The best Galaxy S24 Ultra alternatives: Google, Apple, and more

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the Korean brand’s latest and greatest flagship phone in 2024, bringing a super-powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, versatile cameras, and plenty more premium extras. Are you curious about this phone but want to get a better idea of your options? Then we’ve got you covered with our look at the best Galaxy S24 Ultra alternatives.

Are you looking for the best Galaxy S24 or Galaxy S24 Plus alternatives? Check them out at the respective links.

Buying the right Galaxy S24 Ultra alternative for your needs

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a premium Android flagship phone through and through, and it packs a ton of features. These include the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 silicon, a flexible quad rear camera system, a huge battery, wireless charging support, and an IP68 rating. The S24 Ultra even offers Samsung’s new Galaxy AI software suite. Finally, the series is unparalleled in terms of geographic availability. That said, here are a few alternatives if you’re considering a switch.

Google Pixel 8 Pro: The best Galaxy S24 Ultra alternative

Like the idea of a premium Android flagship? Then, the Pixel 8 Pro is definitely worth considering as a Galaxy S24 Ultra alternative. Best of all, the phone is available for a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Ultra device.

We praised the Pixel 8 Pro for its versatile camera system, great design, and improved wired charging speeds. We also really liked the industry-leading update commitment at the time of its launch, offering seven years of updates. Toss in some cool AI features here and there’s a lot to like.

It wasn’t all good with Google’s latest Pro Pixel, though. The Tensor G3 chip is capable but still lags behind 2023’s rivals, while the temperature sensor is a gimmicky addition. It’s also worth noting that several software features like Zoom Enhance and Video Boost weren’t available at launch. Nevertheless, these downsides aren’t enough to dampen our enthusiasm for the phone.

So, if you want to know which is our favorite Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra alternative, this is it. Nevertheless, there are plenty of other options if this one isn’t doing it for you. Keep reading to learn about them.

What makes it stand out

• A raft of AI features: The Tensor G3 and Google AI optimizations make this a very intelligent phone. There is a plethora of AI tools throughout the phone, which you can learn more about in our guide to the best Pixel-only features.
• Seven years of software updates: Google is offering among the best update promises the industry has to offer. The Pixel 8 Pro will be supported until 2030, including both software updates and security improvements.
• Fantastic cameras: Google is known for its smartphone cameras, and the photo-shooting capabilities continue with the Pixel 8 series. These phones have great hardware and software optimizations in the camera department.

The other best Galaxy S24 Ultra alternatives

• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: Samsung’s previous Ultra phone can be had for a little cheaper now, but you’re still getting a big battery, an S Pen slot, and an excellent camera system. This is also the last Ultra phone with a 10x camera.
• Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: The latest Pro Max iPhone is as close as you can get to an Android superphone without running Android. The new device sports USB-C and a 5x camera for the first time, catching up to Android phones.
• OnePlus 12: Want a powerful phone with a great display and fast charging? That’s where the OnePlus 12 comes in, offering ultra-fast wired/wireless charging, a big battery, and a periscope camera for the first time in the series.
• Samsung Galaxy S24: The base S24 doesn’t have the S24 Ultra’s huge battery, pixel-dense screen, or that nifty 5x camera. Nevertheless, it packs the latest silicon, a raft of AI-enabled features, and the same lengthy update commitment.
• Sony Xperia 1 V: The Xperia 1 V is the Android phone to get if you’re a media and photography enthusiast, bringing a variety of features that are missing from the S24 series. This includes a 4K screen, a variable telephoto camera, and microSD support.
• REDMAGIC 9 Pro: If you’re looking for a gaming phone, the RESMAGIC 9 Pro is as good, if not better, than the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It also helps that it is much more affordable!

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: The best alternative for Ultra fans

The Galaxy S24 Ultra might be the latest Samsung flagship, but the S23 Ultra is still worth a look in 2024. Samsung’s 2023 flagship retains features like a 200MP main camera, an IP68 rating, an S Pen, and a big battery with wireless charging support.

The S23 Ultra is also the last Galaxy phone with a 10x camera. Samsung claims that the S24 Ultra offers better 10x zoom shots via its 5x camera, but you’re still getting native 10x video with the S23 Ultra camera. Plus, we were pretty impressed with the 10x camera’s images beyond 10x.

Samsung’s previous Ultra phone does lose some ground to the S24 Ultra when it comes to horsepower and AI features, though. But does that really matter if the device is a little cheaper, now that it’s an older, previous-gen handset?

What makes it stand out

• Last Ultra phone with 10x camera: We loved the native 10x zoom on the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s camera system, and it also translates to video.
• S Pen slot: The S Pen adds an exciting layer of functionality that can take advantage of the larger screen.
• Premium extras (IP68, wireless charging): While older, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra still has it all. And most likely at a much lower price, now that it’s older.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: The best alternative for Apple fans

If you want a top-notch premium phone but are partial to iOS, then the iPhone 15 Pro Max is undoubtedly the best option for you. This is as close as you’ll get to a high-end Android phone in the iPhone space and a good analogue for the S24 Ultra.

Apple’s latest Pro Max model adopts a folded zoom camera (5x 12MP) for the first time in an iPhone, catching up to a feature Android devices have offered for four or five years. The iPhone 15 series also adopted USB-C for the first time, replacing the ancient Lightning port.

Unlike the S24 Ultra, the iPhone also enables access to Apple’s expansive ecosystem of software, devices, and services. So, the iPhone 15 Pro Max makes sense if you are invested in Apple’s ecosystem.

