When Samsung launched the Samsung Galaxy S24 range in January, I, like many, was instantly drawn to the seemingly endless possibilities available with the new phones, especially the premium Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Samsung has already acknowledged the somewhat surprising success of the new Galaxy S24, with James Kitto, Samsung's UK vice president of sales, saying “the reaction has been absolutely incredible.” But now, just a few weeks later, I'm already starting to reconsider.
The Galaxy S24 has already proven its popularity, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 deals are already more popular after the first week than the Galaxy S23. And this success is expected to continue, unless the latest Android challenger can finally put the Samsung Galaxy S24 to the test.
See, in recent days, OnePlus, one of the biggest non-Samsung and widely available Android brands, launched its latest flagship, the OnePlus 12, and it has raised a number of questions that, for many, might making the OnePlus 12 a more tempting option for your next flagship smartphone.
How much am I spending?!
One of the first things that sets Samsung up against its competition with Android, and even Apple, is possibly the first thing you'll see: price. Apple has always been stigmatized as being unnecessarily expensive, but even the best iPhone 15 Pro Max deals will be cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the base price is no different, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max at $100/£50. less than the S24 Ultra.
The picture doesn't get any prettier when you compare the S24 Ultra to its Android competition, the OnePlus 12 costs just $799/£849 for the base model, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at a whopping $1,299.99/£849 for the base model. £1,249. A $500/£400 price difference means that if, like me, you like to have the full experience with your phone – i.e. a smartwatch and headphones on the side – then you can pay less than you would for a Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Something that has become more widely considered in recent years when it comes to how much to spend on a phone is how long you want to use it. In the UK, a recent YouGov survey suggested that almost a fifth (19%) of smartphone users wanted to use their phone for more than five years, which, until recently, would be a frankly far-fetched idea. Phones now offer up to seven years of Android updates, and while the OnePlus 12 isn't one of those phones, it still has the ability to deliver a lifespan that would make the amount you spend seem less for the years of use you get out of it. . .
What is really different?
Unfortunately for the OnePlus 12, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is one of the phones that now offers seven years of Android updates. But what the OnePlus 12 lacks in years of updates, it makes up for in its sheer ability to push the S24 Ultra to its limits when comparing the specs of both devices.
For many, the biggest talking point between the two devices will be the chipset. The OnePlus 12 is one of the first devices available to use the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which will likely be the only true competitor to Apple's A17 Pro chip. However, that is unless you're the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which features a Samsung-exclusive version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 that's slightly more powerful and only available in the new Galaxy S24 range.
Apart from this, there is very little that the average user would notice when splitting the two devices, if they are not looking for the slightest difference. Both phones use QHD+ LTPO displays, with the OnePlus 12 offering a slightly larger screen and higher screen-to-body ratio, while the S24 Ultra offers slightly better display technology thanks to the use of Dynamic AMOLED 2X.
From a camera standpoint, it's hard to split the two, with the S24 Ultra offering an impressive 200MP main sensor and new Galaxy AI image processing benefits, while the OnePlus 12 was created in collaboration with Hasselblad to give you to the phone its characteristic color accuracy. and image quality, and offers a 64MP periscopic telephoto lens and a 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens, both arguably better than what the S24 Ultra offers, but masking the unfortunate lack of a telephoto lens on the device.
One area where OnePlus sits comfortably ahead of the S24 Ultra is in its battery and charging technology. The OnePlus 12 offers a larger 5,400 mAh battery, with 80W wired fast charging in the US and 100W wired charging elsewhere, as well as 50W wireless charging and even reverse wireless charging. 10W. The 24 Ultra, for comparison, only offers a 5000mAh battery with 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. That's a clear win for OnePlus, even before considering the battery maintenance technology and cooling systems included in the OnePlus 12.
Where is the personality?
Just looking at the two devices, it's hard not to question Samsung's decision to simply switch to a titanium frame on the Galaxy S24 Ultra and not make any other notable changes from the previous version. Fundamentally, the phone was meant to mean boundary-pushing devices – predominantly AI, yes, but boundary-pushing nonetheless – something this small change doesn't exactly represent.
The OnePlus 12, however, has managed to perfectly balance keeping a phone fresh without deviating from what it knows works, as the phone is downright impressive with its new emerald back panel option and improved screen-to-body ratio on the front. of the telephone.
Samsung also remains surprisingly poor when it comes to the user interface, as it seems like One UI still doesn't hit the mark for users in the same way as has been seen with various OxygenOS iterations on OnePlus in recent years. Although the recent custom AI updates for One UI have given it a much-needed push in the right direction, there are no guarantees that Samsung will remain in this stronger position for long when it comes to creating a great experience for its users. And this once again leaves OnePlus in an arguably stronger position.
How should you choose?
Yes, there are some differences between the OnePlus 12 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra that may make you choose the latter; The S24 Ultra's impressive AI capabilities are probably the biggest one. But for many, the large cost difference between the two devices won't be worth it.
The OnePlus 12 delivers what, for many people, will be an exceptional flagship phone experience, with a long lifespan promised and backed by specs and design features in both the device and OxygenOS 14 that, frankly, make the OnePlus 12 be difficult to use. not fall in love with; as many have found with OnePlus devices of the past.
If you want to get the best of the cutting-edge smartphone advancements being made right now, then yes, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra may be right for you. But if you simply want a flagship phone that will last you long enough to make its impressively low price seem worth it and give you great results in the process, then the OnePlus 12 is unlikely to be beaten even among the best. competition that Samsung faces in the Android space right now.
