Overview
There has been a flurry of leaks Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. As each passing day brings new details about the phone’s design, camera capabilities, and overall features, one question has remained unanswered: how much will it cost? Thankfully, we now have confirmation on the pricing for the entire lineup of the Galaxy S24 series.
Price Reductions
The good news is that there will be a price reduction for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and its two sibling models. According to renowned leaker Ice Universe, the stock of the Ultra and S24 Plus is very large this time, which has prompted Samsung to offer a lower price. While it was previously rumored that the US would have the same price across all models, which would be $799 for the S24, $999 for the S24 Plus, and $1,199 for the S24 Ultra, it seems that there will be some variation.
European Pricing
For those in Europe, the prices of the Galaxy S24 series have dropped and increased on certain models. The base model of the S24 now costs €899 instead of €950 for the 128GB version, while the S24 Plus is priced at €1,149 instead of €1,200 for the 256GB version and €1,269 instead of €1,320 for the 512GB version. However, the S24 Ultra will see a price hike, with the base model priced at €1,449 instead of €1,400. It is worth noting that these prices may vary from country to country within the European region.
Reason for Price Drops
So why has Samsung decided to drop the price of the S24 and S24 Plus in Europe? It turns out that all European countries will be receiving the Exynos 2400 chipset, which allows Samsung to maintain the same price in the US and even reduce the price in Europe. However, it is important to mention that the Exynos 2400 is not as impressive as the Snapdragon 893, which is why Samsung excluded one feature from the Galaxy S24 Ultra at the last moment.
Satellite Connectivity
In the third quarter of 2023, news started emerging about the possibility of satellite connectivity coming to the S24 Ultra. While there were initial reports confirming this feature, a recent report from ET News denied these rumors. It seems that the original S24 Ultra was tested with different mobile carriers, but no support for satellite connectivity was found. Samsung might be taking another year to perfect this feature before making it available on a Galaxy phone. As a result, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to be the first phone to have this advanced feature.
Display and Durability
For those interested in the display of the S24 Ultra, there is good news. The phone features a stunning flat display, with symmetrical bezels that enhance its overall appearance. Although the outer bezels may be relatively thick, the inner bezels are only around 1.5mm, giving the S24 Ultra a sleek and modern look. Furthermore, Samsung has improved the phone’s durability by incorporating a new glass called GG Armor, which is stronger than the previous Victus 2 glass found on the S23 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Camera
The cameras and AI features of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra are undoubtedly one of the phone’s biggest selling points. The phone boasts an updated 200-megapixel ISSEL HP2 SX sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, a 10-megapixel 3x telephoto sensor, and a 50-megapixel 5x periscope sensor. One notable feature is the claim that the 50-megapixel 5x sensor brings equal quality at 10x optical zoom. Additionally, Samsung has introduced new camera features, such as Zoom Anyplace, which allows users to simultaneously record two-length videos at 2x or 4x zoom while ensuring stable footage. Another feature, called E2E Ric, reduces the time it takes to capture a photo with the 200-megapixel resolution.
AI Features
Samsung has also included several AI features, including its own AI model exclusive to the S24 Ultra, called Samsung Gauze or Galaxy AI. This AI model offers various new AI features for daily life usage. Users can draft emails effortlessly using AI, summarize documents with a single click, and even translate documents using the new image model. Additionally, users can create a new MID (like a mini-journey) without an internet connection. For software developers, Samsung has introduced a code model to help write code quickly and easily. Another standout feature is AI life translation, which allows for real-time translation in text and audio integrated within the phone’s native dialer. Initially, this feature will support 10 different languages.
Exciting Additional Features
In addition to the above features, the S24 Ultra will also include some exciting capabilities. Similar to Google’s Night Sight Video, Samsung will introduce its own version called Night Version, which will be processed on the device itself thanks to Qualcomm’s AI engine. Another impressive feature is the ability to remove unwanted objects from videos. Qualcomm has taken this a step further by introducing a feature called “photo expansion,” which uses AI to extend the original image. Furthermore, the S24 Ultra will support HDR images in the photo album, similar to Google’s Ultra HDR feature, ensuring consistent brightness, contrast, and color when viewing HDR pictures.
Launch and Availability
If you’re eagerly awaiting the S24 Ultra, mark your calendars for the launch date on January 18th at 3:00 AM KSD (January 17th in the US). Pre-orders are expected to start shortly after the event, with the phones becoming available in the market on January 30th. It is worth noting that pre-orders might include a free storage update or even Samsung credits to purchase accessories. For a more detailed look at the Galaxy S24 Ultra, be sure to watch the video linked in the transcript.
With its impressive camera capabilities, AI features, and attractive design, the Samsung is set to be a standout device in the market.