think of it. The Galaxy S25 Ultra for reference. | Image by PhoneArena It's important to note that the camera bump that's presented by PhoneArt (a.k.a. Ice Universe, as some of you might know them), as seen here: Image source – X …might grow because of a thinner Galaxy S26 Ultra chassis. So far, nobody knows exactly how thin the phone will be, but it's probably going to be 7.x mm thick. Naturally, a thinner body would make the camera setup pop up even further out of the rear panel. Maybe one day phone manufacturers will be able to fit it all in a sleek, flat body, but for now, we have to settle for raised camera islands. And that's not a problem at all for me. I tend to obsess about what a phone can do, not the way it is on the outside. Yeah, sure, I like some models (like the boxy, overly aggressive-looking Galaxy S24 Ultra) more than others, but if I had to choose between a Porsche-like phone with a small battery and a pathetic camera and the ugliest phone ever (but with great battery and camera), I'd definitely go for the hideous massive camera islands on phones look like they're about to launch into orbit – but they're actually doing real work. Bigger sensors need more room, and more lenses mean sharper shots, better zoom, and night photos that don't look like security cam footage from 2002. It's less about style and more about cramming a DSLR into your skinny jeans. Wobbly on the table, sure – but your photos won't be. I can live with that. The Galaxy S25 Edge and its camera bump. | Image by PhoneArena The Galaxy S26 Ultra 's alleged camera island design reminds me very much of the way these two brand-new Sammy phones are: Galaxy Z Fold 7 Galaxy S25 Edge The common theme is that both of these (despite one being a foldable) are super thin and the camera surroundings are protruding quite a bit: The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and its camera bump. | Image by PhoneArena It's only logical that the (allegedly thinner) Galaxy S26 Ultra will follow in suit. The $64,000 question is: So far, nothing is pointing at such a direction. As Sammy fans very well know, the Galaxy S24 Ultra dropped its predecessor's 10x zoom for a 5x lens. Most people weren't out there spying on mountaintops anyway, and the 5x hits the sweet spot for everyday zoom. Plus, with higher-res sensors doing the heavy lifting, you still get crisp detail without carrying a phone that feels like binoculars. The Vivo X200 Ultra has a camera bump with the size of Utah. | Image by PhoneArena Camera islands can get annoyingly large to the point where they're a bit impractical. Like my colleague Vic found out first hand: Vivo X200 Ultra Review: Impractical design, but an incredible camera This (otherwise excellent) phone feels awkward to hold due to its top-heavy design, which throws off the balance and makes it easier to fumble. While it's only slightly heavier than the Vivo X200 Pro at around 230 grams (comparable to other large phones) it's the uneven weight distribution that stands out more than the overall heft. I doubt that Samsung will slap a humongous camera island on the Galaxy S26 Ultra , but cons of large camera islands had to be highlighted. The more you know. The Galaxy S25 Ultra. | Image by PhoneArena I've praised camera islands so much that one would think nothing else is needed for capturing great shots. Nothing can be further from the truth. You may have the ultimate machine in your arsenal, you may have a camera island as big as Greenland on the back of your phone and still Because the hardware part is just one part of the equation here. Knowing what makes a photo great (the correct light for your needs, the angle, the best moment to press the shutter, etc.). If you keep ignoring the basic rules – or worse, if you abide by them all the time, without trying to break them – you'll end up in a limbo so deep that even the most expensive gear won't pull you out of. Like this dude's post I saw in a popular forum for dedicated cameras the other day: he was baffled as to why his brand-new gear (that cost him several thousand dollars) produced "lousy" shots. I know why: because the shots were taken in the worst lighting conditions, without any idea for composition or "story", no juxtaposition, no tone, no mood: just some random pics of flowers, people, buildings, etc. I often advise those who whine about not having a good enough camera to check out the iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS) from, say, 2018. If you keep telling yourself that your 2025 or 2024 phone "is not good enough", check out what some are able to do with iPhone 6 and iPhone 7 series. Great stuff.I really hope Samsung doesn't read that last part I just wrote, though. They might decide not to upgrade the Galaxy S26 Ultra camera setup at all. So far, there are some positive camera-related rumors surrounding the future flagship. Let's not jinx it. 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Phone Arena
23-07-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Samsung's marvelous Galaxy S24 Ultra is a timeless bargain at a towering $500 discount
