Yes—the Galaxy S24 Ultra is an excellent all-round gaming phone. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip, large 120Hz display and improved cooling can deliver smooth performance in demanding Android games, including Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile.
The qualification is sustained performance. A short burst can look flawless, while long sessions, charging, high brightness, cellular data, hot rooms and poorly optimized games can produce heat and frame-rate drops. The S24 Ultra is best understood as a premium flagship that games extremely well—not as a dedicated gaming phone.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Verdict
For most players, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is powerful enough for high settings and high frame rates. Published testing of Genshin Impact at maximum graphics and a 60fps target found performance generally around 55–60fps, with effects-heavy combat causing occasional drops but reportedly staying above approximately 50fps in that test. Samsung Japan’s 4Gamer test used the phone’s visible Perf Z counter, however, and did not save frame-time logs, so it should be treated as an attributed gameplay result rather than a laboratory benchmark.
PUBG Mobile can expose a 90fps mode, although Notebookcheck associated that mode with the lowest graphics preset. That distinction matters: a higher frame-rate option may require sacrificing visual quality.
#1 Best Overall
- 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to ~2600 nits peak brightness — delivering a bright, sharp screen with smooth scrolling and great outdoor visibility.
Choose the S24 Ultra if you want one phone for demanding games, cameras, productivity, media, S Pen features and everyday use. Compare dedicated gaming phones instead if you play for hours every day, need shoulder triggers or prioritize the strongest possible sustained cooling.
What hardware is being tested?
This assessment applies specifically to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, not every phone in the S24 family. Samsung equipped the Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy. Regional Galaxy S24 and S24+ models may use the Exynos 2400, so their gaming results should not be substituted for S24 Ultra results. Samsung’s launch material identifies the processor configuration and describes the Ultra’s vapor chamber as 1.9 times larger than the previous design.
The gaming-relevant specifications are:
- 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
- Adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz
- 5,000mAh battery
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy
- Large vapor chamber intended to improve heat dissipation
The larger vapor chamber is a manufacturer claim about the hardware, not proof that every game will maintain a particular frame rate. The display’s 120Hz capability is similarly not a promise of 120fps gameplay.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
120Hz does not mean 120fps
A 120Hz panel can refresh the screen up to 120 times per second, but a game must also support a 90fps or 120fps mode, make that mode available to the S24 Ultra and render frames quickly enough to maintain it. The operating system, Game Booster, thermal limits and game updates can also affect the result.
Some games are capped at 30 or 60fps. Others expose higher rates only at reduced graphics settings. A stable 60fps is preferable to an unstable 90fps, and a 120Hz display can still make menus and touch interaction feel responsive when a game is rendering below 120fps.
Rank #2
- 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to ~2600 nits peak brightness — delivering a bright, sharp screen with smooth scrolling and great outdoor visibility.
Game-by-game performance
Genshin Impact
This is one of the clearest demonstrations of the S24 Ultra’s capability because it combines large open-world scenes, detailed effects and sustained GPU load. In the cited Samsung Japan/4Gamer test, maximum graphics and a 60fps target generally produced about 55–60fps. Heavy combat effects could reduce performance, but the report said it did not fall below approximately 50fps in the cited run.
That is strong performance for a demanding Android game, but “55–60fps” should not be read as a guarantee of a locked 60fps after an hour in every environment. Brightness, room temperature, a case, network activity and subsequent game or One UI updates can change the result.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →PUBG Mobile
PUBG Mobile can offer a 90fps setting on the S24 Ultra. The important trade-off is quality: the cited Notebookcheck review linked the 90fps option to the lowest graphics settings. Players must therefore choose between a faster, more responsive presentation and higher visual quality rather than assuming both maximum graphics and 90fps are available.
Call of Duty: Mobile
Call of Duty: Mobile is a good fit for the phone’s high-refresh display and flagship processor. Samsung’s hands-on gaming coverage describes the large screen as useful for touch controls in games including Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG and Genshin Impact. Actual frame-rate options remain game-specific and can change with updates, so check the in-game graphics and frame-rate menus on the current build.
Warzone Mobile and other heavy shooters
Modern, demanding shooters deserve separate scrutiny. Their optimization can vary substantially between updates and devices. Anecdotal owner reports describe some sessions that begin smoothly and later show thermal-related drops, but those reports are not controlled measurements and should not be generalized to every S24 Ultra.
Rank #3
- 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to ~2600 nits peak brightness — delivering a bright, sharp screen with smooth scrolling and great outdoor visibility.
The practical expectation is strong initial performance, with sustained results depending heavily on temperature, brightness, network conditions and the game’s current optimization.
How to test gaming performance properly
Average fps alone is not enough. A useful test records initial performance, performance after 20–30 minutes, frame-time consistency, temperature and battery drain. A visual counter such as Perf Z can show what is happening on screen, but it is not equivalent to a saved frame-time log.
