Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S24: Which to Buy at the Discount?
Both placed at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards: S24 Ultra won Phone of the Year; S24 was runner-up Best Small Phone. Now widely discounted in 2026 — the question is which one is the smarter discounted Galaxy buy.
Updated · Verdict based on MKBHD Smartphone Awards results and spec analysis.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung · 2024 · From $1299
Samsung Galaxy S24
Samsung · 2024 · From $799
Round wins
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: 5 · Samsung Galaxy S24: 2 ·Ties: 1
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S24 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz | 6.2-inch FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM | 12GB | 8GB |
| Camera | 200MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x + 50MP 5x telephoto | 50MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x telephoto |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 4,000 mAh |
| OS | Android 14 (One UI 6.1) | Android 14 (One UI 6.1) |
| Starting price | $1299 | $799 |
| Released | 2024 | 2024 |
Round-by-round breakdown
Display
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 UltraS24 Ultra: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, brighter and larger. S24: 6.2-inch — smaller and dimmer.
Performance
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 UltraBoth Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (US variants). Functionally identical for typical use.
Camera
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 UltraS24 Ultra: 200MP main + 5x periscope + 3x telephoto + ultrawide. S24: 50MP main + 12MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x telephoto. Material gap on zoom and resolution.
S Pen
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 UltraS24 Ultra has the S Pen; S24 does not. Decisive for note-takers.
Battery
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 UltraS24 Ultra: 5,000 mAh, 8+ hours screen-on. S24: 4,000 mAh, 6–7 hours. Real difference.
Pocketability
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24S24 is dramatically smaller and lighter (167g vs 232g). The right pick if you want a compact Samsung.
Software updates
TieBoth ship 7 years of major Android updates. Equal commitment.
Price
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24S24: now $599–$699. S24 Ultra: now $899–$999. The S24 is $300 cheaper but the Ultra packs much more capability.
Final verdict
Buy the S24 Ultra at the discount if you can — same 7-year update commitment as the S24, plus the S Pen, 5x periscope, and 200MP main camera. The price gap has shrunk to a few hundred dollars and the capability gap is enormous. The S24 is only the right pick if you specifically want a smaller phone (6.2 inches vs 6.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Galaxy S24 Ultra or S24 at the discount?
S24 Ultra if you want the full Galaxy capability set (S Pen, 5x periscope, 200MP main) and a 6.8-inch display. S24 if you specifically want a smaller phone or budget caps below $700.
Is the discounted S24 Ultra worth it over the S25 Ultra?
Yes — same camera array, same S Pen, same 7-year update commitment as the S25 Ultra at $300+ less. The S24 Ultra (MKBHD's 2024 Phone of the Year) is one of the best Android values in 2026.
Which has the longer battery life, S24 or S24 Ultra?
S24 Ultra by a wide margin — 5,000 mAh and 8+ hours screen-on vs S24's 4,000 mAh and 6–7 hours.