Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 Ultra has these exclusive features

Samsung’s first Unpacked launch event of the year brought with it the Galaxy S24 series of smartphones.

The regular S24 and S24+ are very capable handsets, but those buying the top-of-the-line S24 Ultra model will be getting a selection of exclusive features. 

And despite Samsung’s heavy focus on artificial intelligence, none of these relate to Galaxy AI. So, let’s look at what splashing out on this year’s Ultra will bag you over its siblings and many rivals.

Titanium build

For the first time – and yes, following in Apple’s footsteps – Samsung has gone for a titanium build, which gives the phone an excellent strength to weight ratio. 

The titanium frame is one of the most significant differences between the S24 Ultra and the S24/S24 Plus in the design and build department. 

It is worth noting that the Ultra’s smaller siblings do get an upgrade to ‘Armor Aluminium 2.0’ and have a matt finish, along with a more rounded shape for better grip. 

Corning Gorilla Armor 

The other big difference in build is that the Ultra is the only model to get a special glass front in the form of Corning Gorilla Armor. 

In fact, no other phone on the market has this material. Samsung tells us that it’s not only four times tougher than a typical cover, it also offers 75% less reflection. This should make it easier to use in bright conditions, especially when combined with a maximum brightness of 2600 nits.

However, it’s worth noting that the previously Ultra-exclusive LTPO display, which allows the refresh rate to automatically adjust between 1-120Hz, is also now available on regular and Plus models.

Quad Telephoto camera

Samsung has long been pushing its telephoto capabilities and this year is no different. To this end, the Galaxy S24 Ultra arrives with a new ‘Quad Telephoto’ array. 

For starters, this means it has a new 5x optical telephoto lens for getting close-up shots of your subject from afar. It’s an improvement on the 3x lens on the S23 Ultra, and can be combined with the 50Mp main sensor to achieve a 10x zoom level. 

With 2x and 3x also available, that’s how Samsung can call it a Quad Telephoto. But with the hybrid nature of the 10x, it’s not the native optical zoom you might have been expecting and hoping for. 

The S24 and S24 Plus both feature a with Dual Telephoto in the form of 2x and 3x. 

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (UK) 

If you’re in the UK, the S24 Ultra has a different processor to its stablemates. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy is an overclocked version of the processor found in rivals such as the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro.

Some markets, including the US, will see the entire S24 range get this chipset. But in the UK, S24 and S24+ will be powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 2400 instead. 

S Pen stylus 

It’s not new for this year, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra remains the only phone in the range to be supplied with Samsung’s popular S Pen stylus. 

It slots into the bottom of the phone for convenience and can be used for a wide range of tasks, giving you a Galaxy Note-like experience despite that range being discontinued. 

More storage 

It’s not particularly exciting, but if you want 1TB of storage on your phone (as some people do), you’ll have to get the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The regular S24 tops out at 256GB, while the S24+ offers up to 512GB.

With no support for expandable storage, make sure you choose the right option.

However, there are plenty of key features that are available on all three S24 phones, including a range of AI features and seven years of software updates.