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Both Samsung and Vivo released their ‘Ultra’ devices this year. Samsung’s came in January, while Vivo’s followed in May. We’re here to compare those two phones, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Ultra. Do note that the Vivo X100 Ultra launched in China only, though. The phone does not have a global variant. The Vivo X100 Pro is basically the flagship model for global markets. We already compared that one to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, by the way.
With that in mind, we’ll check out the two ‘Ultra’ devices. Both of these phones are large and powerful, but also different in a number of ways. We’ll list their specifications, and will then move to compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. With that in mind, let’s get started, shall we?
Specs
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Ultra, respectively
– Screen size:
6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (flat, adaptive 120Hz, HDR10+, 2,600 nits max brightness)
6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display (curved, adaptive 120Hz, HDR, 3,000 nits max brightness)
– Display resolution:
3120 x 1440
3200 x 1440
– SoC:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
– RAM:
12GB (LPDDR5X)
12GB/16GB (LPDDR5X)
– Storage:
256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 4.0)
256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 4.0)
– Rear cameras:
200MP (wide, f/1.7 aperture, OIS, multi-directional PDAF, 0.6um pixel size), 12MP (ultrawide, 120-degree FoV, f/2.2 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF 1.4um pixel size), 10MP (telephoto, f/2.4 aperture, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF, 1.12um pixel size, 3x optical zoom), 50MP (periscope telephoto, OIS, PDAF, 5x optical zoom)
50MP (wide, f/1.8 aperture, 23mm lens, 1-inch type sensor, 1.6um pixel size, PDAF, gimbal OIS), 50MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 116-degree FoV, 14mm lens, 0.8um pixel size, 1/2-inch sensor), 200MP (periscope telephoto, macro, f/2.7 aperture, OIS, PDAF, 3.7x optical zoom, 1/1.4-inch sensor, 0.56um pixel size)
– Front cameras:
12MP (wide, f/2.2 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF, 22mm lens)
50MP (wide, f/2.5 aperture, 0.64um pixel size, 1/2.76-inch sensor)
– Battery:
5,000mAh
5,500mAh
– Charging:
45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless (charger not included)
80W wired, 30W wireless, 5W reverse wired (charger included)
– Dimensions:
162.3 x 79 x 8.6mm
164.1 x 75.6 x 9.2 mm
– Weight:
232/233 grams
229 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3/5.4
– Security:
In-display fingerprint scanner (ultrasonic) & facial scanning
– OS:
Android 14 with One UI 6.1
Android 14 with OriginOS 4
– Price:
$1,299+
CNY6,499+ ($898)
– Buy:
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Best Buy)
Vivo X100 Ultra (China only)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Ultra: Design
As you can see in the image above, the two phones look very different. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has sharp corners, while the opposite is true for the Vivo X100 Ultra. Both phones do have a centered display camera hole and very thin bezels around their displays. The Galaxy S24 Ultra includes a flat display, while the Vivo X100 Ultra has a curved display. The Vivo X100 Ultra does look narrower, that’s because it is. It’s considerably narrower than the Galaxy S24 Ultra while being slightly taller and thicker. It is also a couple of grams lighter.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has a frame made out of titanium and a glass back. The Vivo X100 Ultra frame is made out of aluminum, while glass is included on its back. The Vivo X100 Ultra backplate curves into the frame on the sides, as does its front side. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a lot more flat on the back, proportional to its front side. Both phones include physical buttons on the right-hand side.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra has four cameras on the back and five separate circles in the top-left corner. The Vivo X100 Ultra includes a large camera oreo on the back instead. There are three cameras in there, and that camera oreo is centered in the top portion of the phone’s back. Both phones are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. Both of them are also very slippery, by the way. Glass is usually a recipe for slippery devices, and the same is the case here. They also feel different in the hand, but both have that premium feel to them.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Ultra: Display
There is a 6.8-inch QHD+ (3120 x 1440) Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display included on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. That display is flat, and it has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. HDR10+ content is supported, and the phone’s display goes up to 2,600 nits. The display aspect ratio is 19.5:9, while the screen-to-body ratio is at around 88%. This display is protected by the Gorilla Glass Armor from Corning.
