Galaxy S24 Ultra Beats S26 Ultra on Value With a $400 Price Gap
Updated
Updated · MUO - MakeUseOf · Jul 5
Galaxy S24 Ultra Beats S26 Ultra on Value With a $400 Price Gap
3 articles · Updated · MUO - MakeUseOf · Jul 5
Summary
$400 less than the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung's two-year-old S24 Ultra is being recommended as the better long-term buy for budget-focused shoppers.
Seven years of software support underpins that case: the phone has already moved from Android 14 to One UI 8.5 on Android 16, leaving five more years of updates ahead.
A 6.8-inch, 120Hz display with 2,600 nits peak brightness, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance and a 5,000mAh battery still make the S24 Ultra feel like a current flagship in 2026.
The trade-offs are limited but clear: the S26 Ultra offers a newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and privacy display, while the S24 Ultra's main weakness remains its aging 12MP front camera in low light.
Samsung has already discontinued the S24 Ultra, but remaining retail stock keeps it competitive as buyers weigh whether newer flagship features justify paying several hundred dollars more.