Polestar Phone vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power

The Polestar Phone enters a crowded flagship market aiming to disrupt with a focus on raw performance and incredibly fast charging. It directly challenges the established dominance of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra, a device renowned for its all-around excellence and long-lasting battery. This comparison dissects the key differences between these two Android powerhouses, focusing on where each excels and who will benefit most from their respective strengths.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing absolute charging speed and peak performance, the Polestar Phone is the clear winner. Its 80W wired charging significantly outperforms the S24 Ultra’s 45W, and the nearly identical Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset offers comparable processing power. However, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s superior battery life and brighter display make it the better choice for all-day users.

PHONES
Phone Names Polestar Phone Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, April 242024, January 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, April 24Available. Released 2024, January 24
Body
Build-Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2)
Dimensions165 x 74.4 x 8 mm (6.50 x 2.93 x 0.31 in)162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN
Weight214 g (7.55 oz)232 g or 233 g (8.18 oz)
Display
ProtectionTitan Glass 2.0Corning Gorilla Armor
Resolution1368 x 3192 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~511 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density)
Size6.79 inches, 107.7 cm2 (~87.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 600 nits (typ), 1250 nits (HBM)Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 750Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
OSPolestar OSAndroid 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesRing-LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.1, 72mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.4, 15mm, 122˚ (ultrawide)-
Video8K, 4K, 1080p; gyro-EIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, HDR10+
Single32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
VideoYes4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging80W wired, PD3 PPS, QC4+ 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Type5050 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsWhiteTitanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange
Models-SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS
Price-$ 514.94 / C$ 929.99 / £ 630.00 / € 658.53 / ₹ 84,999
SAR-1.26 W/kg (head)     0.62 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.06 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)

Polestar Phone

  • Significantly faster 80W wired charging
  • Potentially higher peak performance due to aggressive tuning
  • 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging

  • Missing battery capacity information
  • Camera specs are unknown, making it difficult to assess quality
  • Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

  • Excellent 13:49h battery life in active use
  • Brighter 1447 nit display for outdoor visibility
  • Mature camera system with advanced features

  • Slower 45W wired charging
  • Lower wireless charging speeds (15W)
  • Slightly lower CPU clock speeds compared to Polestar Phone

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1447 nits. While the Polestar Phone’s display specs are not provided, Samsung’s panel technology is known for its color accuracy and outdoor visibility. The S24 Ultra’s higher peak brightness is particularly beneficial for users who frequently use their phones in direct sunlight. The absence of PWM frequency data for the Polestar Phone raises questions about potential flicker, a concern for users sensitive to screen flicker, while Samsung typically employs high PWM frequencies to mitigate this issue.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs for the Polestar Phone are missing, making a direct comparison challenging. However, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is expected to feature a sophisticated camera system with advanced image processing capabilities. The S24 Ultra’s camera system likely includes features like enhanced night mode, improved zoom capabilities, and professional-grade video recording options. Without knowing the Polestar Phone’s sensor sizes, apertures, and OIS implementation, it’s difficult to assess its photographic capabilities, but it will need to deliver exceptional image quality to compete with Samsung’s established camera prowess.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8650-AB/AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), but subtle CPU clock speed differences exist. The S24 Ultra’s CPU reaches 3.39GHz on its prime core, slightly exceeding the Polestar Phone’s 3.3 GHz. While seemingly minor, this, combined with slightly higher clock speeds on the A720 cores (3.1GHz vs 3.2GHz), could translate to marginal performance gains in sustained workloads. However, both phones utilize the same architecture, meaning real-world differences will likely be minimal. Thermal management will be crucial; the 4nm process should provide good efficiency, but the Polestar Phone’s potentially more aggressive performance tuning could lead to more throttling under prolonged stress.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra demonstrates impressive battery endurance, achieving 13 hours and 49 minutes of active use. The Polestar Phone’s battery capacity is unknown, but its 80W wired charging capability is a significant advantage. This allows for a potentially much faster recharge time compared to the S24 Ultra’s 45W charging, which reaches 65% in 30 minutes. The Polestar Phone also offers 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, significantly outpacing the S24 Ultra’s 15W wireless and 4.5W reverse wireless capabilities. While the S24 Ultra excels in longevity, the Polestar Phone prioritizes rapid replenishment.

Buying Guide

Buy the Polestar Phone if you need the fastest possible charging speeds, frequently engage in demanding tasks like gaming, and value a streamlined software experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you prioritize all-day battery life, a brighter and more versatile display, and a more mature ecosystem of features and accessories. The S24 Ultra is the safer, more polished choice, while the Polestar Phone is a riskier, but potentially more rewarding, option for power users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How much faster is the Polestar Phone's 80W charging compared to the S24 Ultra's 45W in a real-world scenario?
While the S24 Ultra reaches 65% charge in 30 minutes, the Polestar Phone's 80W charging is expected to achieve a full charge significantly faster, potentially in under 40 minutes. This difference is crucial for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Polestar Phone throttle under heavy gaming loads, and how does it compare to the S24 Ultra?
Both phones utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is thermally efficient. However, the Polestar Phone's potentially more aggressive performance tuning could lead to more noticeable throttling during extended gaming sessions. The S24 Ultra's cooling system is likely more robust, offering better sustained performance.
❓ What type of wireless charging standards does the Polestar Phone support, and is it compatible with all Qi-enabled chargers?
The Polestar Phone supports PD3 PPS and QC4+ for wired charging, and 50W wireless charging. It is compatible with Qi-enabled chargers, but to achieve the full 50W wireless charging speed, a charger supporting the PD3 PPS standard is required.
❓ Given the lack of detailed camera specs for the Polestar Phone, what should potential buyers expect in terms of image quality?
Without specific sensor details, it's difficult to predict the Polestar Phone's camera performance. However, to compete with the S24 Ultra, it will need to deliver excellent image quality in various lighting conditions, with accurate colors and good dynamic range. Expect a focus on computational photography to enhance image processing.