When I showed my friend the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra together, he said, “It’s the same,” which pretty much sums up the design changes between the latest Ultra phone and its predecessor. However, I’ve used the S24 Ultra over the weekend and have a few preliminary thoughts to share ahead of my full review, which is coming soon, and they may help with any preorder decisions you may be making this week.
One big design change
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
While my friend’s blunt observation about the design isn’t inaccurate at all, there is one alteration I do want to talk about — the switch to a flat screen. Combined with the flatter sides on the S24 Ultra, it makes the phone feel bulkier in your hand. The S23 Ultra is surprisingly svelte-feeling when you hold it, with the curvier frame more comfortably sitting in the palm of your hand.
Even if it is mostly an optical illusion as both screens are the same size, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s flat screen more effectively shows off the enormous size of the 6.8-inch Super AMOLED panel, which is also accentuated by the smaller lower bezel. But most notably, it’s much more comfortable to write on when you use the S Pen stylus. The flatness means the heel pad of your hand rests more naturally, and requires less awareness to keep in place when you’re writing.
Finally, the Gorilla Armor glass is noticeably less reflective than the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 glass, and it’s also possible to spot the increase in overall brightness. Outside on a sunny day, the S24 Ultra’s screen shines, and I can’t imagine any situation where you’ll be squinting at it because it’s too dim.
