Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Titanium Black 256GB

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a no-compromise flagship with a camera that tops our charts and battery life for days. It's heavy and expensive, but the titanium build and S Pen make it a productivity beast. If you can find a good deal on a refurb, it's an absolute no-brainer.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 paired with 12GB of RAM is a beast. Apps open instantly, multitasking is buttery smooth, and even demanding games stay locked at high frame rates. In our database, this setup sits in the 90th percentile for raw speed, which is excellent. The only real nitpick is that the vapor chamber cooling can get warm to the touch during extended gaming sessions, but it never throttles hard enough to ruin the experience.

Stacked against the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the S24 Ultra pulls ahead on zoom versatility and that S Pen functionality you just don't get anywhere else. The Pixel 9 Pro XL fights back with cleaner software and faster updates, but its processor can't match the Snapdragon's raw grunt. The OnePlus 13 offers faster charging for less money, though its camera isn't in the same league. If you want a folding screen, the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is a fun alternative, but it sacrifices the camera prowess and battery life that make the S24 Ultra a workhorse.

Value is the trickiest part of this phone. The price swings wildly from $510 for a refurbished unit up to $1150 brand new. If you can snag a good condition refurb from a place like Newegg, it's a steal for the hardware you're getting. At full retail, you're paying a serious premium, but you're also getting a phone with a 100th percentile camera and a build that will last for years. It's an investment, not an impulse buy.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is Samsung firing on all cylinders. You get a gorgeous titanium frame, a display that hits a retina-searing 2600 nits, and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip that chews through anything you throw at it. It's big, it's heavy, and it's unapologetically a power user's phone. The S Pen is tucked right in, and the whole package feels like a mini computer that happens to make calls.

Skip this if you want a phone that's easy to use with one hand or fits comfortably in tight pockets. The 233g weight and massive 6.8-inch frame are a lot to manage daily. If you're not going to use the S Pen or the 10x zoom, you can save a chunk of cash with a standard S24+ or a Pixel 9 Pro XL and not miss much.

This is the phone for the person who wants everything and is willing to carry a big phone to get it. It's a productivity monster with the S Pen, a camera system that embarrasses most point-and-shoots, and a battery that won't leave you hunting for a charger by dinner. If you're a spec-chaser or a die-hard Android fan, this is the best slab phone Samsung has ever made.