What makes it stand out

• USB-C for the first time: The whole Lightning vs USB-C battle is finally over, and USB-C has won. Now, iPhone users can use all their other cables to charge their smartphones.
• Access to Apple’s ecosystem: If you use other Apple products, getting an iPhone is a no-brainer. It will integrate with them perfectly.
• Great, simple experience: iPhones are known for their performance, great designs, and being among the most user-friendly devices. The customer service is also usually superior, and the Apple App Store is better curated.

OnePlus 12: The best alternative if you want faster charging

The OnePlus 12 takes things to a new level, now getting closer to high-end flagships, as opposed to following its “flagship killer” tradition. Of course, the price is now closer to other high-end devices, too. It’s an amazing phone, though, and it seems to make no sacrifices this time around.

Perhaps the biggest reason to opt for the OnePlus 12 is its fast charging capabilities. It can charge at 100W (80W in the USA), and wireless charging speeds can reach 50W. The 5,400mAh battery needs just under 30 minutes to reach 100% via a cable.

The latest OnePlus flagship brings a host of other notable features. This includes a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a periscope camera (64MP 3x) for the first time in a conventional OnePlus phone, a bright QHD+ OLED screen, and an alert slider. The only major downside is that the phone only offers an IP65 splash-resistant rating, which is subpar compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s IP68 rating.

What makes it stand out

• Super-fast wired/wireless charging: This phone can charge at up to 100W internationally, or 80W in the USA. Those speeds are impressive, but even wireless charging is faster at 50W. Wired or wireless, these speeds leave the Galaxy S24 Ultra in the dust.
• Excellent performance and big battery: The OnePlus 12 has everything it needs to compete only against the best. Performance is impressive, battery life is great, and the design is gorgeous.
• Versatile camera system: You’ll get a 50MP primary camera, a 64MP periscope telephoto shooter, and a 48MP ultrawide.

Samsung Galaxy S24: The best alternative for Samsung fans

The base Galaxy S24 is an ideal Galaxy S24 Ultra alternative if you don’t want to spend a ton of cash. Notable highlights include a powerful processor, a few premium extras (wireless charging, IP68 rating), and some great AI-enabled software features. Samsung is also offering seven years of updates, matching Google for the best update policy in the industry.

Samsung’s cheapest S24 does make a number of compromises for the price, though. You’re getting a much smaller battery, an FHD+ screen instead of a QHD+ panel, and what’s effectively the same camera system we’ve seen for a few generations now. Of course, it also lacks the S Pen.

Nevertheless, the S24 is still worthy of consideration owing to its combination of software smarts, long-term update support, respectable specs, and a more palatable price.

What makes it stand out

• Great performance: The Samsung Galaxy S24 has the same processor as the S24 Ultra, and it also has a healthy amount of RAM at 8GB. The performance will be nearly as good.
• Same AI features as S24 Ultra: Software-wise, the whole Galaxy S24 series enjoys the same AI features and software enhancements, save for the S Pen features.
• Seven years of updates: Samsung and Google are battling out for the best update promises. These phones will all get seven years of support.

Sony Xperia 1 V: The best alternative for multimedia enthusiasts

Are you a photographer or videographer? Maybe you just love consuming multimedia content on your phone. The Xperia 1 V is one of the best Galaxy S24 Ultra alternatives if you fall under these categories of users.

Sony’s phone brings several features you don’t see on most high-end phones anymore, namely microSD card support and a 3.5mm port. The phone also delivers a 4K OLED screen, enabling unparalleled clarity. The Xperia 1 V brings slick camera hardware, too, including a variable telephoto shooter. Toss in the well-received Cinema Pro and Photo Pro apps, and this should please amateur photographers.

Perhaps the biggest issue with the Xperia 1 V is the fact that Sony isn’t offering a long-term update pledge. That’s a giant shame when you’re spending $1,400.

What makes it stand out

• MicroSD support and 3.5mm port: Both features that have been disappearing from the industry for some years.
• Amazing screen: 4K screens are nearly unheard of in the world of smartphones. This OLED display is a joy to view.
• Great video features: The Sony Xperia brings amazing features you would only previously see in higher-end mirrorless cameras. These include things like eye autofocus, 4k@120fps recording, and more.

REDMAGIC 9 Pro: The best alternative for gamers

When looking into the best gaming phones, the battle is usually between ASUS and REDMAGIC. In this case, we picked the REDMAGIC 9 Pro over the ASUS ROG Phone 8 because it has a slightly larger 6.8-inch screen, a better 1,116 x 2,480 resolution, a larger 6,500mAh battery, and faster 80W charging speeds. Not only that, but it actually costs less, with a $649 starting price.

In other departments, the REDMAGIC 9 Pro is as high-end as they get, which makes it a great Samsung Galaxy S24 UIltra alternative. It comes with a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 8-16GB of RAM. Additionally, you get great gaming enhancements, such as shoulder triggers, built-in cooling, and a design you will recognize from a mile away.

The only complaints we can highlight is that it has no IP rating and the camera system isn’t great.

What makes it stand out

• Amazing performance: This is a gaming phone, so you can only expect the best out of it. It has a top-tier processor, plenty of RAM, and built-in cooling.
• Insane battery life and charging speed: The 6,500mAh battery will last a long time, unless you are gaming a bunch. In this case, you can charge the phone very fast, as it has 80W charging.
• Gaming enhancements: Built-in cooling, shoulder triggers, built-in cooling, and a gaming design make this phone really special for gamers.
• Very affordable!: Despite it being such an amazing phone, it starts at just $649.

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