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Head to head

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S24

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra leads 9 to 1 on the 10 rankable specs, but Samsung Galaxy S24 costs $500 less.

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Why, in numbers

Manufacturer list price, not a live offer. Confirm current pricing before you buy.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
$1,2999 spec wins
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Google Pixel 8a$499OnePlus 12$799iPhone 16$799Google Pixel 9$799Samsung Galaxy S25$799iPhone 17$799ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra$899iPhone 16 Plus$899OnePlus 13$899iPhone 16 Pro$999Google Pixel 9 Pro$999Samsung Galaxy S24+$999Samsung Galaxy S25+$999iPhone 17 Pro$999iPhone Air$999Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6$1,099Google Pixel 9 Pro XL$1,099iPhone 16 Pro Max$1,199iPhone 17 Pro Max$1,199Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra$1,299Xiaomi 14 Ultra$1,399OnePlus Open$1,699Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold$1,799Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6$1,899
Samsung Galaxy S24
$7991 spec win
Swap

Compare a different phone

Google Pixel 8a$499OnePlus 12$799iPhone 16$799Google Pixel 9$799Samsung Galaxy S25$799iPhone 17$799ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra$899iPhone 16 Plus$899OnePlus 13$899iPhone 16 Pro$999Google Pixel 9 Pro$999Samsung Galaxy S24+$999Samsung Galaxy S25+$999iPhone 17 Pro$999iPhone Air$999Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6$1,099Google Pixel 9 Pro XL$1,099iPhone 16 Pro Max$1,199iPhone 17 Pro Max$1,199Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra$1,299Xiaomi 14 Ultra$1,399OnePlus Open$1,699Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold$1,799Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6$1,899

Generational Upgrade Analysis

Generational Comparison

Samsung sibling models compared across generations.

Our recommendation: Compare the spec differences below to see if the price premium justifies the newer model's additions.

Buying for

Every rankable spec counts once. Pick a lens to score only what matters for your phone.

Your devices

Select your ecosystem to flag non-functional features or platform lock-in.

Straight answer

Overall: 9 to 1

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

  • Leads 9 of 10 rankable overall specs; Samsung Galaxy S24 takes 1.
  • Size: 6.8 inches vs 6.2 inches
  • RAM: 12 GB vs 8 GB
  • Samsung Galaxy S24 is $500 cheaper. Pay the difference only if size matters to you.
9 Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra10 rankable of 48 specsSamsung Galaxy S24 1

Deal-breakers

tick what would make you walk away

  • row

    No pen input for handwritten notes or markup.

    Clear:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · S Pen (integrated, IP68)Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 · No
  • row

    Wired headphones need a USB-C dongle.

    Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · NoTrips:Samsung Galaxy S24 · No
  • row

    Budget another $20 to $40 for a fast charger.

    Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · NoTrips:Samsung Galaxy S24 · No
  • row

    Storage is fixed at what you buy.

    Trips:Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra · NoTrips:Samsung Galaxy S24 · No

At a glance

The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.

5 of 6 differ

Weight

Galaxy S24 Ultra

232 g

Galaxy S24

167 g

Size

Galaxy S24 Ultra

6.8 inches

Galaxy S24

6.2 inches

Chipsetsame

Galaxy S24 Ultra

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4 nm)

Galaxy S24

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4 nm)

RAM

Galaxy S24 Ultra

12 GB

Galaxy S24

8 GB

Max optical zoom

Galaxy S24 Ultra

5x optical (10x lossless / 100x digital)

Galaxy S24

3x optical (30x digital Space Zoom)

Capacity

Galaxy S24 Ultra

5,000 mAh

Galaxy S24

4,000 mAh

True 3-Year Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Upfront price + 3 years of consumables, fees & essential add-ons

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Upfront list price$1,299
Essential add-ons (45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 brick (no charger in box))+$35
3-Year Estimated Total$1,334

Samsung Galaxy S24

Upfront list price$799
Essential add-ons (25W USB-C charging brick (no charger in box))+$25
3-Year Estimated Total$824

Pocket, Palm & Desk Usability Check

One-handed reachability, pocket weight, and table wobble when typing without a case.

Ergonomic & Spatial Check

One-Handed Palm Reach

Widths under 72mm allow thumb access to opposite screen edges without shifting grip.

Galaxy S24 Ultra

6.8" display with 79.0mm wide squared edges (stretches palms)

Galaxy S24

Standard smartphone width

Desk Typing Table Wobble

Horizontal visor cameras sit flat on desks without annoying rocking while typing.

