Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra are two of Samsung’s flagship smartphone models. The S20 Ultra was released in 2020, while the S24 Ultra is the latest 2024 model.
When considering upgrading your phone, there are some key factors to think about:
- Performance – Does the S24 Ultra offer meaningful performance upgrades over the S20 Ultra? This includes processing power, RAM, refresh rates, etc.
- Camera – What improvements are there to the rear and front-facing cameras? Things like megapixels, aperture, zoom capabilities, image processing, etc.
- Features – Does the S24 Ultra add any new features the S20 Ultra doesn’t have? This could be things like S Pen support, satellite connectivity, etc.
- Cost – What’s the price difference between the models? Does the upgrade offer enough extra value to justify the cost?
- Longevity – Will the S24 Ultra likely last notably longer in terms of software support and staying current than the S20 Ultra?
You’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of these factors compared to your personal needs and budget. For some, upgrading yearly doesn’t make sense, while others may appreciate the latest tech.
Specification
| Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 3,200 x 1,440 20:9 ratio 120Hz refresh rate at 1080p 60Hz refresh rate at 1440p HDR10+ certified | 6.8-inch Dynamix AMOLED 2X Display 3,120 x 1,440 Adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate HDR10+ certified |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 or Samsung Exynos 990 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM | 12 or 16GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 128 or 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB |
| MicroSD | Yes, up to 1TB | No |
| Battery | 5,000mAh 45 wired charging 15W wireless charging | 5,000mAh 45W wired charging 15W wireless Wireless PowerShare |
| Cameras | Rear: – Wide-angle: 108MP, 1/1.33″, ƒ/1.8, .8µm – Telephoto: 48MP, ƒ/3.5, .8µm – Ultra-wide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.4µm – VGA time-of-flight sensor Hybrid optical/digital zoom at 10x Super Resolution at 100x Front – 40MP sensor, ƒ/2.2, .7µm, AF | Rear: – Wide-angle: 200MP, ƒ/1.7, Super Quad Pixel AF, OIS – Main telephoto: 50MP, ƒ/3.4, 5x optical zoom, Quad Pixel AF, OIS – Second telephoto: 10MP, ƒ/2.4, 3x zoom, Dual Pixel AF, OIS – Ultra-wide: 12MP, ƒ/2.2, Dual Pixel AF, 120-degree FOV Laser autofocus 100x Space Zoom Front: – 12MP, ƒ/2.2, Dual Pixel AF |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE 5G (sub-6GHz, DSS, TDD/FDD, SA and NSA, mmWave) | 4G LTE 5G (incl. sub-6GHz TDD/FDD) |
| Operating system | One UI 2.0 Android 10 | One UI 6.1 Android 14 |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Security | Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, face unlock | Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, face unlock |
| Colors | Cosmic Grey and Cosmic Black | Titanium Black, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Gray |
| Dimensions and weight | 76×166.9x8mm 220g | 79×162.3×8.6mm 232g |
Performance and Display
S24 Ultra has a considerable performance advantage over the S20 Ultra due to its more advanced Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor compared to the Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990 chips in the S20 Ultra. Benchmark tests show around a 30% bump in processing power.
This means faster app load times, smoother gaming performance, and snappier overall response when doing intensive tasks like editing photos or video. The extra performance headroom also contributes to the phone feeling speedy even years down the road.
Additionally, while both phones have 120Hz maximum refresh rates for smooth scrolling and animations, the S24 Ultra can adjust its refresh rate down to 1Hz to conserve battery life. The S20 Ultra only goes as low as 60Hz at 1440p resolution.
Camera Technology
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra brings some major camera upgrades over the already impressive S20 Ultra:
- 200MP main camera vs 108MP on the S20 Ultra – Allows for crisper, more detailed shots
- Wider f/1.7 aperture vs f/1.8 – Lets in more light for better low-light shots
- Laser autofocus vs no laser on S20 Ultra – Faster, more precise focusing
- 5x optical zoom telephoto lens vs 4x on S20 Ultra – Better optical zoom range
- New Super HDR and Nightography features – Enhanced HDR and low light photos
S24 Ultra also has upgraded AI-enhanced photo processing powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. This helps improve shots across the board in terms of color, detail, exposure, and more.
Storage and Price
Storage options on the S24 Ultra have been expanded over the S20 Ultra. You can get the S24 Ultra with 256GB, 512GB, or a huge 1TB capacity. That tops out the S20 Ultra’s max 512GB.
However, unlike the S20 Ultra, the S24 Ultra does not offer microSD expandable storage. So you have to choose your capacity upfront.
In terms of pricing, the S24 Ultra starts at $1,299 for 256GB. That’s $100 less than the $1,399 base price the S20 Ultra launched in 2020. And you’re getting double the starting storage too.
Should You Upgrade? Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra vs Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to be a significant upgrade over the S20 Ultra, especially for those looking to purchase a new high-end Samsung phone. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor should provide noticeably faster performance compared to the Snapdragon 865 or Exynos 990 chips in the S20 Ultra.
The camera system is also improved, headlined by a 200MP main camera for incredibly detailed photos. Wider apertures should also help with low-light photography, and laser autofocus provides faster, more accurate focusing. While the front camera resolution has decreased to 12MP from 40MP, this is likely an acceptable tradeoff for most users.
A 6.8-inch display is marginally smaller than the S20 Ultra, but still large and capable of a smoother 120Hz refresh rate across the entire range, down to 1Hz. This enables both fluid scrolling and animations, as well as battery life savings from the adaptive refresh rate.
The lack of microSD expansion is disappointing given its inclusion on the S20 Ultra. This is likely a calculated decision by Samsung to push more customers towards pricier models with higher internal storage. But for those less concerned with expandable storage, the Galaxy S24 Ultra represents an exciting upgrade over its predecessor.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
200MP camera
ProVisual Engine
Up to 1TB of storage
New AI tools
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Gorgeous screen
Flexible cameras
Blazing-fast performance
Conclusion
Galaxy S24 Ultra takes an already exceptional phone in the S20 Ultra and meaningfully improves upon it in many key areas – especially camera performance. Samsung does this while lowering the cost of entry too.
For anyone still holding onto an S20 Ultra that they use heavily day to day, the S24 Ultra presents an extremely compelling upgrade at a reasonable price.
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