Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra: two steps removed
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Intro
While Samsung stuffed enough new Galaxy S24 Ultra features to warrant an upgrade from its predecessor, in general users are upgrading from 2-3 years old devices. For Samsung fans, in most cases, this would be when they have paid off their Galaxy S22 Ultra which they got back in 2021, and its remaining value is at the sweet spot for the generous trade-in Galaxy S24 deals that Samsung now offers for the new series.
The S24 Ultra comes with faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and an exciting new camera set with special attention given to upgrading its vaunted zoom camera with folded optics, so let's do a Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra comparison to see if an upgrade would be warranted indeed, as you can preorder the S24 Ultra right now with free storage upgrade, including from 512GB to 1TB!
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra differences
- Titanium vs aluminum alloy frame
- 50MP vs 10MP zoom camera
- 5x telephoto vs 3x telephoto zoom
- 2,600 nits vs 1,750 nits display brightness
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor
- Galaxy AI features like live translation or Generative Edit
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Samsung announced a special offer starting with the announcement of the Galaxy S24 series, which would practically make upgrading to a higher storage option free. In other words, you are able to buy a 256GB model for the same price as a 128GB one, a 512GB at the price of 256GB, or even a 1TB at the price of 512GB!
Design and Size
Fancy titanium, baby!
Despite all of its other virtues, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is undoubtedly one heavy, blocky handset. Not to the extent of the iPhone 14 Pro Max fatso, but still we were hoping that the transition to lightweight titanium for the Galaxy S24 Ultra frame will bring a rather appreciated reduction in its weight. It didn't as the S24 Ultra is slightly heavier.
Whether because Apple did titanium with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, or because it is simply a natural evolution on the way to a lighter, sturdier frame for today's giant flagships with screens bordering on the 7-inch mark, Samsung decided to adopt the expensive material for the S24 Ultra.
6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 inches
163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm
8.08 oz (229 g)
6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 inches
162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm
8.22 oz (233 g)
6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 inches
163.3 x 78 x 8.9 mm
8.25 oz (234 g)
6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 inches
163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm
8.08 oz (229 g)
6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 inches
162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm
8.22 oz (233 g)
6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 inches
163.3 x 78 x 8.9 mm
8.25 oz (234 g)
See the full Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra size comparison or compare them to other phones using our Size Comparison tool.
As can be seen from our Galaxy S24 Ultra images, the sides are a tad more straightened than on its predecessors, while retaining a slight back and front curve to help with the grip. Otherwise, the rear-facing cameras are nestled in their separate isles, just like on the S22 Ultra, while the screen bezel thickness is greatly reduced.
Display Differences
Flat or round, what's your pick? (Image Credit - PhoneArena)
Not to be outdone by Google or Oppo's flagships of last year, Samsung unveiled a Galaxy S24 Ultra flagship with 2,600 nits of peak display brightness. Unfortunately, Oppo already moved to the 4,500 nits mark, one just can't win this thing, be it the world's largest OLED panel maker.
Google brags with the brand new Super Actua display on the Pixel 8 Pro that can reach a similar peak, while the excellent Oppo FInd X7 Ultra is now on the market with a 4,500 nits panel. As usual, though, those are lab scenarios with only a percentage of the pixels showing white at full power, while the typical brightness is way lower.
Still, we've noticed that, as a general rule, the higher the peak brightness, the better the typical outdoor visibility, so we won't scoff at the 2600-nit S24 Ultra screen, especially considering that the Galaxy S22 Ultra maxes out at 1750 nits.
Performance and Software
Marked safe from Exynos
With the Galaxy S23 FE, Samsung primed the public that it may fragment its phone lines once again in terms of processing power, as it is powered by both Exynos or Snapdragon processors, depending on the region. After skipping its own Exynos line for the Galaxy S23, it has created a new processor that is so exciting and powerful that Samsung decided to use it in the Galaxy S24 series.
At its System LSI Tech Day expo, Samsung listed the Exynos 2400 specs as offering an "improved CPU performance by 1.7 times and AI performance by 14.7 times compared to its predecessor, the Exynos 2200." As for the GPU, "graphic technologies such as ray tracing, which tracks light, and reflection and shadow rendering, which express light reflection effects and shadow boundaries similar to the real world, were also added," says Samsung.
Performance Benchmarks:
Thankfully, while the Galaxy S24 and S24+ sport both Samsung's own Exynos 2400, or Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, depending on the region, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is strictly a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offer with a 2nd-gen 4nm chipset.
Upon announcing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, Qualcomm waxed poetic that it can actually be called Gen AI, given all the focus on the power of its artificial intelligence co-processor and the extra AI-related features.
That's all fine and dandy, but has the raw processing power of the CPU and GPU in Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 that will make the Galaxy S24 Ultra tick been upgraded and by how much? Well, Qualcomm has released official scores to answer how much faster will the Galaxy S24 series be in comparison with the Galaxy S23.
Key Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 specs
- 4nm TSMC production method
- 10% higher system efficiency
- 30% faster and 20% more frugal Kryo CPU
- 1 x Cortex-X4 @ 3.3GHz
- 3 x A720 @ 3.2GHz
- 2 x A720 @ 3.0GHz
- 2 x A520 @ 2.3GHz
- 25% faster and 25% more frugal Adreno GPU
- AI: 98% improved AI performance and 40% better performance per watt
- Spectra ISP: Supports 8K HDR and features multi-camera real-time semantic segmentation, HDR photo technology from Dolby, and dual always-sensing cameras
- Snapdragon Elite Gaming features and new hardware accelerated ray tracing with global illumination
- Snapdragon X75 5G Modem-RF System with 10 Gbps peak download speeds
- Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 Mobile Connectivity System, supporting Wi-Fi 7 with 5.8 Gbps
In a nutshell, Qualcomm may have given a conservative estimate of the faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 speeds when compared to the Gen 2 in the Galaxy S23 Ultra, while the new Snapdragon holds its own even against the mighty 3nm Apple A17, though, as usual, not in the single core performance as Apple clocks its processors higher.
As for connectivity, Samsung still equips the entire Galaxy S24 line sold in the US with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, including the new Qualcomm X75 5G modem that bets heavy on AI improvements.
One UI 6.1 and Android 14
Samsung's mightiest AI push
Long story short, the Galaxy S24 Ultra wipes the floor with the Galaxy S22 Ultra that sports a two generations removed Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. In terms of software, it comes with One UI 6.1 and Android 14 which represent Samsung's largest AI upgrade in history. It remains to be seen if any of those AI features will make it to the S22 Ultra, but the respective co-processor will in any case be weaker than what's on the S24 Ultra.
New Galaxy S24 AI features
- Meeting notes and translation: 10-voice identification
- Circle Search: circling something on the screen will launch automatic AI search
- Title writing: the S24 Ultra will be able to do a whole essay on a topic, ChatGPT style
These are some of the new Galaxy AI-powered features on the Galaxy S24 Ultra with the One UI 6.1 interface by Samsung. Needless to say, they are also made possible by Google's Android 14 update and AI-focused Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset that target AI calculations. Qualcomm tailored the processor specifically for Samsung, just as it did with the S23's Mobile Platform for Galaxy chipset based on Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
The One UI 6.1 interface update that comes with Android 14 on Samsung Galaxy phones also has other tricks up its sleeve in terms of the new AI-driven features like generative wallpapers, Google Pixel style. The One UI 6.1 also brings weather effects on the lock screen, a Magic Editor-styled photo retouching, as well as the Circle Search and Meeting Notes functions explained above.
That's not to mention the live translation during calls or meetings, and the smart battery defense system, all thanks to Samsung's new generative AI model that it calls Gauss and which just made a cameo on the Galaxy S24 series.
Camera
The great zoom upgrade
Who you callin' four-eyes? (Image credit - PhoneArena)
The other big change that comes with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, besides the titanium design material, is in the camera kit. Not only does it sport a new and improved 200MP main camera sensor that is two generations removed from what's on the S22 Ultra, but there are also great zoom upgrades. Or downgrades, depending on whether you go for sheer numbers.
Samsung placed a larger, 50MP sensor on the periscope camera of the S24 Ultra, but reduced the zoom reach to 5x. Given the sensor size, however, the crop zoom lossless level remains at 10X with much more light to be taken in during night zoom shots. The Oppo Find X6 Pro did something similar by using the largest periscope zoom sensor first, and managed to easily beats the S23 Ultra at night time zoom shots, and the Find X7 Ultra does the same to the S24 Ultra with its two periscope zoom cameras.
Since the folded optics zoom camera comes with upgraded sensor, Samsung may have a veritable camera winner on its hands with the Galaxy S24 Ultra lands. In any case, it certainly beats the S22 Ultra in terms of zoom camera picture quality at low-light conditions, both in terms of detail or dynamic range, as well as clarity. Thanks to Galaxy AI, Samsung has finally shifted its tendency to have its phone's cameras capture overly saturated photos, so colors look a tad more natural.
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Battery Life and Charging
Same old, same gold 45W standard!
The battery life gain from having a more frugal processor is offset by the brighter 2600-nit display, so the 5,000 mAh battery pack of the S24 Ultra delivers about the same endurance as its predecessor which, however, beats the battery life of the S22 Ultra.
PhoneArena Battery Test Results:
As for charging, Samsung isn't making any drastic changes to its system that maxes out at a 45W brick you have to buy separately. Expect an hour and change of Galaxy S24 Ultra charging speed, just like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, or, in other words, no real progress in that respect. Samsung's specs sheet, however, does list 65% charge in 30 minutes so at least there's that.
Specs Comparison
A quick rundown of the Galaxy S24 Ultra vs S22 Ultra specs sheet shows a great advantage in the processing and camera department, as well as the memory and display specs.
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Galaxy S22 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Size, weight | ||
| Screen | 6.8" OLED 120Hz dynamic 2,600 nits | 6.8" OLED 120Hz dynamic 1,750 nits |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| RAM, Storage | 8/256GB 16/512GB 16/1TB LPDDR5X | 8/128GB 8/256GB 8/512GB 8/1TB LPDDR5 |
| Cameras | 200MP main 12MP ultra 10MP telephoto 50MP periscope 12MP front | 108MP main 12MP ultra 10MP 3x telephoto 10MP 10X periscope 40MP front |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired 15W wireless | 45W wired 15W wireless |
Summary
As our Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra comparison shows, Samsung's 2024 flagship would be more than worth the upgrade. The most important phone components - display, camera set, and chipset - are two generations ahead of the S22 Ultra, while the Galaxy AI makes for an even further jump.
Not only that, but Samsung surprises with a dazzling titanium design for the S24 Ultra which makes it sturdier compared to the S22 Ultra. When we add the long-awaited zoom camera quality upgrade, as well as the drastic increase in display brightness, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is definitely worth the jump from the S22 Ultra, especially with Samsung's generous trade-in Galaxy S24 deals.
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