The Vivo X100 Ultra, on the flip side, has a 6.78-inch QHD+ (3200 x 1440) LTPO AMOLED display. This phone has a curved display. The panel can project up to 1 billion colors, and it also has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Dolby Vision is supported, as is HDR content. The maximum display brightness is set at 3,000 nits. The display aspect ratio here is 20:9, while the screen-to-body ratio is around 89%. There’s no info on display protection, though.
Both displays are vivid and very sharp, no problem there. They also have great viewing angles, and very good touch response as well. The blacks are deep, as they should be on AMOLED displays. The thing is, the Gorilla Armor on the Galaxy S24 Ultra does a much better job of keeping reflections at bay. It’s noticeably less reflective than displays on competitor phones, including the Vivo X100 Ultra. That much is worth noting. Both displays get more than bright enough, even in direct sunlight.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Ultra: Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy fuels the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. That is basically an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Samsung also included 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The same goes for UFS 4.0 flash storage. The Vivo X100 Ultra is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The phone offers up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage too.
In regards to performance, both phones do a wonderful job. Just keep in mind that the Vivo X100 Ultra doesn’t come with global software, so you’ll need to sideload Google services if you want to use them. They are extremely smooth when it comes to regular, everyday tasks like opening apps, multitasking, consuming multimedia, and so on. Slowing them down is not an easy feat, that’s for sure. They’re basically on par in that regard.
The same level of performance does transfer to gaming too, basically. Both of these phones offer great performance even with the most demanding games out there. They can run Genshin Impact without a problem. Yes, both phones will get rather warm if you end up playing demanding games for a while, but not too warm. The performance will also remain unscathed, pretty much, and that’s a win.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Ultra: Battery
There is a 5,000mAh battery included inside the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The Vivo X100 Ultra, on the flip side, includes a 5,500mAh battery pack. Both of these phones have outstanding battery life. Those of you who don’t do a lot of graphically demanding tasks on phones could even be able to get over the 8-hour screen-on-time mark on both phones in a single day… while not being too careful.
The battery life on both of these phones is that good, yes. They’re amongst the best smartphones for battery life when it comes to flagship devices. Your mileage will vary, of course, as this is the battery life we’re talking about. Some of you will fly under this mark, others probably above it, it all depends on a number of factors. The bottom line is that both smartphones offer great battery life, there’s no doubt about it.
When it comes to charging, the Vivo X100 Ultra takes the cake, in several ways. It offers faster wired and wireless charging, while it also comes with a charger in the box. It supports 80W wired, 30W wireless, and 5W reverse wired charging. The Galaxy S24 Ultra offers 45W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. Unlike the Vivo X100 Ultra, however, this handset does not include a charger in the box.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Vivo X100 Ultra: Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has four rear-facing cameras. There’s a 200-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV), a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom), and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (5x optical zoom). The Vivo X100 Ultra has a 50-megapixel main camera (gimbal OIS), a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (116-degree FoV), and a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (3.7x optical zoom). ZEISS optics are a part of the Vivo X100 Ultra package, by the way.
Both of these phones capture outstanding photos. There are differences, though. They both prefer warmer colors, to a degree, and both sets of images do end up looking a bit processed. The Galaxy S24 Ultra can still push processing a bit too far at times, though. The colors are great on both most of the time, but Samsung’s phones has the tendency of pushing the saturation a bit too high at times. Other than that, the results from both are great. The Vivo X100 Ultra’s ultrawide camera does tend to provide better results more often than not, and the same goes for the periscope camera, especially at higher zoom levels.
In low light, both phones perform really well, especially when it comes to their main cameras. The Vivo X100 Ultra does tend to deal with light reflections a bit better than the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Other than that, the images from both look great. Their secondary cameras are usable in low light, for sure, but the main shooters are preferable.
Audio
There is a set of stereo speakers on both of these smartphones. The ones on the Galaxy S24 Ultra are a bit louder, though. The difference is not big, but it’s noticeable. The sound output is well-balanced on both, though.
Neither phone includes an audio jack. You can always use their Type-C ports for wired audio connections, though. If not, there’s Bluetooth 5.3 included on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Bluetooth 5.4 on the Vivo X100 Ultra for wireless connections.