It’s time we truly appreciate the Galaxy S Ultra’s secret to success

The Galaxy S Ultra models are Samsung's most expensive phones, not including the Galaxy Z Fold series, as that's a different form factor. When you're spending north of $1,299 on a smartphone, you want the latest technology and the best software support. These phones do just that.

The Ultra models are Samsung's top-of-the-line camera phones as well. No other Galaxy phone, not even the significantly more expensive Galaxy Z Fold, offers the same kind of setup.

You're sure to get the latest in mobile hardware for that year, the best software support that Samsung has to offer, and first go at the new software features that the company introduces. For example, the best Galaxy AI experience was on this year's Galaxy S24 Ultra, as Samsung unveiled its suite of AI features alongside this year's lineup.

Galaxy S Ultra smartphones are special because of the longevity factor

In my view, the true secret to success of a flagship phone isn't what it offers you in the present. It's how well it holds up in the future. With so much talk around planned obsolescence these days (cough, iPhone, cough), customers want the peace of mind that the best Samsung phone that they're purchasing right now will continue to support their requirements to a high level for several years.

I test Samsung's latest phones as part of my job, but I also have some older models that I use on the regular. Those are personal devices that I've not upgraded simply because they do exactly what I need them to do. I've even got a Galaxy Note 10+ that I still use daily, but we'll focus on the Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung's best flagship from two years ago.

I was tempted to upgrade to the Galaxy S23 Ultra but couldn't justify the move due to a lack of significant differences. I was very tempted to go for the Galaxy S24 Ultra this year, but once again, I felt that the one I already have fits my needs perfectly.

Now, I've known that this is a capable device for a while. I've pushed its performance to the max many times and have always come away impressed. But my recent experience with the device has left me with a renewed appreciation for precisely what makes Samsung's Ultra flagships so good to own over a longer period of time.

I'm on a roadtrip in some pretty remote corners of New Zealand and the battery efficiency of this phone has been on another level. I leave in the morning with a full charge, use the phone for Android Auto where it handles navigation and Spotify, all the while it keeps up with the sporadic cell reception and long stretches of no cellular service at all.

I'm also on a roaming Internet connection, not a local operator. Then follows a hike where again it keeps searching for signals while also taking countless photos and videos, with the brightness automatically turned up to the max because the sun's right up above.

This is also the device that has all of my social media apps. So, in between all of that, it's also handling uploads whenever there's an internet connection and GPS location tracking on hiking trails. Then it's hooked up to Android Auto on the way back with similar duties.

On most days, when I return back to my accommodations by sundown, it often has more than 50% battery life. This is impressive from a device that I've pushed similarly hard on previous other trips.

Performance has been top-notch as well, even when I got caught in blizzard conditions, forever thankful for the device's water resistance. All of the apps that I need for these outdoor adventures, apps that need GPS access, have run flawlessly without a moment's delay. While the display doesn't get as bright as the newer models, it's perfectly legible under the intense Southern Hemisphere sun.

Granted, there are many variables at play here. But in comparison to my Galaxy S22 Ultra's impressive perseverance in all conditions, I've gone on trails with people who have had frustrations with their iPhones. Even models newer than the Galaxy S22 Ultra have problems, particularly with battery longevity.

The secret to the Galaxy S Ultra's success isn't just its ability to provide you with the best in mobile technology for that particular year. It's the longevity and the fact that you can continue to extract considerable potential from the device even years down the road.

I'm sure that the Galaxy S24 Ultra does all of this with even more gusto, but what's impressive to me is that the Galaxy S22 Ultra isn't too far behind. It will likely continue to be just a tad bit below the benchmark set by future models for at least a couple of years.

That's a remarkable achievement and one that certainly is unappreciated. Samsung deserves credit for creating such well rounded devices that excel in their performance and capabilities long after they hit the market, and not forcing people to upgrade to newer models just because it helps the company make more money.