Is age one of the main factors you take into consideration when looking for a new high-end smartphone to buy? Hopefully not, because some devices are oftentimes more attractive a year or a year and a half after their commercial debut. Take the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Replaced by a thinner, lighter, and more powerful S25 Ultra with a (slightly) larger screen in tow at the top of the Android food chain around six months ago, the early 2024-released 6.8-inch giant remains one of the best phones you can get... at $799.99. $500 off (38%) 5G, Unlocked, 256GB Storage, 12GB RAM, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Processor, 6.8-Inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display with 3120 x 1440 Pixel Resolution and 120Hz Refresh Rate Technology, Titanium Frame, 200 + 50 + 10 + 12MP Quad Rear-Facing Camera System, 12MP Front-Facing Camera, 5,000mAh Battery with 45W Charging Capabilities, Android 14 with One UI 6.1, Galaxy AI, S Pen Included, Three Color Options Buy at BestBuy That was obviously not Samsung's original list price for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powerhouse, but if you hurry, you can save a whopping 500 bucks at Best Buy without having to meet any special requirements. That's right, the S24 Ultra's "regular" price of $1,299.99 in an entry-level 256GB storage variant is currently marked down by no less than 38 percent in a grand total of three different color options sans obligatory memberships, device trade-ins, number port-ins, or upfront carrier activations. This is an incredibly rare deal, mind you, only eclipsed by Amazon for a few hours last week, which almost certainly means that you don't have a lot of time to maximize your Galaxy S24 Ultra savings without jumping through hoops, especially if you have a clear favorite among the Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, and Titanium Violet hues deeply discounted here. This bad boy's built-in S Pen, gorgeous 6.8-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display, 5,000mAh battery, 200 + 10 + 50 + 12MP quad rear-facing camera system, aforementioned Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and silky smooth software have all basically aged like fine wine, and of course, Samsung is planning to deliver multiple major OS updates to the S24 Ultra without delay, which essentially guarantees your long-term satisfaction with your purchase if you decide to take advantage of Best Buy's outstanding new deal above. Switch to a 2-month Total 5G or 5G+ plan with Total Wireless and score this foldable deal. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Tom's Guide
22-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Forget Galaxy Z Fold 7 — Best Buy just gave the Galaxy S24 Ultra a $500-off instant discount
(Image credit: Future) Samsung's about to launch its new foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7, but you might be swayed by another model. That's because the Galaxy S24 Ultra's getting a sweet discount that brings its cost down to $799. Normally it sells for a whopping $1,299, but Best Buy's giving it a $500 off instant discount that brings its cost down to $799 at checkout — which comes out to be a 38% off discount. Another reason why I like this deal is because it's for an unlocked model. Meaning, you can activate it on any carrier of your choice. Now, you may be wondering why you should get this over the newer Galaxy S25 Ultra that launched earlier this year. First of all, you're still paying $1,299 for that phone. With this Galaxy S24 Ultra deal, you're saving $500 that can be put towards the cost of something like a new Nintendo Switch 2. Secondly, I suspect the Galaxy S24 Ultra will be getting the new One UI 8 software as well. Although it's unknown if it'll get all the features of the new software, like the Now Bar and Now Brief, there's a strong chance it will because of Samsung's track record with previous software releases. When you also look at the hardware, you'll notice how the Galaxy S24 Ultra essentially packs the same cameras. I've put the Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra through a 200 photo shootout, only to determine that the camera performance gap between the two phones is minimal. Yes, the Galaxy S25 Ultra came out on top, but the difference was miniscule. These are just some of the big reasons why this is an excellent deal. Rather than paying for that new phone price, you're getting a solid best phone contender while saving money. I always give the advice that you should never pay full price for a new phone and this is proof of that yet again. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Phone Arena
18-07-2025
- Phone Arena
I don't care about 2025 phones, I'm using this old gem
Smartphones have slowly become a pretty integral part of our lives. With so many passwords, documents, pictures, even banking details on our phones, switching is a bit of a chore. Manufacturers have mostly made it easy to switch, don't get me wrong, but it's still a bit of a chore. Especially for a phone reviewer. Which is why I always have a "main" phone on me with all of that stuff. Whenever I am reviewing a new unit, it will have the "essential" stuff on it, like social media, email, Slack, but not the whole kit 'n' caboodle. And it just so happens that my "main" phone for the past 18-ish months has been the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. I haven't been tempted or felt the need to switch to something newer, despite the many devices that have been through my hands. Have I gotten lazy or is the Galaxy S24 Ultra still a perfectly good flagship? And, if you are looking to buy one at a bargain now, maybe this bit of info is something you'd like to hear! While the new Galaxy S25 Ultra certainly looks cool with its sharp corners and flat sides, there's something about the "old" design that gets me. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is an evolution of the footprint of the old Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. And, as a previous Galaxy Note fan, I still can't let that go. 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 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!
