The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is still a genuinely excellent smartphone, and for many buyers in 2026, it remains the smartest choice in Samsung’s lineup. Here’s why — and where it falls short.
The Case for Buying the S24 Ultra in 2026
The Galaxy S24 Ultra launched in January 2024 as peak hardware, and it has shown no signs of slowing down. Two years later, it still feels like a 2026 flagship, with Android updates helping it age remarkably well.
It has features the newer models lost. The S24 Ultra’s S Pen is Bluetooth-capable, which means you can use it as a remote shutter for the camera, control media playback, and navigate the OS with Air Actions. Samsung removed Bluetooth from the S Pen in both the S25 Ultra and S26 Ultra. If you actually use the S Pen as more than a stylus, the S24 Ultra is the last model that offers the full experience.
The design is peak Samsung. The S24 Ultra is the last of Samsung’s flagships to feature its sharp, squared corners and titanium frame. Samsung has since moved to softer, rounder corners that “blend in with every other flagship on the market”. The S24 Ultra’s bold, boxy Note-like aesthetic still turns heads in a way the newer models don’t.
The display is still one of the best. You get a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2,600 nits of peak brightness. It includes the anti-reflective layer that makes outdoor viewing a pleasure. It looks fantastic in 2026.
Performance: Still More Than Enough
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM, remains a capable performer. Multitasking is smooth, and unless you’re doing complex video editing or playing the most intensive 3D games, you won’t notice a meaningful difference compared to the S26 Ultra.
The camera system — a 200MP main sensor, 50MP 5x telephoto, 10MP 3x telephoto, and 12MP ultrawide — still holds its own. It scored a 9/10 in MakeUseOf’s review and “will still hold its own even five years down the line”.
Software: Five More Years of Updates
This is arguably the strongest argument for the S24 Ultra. Samsung promised seven years of software support, and the S24 series has already received the stable One UI 9 update based on Android 17. You’re getting another five years of Android versions and security patches.
Samsung has done an excellent job optimizing new software for older hardware — the S24 Ultra is “just as snappy as it was out of the box”.
The Price: Half of What You’d Pay for New
The S24 Ultra is officially discontinued, but it’s still widely available through refurbished channels and unsold inventory. Prices have dropped dramatically:
Refurbished (Back Market): $545–$655 with a 12-month warranty
eBay (new/unlocked): Around $607–$679
Refurbished (KnowYourMobile): $689.99, marked down from $1,399
That’s at least $400 less than the S26 Ultra, and often closer to half the price. For a phone that still performs like a 2026 flagship, that’s an extraordinary value proposition.
Where the S24 Ultra Falls Short
No phone is perfect, and the S24 Ultra has some genuine drawbacks in 2026.
Charging is slow. 45W wired charging is “slow” by 2026 standards, especially compared to the 65W–100W speeds available on many Chinese flagships. A full charge takes well over an hour.
It’s heavy and bulky. At 232 grams, it’s noticeably heavier than the S26 Ultra (214g) and most modern flagships. The boxy shape makes it feel even larger in the hand.
You’ll need a screen protector. Early units had a known issue where sunscreen or certain creams could strip the oleophobic coating. If you’re buying one now, put a screen protector on from day one.
It’s two years old. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is still capable, but the S26 Ultra’s newer chipset will handle future AI features and demanding apps with more headroom. If you’re a heavy gamer or professional video editor, the newer model has real advantages.
Yes, It’s Still Worth It
For most buyers, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the smart choice in 2026.
If you want a flagship Samsung experience — the S Pen, the big beautiful display, the versatile camera system, and years of software support — without paying $1,300+ for the latest model, the S24 Ultra delivers 90% of the experience for roughly 50% of the price.
The S26 Ultra is the better phone. It’s lighter, thinner, faster, and has a privacy display that the S24 Ultra lacks. But the improvements are incremental, not transformational. Unless you need the absolute latest hardware or the specific new features, the S24 Ultra is the smarter financial decision.
Buy the S24 Ultra if: you want flagship quality on a budget, you value the Bluetooth S Pen, you prefer the boxy design, or you just need a reliable phone that will last another five years.
Skip it if: you’re a heavy gamer, you need the fastest charging available, or you want the newest AI features that require the S26 Ultra’s more advanced chipset.
For everyone else, the S24 Ultra remains one of the best value propositions in the entire smartphone market.