Galaxy S24 Ultra

Individual camera lens rings cause corner wobble on flat tables

Galaxy S24

Corner camera bump causes minor wobble

Pocket Weight & Heft

Galaxy S24 Ultra

232g (substantial titanium brick)

Galaxy S24

Standard phone weight

The 90-Day Owner Regret Check

Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.

Post-Purchase Truths

Galaxy S24 Ultra: What to watch for

  • Ergonomics

    Sharp 90-degree squared corners dig aggressively into palms.

    One-handed typing causes the pointed lower corner to dig into your palm tissue unless cushioned by a rounded silicone case.

  • Hardware Quirk

    Anti-reflective Gorilla Armor glass smudges easily with skin oils.

    While outdoor glare reduction is class-leading, finger oils create noticeable rainbow sheen smudges in bright sunlight.

Galaxy S24: What to watch for

  • Hidden Cost

    No wall charging adapter included in the retail box.

    Packaging contains only a Type-C cable; high-speed wall charging bricks must be purchased separately if you do not already own one.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra$1,2999 wins
Samsung Galaxy S24$7991 win

Body

leads 1-0
Body specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is Samsung Galaxy S24.
Dimensions162.3 × 79.0 × 8.6 mm147.0 × 70.6 × 7.6 mm
Weight232 g167 g (wins this row: lower)
BuildGorilla Armor front and back, titanium frameGorilla Glass Victus 2 front/back, Armor Aluminum 2 frame
Water / dust ratingIP68 (1.5 m / 30 min)IP68 (1.5 m / 30 min)
ColorsTitanium Black, Gray, Violet, Yellow (plus exclusives)Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow
StylusS Pen (integrated, IP68)No

Display

leads 3-0
Display specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is Samsung Galaxy S24.
TypeDynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, flatDynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X
Size6.8 inches (wins this row: higher)6.2 inches
Resolution1440 × 3120 (QHD+) (wins this row: higher)1080 × 2340 (FHD+)
Pixel density~505 ppi (wins this row: higher)~416 ppi
Refresh rate1–120 Hz LTPO1–120 Hz LTPO
Peak brightness2,600 nits peak2,600 nits peak
HDRHDR10+HDR10+
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Armor, anti-reflectiveCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Always-on displayYesYes

Platform

2 differences
Platform specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is Samsung Galaxy S24.
Operating systemAndroid 14, One UI 6.1 (upgradable)Android 14, One UI 6.1
Software support7 major OS versions + 7 years security7 major OS updates + 7 years security patches
ChipsetSnapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4 nm)Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (4 nm)
CPU8-core (1× Cortex-X4 + 5× A720 + 2× A520)8-core (1× Cortex-X4 + 5× A720 + 2× A520)
GPUAdreno 750Adreno 750

Memory

leads 2-0
Memory specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is Samsung Galaxy S24.
RAM12 GB (wins this row: higher)8 GB
Storage256 GB UFS 4.0 (wins this row: higher)128 GB UFS 3.1
Storage options256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB128 GB / 256 GB
microSDNoNo

Rear camera

leads 2-0
Rear camera specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is Samsung Galaxy S24.
Main200 MP, f/1.7, 24 mm, 1/1.3", OIS, multi-direction PDAF (wins this row: higher)50 MP, f/1.8, 24 mm, 1/1.56", Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
Ultrawide12 MP, f/2.2, 13 mm, 120°12 MP, f/2.2, 13 mm, 120°
Telephoto10 MP 3x + 50 MP 5x periscope (both OIS)10 MP, f/2.4, 67 mm, 3x optical zoom, PDAF, OIS
Max optical zoom5x optical (10x lossless / 100x digital) (wins this row: higher)3x optical (30x digital Space Zoom)
StabilizationOIS on main and both telephotosOIS on main and telephoto lenses
Video8K 30 fps, 4K 120 fps, HDR10+8K 30 fps, 4K 60 fps, 1080p 240 fps

Front camera

1 differences
Front camera specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is Samsung Galaxy S24.
Selfie camera12 MP, f/2.2, punch-hole12 MP, f/2.2, 26 mm, Dual Pixel PDAF
Selfie video4K 60 fps4K 60 fps

