Galaxy S24 Ultra mini: Samsung can never challenge iPhone until this problem is fixed

I suppose saying I wish there was a smaller version of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra isn’t enough. So, why should Samsung make my wish come true? Let’s take a look at a few good reasons…

Smaller premium flagship phones are still more popular than large ones

I can’t possibly be sitting here thinking I have a better understanding of the smartphone market than Samsung, but the numbers highlighted prove a smaller version of the premium Galaxy Ultra flagship might not be a terrible idea.

Samsung’s already making two sizes of its vanilla flagship, and I strongly believe the company might be leaving some money on the table by ignoring offering more choice in the Ultra (premium) Galaxy range.

More Galaxy flagships to choose from is always a good idea

But again - numbers aren’t everything, and with companies of Samsung’s size and reputation, selling phones should be about making sure those who buy/consider buying your phones will find exactly the one that appeals to them.

And (back to the numbers), by the looks of it, many would prefer a more reasonable in size premium flagship phone. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, and the most obvious one would be the iPhone mini (which happens to be my primary phone).

After poor sales (especially for Apple’s standards), the tiny 5.4-inch iPhone 12 and 13 mini gave Apple a very clear indication that Cupertino’s (great) idea of making small flagship phones cool again was a few years too late.

Of course, the difference between a 5.4-inch and a 6.2-inch display is massive, so I wouldn’t be worried about my imaginary 6.2-inch Galaxy S24 Ultra selling poorly (for Samsung’s standards).

A cheaper Galaxy S24 Ultra model would be more attainable for some people

Another good reason to make a smaller Galaxy S24 Ultra is that the smaller version will most definitely be more affordable than the larger one. Using Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro as an example, a 6.2-inch Galaxy S24 Ultra would likely start at $1,000 compared to $1,200 (the rumored price of the Galaxy S24 Ultra).

Depending on how you buy your phones (carrier/full price upfront), a $200 price difference can be rather negligible, or a major selling point. For example, I’m a sucker for a great deal (whether I’m buying a new phone or a toaster), so getting a smaller phone that’s also cheaper would be a double win in my book.

Either way, just like in the case of Apple’s Pro iPhone, a $1,000 entry point into the premium Galaxy universe sounds quite a bit better than a $1,200 one.

The 6.2-inch Galaxy S24 isn’t premium enough to compete with the Galaxy S24 Ultra

Last but not least, I’m sure some of you are thinking the Galaxy S24 is the 6.2-inch one I should buy if I want a compact Samsung flagship, but I’d beg to disagree.

For one, the vanilla Galaxy S24 is expected to have a noticeably different design than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which I happen to find rather bland. Also, the Galaxy S24 Ultra will have a titanium frame - a first ever for a Samsung flagship, and the Galaxy S24… won’t.

In a less subjective comparison, the Galaxy S24 will most certainly have a noticeably different, weaker camera system than that of the Ultra; only 128GB of storage; less RAM, and a far smaller battery.

Sure, the vanilla S24 is going to be a nice offer for those who want a great compact flagship but let’s be honest - it’s far from the most premium flagship phones on the market.

What would a smaller Galaxy S24 Ultra look like, and what’s stopping Samsung from making one?

Rather obviously, it's possible that the S Pen might be Samsung’s first reason to hold back from making a smaller Galaxy S24 Ultra. However, I’m sure this one won’t be missed by those who want a smaller Ultra flagship from Samsung. Not to mention, an S Pen would be significantly less useful and practical on a phone with a 6.2-inch display compared to one with a screen size closer to 7-inches. So, this excuse is out the door.

Another relevant point of hesitation on Samsung’s end might be the fact that the battery size of a smaller Galaxy S24 Ultra will have to be significantly reduced to accommodate all components necessary to make a premium Ultra flagship. In the end, making the phone smaller doesn’t mean it should be half as good as its larger sibling. However, given Qualcomm’s super-efficient flagship chips and the perfectly good battery life found in phones like the iPhone 15 and Samsung’s own Galaxy S23, the battery excuse is also weak.

The last technical reason I can think of is the camera system in a flagship like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which is expected to be up there with the best and most flexible flagships on the market. No modern smartphone has both a quad camera system (with large sensors) and a compact display. Nothing comes even close.

Galaxy S24 Ultra will never be able to compete with the compact iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro

Finally, one obvious thing many fail to realize is that Samsung will never be able to challenge a phone like the iPhone 15 Pro with a phone like the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Why? Well, the 6.1-inch, curvy iPhone 15 Pro and 6.8-inch, rectangular Galaxy S24 Ultra are in two totally different categories solely due to the huge disparity in their size, weight, and design. And you simply can’t ignore the fact that many (if not all) people choose their new phone based on how comfortable it is to hold before they think about anything else. In fact, I can give you an example with my iPhone 15 Pro Max…

Sure, I have an iPhone 15 Pro Max and I use it… But that’s only because I should be testing the best, most premium iPhone available, and it just so happens that, this year, this phone is the largest, heaviest iPhone.

In other words, I’d pick the iPhone 15 Pro over the iPhone 15 Pro Max any day of the week, and there’s no reason the same wouldn’t be true for the imaginary smaller version of Galaxy S24 Ultra that Samsung might never make (but totally should).

Galaxy S24 Ultra with 512GB is now $321 off on Amazon

The S24 Ultra is at discounted prices on Amazon. You can now save $321 on the model with 512GB of storage. Not all colors arrive at the same discount.

$321 off (23%)

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Galaxy S24+, 256GB: Now $153 off at Amazon

The Galaxy S24+ is also available on Amazon. At the moment, the exciting Samsung device with 256GB of storage sells for 15% off, saving you $153.

$153 off (15%)

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Galaxy S24, 256GB: Now $80 off at Amazon

The Samsung Galaxy S24 with 256GB of storage is now $80 cheaper than usual at Amazon. At present, the only discounted color option is the one in Marble Gray.

$80 off (9%)

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Galaxy S24 Ultra is up to $750 off with trade-in

You can purchase a fully unlocked Galaxy S24 Ultra via the official Samsung store. The almighty AI genius arrives for up to $750 off with an eligible phone trade-in. This is the 256GB model.

$750 off (58%) Trade-in

$549 ⁹⁹

$1299 ⁹⁹

Buy at Samsung

Galaxy S24+: up to $600 off with eligible trade-in

If you don't care much for the latest and greatest flagship model from Samsung, consider the S24+. The middle member of the S24 family is currently up to $600 off with eligible trade-ins.

$600 off (54%) Trade-in

$519 ⁹⁹

$1119 ⁹⁹

Buy at Samsung

Galaxy S24: save up to $400 with a trade-in

The S24 arrives at Samsung as well. Right now, there are no discounts available before trade-ins, but you can trade in an eligible device to save up to $400. Online exclusive colors available.

$400 off (50%) Trade-in

$399 ⁹⁹

$799 ⁹⁹

Buy at Samsung