Got it Friday after work and I set it up. I chose a manual setup, I don't copy anything from my old phone as I view it as a time to go through and actually install only the apps I really use once again etc. kind of like building a new PC, I like to start fresh.
Getting an nvme USB-C flash drive was one of my better recent purchases, taking my photos off my old phone and putting into the new one is lightening fast. Installing all of the new apps and setting it up took maybe an hour sitting on the couch while watching a movie the wife picked anyway.
Sunday I took both the S24 Ultra and my S23 Ultra outside and shot a series of photos with each camera. Side by side I was hard pressed to tell any differences to be honest, I was especially concerned about the new zoom camera. Battery life I could not tell any difference in the way I use a phone, however I used it a lot over the weekend, but then again I charged it overnight. I should let it drain down to almost empty and see.
I got a case, screen protector, and a set of Buds SE with the $150 credit. The case I don't like, it is cut out for each individual camera, I prefer a camera lens protector so I ordered a case with the camera area cut out to allow a protector to fit. I bought a pack of glass screen protectors with the camera lens protectors, I prefer the glass to the softer flexible ones that I got from Samsung. Interestingly the case from Samsung looks really rough inside with obvious splay of the molded part, but the outside is decent enough.
I take my phone running with me almost every day, so it may be subject to sweat, rain, and constant bouncing. I do ultramarathons that can last as much as 40 hours, and they want you to leave your phone on so you can receive text messages, so battery life without carrying a charger and portable battery is nice. I do put the phone in a doggie poop bag to protect it while it's in my pocket if I can, since most Ziplocs that it fits in aren't comfortable in a thigh pocket. The S23 Ultra and my Note 20 Ultra before that both were fine so I expect this one will be too. I also do epic runs and races, and often stop to take photos during the run.
I have the light blue model in 512gb and the blue is very subtle, it's covered by a case anyway. The titanium sides and flat screen are much nicer in the hand without a case, and still better even in a case. I have big hands, so I'm used to using it one handed a lot. The S23 with it's rounded edge screen always felt weird, and the cases always seemed like they were a compromise to cover enough screen yet stay on. It does feel a bit bigger when shoving it into a pocket because of this also, but the case I have is not slippery but tacky which may contribute.
Using the phone and playing with the new features was interesting. I probably don't use as many features of a phone as many do as I just want a good camera. But the circle to search worked well. The fingerprint sensor still sux, especially though the flexible screen protector. The thing I actually had fun with the most was playing with the AI generative wallpaper creator. It lets you generate images based on certain keywords, but it has a limited selection of keywords, you can't freely select any free selection you want. The results are interesting.
I did not notice any display issues, some are complaining of graininess, I did not see that. Side by side with the old S23 they looked comparable, the new display in the S24 I can only describe as more "pastel-like maybe? Not an issue to use during a daylight run with the sun out and the snow causing a bit brighter than normal day with lots of reflections.
I'm still playing with the thing, I do not watch many movies on my phone and I have not installed any games yet except Mighty Doom which looks and plays fabulous. Sound is something cell phones just don't do well with their tiny speakers, but my BT Jaybird Vista 2's paired and worked well.
That's my initial impressions. If you have an S23 Ultra I see no reason to upgrade unless you simply want to. If you really need a phone and yours older I suspect you'd think it was a huge upgrade.