Hey there! My name is Pete, and for the longest time, I was a die-hard iPhone user. I love reviewing the latest tech and pushing myself out of my comfort zone to try new things. This is my story of switching to the best Samsung phone, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and sticking with it for six months—something I've never done with any Android phone before.
The Journey
If you've been following my journey, you'll know I've been documenting my switch from iPhone to the S24 Ultra. Let me tell you, it wasn't easy at first. Unwinding from the Apple ecosystem was a challenge—from syncing my iCloud photos to replacing iOS-exclusive apps and figuring out contactless payments. There were countless choices to make, like deciding between Google Pay and Samsung Pay, or Google Fit and Samsung Health. But I shared these challenges in my videos to give you an honest picture of what it's like for most people making the switch.
Performance
One of my biggest concerns was performance. iOS is known for its smooth operation and slick animations, and I wasn't sure if the S24 Ultra could match up. But I'm happy to report that the performance has been incredible. Thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip, I haven't experienced any slowdowns or lag. Snapdragon chips are known for their top-tier performance and efficiency, and the S24 Ultra is no exception.
Design
After using the S24 Ultra for a while, my only gripe is its size and squarish design. It's quite large, and adding a case makes it feel even bulkier. I did try the regular S24, which I enjoyed, but I stuck with the Ultra for its superior camera system. The case I use gives it a flat back and built-in magnets, which is a nice touch. Unlike the iPhone's camera bump, the S24 Ultra lays flat, making it more stable.
Also something that iPhone users don't get, is a reasonable number of colours to choose from!
Now of course, color availability may vary depending on country or carrier, but here in the UK, we get some web exclusive colours, like Titanium Orange, Titanium Green and Titanium Blue, which are a stark contrast to the iPhones Grey, Grey or Grey colours!
Features
The S24 series comes with some exclusive features. Here's my take on a few of them:
- S-Pen: I barely use it, but my kids love it for drawing.
- Samsung DeX: Haven't used it on my phone, but it's useful on a tablet.
- Galaxy AI: While some features like Circle to Search and live transcription are handy, others like Live Translate and generative editing are underwhelming.
The performance of these AI features has been a mixed bag, but the phone itself is fantastic. It's my favourite phone of 2024.
The Camera System
The Camera system on the S24 Ultra is one that's hard to beat, on any phone, Android, or iPhone.
With that 5x Telephoto lens (a shame they downgraded from last years 10x Telephoto), and with 2x ai digital zoom with super-resolution technology, the S24 Ultra takes incredible photos at all distances, which is especially useful if you have kids that won't stand still for long!
Enhanced optical quality zoom is enabled by the adaptive pixel sensor, however useful it may or may not be.
The Experience
So, am I happy with the S24 Ultra? Absolutely! The camera takes amazing photos, video quality is great, and overall performance is smooth. Battery life started strong but has dipped a bit with recent updates. However, fast charging is a lifesaver, especially compared to the iPhone.
Ecosystem
Switching from the Apple ecosystem has been an interesting experience. I've replaced my Apple Watch Ultra with a Garmin watch, which offers better health tracking and battery life. I've stuck with my Mac laptop and iPad for now, and 1Password has been a lifesaver for managing passwords across devices.
With Android, you have more freedom to find the best fit for each area, but it can lead to a fragmented ecosystem. For example, my health insurance app, Vitality, doesn't sync with every device I try. But overall, the flexibility and customization options of Android have been a breath of fresh air.
Social Dynamics
What about my friends and family who use iPhones? No more Airdrop or iMessage, but it's been a non-issue. We've switched to WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger without any problems. As a married guy with two kids, my social life hasn't been affected by the switch.
What's Next?
After six months with the S24 Ultra, I'm still excited about the future. This phone has exceeded my expectations, and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next. Whether you're considering switching to Android or just curious about my experience, I hope my journey helps you in making an informed decision.
Stay tuned for more updates, and thanks for joining me on this adventure!
