Robert Triggs / Android Authority
It’s been more than two years since I got my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and although it hasn’t been my primary phone for most of that period, it’s still the one I pick up most often when I want to see the mobile world beyond my Pixel’s walled garden. And each time I unlock the phone, I am left a little in awe of what Samsung achieved, even with a phone that should technically be old and outdated now.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra does not feel old today. It feels just as snappy, just as nice, and just as good as it did on day one. It has its faults, sure, but it has aged gracefully thanks to its excellent design, powerful hardware, and Samsung’s software support.
Are you still rocking a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra? 40 votes Yes! I love this phone! 70 % Yes, but I want to upgrade soon. 10 % No, I already upgraded to another phone. 8 % No, I never had a Galaxy S24 Ultra. 13 %
The Galaxy S24 Ultra still looks and feels great
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
I was never a huge fan of the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s heft and square corners, and I still wouldn’t want to carry this brick in my hand or my jeans pocket all day, every day. However, I have to admit that it looks objectively great. It’s a very solid piece of hardware that feels substantial in the hand and carries an impression of robustness, seriousness, and business that few other phones I’ve tried in the past year have.
Let’s put it this way: If I wanted to hammer a nail and had no other tool in my hand, I’d pick the Galaxy S24 Ultra over any other phone to do that. Just today, anecdotally, mine fell from the top of the first-floor stairs and landed in the kitchen on the ground floor. No crack, no scratch, no blemish. It still looks pristine, just like it has over the past couple of years. This phone is indestructible. And the Gorilla Armor glass still holds its end of the bargain two years later.
The display also earns its place among today’s flagships. It’s gorgeous to look at, very clear, and bright enough for outdoor use. Even though my Pixel 10 Pro XL has a higher peak brightness (3,300 nits versus the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 2,400 nits), the difference isn’t significant enough for me to consider the Galaxy S24 Ultra lagging behind. And given the newer Galaxy S26 Ultra’s display issues, the S24 Ultra almost feels like an upgrade compared to what Samsung is making now. This is essentially a phone that has survived more than two years without looking outdated or irrelevant.
These internals still hold up in 2026
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