Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – What to Check Before Buying in Germany

A flagship phone is not an ordinary purchase: a large sum paid at once, or in instalments running two years. Half an hour spent on a review before buying is cheaper than two years of regret afterwards.

This article accompanies a filmed review of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra that states the strengths and the drawbacks plainly, and adds what reviews usually leave out: what your rights are in Germany after the purchase.

What the review covers

• The general impression in daily use rather than in figures
• The features that genuinely justify the gap to the tier below
• The drawbacks the advertising is silent about
• Who this phone suits and who it does not

The four questions that come before any purchase

• What do I actually use? Someone who rarely photographs does not pay for the camera gap
• How many years will I keep it? The length of update support matters to someone who keeps a phone four years, not to someone who changes every year
• What is the cheaper alternative? Always compare with the previous generation of the same tier; the difference between them is usually smaller than the price difference
• Cash or instalments? Work out the total cost of the credit, not the monthly figure alone

New, refurbished, or used?

• New from a trader: full statutory warranty, highest price
• Refurbished from a trader: cheaper, and still covered by statutory warranty because the seller is a trader — but read the stated period
• Used from a private seller: cheapest, and usually with no statutory warranty, because the seller is private rather than a trader
• In all three cases: ask for the invoice and keep it — it is the proof of the purchase date

What to check in the first hour after delivery

• The IMEI on the screen, matched against the box and the invoice
• The whole display on a white background and then a black one, looking for dead pixels or uneven backlight
• Every camera — front, rear, and each lens separately
• Wired and wireless charging, the speakers, the microphone and the fingerprint sensor
• Network, SIM and wireless connectivity
• If you find a fault, report it to the seller at once and in writing — not two weeks later

Your rights after buying in Germany

Buying from a trader in Germany carries a statutory warranty for defects (Gewährleistung) lasting two years from delivery — a right granted by law, not a favour from the seller — and it is distinct from the manufacturer's guarantee (Garantie), which is a voluntary undertaking on its own terms. If you bought at a distance, from an online shop, you additionally have a fourteen-day right of withdrawal from delivery. Keep the invoice and the box: the first proves the date, the second carries the serial number.

Common mistakes that delay a case

• Looking only at the monthly instalment and never at the total cost of the contract
• Buying an imported handset built for another market and later finding the bands or the warranty differ
• Throwing away the box and the invoice in the first week
• Postponing the inspection until after the withdrawal period has closed
• Buying from a private seller in the belief they are a trader, which removes the statutory warranty
• Trusting the advertisement photographs instead of asking for pictures of the actual device from every angle

Frequently asked questions

Is the gap to the tier below worth it?
It is for someone who photographs a great deal, uses the pen, or keeps a phone for years. It is not for someone who uses a phone for calls and messages.

What is the difference between Garantie and Gewährleistung?
Gewährleistung is a right granted by law against the seller for two years; Garantie is a voluntary undertaking by the manufacturer on its own terms and period. The first does not lapse when the second ends.

Should I buy used?
If the saving is real, you have inspected the device yourself, and you receive the original invoice. Note that buying from a private individual usually carries no statutory warranty.

How do I make sure a phone is not stolen?
Ask for the original invoice in the seller's name, check that the IMEI on the device matches the box and the invoice, and never buy from someone who refuses to give a receipt.

Please note: Prices, offers and specifications are set by the manufacturer and the retailers and change over time. Check the official product page before buying; do not rely on an article or a video alone.

Watch the video

The video is on the OK+ channel on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0QJ9cAb7io

Also on OK+

• Unboxing the Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Buying a phone in instalments in Germany
• Second-hand markets in Germany

A tool that shortens the road

The OK Plus DE app gathers German administrative calculators and form templates in one place, free, ad-free, in seven languages. Android and iPhone, from the same page:
Get the OK Plus DE app