GoKawiilStephen Radochia / Android Authority
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is still a fantastic smartphone. It features enough of the Galaxy Note heritage many of us love, and it includes a full-featured S Pen. It even has some of Samsung’s newer innovations, such as the anti-reflective screen. It’s currently the sweet spot for people who want a flagship Samsung experience without the wallet-punishing price of a Galaxy S26 Ultra.
A significant reason it’s so much easier to recommend older flagships is the extended software support. I would never tell anyone to buy a Galaxy S21 Ultra two years after release, because the value wasn’t there. That’s no longer the case, and despite being released in 2024, the Galaxy S24 Ultra will still enjoy almost five years of software support and upgrades.
Of course, if the quality of those updates isn’t solid, who cares? Thankfully, Samsung’s done an excellent job, and the most recent One UI 8.5 upgrade on the Galaxy S24 Ultra proves it.
Are you more willing to buy an older flagship with extended software support? 38 votes Absolutely. I love to save money! 76 % No way. I don't trust pre-owned phones. 24 %
Samsung finally fixed a sore spot
Stephen Radochia / Android Authority
Samsung’s multitasking felt perpetually stuck in 2017. The experience hadn’t fundamentally changed in years, despite fantastic examples from other companies, such as OnePlus’s Open Canvas. That started to change with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and One UI 8. Samsung introduced 90:10 multitasking, and it’s brought that over to the Galaxy S24 Ultra with One UI 8.5.
I don’t always need an even split when multitasking, especially if I’m just copying information from one app into an email or my calendar. A 90:10 multitasking split is the perfect solution. I can swipe one app almost completely off my screen when it’s not needed, but still have it there for easy access. It’s an added layer of flexibility that makes Samsung’s multitasking feel less rigid.
Whenever there is a new software update, I’m always curious how the battery life will be affected.
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