Alright, let's dive deep into the tech and see how the Honor 70 stacks up against the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. This isn't just a spec sheet comparison; we’re going to explore how these numbers translate to real-world experiences.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here's a detailed breakdown, with an emphasis on what each spec means for you:
| Feature | Honor 70 | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2022-06-02 | 2024-01-24 | The S24 Ultra is a much newer device (about 7 months, 22 days), so it will likely have newer software and technologies. |
| Form Factor | Standard | Standard | Both are traditional smartphones. |
| Dimensions | 161.4 × 73.3 × 7.9 mm | 162.3 × 79 × 8.6 mm | The S24 Ultra is slightly taller, wider, and thicker, making it a larger and less pocketable phone. |
| Weight | 178g | 232g | The Honor 70 is significantly lighter, which enhances comfort during extended use. The S24 Ultra feels noticeably heavier. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.8" | The S24 Ultra offers a slightly larger screen for a more immersive experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1440x3120 | The S24 Ultra has a much sharper display, with significantly more detail, making text and images appear clearer. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 395 | 505 | Higher pixel density on the S24 Ultra means text and images are noticeably crisper. |
| Technology | OLED | Honor 70 utilizes OLED tech for vibrant colors and deep blacks; the S24 Ultra doesn't have this information, but it is expected to use OLED. | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer a smooth scrolling and gaming experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2600 nits | The S24 Ultra's display is exceptionally brighter, significantly enhancing outdoor visibility in bright sunlight; The Honor 70's peak brightness is unknown |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) | The S24 Ultra's chip is significantly faster and more efficient, leading to smoother performance, better gaming, and more responsive apps. |
| Antutu Score | 600,525 | 1,814,869 | The S24 Ultra has a massive performance advantage, making it substantially faster for demanding tasks and future-proof. |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) | The S24 Ultra's GPU is much more powerful, offering superior gaming performance and handling of graphics-intensive applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 54MP, f/1.9, 1/1.49" Sony IMX800 | 200MP, f/1.7, 1/1.3" Samsung HP2 | The S24 Ultra boasts a significantly higher resolution sensor, larger sensor, and wider aperture, which can capture more detailed and brighter images, especially in low-light situations. |
| Telephoto Camera | N/A | 50MP, f/2.4, 1/1.56" Sony IMX854 | The S24 Ultra has a dedicated telephoto lens with 50MP, allowing better optical zoom and portrait quality, which Honor 70 lacks. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.4, 1/3.2" Omnivision OV32C | 12MP, f/2.2 Samsung S5K3LU | Honor 70 has a higher resolution selfie camera, but the S24 Ultra's wider aperture may capture better detail in low light. |
| Telephoto Lens | N/A | 10MP, f/3.4, 1/3.52" Sony IMX754 | The S24 Ultra includes a dedicated telephoto lens for further zooming capabilities. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2 | 12.2MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55" Sony IMX564 | The Honor 70 has a higher resolution wide-angle camera, but S24 Ultra has larger pixel size, which might handle low light slightly better. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | N/A | The Honor 70 includes a dedicated Macro lens which allows close up photography. |
| Video | 4K@30fps EIS, 1080p@60fps EIS | Up to 8K@30fps HDR, EIS, Stereo Sound, 4K@120fps HDR | The S24 Ultra has much more comprehensive video capabilities including 8K recording, HDR, and smoother slow motion recording. |
| DXOMark Score | Main: 115 Photo: 115 Video: 129 | Main: 144 Photo: 144 Video: 137 | The S24 Ultra has better overall camera performance and image quality. |
| Camera Features | Triple Camera, Ultra Stable video | Quadruple Camera, OIS | S24 Ultra has more versatile camera features, with OIS improving image stability and optical zoom for versatile photography. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 4800mAh | 5000mAh | The S24 Ultra has a slightly larger battery which would likely provide a bit more battery life. |
