Galaxy S24 Ultra, 33 Months On: Keep It, but Do Not Buy One New

The Galaxy S24 Ultra went on sale in January 2024, so it is now 33 months old. Yet it still runs the newest Samsung software, and it has more than four years of promised updates left.

So two questions follow. Should you replace yours? And should you buy one now that two newer Ultras exist? Our answer is no to both, for different reasons.

For owners, the newest Ultra is not the clear step up it should be. For buyers, the S25 Ultra is simply the better phone to get. Below, we explain both calls and who should ignore them.

We have not held these phones for this piece. Instead, the verdict rests on published specs, lab tests and long-term reviews, and each claim links to its source.

The Short Version

• It still feels fast. One long-term owner says it feels as snappy as it did on day one.
• Software is not the problem. Samsung promised seven OS upgrades and seven years of security updates.
• Battery life is the real gap. GSMArena’s S26 Ultra score runs 2 hours 34 minutes longer, from the same 5,000mAh capacity.
• The newest screen is not a clean upgrade. Reviewers say Privacy Display costs viewing angles and some anti-reflection.
• Our call: keep yours, buy a used one only at a deep discount, and skip a new one.

What the Galaxy S24 Ultra Still Does Well

First, speed has held up. Android Authority’s Rita El Khoury has kept one for over two years, and writes that it feels just as snappy as it did on day one.

The lab comparison in that piece is more surprising. There, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 matches or beats the much newer Pixel 10 Pro XL in benchmarks. In other words, this chip is two generations old but far from slow.

Second, the hardware has aged well. El Khoury reports a fall down a flight of stairs with no crack or scratch. Of course, that is one phone and one fall, so treat it as a story and not a test.

Third, the glass still matters. Samsung says the Gorilla Armor cover cuts reflections by up to 75% compared with typical glass. That figure comes from lab testing, but owners have praised the effect for years.

Finally, the software runway is long. Droid Life reported the pledge at launch: seven OS generations and seven years of security updates. As a result, updates should run until around 2031, although Samsung says timing varies by market.

The phone has also picked up One UI 9 and Android 17 this month. Notebookcheck and Sammy Fans say that update brings newer AI tools such as Now Brief cards and Call Brief. However, some owners report heavy battery drain since installing it, and Samsung has not confirmed a fault.

Where It Now Falls Behind

Battery life comes first. All three Ultras carry a 5,000mAh cell, but newer chips use it better. Tom’s Guide also found the S26 Ultra lasted nearly two hours longer than the S25 Ultra in its web test.

Charging is next. The S24 Ultra tops out at 45W wired and 15W wireless. By contrast, the S26 Ultra moves to 60W and 25W.

Then there is raw power. On Geekbench 6, GSMArena’s S26 Ultra score is 63% higher. You will not feel that gap in daily apps, but heavy games and long-term headroom are another matter.

Weight is the one you notice every day. At 232g, the S24 Ultra is 18g heavier than the S26 Ultra, and at 8.6mm it is 0.7mm thicker as well. Even its fans admit this. El Khoury calls it a brick, and not one to carry all day.

The camera is the biggest complaint. El Khoury says the phone takes each photo about half a second late, and that it blurs moving people when the light drops. So if you mostly photograph children or pets, this matters more than any spec.

Galaxy S24 Ultra vs S25 Ultra vs S26 Ultra: The Numbers

These figures come from GSMArena’s spec pages for the three phones, starting with the S24 Ultra. We checked the main specs against Smartprix.

Look at the battery row first. Samsung has not raised capacity in three generations, so all the gain comes from efficiency. Meanwhile, the main and zoom cameras carry the same megapixel counts on all three phones.

The S26 Ultra does have a wider f/1.4 main lens, against f/1.7 on the S24 Ultra. Accordingly, its low-light photos should improve most. The ultrawide jump from 12MP to 50MP arrives with the S25 Ultra.

The Screen Question

This is where the old phone gets interesting. El Khoury says the S26 Ultra’s display issues make the S24 Ultra feel almost like an upgrade. That is a strong claim, so it needs testing.

Android Central’s lab column supports part of it. It says Privacy Display hurts viewing angles, sharpness and the anti-reflective layer, even with the feature switched off. Tom’s Guide also found the newer screen dimmer than the S25 Ultra’s, especially off angle.

However, there is a real counterpoint. A Digit writer who used the S26 Ultra for 120 days still calls the panel exceptional and likes Privacy Display.

In addition, GSMArena measured peak brightness at 1,447 nits on the S24 Ultra and 1,480 on the S26 Ultra, so the old phone is not brighter.

So the fair reading is this. Privacy Display is a clever trade, and some people will want it. If you do not, the S24 Ultra’s screen is no downgrade worth paying to escape.

The S Pen is a smaller point. Android Central confirms the S26 Ultra’s pen has no Bluetooth, so remote camera clicks and Air Actions are gone. The S24 Ultra is the last Ultra with them.

Galaxy S24 Ultra Price in India

We checked these listings on 31 October 2026. Prices are for the 12GB and 256GB model, and they move often.

The odd result is plain. A new S24 Ultra now costs more than the newer, lighter S25 Ultra. Smartprix shows Rs 1,10,000 on Flipkart, up Rs 8,676 in a month. Meanwhile, 91mobiles lists Rs 1,19,999 for the same store, so check before paying.

For the others, Smartprix lists the S25 Ultra at Rs 94,999 on Amazon and the S26 Ultra at Rs 1,25,999 on Flipkart. The S26 Ultra was still Rs 1,39,999 on Amazon the same day. Flipkart also shows 5% cashback on its Axis Bank card.

Used S24 Ultras start at Rs 72,248 on Smartprix. We have not checked the condition or battery health of those units, so read the seller’s terms closely.

Buy, Wait or Skip: Our Galaxy S24 Ultra Verdict

Keep it if you own one. It is still fast, it gets updates for years, and the newest Ultra’s screen is a debatable change. Our earlier S24 Ultra review praised the same strengths, and they have lasted.

Buy a used one if you want an S Pen phone for far less than a new Ultra, and you can check battery health first. It also suits anyone who uses Air Actions, since no newer Ultra offers them.

Wait if your battery has clearly worn or you are tired of the weight. The Galaxy S27 is reportedly due in January 2027, although Samsung has confirmed nothing. Three months is a short wait after 33 months.

Skip a new one. At these prices, the S25 Ultra gives you a faster chip, a 50MP ultrawide and a lighter body for less money. Also skip it if you shoot moving subjects, because the shutter lag will annoy you.

Quick Answers

Is the Galaxy S24 Ultra still worth it in 2026?

Yes, if you already own one or find a cheap used unit. A new one is poor value while the S25 Ultra costs less.

How long will it get updates?

Samsung promised seven years of security updates and seven OS upgrades. That should run until around 2031, with timing varying by market.

Should I upgrade to the S26 Ultra?

Only if battery life, faster charging or Privacy Display matter to you. Otherwise, the gain is small for the money.

Is the battery a problem?

Capacity matches the newer Ultras, but lab scores are shorter. Yours will also have aged, and some owners report drain after One UI 9.

The Bottom Line

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a rare thing: a nearly three-year-old phone that its owners have little reason to replace. That is a credit to the hardware. It is also the reason a new one makes no sense today.

Some things we cannot tell you. We do not know how worn any one battery will be, since that depends on years of charging habits. We also do not know whether the One UI 9 drain is a lasting fault, or how the S27 Ultra will actually perform.