The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, a shining star among Android flagships, has carved a niche for itself in the smartphone market with its advanced AI capabilities. Despite its hefty price tag, which remains above $1,000, the device is marred by a persistent issue that could dampen the user experience: rear camera shutter lag.
This performance glitch is not new to the Galaxy S series, with the S24 Ultra inheriting the shutter-lag bug from its predecessors, such as the S23 Ultra. The problem is particularly glaring when compared to competitors like the Pixel or iPhone models, which are known for their snap-quick photography capabilities. Samsung’s flagship makes an otherwise perfect photo op vulnerable to blurriness due to this delay.
To put this into perspective, consider setting up the S24 Ultra on a tripod next to a competitor like the Pixel 8 Pro. When capturing photos of a device displaying a stopwatch app, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has shown a noticeable latency. Recently, a trial highlighted that the Galaxy device can take up to 340 milliseconds longer to capture an image than the Pixel 8 Pro, a delay that exacerbates in lower lighting conditions.
However, users need not feel defeated, as there are workarounds. A notable contributor to the lag is the default camera setting where a long press of the shutter button switches to video mode. A feature named Quick Tap can resolve this. Accessed through the Good Lock suite’s Camera Assistant customization tool, Quick Tap diminishes the latency significantly—down to roughly 88ms in optimal lighting.
Focusing on practical solutions within the Samsung camera app, switching to Pro Mode is highly recommended. This mode can help reduce shutter delays while offering more control over the photography experience. In a twist of irony, using Night Mode can also quicken the shutter speed, though this is more effective under well-lit conditions. On the flip side, users should be wary of Expert RAW, as the increased processing demands can exacerbate the latency issue.
Despite this known issue, there has been no sign that the latest updates for the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s camera app have addressed the shutter lag. Until a permanent fix is provided, users can rely on the mentioned workarounds to mitigate the impact of this bug and continue to enjoy their premium Samsung experience.
