Flagship phones age gracefully, but the price of a new one never does. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra arrived in early 2024 as the most complete Android phone Samsung had built up to that point, and by 2026 the refurbished market has made that same hardware available for a fraction of the original cost. I spent three weeks with the renewed US version in 512GB of storage and Titanium Gray, using it as my primary phone for calls, work, and photography. This review covers what still impresses, what has started to show its age, and whether the savings justify choosing a renewed unit instead of a new model.
Before the details, the standard note. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission does not change what I test or what I recommend, and the phone reviewed here was a genuine refurbished unit of the kind a buyer would receive.
The S24 Ultra is the phone that brought Galaxy AI to the wider world, and it pairs a titanium frame with the largest display and the most ambitious camera array Samsung had shipped in years. The rest of this review covers the build, the key features, the day to day experience, and how a flagship from two generations ago compares with today's lineups.
Design and Build
The titanium frame is the headline design change over its predecessor. The phone has flat edges like a modern slab, with a slightly wider body that fits squarely in the hand, and the 232 gram weight is noticeable but reassuring. Titanium feels cooler and stiffer than the aluminum of earlier models, and the 512GB unit in Titanium Gray wears its muted finish well, with a matte back that resists fingerprints better than most glass phones.
The 6.8 inch display is protected by Gorilla Glass Armor, and Samsung claims the coating reflects far less light than standard glass. In daily use the difference shows on sunny sidewalks and in bright gyms, where the screen stays readable when other phones wash out. The S Pen slides into the bottom of the frame and works exactly as it did on the Note line, which remains a genuine advantage over every other flagship phone sold today.
The IP68 rating means the phone shrugs off rain and dust, and the frame shows no flex when twisted in the hand. For a refurbished unit, the sample I received looked nearly new, with only faint signs of handling along the edges. Build quality is where the S24 Ultra still feels every bit the flagship a year and a half after launch.
Key Features
The 6.8 inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel runs at up to 120Hz with a QHD+ resolution, and it peaks at 2600 nits of brightness, which makes it one of the brightest displays on any phone ever released. Content looks sharp, colors look saturated without looking fake, and the adaptive refresh rate keeps scrolling smooth while saving battery on static screens.
Inside sits the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, a chip that still runs everything in the app store without drama, backed by 12GB of RAM. The 200MP main camera is the marquee feature, joined by a 12MP ultrawide, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 50MP 5x periscope lens that delivers the long range zoom Samsung is famous for.
Galaxy AI ties the software together. Circle to Search lets you trace anything on screen to look it up, Live Translate works in real time during phone calls, and Generative Edit can move or remove objects in photos. The 5000mAh battery rounds out the package, and Samsung promises seven years of operating system updates, which is a serious commitment for a phone you might buy refurbished.
Real-World Performance
As a daily driver the S24 Ultra is quietly excellent. The display is the best part of the experience, with a brightness and smoothness that make every other phone in the house feel dim by comparison. Browsing, messaging, and split screen multitasking all run without hesitation, and the S Pen makes note taking and photo markup genuinely useful rather than a gimmick.
The camera system is what keeps this phone relevant in 2026. The 200MP main sensor captures detailed shots in daylight with natural color, and the 5x periscope lens produces zoom photos that remain sharp well past where other phones fall apart. On a trip to the coast I pulled in a distant lighthouse at 10x and the image held together on a laptop screen, which is still a rare trick for a phone.
Low light performance is good but not class leading. The main sensor handles dim scenes with clean results, yet the periscope lens needs more light, and night mode forces a short wait for each shot. Video recording is excellent, with stable 8K capture and smooth 4K footage at 60 frames per second.
Battery life is the clearest compromise. The 5000mAh cell easily covers a full day with mixed use, but two year old battery chemistry shows up as faster drain during heavy camera work, and by late evening the phone often needs a top up. Charging at 45W wired is fine, though the phone still ships without a charger, so budget for one if you do not already own a USB Power Delivery adapter.
Galaxy AI features work well but sit at different levels of maturity. Circle to Search is near flawless and I use it daily. Live Translate is impressive in quiet settings and struggles in loud ones. Generative Edit is clever for removing a stray person from a group photo, but you notice the smoothing if you look closely. These are tools you learn to trust in specific situations rather than reach for all the time.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Class leading display with 2600 nits of peak brightness
- Outstanding 200MP camera with long range periscope zoom
- Built in S Pen with no case required
- Titanium frame with an IP68 rating
- Seven years of operating system updates
- Renewed price makes flagship hardware affordable
Cons:
- Battery drain shows the age of refurbished cells
- Heavy at 232 grams
- No charger included in the box
- Renewed warranty is shorter than a new unit
- AI features are uneven in noisy environments
How It Compares
The natural question is whether the renewed S24 Ultra makes sense against the newer Galaxy S25 Ultra. The table below lines up the two flagships.
| Feature | Galaxy S24 Ultra (Renewed) | Galaxy S25 Ultra (New) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.8 inch QHD+ 120Hz | 6.9 inch QHD+ 120Hz |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy |
| Camera | 200MP main, 50MP 5x zoom | 200MP main, 50MP 5x zoom |
| RAM and storage | 12GB, 512GB | 12GB, 512GB |
| Battery | 5000mAh | 5000mAh |
| Typical price | Well below original retail | Full flagship price |
The S25 Ultra is faster and has a flatter, brighter display, but in daily use the difference is smaller than the price gap. The renewed S24 Ultra gives up a little raw speed and battery freshness in exchange for a much lower cost. For most buyers the refurbished unit is the smarter purchase, and you can check the current price of the renewed Galaxy S24 Ultra on Amazon to see the gap for yourself.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the renewed Galaxy S24 Ultra if you want a true flagship camera and display without paying flagship prices. It is ideal for photographers who want the periscope zoom, for Note fans who cannot give up the S Pen, and for anyone who keeps a phone for three or four years, because the seven year update promise protects the investment.
Skip it if you need the very latest silicon, if a fresh battery is non negotiable, or if you want a lighter phone, because the S24 Ultra is a slab that you will feel in a pocket. Renewed units also come with shorter warranties, so buy from a seller with a clear return policy. For the money, the titanium flagship remains one of the best refurbished phones you can buy in 2026.
How We Test
I used the renewed S24 Ultra as my daily phone for three weeks, covering calls, messaging, navigation, music, and hundreds of photos. I tested the display in direct sunlight and at night, ran the cameras across daylight, low light, and long zoom scenes, and tracked battery life over full days of mixed use.
I did not open the unit to inspect the internals, and a refurbished battery will vary from unit to unit. For a deeper look at the camera system and Galaxy AI, PCMag's original review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra remains a solid reference. The renewed Galaxy S24 Ultra listing on Amazon shows the current price and the seller's condition grading.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Questions People Ask
Is a Renewed Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra worth buying?
Yes for most people, because the renewed unit brings flagship hardware and a seven year update promise at a price well below the original retail cost.
Does the S24 Ultra work on all US carriers?
The US unlocked version supports the major carriers, so the phone should activate on your existing line as long as the SIM is compatible.
How good is the S24 Ultra camera?
The 200MP main sensor and the 5x and 10x periscope lenses are among the most capable on any phone, with sharp zoom shots in good light.
What is the difference between new and renewed S24 Ultra units?
A renewed unit is a tested and restored phone that shows some signs of prior use, sold with a lower price and a shorter warranty than a new model.
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