Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

“It costs more than your rent deposit, but at least it won't ghost you after 7 years.”

9/10Trust Score

88%Confidence

At $1,299+ starting price, the S24 Ultra sits at the top of the Android flagship market. The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL delivers comparable performance at a lower entry price. The S25 Ultra is now available at similar pricing with incremental upgrades — worth comparing directly. However, for a 7-year software commitment, titanium build, and proven benchmark performance, the price is defensible if you're coming from a phone that's 2+ years old.

✅ Green Flags

Consumer Reports rated overall performance excellent — including call quality, durability, and drop tests. [source]
PCMag calls it the best Android phone you can buy — superb display, fast performance, long battery life. [source]
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset scored 1,017 on Basemark Web 3.0 — beats ROG Phone 8 (850) and RedMagic 9 Pro (730). [source]
Samsung promises 7 years of software updates — exceptional long-term value for a phone at this tier. [source]

⚠️ Considerations

Starting price of $1,299+ is steep — hard to justify vs. strong mid-range alternatives. [source]
Wired charging (~45W) lags behind some competitors at this price point. [source]
6.8-inch size is genuinely unwieldy for one-handed use — not for everyone. [source]

Why We Said BUY

Our analysis found near-universal agreement across Tier 1 sources: the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is a legitimately elite Android phone. Consumer Reports rated it excellent across performance, durability, and call quality, while PCMag named it the best Android phone available — backed by real benchmark data showing it outpaces gaming-focused rivals on processing speed. The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, 200MP camera system, and 5,000 mAh battery are all best-in-class or very close to it. The one honest caveat: at $1,299+, you're paying a meaningful premium, and the S24 Ultra is now approaching two years old with the S25 Ultra on shelves. If you're upgrading from an S21 or older, the value case is clear. If you already own an S23 Ultra, this is a sidegrade — save your money.

Also Worth a Look

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

SOURCES

AI-generated verdict — always verify before purchasing. Not financial or medical advice.