Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors

Samsung fans, mark your calendars - the tech giant has an unveiling event scheduled for January 17th, 2024 where they are set to fully reveal the next iteration in their premium phone lineup, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Rumors and leaks have already painted a picture of what upgrades we can expect from the S24 Ultra across key areas such as design, display, camera, performance, software, and pricing. This article consolidates what we know so far about the upcoming flagship based on the latest available information leading up to Samsung's official product launch.

Release Date and Pricing

The Galaxy S24 Ultra announcement event is now officially set for January 17, 2024 according to the latest information. This is slightly earlier than the Galaxy S23 unveiling. General availability is still rumored for late January or early February 2024.

In regards to how much the phone will cost, pricing is expected to align with this year's Galaxy S23 Ultra:

• 256GB - $1,199
• 512GB - $1,299
• 1TB - $1,619

Design Changes

Sources indicate that Samsung may swap out the Armor Aluminum frame used on the S23 series and instead utilize titanium on the S24 Ultra. This would provide greater rigidity and corrosion resistance. The change could also shave a gram off the weight. Otherwise, the size, layout, and general design language is expected to remain consistent with its predecessor. Leaks point to slightly slimmer bezels and flatter sides to align with recent styling trends.

Display Upgrades

The Galaxy S24 Ultra display will measure 6.8 inches, same as before. However, Samsung is rumored to be using an M13 OLED panel that enables a significant brightness boost to 2,600 nits peak (up from 1,750 nits peak on the S23 Ultra). The faster screen refresh rate may also get bumped up to 144Hz for added smoothness and responsiveness.

Camera Improvements

The star of the camera system figures to be an upgraded 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor on the main wide angle lens, enabling richer detail and dynamic range. Rather than the 10X periscope lens for optical zoom on the S23 Ultra, the S24 Ultra may switch to a 5X periscope powered by a separate 50MP sensor. Enhanced software and AI post-processing tech could further elevate photo quality.

Hardware and Performance

The Galaxy S24 Ultra will be among the first phones powered by Qualcomm's next-gen flagship chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, built on an efficient 4nm manufacturing process. According to speculations, Samsung could offer the phone with up to 16GB of RAM, giving it laptop-level multitasking capabilities.

Battery and Charging

While some rumors pointed to potential gains in battery capacity through advanced stacked sensor technology, more recent leaks indicate Samsung will stick with the same 5,000 mAh pack as is found in the Galaxy S22 and S23 series. 45W wired charging support will likely also remain unchanged.

Software Features

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to come with One UI 6 based on the latest Android 14 operating system. While full details remain scarce, the new software is rumored to include visual upgrades and enhanced camera modes. Exciting new features may include on-device AI chatbot functions, Live Translate to enable real-time call translations, and advanced AI-powered video editing capabilities like erasing subjects from videos.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra may not reinvent Samsung's flagship formula, but with an array of camera, power, brightness, design enhancements, and new AI features it has shaped up to be a compelling iterative update for 2024. Stay tuned for more confirmed details as Samsung's unveiling event nears.