With the release of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series, fans of large screens will probably have to choose between the brand-new supersized models from Samsung, the Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra.
In our reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra, you may read our complete assessment of both phones; however, in this guide, we only compare the specifications, features, and overall performance of the two models. Entire tale condensed? Continue reading to learn why the difference between Samsung’s most recent Plus-sized handsets is less than it was previously.
See our comparison of the Samsung Galaxy S24 vs. S24 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra for additional head-to-head Samsung content.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 PLUS VS S24 ULTRA: SPECS COMPARISON
Except for the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s titanium frame and better camera specifications, the Galaxy S24 Plus has all of the same features as the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, with its titanium frame and exceptional cameras that surpass nearly everything else available on the market, is the greatest Android phone of 2024.
Yes, the Plus has the majority of the most recent features found in high-end Samsung phones. It features a 1440p screen that is just as responsive as the Ultra’s, charges similarly quickly, and has a respectable (but not quite as long as the Ultra’s) battery life. There will be seven years of updates and all the AI intelligence is also included.
In addition, the Plus is a good cameraphone that you would be content with if you don’t have an Ultra to compare it to and you are unsure whether you will be using the camera for purposes other than 3x zoom. Additionally, even if you like big screens, you don’t have the money for the bulkier, heavier Ultra; instead, pick the Plus. Additionally, there’s always the financial justification: upgrading to Plus will result in sizable financial savings.
But there’s a reason the Ultra is called that—it’s the top phone in the list, and it comes with some extra perks. Not only will the 5x telephoto camera increase your reach, but it will also yield better close-ups. The Ultra regularly takes better photos, even in situations when the two phones have similar zoom capabilities (though this isn’t the case for videos).
CAMERA
The removal of the ultra-long 10X periscope is the main alteration to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. A 50MP 5X telephoto camera, which enables users to optically zoom up to 10X without sacrificing clarity, took its place. Remarkably, this model maintains the 100X Space Zoom that the Galaxy S23 Ultra and its predecessors were able to do.
The 200MP wide-angle sensor has been retained by Samsung, but many enhancements have been made, including bigger pixels for improved low-light performance. The ProVisual Engine 2.0 is also a big help. Better Nightography, which catches more light in low light, is made possible by the latter. Your shots won’t ever again have motion blur thanks to enhanced OIS and a new dedicated ISP block that enhances noise reduction.
In contrast, the Galaxy S24 Plus has almost no hardware modifications made to its camera configuration. It still has a 50MP primary camera, which is supported by a 10MP telephoto lens with a 3X optical zoom and a 12MP ultra-wide lens.
The software, or more specifically the AI side of things, is where the majority of the enhancements to the camera app are made. Numerous AI technologies are designed to make the camera experience on the Galaxy S24 series significantly better and smarter than it was in before. The Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra will get enhanced remastering, magic eraser, and generative edits. With the help of Galaxy AI on your device, you can also eliminate reflections from pictures.
The array of AI-powered photographic features on the handsets is comparable, though. Super HDR, which provides lifelike previews before the shutter is ever pressed, Edit Suggestion, which uses Galaxy AI to suggest appropriate photo adjustments, Instant Slow-mo, which can generate extra frames to add more detail to videos, and Generative Edit, which can fill in portions of an image background using generative AI, are all included with the Galaxy S24 Plus.
For this reason, you shouldn’t disregard the Galaxy S24 Plus because of its inferior camera hardware if powerful photo editing features are essential.
DESIGN AND DISPLAY
The Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra are two completely different animals in terms of design. To begin with, the former weighs 196g and measures 158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7mm, while the latter weighs 232g and measures 162.3 x 79.0 x 8.6mm.
The Galaxy S24 Plus, which follows in the footsteps of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro, features a more robust Armor Aluminum frame, slightly flatter edges, and narrower bezels than its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Plus. Despite this, Samsung’s new phone still looks a lot like the Plus-sized Galaxy from last year—you’d be hard-pressed to tell the two apart at a glance.
The titanium sides of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which resemble those of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, help it to be slightly shorter, slimmer, and lighter than the Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, it still weighs significantly more than the Galaxy S24 Plus.
That being said, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the phone to choose if you want a unique phone that sticks out from the crowd because of its titanium sides, which give Samsung’s newest flagship model a significantly more upscale appearance than the Galaxy S24 Plus. In contrast to the Galaxy S24 Plus, the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a S Pen.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Plus both have QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with 3120 x 1440 pixels on their screens; however, the latter is somewhat bigger at 6.8 inches (as opposed to 6.7 inches).
Both screens have a stunning 2,600 nit peak brightness and the new Samsung Vision Booster function, which enhances visibility outside. The variable 1Hz-120Hz refresh rate is also shared by the Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Put another way, you shouldn’t disregard the Galaxy S24 Plus based on screen brightness, clarity, or color balance because the two smartphones have nearly equal displays—the only difference being the latter’s slightly bigger size.
Finally, speaking of Samsung Galaxy S24 colors, Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Sandstone Orange, Sapphire Blue, and Jade Green are the available hues for the Galaxy S24 Plus. The Samsung store is the only place to get the last three colors. Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Orange, Titanium Blue, and Titanium Green are the available colors for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Once more, the last three hues are only available at the Samsung store.
HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?
Three alternatives are available to buyers of Galaxy S24 models in North America, each of which offers a high-performing Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset that has been specially tailored for Samsung’s phone. Therefore, in a few tests, even the less expensive Galaxy S24 model can generate benchmarks that beat the iPhone 15 Pro and its A17 Pro chipset. According to our Galaxy S24 Ultra benchmarks, the Ultra performs better than any of Samsung’s recent phones, most likely because it has more RAM than the other variant.
It’s more of a tie outside of North America. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus versions are equipped with an Exynos 2400 processor. Performance numbers for such phones are not yet available, but historical trends suggest they might not be as good as the most recent Snapdragon. In light of this, we would recommend the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 wherever you want to purchase a smartphone.
If performance and productivity are important to you, there’s even another reason to choose the Ultra. It is still the only Galaxy S24 variant that can be used with the S Pen, which simplifies taking notes and editing photos. Using the new Galaxy AI capabilities, such as Circle to Search and generative picture editing—which makes it much easier to choose objects for editing—also benefits from the bundled S Pen.
GET THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 ULTRA FOR:
- the more robust structure.
- the display with minimal reflection.
- the extended life of the battery.
- The stylus for the S Pen.
- Excellent pictures in every way.
- For both stills and video, zoom in closer than three times.
GET THE SAMSUNG GALAXY S24 PLUS FOR:
- the reduced cost.
- the smaller body.
- Experience the Samsung flagship without all the added drama.
