Samsung S24 Ultra Debuts Live Translation, Circle to Search - Specs and Pricing Revealed

In contrast to the euphoria surrounding the release of the Pixel 8 and iPhone 15 last year, Samsung has released its latest flagship phone to the S24 family, which marked the debut of real-time translation in a mass-market phone.

Unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked 2024, the S24 Ultra comes with a major design update. The move to a titanium frame (available in four colours: titanium yellow, grey, violet and black), unlike its previous flagship that featured an aluminium chassis. The outward feel, however, is unvarying from last year’s release in terms of weight and durability. It tips the scales at 233.3 grams, closely mirroring last year's model (233.8 grams). 

True to Samsung's commitment to durability, the S24 Ultra continues to boast an IP68 rating, ensuring it remains both water and dust-resistant. This blend of high-end materials and enduring design elements positions the S24 Ultra as a standout choice for tech enthusiasts looking for both style and substance.

Inside the sleek frame of the Galaxy S24 Ultra lies a powerhouse: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, which brings cutting-edge on-device generative AI to the table. Complementing this chip is a substantial 12GB of RAM and a colossal storage option of up to 1 TB. 

Understanding the need for efficient cooling in such a high-performance device, Samsung has significantly upgraded its thermal management system with a vapour chamber almost double the size of the previous model, ensuring optimal performance without overheating concerns. The display gets a boost too, with the 6.8-inch OLED screen now reaching a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, paired with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, promising a vivid and crisp viewing experience but also guaranteeing excellent outdoor visibility. 

Enhanced Visual Experience

The Galaxy S24 Ultra's camera setup retains its impressive specs with minor yet significant tweaks. The flagship still sports a 200-MP primary sensor alongside a 12-MP ultra-wide lens. However, Samsung has revamped the telephoto camera, now boasting a 50-MP sensor with a 5x optical zoom, a considerable upgrade from the previous 10-MP. This shift, according to Samsung, reflects customer preferences and usage trends favouring the 5x focal length. 

While this might seem like a reduction in reach, the S24 Ultra compensates with advanced pixel-binning and AI technology, achieving what Samsung terms as "10x optical quality" zoom. This enhancement enables the device to provide up to 100x Space Zoom, ensuring that users don't miss out on capturing distant details.

Camera Innovations

Mirroring the AI functionalities seen in the Pixel 8, the S24 lineup introduces machine learning-enhanced features for photography and video editing. With the S24 Ultra, you can effortlessly wield its stylus (or simply use your finger on other models) to encircle a subject effortlessly, reposition it with a tap and hold, and then let AI work its magic. 

By pressing the generate button, the phone fills in any gaps, seamlessly blending the edited elements. This AI prowess isn't just for relocating objects; it extends to deleting, resizing, and recomposing elements in your photos, offering a creative playground right at your fingertips.

AI Features: Beyond Communication

It doesn’t end with photography and suggested editing tricks; The S24 Ultra is leveraging AI to revolutionize communication. The standout feature is the live translation during calls, where a simple tap activates real-time language translation. This tool listens to your speech and seamlessly translates it into the language of the person on the other end. You can even pre-select the language for efficiency. 

Sure, this might slightly extend your conversations, allowing time for the phone to process and translate, but it's an invaluable asset, especially for travellers in need of quick language assistance. The S24 also enhances written communication, boasting improved proofreading, summarization, and tone-correction capabilities, making every interaction not just about connecting but also about understanding and being understood.

“It’s like having your own personal interpreter on your calls,” said Samsung VP of Product Management, Drew Blackard, at the launch event.

Early reviews laud the S24 Ultra’s live translate feature as an unprecedented leap, the biggest pivot toward seamless communication since touchscreens transformed mobile input in 2007 when Apple introduced the iPhone, which featured a capacitive multitouch screen that enabled new and intuitive gestures. Rather than simply a titanium-clad hardware upgrade, the S24 Ultra provides an entirely new user experience. 

Akin to what users have experienced with the Pixel or AI services like ChatGPT and Bard, the Galaxy S24 Ultra introduces an impressive summarizing feature. This function allows the phone to distil information from websites or files, including those in Samsung Notes, into concise, key bullet points. Beyond this, a standout addition is the tone-correcting tool. More than just flagging typos, it offers rephrasing suggestions to enhance the positivity or encouragement in your communication, adding a nuanced touch to digital interactions.

That’s not all.

Search Made Simple

In partnership with Google, the Galaxy S24 Ultra introduces a standout feature developed in its AI suite; the circle-to-search tool. This functionality allows users to select text and images and then sends these queries to the cloud for processing, delivering quick and comprehensive search results. Essentially, it merges the convenience of conventional search with the visual recognition capabilities of apps like Google Lens, creating a unified, user-friendly experience. While it doesn't radically change smartphone operations, it's a notable enhancement in terms of everyday usability and efficiency.

Finally, in a landmark shift towards long-term software support, Samsung has announced an impressive seven-year commitment to regular OS and security updates for the S24 Ultra. This move signifies a major step in Samsung's journey beyond hardware excellence, underscoring its dedication to embracing the AI-driven future. 

S24 Ultra Vs Samsung S23 Ultra: What’s New?

Pricing and Availability in Nigeria

The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a starting price of $1,300 globally. However, pricing may vary by market. 

In Nigeria, this smartphone is presently accessible at various Samsung Showrooms across the country for ₦2,050,000.

Samsung is offering an irresistible deal for early buyers in Nigeria and beyond - a complimentary storage upgrade for those who pre-order before January 31. This commitment has begun in the last 24 hours with the opening of pre-orders.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a starting price of $1,299, which is $100 more than its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, if you’re looking for a phone that can do almost anything, the Galaxy S24 Ultra might be worth the splurge.

Official sales are set to commence on January 31, marking the start of a new era for Samsung's mobile division in the country.

The AI-infused Galaxy S24 Ultra will be available in select markets and retail outlets including Nigeria from February 2024.