Samsung Unpacked 2024: A Veteran User’s Candid Review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra

The beginning of the year always brings anticipation for Samsung’s next major conference. This time, the Unpacked event showcased the Korean giant’s most significant mobile innovations. As a long-time user of the Samsung ecosystem, despite the usual leaks, I held out hope that the company would genuinely surprise me. However, it’s increasingly difficult to expect a revolution given the slow pace of technological development in the mobile device sphere. Here’s what delighted me and what left me feeling apathetic during the conference.

The Conference Unfolded Without Major Surprises

The presentation itself didn’t deviate much from previous events of its kind. Short video inserts were a standard part of the show, and honestly, I mostly wished they would end faster. The conference kicked off with Samsung’s Mobile Division Head, TM Roh, who lauded the company’s mobile solutions, particularly its advancements in AI—a segment I found exceptionally uninteresting. However, he later highlighted new security features, such as Knox, and announced a new addition: Privacy Display. Following this, he unveiled the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which stands as the most crucial smartphone in the entire series. My feelings about its new features are a mixed bag.

Galaxy S24 Ultra – What Impressed Me

Privacy Display: A Game-Changer for Everyday Use

The most significant impression on me was made by the new Privacy Display feature—a screen that automatically darkens content when someone tries to peek from the side. Based on the press materials, this works surprisingly well and is one of those additions that genuinely transforms daily smartphone use.

According to Samsung, this technology can obscure the entire screen, a specific section, or even selected applications, incoming notifications, PINs, and passwords. I believe this is one of the best new features in Samsung’s flagships in years, and one I’m eager to utilize.

Galaxy AI, Gemini, and Software Enhancements

Samsung continues to evolve Galaxy AI, which now intelligently understands notifications that are important to the user. This is largely thanks to the Now Brief application, which debuted on previous flagships. Crucial information from this app will influence which notifications are given greater prominence.

The assistant can also summarize who called and what they wanted if they left a voicemail. While this feature holds great promise for streamlining communication, its availability in all regions may vary. Galaxy AI is also touted to be significantly better at removing and generating objects in pre-existing photos. During the demonstration, this capability looked truly impressive.

Interestingly, Samsung hasn’t phased out Bixby; quite the opposite. The assistant has been retained and improved. Bixby is now more deeply integrated into the smartphone as an assistant, allowing users to input prompts that help customize phone settings or utilize its features, such as how to charge another device using reverse wireless charging.

This integration seems particularly intriguing, as it promises easier option customization without the need to dig through buried settings menus. I have high hopes that this functionality will be fully available and functional globally!

Now Nudge is another feature that appears highly useful. The software is designed to recognize on-screen context and suggest helpful shortcuts, such as the option to quickly share photos within the Messages app. This sounds very promising for enhancing user efficiency.

Changes also appeared in Circle to Search—the popular search-by-highlighting function will now allow simultaneous selection of multiple objects. While I use this feature rather sporadically, and therefore this particular enhancement may not directly benefit me, I appreciate its continued development and refinement.

What Disappointed Me During the Presentation

For years, I’ve maintained that Samsung is to Android what Apple is to iOS—a brand that sets the direction, even if not always spectacularly. In this regard, a problem emerges: for at least three generations, I’ve felt that the Galaxy S Ultra series has stagnated. This year, Samsung attempted to break that pattern, but ultimately, it didn’t quite succeed.

Battery Life: Flagship Still Stuck at 5000 mAh

The 5000 mAh battery in the Galaxy S24 Ultra is frankly disappointing. Maintaining the same battery capacity since 2020 feels excessive. While Chinese competitors are showcasing smartphones with enormous battery cells, Samsung appears hesitant to offer more. This sentiment is reinforced when looking at the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s official comparison page, which, for example, shows zero hours difference in video playback compared to the previous model. Bravo, Samsung. And I’m not one to get excited about 60W charging, as rapid charging isn’t my primary concern.

Design: Cosmetic Changes, Virtually Unchanged Aesthetics

Rumors of slightly more rounded corners and a subtly redesigned camera island were confirmed. The Galaxy S24 Ultra looks a bit less “boxy” than its predecessor, though it still retains the distinctive Ultra series styling. The screen remained flat, which I greatly appreciate after years of curved panels. While I once valued curved edges, today I have no desire to return to accidental touches and light reflections. Despite these minor tweaks, the design of this series has felt uninspired for years.

Camera: Incremental Fixes Instead of a Breakthrough

Samsung also failed to deliver a revolution in the camera department. The company states that the lenses have been slightly improved. The wide-angle sensor now boasts a 47% brighter aperture, opening to F1.4, and the telephoto lens opens to F2.9, providing 37% better brightness. This still isn’t the kind of leap we remember from the days of the S21 Ultra or S23 Ultra.

The optical zoom remains at the level of its predecessor, which for me—a mobile photography enthusiast—is a slight letdown. My older S23 Ultra features a 10x optical zoom, compared to the 5x optical zoom in the latest flagship (and its immediate predecessor). While the S24 Ultra’s 5x optical zoom is backed by a higher megapixel sensor for better image quality at that focal length and superior digital zoom capabilities, the direct comparison of optical zoom levels is a notable downgrade for some.

Other New Offerings? Utterly Uninspiring

Perhaps I’ll come across as ignorant, but I must also mention the Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro, which received minor design changes. Samsung, of course, boasted about improved sound, enhanced codecs, and better noise cancellation during phone calls. Even their integration with Galaxy AI fails to impress me here; the incremental upgrades simply aren’t compelling enough.

Will I Upgrade from My Galaxy S23 Ultra?

After last year’s S23 Ultra (referring to the previous model from the author’s current phone), I had absolutely no motivation to upgrade. This year… it’s better, but still far from compelling. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is undoubtedly an excellent smartphone, but it’s not a device that screams, “You must have me!” after three years with an S23 Ultra. The new privacy and AI features are the most tempting aspects, but the camera and battery—my primary reasons for considering an upgrade—haven’t made the significant leap I was hoping for.

Source: Author’s own work, Samsung. Opening photo: Generated by Gemini,

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Anuj Kushwaha

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