The Camera and Battery update that never was

[Sabclips]

Samsung has really treated the S24 series like a midrange device. It's been 7-8 months, and we are yet to receive a substantial update for battery and camera improvements. The last update we had with a "U" (upgrade), which wasn't just a security patch like the rest, was for tuning the vividness of the screen. I have learnt a lesson and that is never buy a phone for what it promises. The S24 series, particularly the exynos variants, are horrendous with mobile data. You may leave the house with a fully charged phone, and God help you if you use your GPS related apps. In about 3-4 hours, you might be left with 7%. They are so INEFFFICIENT on mobile data. They do ok on WiFi, but mobile data use cut through the battery life like cheese. In my 20 years of using a phone, I have stuck with Samsung, however they are behind the competition when it comes to the 2 most important things for me; battery life (will give it to onplus 12) and camera performance( oppo and xiaomi). I am not sure my next phone will be samsung. The Samsung I know back then was so innovative and ahead of the competition. It wasnt all about profit for them but also satisfying customers. How can I pay £1300 for a phone to get this abysmal battery life and camera performance matched by much cheaper flagships.

[GoanGeek]

Hi.

I totally agree with your battery woes.

The camera has been solid for me or let's say my type of photography.

I will be receiving the s24 plus with exynos today and maybe will get a chance to compare it to my s24 uktra on snapdragon.

Historical I have always used exynos.

My last phone the s21 ultra was exynos and I never really had any issues with it.
Still have it and the son uses it now.

[Piper123]

Hey there

Agree with you on some of your comments.

Camera updates have been promised, pushed back, promised, pushed back and promised again. Overall whilst the cameras are fairly good, they need more work and I find the S24 Ultra a tad disappointing compared to the S23 Ultra.

Battery though I don't agree with. I use my heavily, typically streaming for 7 to 10 hours a day plus SOT and still get a full 24 hours day easily enough.

[keith30]

If it's like the farce happening with the Ui 6.1.1 or the full Ui 7 or any beta program just now you could always be waiting for any improvement. That's apparently being delayed till October/November and beyond that.

[Sabclips]

My whole family uses a Samsung. The strangest thing I have realised is that the battery life on S24 ultra phones can vary widely. One will have a good battery life and the other one, hmmm let be charitable and say not so great. But the s24 plus variant is CONSISTENTLY awful with mobile data. The cameras are not great either. I speak as a customer who has experienced both devices. This may be anecdotal. My experience so far with the series is not great, and this is in the context of other cheaper flagships offering equal or better camera and battery life. If you have the S24 or the plus model, try it on mobile data and let me know what your experience is.

[Sabclips]

@keith30. Yeah, and I have learnt a valuable lesson. I will never buy a phone for some promised upgrade to make it better. A few days after released, if the battery and cameras are awful, I will just skip the series and wait for another year or switch if I am persuaded by a rival brand, which currently I am struggling to do, because I am not completely sold on Chinese brands and for some unknown reason I don't like iPhone. Maybe Google pixel, but not until after pixel 10 when TSMC takes over the fabrication of the Tensor chip.

[GoanGeek]

Hi.
There is no phone available that will tick all boxes.

For me, Samsung is still the best overall.

For Android devices
I'll still choose Samsung or Pixel devices for overall experience.

[Shamrock_Sean]

I don't have issues with the Ultra camera at all although the saturated green issue never goes away but easily edited. It does need tuning but I wouldn't go as far as saying they are terrible. I find the main and zoom especially way better defined images than S23 Ultra was. Battery life has been fine for me although drains faster using wi fi tethering alot. I think Samsung will release these updates but as they stated they are trying to release a more stable bug free experience and testing the firmware alot. It's frustrating I know but be patient a bit longer. Here's some 5x zooms on my Ultra. They look much better in full resolution not on here

[Shamrock_Sean]

Some more

[Reylob]

The problem is the inconsistency. The S24 Ultra can take amazing pictures like those of yours, but can also be terrible. Pictures are usually excellent on good light, but the zoom levels are hit and miss.

However, this must be taken into context, it is a phone with camera capabilities.