Battery & charging

leads 2-0
Battery & charging specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is Samsung Galaxy S24.
Capacity5,000 mAh (wins this row: higher)4,000 mAh
Wired chargingNot on the official sheet45 W (charger sold separately) (wins this row: higher)25 W fast wired (50% in 30 min)
Wireless charging15 W Qi / Fast Wireless15 W Fast Wireless
Reverse wireless4.5 W Wireless PowerShare4.5 W Wireless PowerShare
Charger in boxNoNo

Audio

1 differences
Audio specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is Samsung Galaxy S24.
SpeakersStereo tuned by AKGStereo speakers tuned by AKG
Headphone jackNoNo

Connectivity

5 differences
Connectivity specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is Samsung Galaxy S24.
Cellular5G (sub-6 + mmWave, region-dependent)5G (sub-6 + mmWave)
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 6E
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3Bluetooth 5.3
NFCYes (Samsung Pay / Google Wallet)Yes
USBUSB-C 3.2USB-C 3.2 Gen 1
SIMDual nano-SIM + eSIM (region-dependent)Dual nano-SIM + eSIM

Features

3 differences
Features specifications. Middle column is Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, right column is Samsung Galaxy S24.
BiometricsUltrasonic in-display fingerprint + face unlockUltrasonic in-display fingerprint + Face unlock
Extra controlsS Pen button, programmable side keyPower and Volume keys
Standout featuresS Pen, Samsung DeX, Galaxy AI, Vision BoosterCircle to Search, Live Translate, Note Assist, Samsung DeX
Most rows are from the official spec sheet. Marked rows are other published figures or our summary, not lab tests we ran.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra source (opens in a new tab)Samsung Galaxy S24 source (opens in a new tab)

Which one should you buy

Pick this one if

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Android flagship with S Pen, 200MP camera, 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED, and seven years of OS updates.

  • S Pen built in
  • 200MP main + 5x periscope telephoto
  • 7 years of OS and security updates

What you give up

  • Larger and heavier than iPhone 16 Pro
  • No charger in the box
  • Flat 6.8-inch body is harder one-handed
Full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra specs →

Pick this one if

Samsung Galaxy S24

Compact Android powerhouse with 6.2-inch 120Hz LTPO display, 3x telephoto, and Galaxy AI suite.

  • Extremely lightweight and compact 167g pocket-friendly design
  • Dedicated 3x optical telephoto camera on a base model
  • Bright 2,600 nit 1-120Hz LTPO display

What you give up

  • Charging capped at 25W wired
  • Base model starts with 128GB UFS 3.1 storage
Full Samsung Galaxy S24 specs →

Best for each use

Photos

Camera first: zoom reach, sensors, stabilisation and video

For photos, buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

  • Leads 2 of 2 rankable photos specs.
  • Max optical zoom: 5x optical vs 3x optical
  • Main: 200 MP, f/1.7, 24 mm, 1/1.3", OIS,… vs 50 MP, f/1.8, 24 mm, 1/1.56", Dual Pixel…
  • Samsung Galaxy S24 is $500 cheaper. Pay the difference only if max optical zoom matters to you.

Battery & updates

All-day battery, fast top-ups and years of software support

For battery & updates, buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

  • Leads 2 of 2 rankable battery & updates specs.
  • Capacity: 5,000 mAh vs 4,000 mAh
  • Wired charging: 45 W vs 25 W fast wired
  • Samsung Galaxy S24 is $500 cheaper. Pay the difference only if capacity matters to you.

Games & video

Games and streaming: chip, refresh rate, brightness, speakers

For games & video, buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

  • Leads 2 of 2 rankable games & video specs.
  • RAM: 12 GB vs 8 GB
  • Size: 6.8 inches vs 6.2 inches
  • Samsung Galaxy S24 is $500 cheaper. Pay the difference only if ram matters to you.

Every answer above is scored from published figures. A lens uses only the rows that matter for that use, including marked rows that are not on the official sheet. Switch lenses interactively in the panel above.

Done deciding?

Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra spec sheetSamsung Galaxy S24 spec sheet

Manufacturer pages: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra ↗ · Samsung Galaxy S24 ↗

Common questions

Which is cheaper, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy S24?

Samsung Galaxy S24 costs $500 less at list price.

What is the biggest catch with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or Samsung Galaxy S24?

Samsung Galaxy S24 has this deal-breaker: no stylus. No pen input for handwritten notes or markup.

Which is better for photos, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy S24?

For photos, buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Leads 2 of 2 rankable photos specs. Max optical zoom: 5x optical vs 3x optical

What cannot be compared from spec sheets?

Of the 48 specs tracked here, 38 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.

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