If you live for capturing memories and want your phone camera to keep up—especially in tricky lighting—the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra promises some of the sharpest, brightest photos you can get from a smartphone today. Many of us want more than decent selfies or family pictures. It’s about freezing a moment, whether it’s a glowing city street at midnight or your pet’s first snow. In this review, I’ll share exactly how the S24 Ultra’s much-hyped 200MP camera and its new low-light prowess perform in real life.
Expect a friendly, clear breakdown of what sets this camera apart, honest pros and cons, and some practical tips you can use right away. Whether you’re a casual shooter or someone who wants true photo flexibility, let’s see if the S24 Ultra is the right camera phone for you.
A Closer Look at the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Camera System
The S24 Ultra’s camera setup is nothing short of ambitious. The main draw is its huge 200MP main sensor, paired with an ultra-wide lens, a 3x telephoto lens, and a new 5x periscope telephoto. Samsung backs all of this with advanced pixel binning technology, smart AI enhancements, and optical image stabilization (OIS).
What does that mean for your photos? Think of pixel binning as pooling together several pixels into one; it’s like a super team working together to catch more light and detail, especially in low-light situations.
Compared to powerhouse rivals like the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Pixel 8 Pro, the S24 Ultra stands out for its sheer flexibility. Where Apple leans into consistent color science and Google masters computational photography, Samsung gives you options—especially when it comes to zooming farther and capturing insane detail.
If your last phone struggled in dim rooms or gave you pixelated photos when you zoomed in, the S24 Ultra’s tech is designed to help you get crisp, clear images even when the conditions aren’t perfect. For a detailed technical breakdown of its performance, check out the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra camera test on DXOMARK.
200MP Main Sensor: Real-World Sharpness and Flexibility
That 200MP figure isn’t just marketing. In day-to-day use, the S24 Ultra’s main sensor captures photos with a clarity you can see, especially when you zoom in or crop your images. Pixel binning works behind the scenes, merging 16 pixels into one for brighter, sharper images in regular mode. If you need every last detail for a landscape or want to print a giant poster, you can shoot at the full 200MP resolution.
In daylight, the results are fantastic. Colors look natural, details are razor-sharp, and you can crop in on distant subjects without the image falling apart. Sharing on social media? Even after cropping or zooming, your photos hold up beautifully.
Ultra-Wide, 3x & 5x Telephoto Lenses: Versatility for Every Scene
The S24 Ultra isn’t just about the main camera. The ultra-wide lens is perfect for group photos, sweeping landscapes, or that cramped birthday party shot. The 3x telephoto is a great “portrait” lens, giving you flattering shots with natural background blur.
The new 5x periscope lens is where things get interesting. Instead of digital zoom, you get true optical zoom for distant buildings, wildlife, or candid moments without blur. There’s a limit—push beyond 10x and images get softer, but for most users, that’s more than enough creative range.
From my experience and from photographers who tested the S24 Ultra in the real world, like this holiday review using only the S24 Ultra, it’s clear these lenses make it easy to leave your bulky camera at home.
AI-Powered Features and In-Camera Tools
Samsung loaded the camera app with AI smarts. Features like enhanced HDR bring out detail in shadows and highlights, even on a bright day or in mixed lighting. The AI Object Eraser lets you remove distractions—a stray dog in the park or a photobomber—with a few taps. Generative Edit goes further, filling in backgrounds when you crop, though sometimes results can look a bit off if you push it too far.
Auto Night Mode kicks in for low-light scenes, stacking multiple images to make the final shot cleaner and brighter. Even if you’re new to photography, these tools are mostly easy to use. Some users report that Pro mode photos can turn out soft or noisy, especially compared to third-party camera apps, as mentioned in this user review on Reddit. Still, the built-in options cover most needs for casual shooters.
Nightography in Action: Capturing Low-Light Magic
Low-light performance is where many phones fall flat. The S24 Ultra aims to change that with its massive sensor, fast lens, and clever software tricks.
Walk outside at night, and the phone automatically brightens scenes without losing too much detail. Cityscapes glow, and you can see individual lights in windows. Indoor photos at dinner or in a dim bar capture faces with less blur than older phones.
If you want to go deeper, Pro mode lets you adjust ISO, shutter speed, and focus manually. But even in auto, results are impressive—pictures look bright without that fake, over-sharpened look some phones give in the dark.
For step-by-step guidance on making the most of your phone at night, you can read these best night photography tips for smartphones.
How the Camera Handles Night and Low Light
The main sensor shines in challenging lighting. Noise is kept to a minimum, and colors stay true (not weirdly yellow or blue). That said, in very low light or if you move while shooting, you might see some blur or a bit of grain, especially in the corners of the photo.
Autofocus can sometimes lag in nearly pitch-black scenes, but for most night shots—especially city lights and indoor parties—you’ll be happy with the results. Compared to older Samsung models, it’s a noticeable leap forward. For more on what to expect, check out this community discussion on night photo challenges on smartphones.
Tips for Achieving Amazing Night Shots
Getting the best out of any smartphone camera at night takes a little practice. Here are my top tips for the S24 Ultra, based on both testing and advice from experienced phone photographers:
- Hold steady: Even a small shake can blur your shot. Rest your elbows on a table or use a nearby wall for support. Or use a tripod for the sharpest results.
- Let Night Mode do its thing: Don’t rush. When Night Mode is on, keep the phone still until the capture is finished.
- Try manual mode for creative control: Set ISO lower to reduce noise and slow the shutter for more light. It takes practice, but you can get shots that look almost pro.
- Use a timer: Even tapping the shutter can cause blur. Set a 2- or 5-second timer for the sharpest images, as recommended in guides to capturing the night sky with your smartphone.
- Edit carefully: Slight tweaks to brightness and contrast can make night shots pop. Don’t overdo it—keep things natural.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sets a high bar for smartphone photography. Its 200MP sensor delivers crisp, beautiful photos, especially in good light, and its zoom lenses give you flexibility that rivals can’t match. Night photography has seen real improvement, with bright, detailed shots and fewer disappointing blurry images.
Disclaimer: The advice in this guide is for informational purposes. Smartphone camera performance can vary by setting and software version. For complex photography needs or professional work, consider consulting a qualified photographer or reading official product documentation.