| Charging | 66W Fast Charging | 45W Fast Charging | The Honor 70 charges faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Reverse Charging | Bypass Charging, 15W wireless, Reverse Wireless | The S24 Ultra offers more versatile charging options, including bypass charging for gaming and wireless charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 12 | Android 14 | S24 Ultra has a newer OS, hence more recent features and security patches. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wifi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6E | The S24 Ultra supports newer WiFi standard, offering faster speeds. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.3 | S24 Ultra has a newer bluetooth standard for newer audio capabilities. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5) etc | The S24 Ultra has support for more satellite systems, leading to greater accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM/eSIM | S24 Ultra includes eSim functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256/512 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | S24 Ultra has more storage options. |
| RAM | 6/8/12 GB | 12 GB | S24 Ultra has good RAM, optimized for heavy usage. |
| Expandable | No | No | No Expandable Storage for both phones. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers | Honor 70 includes Hi-Res Audio, while S24 Ultra has a noise cancellation microphone. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Both phones feature basic fingerprint sensor for biometric unlock. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Armor | S24 Ultra has a much superior screen protection. |
| Sensors | Biometric, Proximity, Motion | Biometric, Proximity, Motion, Environmental | S24 Ultra has a comprehensive sensor suite including environmental features. |
2. Key Insights
Honor 70 Strengths:
- Lighter and More Comfortable: Its lighter weight makes it easier to hold for extended periods.
- Faster Charging: The 66W charging is a significant advantage for those needing quick top-ups.
- Hi-Res Audio: Offers Hi-Res audio for a better listening experience for those who appreciate it.
- Decent Camera: Provides good quality photos for everyday use.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Strengths:
- Superior Display: Higher resolution and significantly brighter screen make it much better for viewing content, especially outdoors.
- Exceptional Performance: The newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is a powerhouse, delivering top-tier performance for demanding tasks.
- Versatile Camera System: Features a versatile array of cameras with high resolution sensors and telephoto lenses.
- Advanced Features: It includes a more comprehensive suite of features, including wireless charging, bypass charging, and a better build quality for greater durability.
Trade-offs:
- Size and Weight: The S24 Ultra is bulkier and heavier, which might not be ideal for everyone.
- Price: The S24 Ultra is expected to cost a lot more than the Honor 70.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
- Honor 70: This phone is ideal for users who prioritize comfort, a lighter phone, fast charging, and good all-around performance at a more affordable price point. It's well-suited for everyday tasks, media consumption, and social media. Users that value fast charging will benefit from this device.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: This is the phone for power users, professional photographers, and mobile gamers. It offers top-of-the-line performance, a best-in-class display, a versatile camera system, and cutting-edge features. It is for those who want the absolute best technology available.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three key questions to help you choose:
- What is your primary use case? If you are just looking for an everyday phone that is comfortable and can be quickly topped off, the Honor 70 is great. But if you are a power user looking for the absolute best experience, the S24 Ultra is the phone for you.
- What is your budget? The S24 Ultra will likely cost a lot more than the Honor 70. If your budget is a key concern, the Honor 70 offers a lot of value.
- How important are mobile gaming and photography? If these are a key focus, the S24 Ultra offers an unrivaled gaming experience and camera system.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Everyday User: If you need a phone for everyday use, social media and media consumption, the Honor 70 offers great value.
- Professional/Power User: If you are a professional or a power user who requires the absolute best performance, display, and camera, the S24 Ultra is the obvious choice.
- Budget-Conscious: If your budget is a big factor, the Honor 70 offers a lot of performance for a more affordable price.
- Travel/Outdoor Photographer: If you are an outdoor photographer who values high dynamic range and excellent low-light performance with optical zoom capabilities, the S24 Ultra is the better option.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two, I'd pick the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Yes, it's bulkier and more expensive, but the sheer performance leap, the incredibly sharp and bright display, the versatile camera system, and the advanced features like bypass charging and wireless charging, make it a no-brainer for my needs. As someone who's deeply immersed in tech, I want the absolute cutting-edge experience, and the S24 Ultra delivers that in spades. The performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is just so superior to the 778G+ that the choice, for me, is simple.
