I have been using the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra again over the past few weeks, and while I think it’s still one of the most versatile smartphones out there, I quickly grew tired of the shape and design.

I wasn’t the only one who had complaints about this aspect either, and it showed me that Samsung really needs to think seriously about giving it the Galaxy S25 Ultra a big push to increase its appeal next year, especially as the competition has really picked up.

The S24 Ultra remains extremely versatile

I’ll start with the positive. I mean it when I say that the Galaxy S24 Ultra is incredibly versatile. It is at the height of foldable Google Pixel 9 Pro For me, it meets all my mobile needs in one extremely powerful package. The huge screen is fantastic, very sharp and colorful, and although I permanently set it to the maximum resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels, the battery life hasn’t been drastically reduced for me.

The biggest advantage of the Galaxy S24 Ultra is its battery life. I’ve been on vacation for a week, so the features of the S24 Ultra were different than usual. I didn’t use email or Microsoft Teams much, but I spent more time with the camera and apps like Reddit. The battery has lasted about three days without a charge, with about two hours of screen time per day, and it has kept up with my iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Like most flagship phones today, I never felt like the S24 Ultra was slow or struggled to cope with multitasking, and it’s wonderfully responsive too. Years of experience with Samsung phones mean I can configure the One UI software to match my personal preferences in minutes. While I get a little tired of some system notifications informing me about features I don’t care about, I like the design. However, the less said about Galaxy AIbetter, as I simply haven’t had any reason to use it, and I feel the same about the S Pen stylus, but they are both there for those who want them.

An old design

There are so many things in the Galaxy S24 Ultra that it is impossible not to recommend it to someone who wants the most complete and capable smartphone in their pocket. However, although I livened up my phone by purchasing it in orange, the design really shows its age. It hasn’t changed since Galaxy S22 Ultraand a non-techie friend who hadn’t seen the phone before called it “boring” when she saw it on the table next to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

It made me stop and think about the design of the S24 more than I had been doing. There is no escaping its simple, slab-like shape and overall plain. The lack of flourish and character won’t matter to everyone, and the commercial black version will certainly have its fans, but you also can’t ignore the fact that not much has changed for the Ultra model in recent years. and it doesn’t get better with time, especially along with the fantastic Google Pixel 9 Pro.

The worst thing is that I’ve really noticed how unforgiving the corners of the phone are. They dig into the palm of your hand after a while and the phone is not as pleasant to hold as the iPhone 16 Plus or iPhone 16 Pro Max. It feels wider and thicker than Apple’s latest phones, although there’s little difference in physical size and the sides aren’t very ergonomic. I’ve been spoiled by the new Pixel 9 phones and iPhone 16 models, which have shone a bright, embarrassing light on the S24 Ultra’s slippery shape and lack of pleasant feel.

Much needed change

Samsung’s decision to keep the same overall Ultra design It has had to end for some years now. The Galaxy S25 Ultra has to compete with the best phones from Google and Apple in terms of hand comfort and modern, eye-catching style. If it is a continuation of the S22 Ultra, S23 Ultraand the look of the S24 Ultra, There is a risk of it being left out, especially as Google is clearly taking materials, design and construction more seriously this year.

The rest of the S24 Ultra package is so good that it’s hard to see how Samsung could get the technical wrong side of S25 Ultra. However, while I appreciate the subtle changes you made to the Galaxy Z Fold 6Because of the shape, not everyone wants to see the same design over and over again. Samsung also made a mistake by changing the The excellent design of the Z Flip 5like him Galaxy Z Flip 6 It is not so pleasant to hold and use. It’s these things that worry me about how Samsung will approach the S25 series, and using the S24 Ultra after the competition has so obviously improved during 2024 has emphasized the effort it needs to put into the sequel.

Galaxy S25 Ultra design leaks Although they don’t give me much confidence. An iPhone-like design would be a disappointment, but at least it looks more curved, although the now completely flat sides won’t do much for comfort. At least initial information points to the phone being lighter than before, but this won’t be enough of a change on its own.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra didn’t leave me wanting much, but here’s the bottom line: I’d rather put my SIM card in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold or Pixel 9 Pro than continue using it. This hasn’t happened before and should highlight how great Google’s phones are this year and how Samsung can’t just give us more of the same with its next Ultra phone, not when the competition with Android and iOS is so strong.