For repeatable results, record:
- Phone model, region, RAM and storage
- Android and One UI versions
- Game version, graphics preset, resolution and frame-rate target
- Game Booster settings
- Brightness and refresh-rate settings
- Room temperature and whether a case is fitted
- Wi-Fi or cellular network conditions
- Test duration, starting battery and ending battery
- Average fps, lowest sustained fps and any visible stutter
- Whether the phone was charging
Repeat important runs at least twice after allowing the phone to return to a similar starting temperature. Separate native gameplay from emulation and cloud gaming: they measure different things.
Heat, throttling and long sessions
The S24 Ultra’s improved cooling helps, but passive cooling still has limits. The phone is most likely to struggle when several heat sources overlap:
- Maximum brightness, particularly outdoors
- Gaming while charging
- A thick protective case
- Hot ambient temperatures or direct sunlight
- 5G or other cellular-data use
- Background downloads, recording or screen mirroring
- Long sessions in poorly optimized games
A phone can be exceptionally fast during the first five or ten minutes and less consistent later. A proper sustained test should show fps over time rather than using a short benchmark to claim hour-long performance. Temperature readings also need labels: surface temperature, battery temperature, CPU/GPU sensor temperature and an app estimate are not interchangeable.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteRank #4
- 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to ~2600 nits peak brightness — delivering a bright, sharp screen with smooth scrolling and great outdoor visibility.
Charging while gaming
Ordinary charging adds heat while the processor and graphics hardware are already under load. Samsung provides a supported feature called Pause USB PD charging when gaming, which can power the phone while pausing battery charging to reduce heat from simultaneous charging and gameplay.
The typical path is:
- Connect a compatible USB-PD charger.
- Open Gaming Hub.
- Tap More.
- Open Game Booster.
- Enable Pause USB PD charging when gaming.
- Launch the game.
Samsung lists these requirements: a supported phone, a USB-PD charger with PPS, at least 25W output, an actively running game and battery level of at least 20%. The feature is not guaranteed to appear or behave identically in every region or software version, and the 25W charger is not included with the phone. See Samsung’s support instructions and verify the option on the specific device.
Wireless charging is convenient for a desk or bedside, but it is generally a poor choice for maximum-performance gaming because its additional charging heat can work against sustained performance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Samsung Game Booster features
Game Booster provides a central layer for gaming controls through Gaming Hub or during gameplay. Depending on model, region, carrier and software version, available options may include:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →- Performance profiles
- Temperature and memory monitoring
- Notification and call blocking
- Accidental-touch protection
- Screen recording and game plug-ins
- Per-game settings
- Frame-rate or performance management when the phone becomes hot
Do not assume that every plug-in or menu will be present on every current build. If a setting appears to limit frame rate, test it explicitly and report the condition rather than silently comparing different configurations.
Best Value
- 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and up to ~2600 nits peak brightness — delivering a bright, sharp screen with smooth scrolling and great outdoor visibility.
Screen, controls and comfort
The 6.8-inch display gives touch-controlled games plenty of room for virtual buttons and a broad view of the action. The high resolution makes games and text look sharp, while the adaptive 120Hz panel supports responsive scrolling and interfaces.
The trade-off is physical. The S24 Ultra is a large, heavy flagship, and its flat body can become tiring during long landscape sessions. It has no built-in shoulder triggers or gaming-first front design. A compatible controller can improve precision and comfort, but controller play should be considered a separate experience from touchscreen testing. A case can also change grip and restrict heat dissipation.
For serious competitive play, physical controls and faster touch sampling on dedicated gaming phones may matter more than the S24 Ultra’s camera and productivity advantages.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Should you buy it as a gaming phone?
| Player | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Wants one premium phone that also games well | Strong choice if the configuration and price are appropriate |
| Regularly plays Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile | Very capable, with game-specific frame-rate and quality trade-offs |
| Plays demanding games for hours every day | Compare actively cooled gaming phones for stronger sustained performance |
| Wants built-in gaming controls | Look elsewhere; the S24 Ultra has no shoulder triggers |
| Wants Samsung’s newest platform in 2026 | Compare the S24 Ultra with the current Galaxy Ultra generation before buying |
In 2026, the S24 Ultra is an older flagship, so do not treat a headline “from” price as a universal unlocked cash price. Check the storage tier, condition, seller, carrier lock, warranty region and any trade-in requirements. Samsung’s buying guide has displayed a promotional “from $549.99” figure, but that is not a dependable price for every configuration.
Final assessment
The Galaxy S24 Ultra delivers flagship-level gaming with a particularly strong balance of speed, display quality and everyday versatility. It is a convincing choice for players who want demanding games to look good and run smoothly without giving up excellent cameras, S Pen functionality, water resistance and mainstream flagship software.
Its limitation is not a lack of peak power. It is the reality of sustained heat, game-specific caps and the absence of dedicated gaming hardware. Buy it as the best all-round flagship for gaming only if that balance matters to you; buy a dedicated gaming phone if long-duration frame-rate consistency and physical controls are the priority.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches
