There were a lot of good smartphones released in 2024, and it’s actually not easy to settle on “the best.” But, for me at least, I struggle to put the Galaxy S24 Ultra at the top of that list.
In recent years, choice within the Android market has felt more constrained. Many devices feel like just another flavor of the same product. 2024, thankfully, didn’t feel like that too much, as each major brand has taken on its own identity. But, still, when you’re looking at “the best Android phones,” there are only a few key places to look.
The Pixel 9 Pro. The Galaxy S24 Ultra. The OnePlus 12. That’s pretty much it in many markets, at least in terms of looking at the high-end flagship Android device. “Best” is very much subjective, but personally, I think it really boils down to one of those three, plus the latest iPhone too.
For me, if I had to pick one of those, I’d be hard-pressed to pick between the Pixel 9 Pro and the OnePlus 12. The Pixel 9 Pro (and the XL) was easily the most-improved device of the year. Google’s design was polished, Tensor G4 is quite good, and the prices are still fair. OnePlus, meanwhile, put out a cohesive flagship in the OnePlus 12 that battles, often even beats the competition in terms of the hardware and the camera, all while undercutting on price dramatically. Really, the only sore points for me on the OnePlus 12 were the camera, which was still a bit inconsistent, and the software, as OxygenOS 14 still had a few too many quirks.
But both of those are the obvious choice, in my eyes, for the best phone of 2024. The device that I definitely wouldn’t pick is the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and for a few key reasons.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is, by all means, not a bad smartphone. It’s just not a competitive device.
Samsung’s 2024 flagship lags behind on the camera more than anything else. In our review, we called it “lackluster” camera because it isn’t very reliable, and struggles more than any other high-end smartphone when it comes to shots that involve any sort of motion. Beyond that, Samsung’s One UI software has continued to feel more cluttered over the years (though it’s getting a bit better next year), and you’re also not getting anything particularly unique. Compelling, standout features just aren’t easy to find on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. You’ll buy it if you want an S Pen, of course. Gorilla Armor is great too. And this is one of the only options for getting a smartphone that gets 7 years of Android updates. But it’s very clear that Samsung is comfortable just leaving most things on cruise control, and focusing in on the AI features that are still held back by the apps they’re attached to. Even in our later long-term Galaxy S24 Ultra review, we called the device an “undeniably comprehensive flagship smartphone” but still had to question if it’s still the front-runner.
You’re not “losing” in most places on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The battery life is good. The software policy is great. The performance and stability of Qualcomm’s chip is a compelling selling point over a Pixel. The only place where this device truly “loses” is the camera, as it truly just can’t match up with the competition. I don’t think that deserves any awards, as I explained in our review:
Samsung deserves some commendation for throwing a ton of hardware at [the camera] situation and delivering what is truly a flexible and sometimes-stellar camera setup. But, it rarely sticks the landing. As has been the case for the past several years, I don’t trust Samsung’s camera, and that’s getting more and more ridiculous as the years go by and the prices go up.
And then the price has to come into the conversation.
At $1,299, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the most expensive non-foldable flagship in most markets. It’s hard to argue the Galaxy S24 Ultra is worth $200 more than a Pixel 9 Pro XL. It’s basically impossible to say, at least with a straight face, that it’s worth $400 more than the OnePlus 12. It’s certainly not worth $100 more than an iPhone 16 Pro Max either. Samsung’s trade-in deals are always compelling, but those are beginning to feel like a bribe just because no one wants to pay the retail price – and I’d argue no one should pay that price either.
For me, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the “safe” smartphone. It’s far from bad, it’s good in a lot of ways, but it’s not the best. I can sort of see why Marques Brownlee picked it for the best phone award, but I don’t think Samsung deserves it.
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