Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
By Muhammad Tahir · Updated June 2026 · how we review
How long will it last?
Official promiseSupported until January 2031 · Buy-by January 2029
Samsung promises 7 years of updates for this phone, so it's supported until January 2031 — buying it today still gets you about 4.5 years of safe use (verified June 2026).
Source: Samsung's official policy · last verified 2026-06-11 · how we compute this
TrueCost
Street price ÷ months of safe use remaining — the number that makes cheap short-lived phones expensive, and well-supported ones cheap.
31% cheaper than the $900+ median ($25.21/mo, dying phones excluded)
Is the Galaxy S24 Ultra worth buying in 2026?
Yes — it's safe to buy today: 54 months of software support remain, at $17.52 per month of safe use.
Our verdict
At roughly $949 refurbished, the S24 Ultra is the cheapest route to a titanium 200MP camera phone with a built-in S Pen — provided you can live with its 232g bulk and merely-adequate 45W charging.
Pros
- Seven years of OS and security updates carry it to January 2031 — the same runway as a 2024 iPhone
- 200MP main sensor backed by a genuine 50MP 5x periscope, so long-range zoom holds real detail
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy in every region — no Exynos variant to sort out — and it still handles 2026 games
- 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X hits 2,600 nits behind anti-reflective Gorilla Armor that genuinely kills glare
- 5,000mAh battery, IP68, Wi-Fi 7 and a built-in S Pen you never have to charge to write
Cons
- At 232g and 6.8 inches it's a two-hand phone, and noticeably heavier than the S25 Ultra that replaced it
- 45W wired charging is unchanged since 2021 and reaches only about 65% in 30 minutes; wireless stays at 15W
- The 10MP 3x telephoto is low-res next to the 50MP 5x, so mid-range zoom shots lag both extremes
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, QHD+ (3120×1440), 1–120Hz, up to 2600 nits |
|---|
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy |
|---|---|
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 200MP |
|---|---|
| ultra-wide | 12MP |
| telephoto 3x | 10MP |
| telephoto 5x periscope | 50MP |
| front | 12MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 5,000 mAh |
|---|---|
| Charging | 45W wired, 15W wireless |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 162.3 × 79.0 × 8.6 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 232 g |
| Materials | Titanium frame, Gorilla Armor (front) |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 14 with One UI 6.1 at launch |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C |
| Update policy | 7 OS upgrades · 7 years of security updates (official promise) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
Is the S24 Ultra worth buying used in 2026?
For most people, yes. Around $949 it undercuts new Ultra models by hundreds of dollars while keeping flagship performance and roughly five more years of updates to 2031.
How long will the Galaxy S24 Ultra be supported?
Through January 2031 — seven years of OS and security updates from its January 2024 launch, matching Google's and Apple's longest commitments.
Should I buy the S24 Ultra or the newer S25 Ultra?
The S25 Ultra adds the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a sharper 50MP ultra-wide, a slightly larger 6.9-inch screen and a full extra year of updates (to February 2032). The S24 Ultra counters with a lower ~$949 used price and near-identical zoom and 5,000mAh battery — if you don't need the newest chip, the savings are real.
How far can the S24 Ultra actually zoom?
Its 50MP 5x periscope is the star, staying usable well past 5x thanks to sensor cropping, while a separate 10MP 3x lens handles portraits. Beyond about 10x you're leaning on Space Zoom digital processing, which softens quickly.
Does the S24 Ultra's S Pen still work as a remote?
Yes — unlike the S25 Ultra, the S24 Ultra kept the Bluetooth S Pen, so you can still use it as a remote camera shutter and for air gestures. It stores inside the body and never needs charging to write.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-11.