Samsung Galaxy A24 review
The Samsung Galaxy A24 is a budget-level phone that stands out from the crowd with its enticing features. It boasts an AMOLED display with a high refresh rate, promising long battery life. The phone has been upgraded with improved storage and software package compared to last year's model. One of the notable changes in design is the switch from LCD to AMOLED display, which provides even more contrasty visuals than its predecessor. The camera system features individual black circles for each lens, giving it a distinctive look. However, the phone lacks 5G connectivity and waterproofing, unlike its pricier counterparts. The Galaxy A24's performance is decent, thanks to its Mediatek Helio G99 chipset. While it can handle daily tasks without issues, it may struggle with heavy gaming due to longer loading times. The battery life has been improved significantly, earning an excellent endurance rating of 141 hours in tests. The camera system features a 50-megapixel main camera, which produces good daylight shots with low noise and vibrant colors. However, the ultra-wide camera struggles with poor low-light performance and over-sharpened images. The front-facing camera, on the other hand, delivers great selfies with plenty of detail. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A24 is a well-rounded phone that offers impressive display quality and long battery life at an affordable price. While it may lack some features found in more expensive models, its strengths make it worth considering for budget-conscious buyers.
Build Quality and Design
The Samsung Galaxy A24 boasts a budget-friendly design that still manages to stand out from the crowd. One notable change is the switch from an LCD display to an AMOLED screen, which provides better contrast and deeper blacks. The 6.5-inch AMOLED display also features a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and swiping. The build quality of the A24 has seen some improvements as well. The plastic back panel is now flat and glossy, with individual black circles for each camera lens, giving it a distinctive look. However, the design doesn't taper into the rounded plastic frame, resulting in a slightly sharper edge. One area where the Galaxy A24 falls short of its more expensive counterparts is in terms of durability. Unlike the pricier Samsung models, this budget phone isn't waterproof and lacks ingress protection. Furthermore, it doesn't support 5G connectivity or stereo speakers, which might be a drawback for some users. Despite these omissions, the Galaxy A24's design still feels solid and premium in its own right. The inclusion of a headphone jack and a single bottom-firing speaker is also a nice touch, although the audio quality itself leaves much to be desired. Overall, while the Samsung Galaxy A24 might not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive phones, it still offers an impressive array of features for its price point. The AMOLED display, improved battery life, and up-to-date Samsung software suite make it a compelling option for those on a budget. However, potential buyers should be aware that they'll miss out on 5G connectivity, stereo speakers, and waterproofing.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Samsung Galaxy A24 is a significant improvement over its predecessor. The phone packs a 5,000mAh battery, which is a substantial increase from last year's model. In our testing, the A24 managed to deliver an excellent endurance rating of 141 hours, making it one of the longest-lasting budget phones on the market. One of the standout features of the A24's battery life is its ability to charge quickly. The phone supports 25W fast charging, which can get you from 0 to 46% in just half an hour. While a charger isn't included in the box, this feature makes it easy to top up your battery when needed. In our real-world usage tests, the A24 consistently lasted for over a day with moderate use, including social media scrolling, email checking, and some casual gaming. Even with more intense use, such as watching videos or playing games, the phone still managed to hold its own, delivering a full day's worth of battery life. The A24's battery life is all the more impressive considering its relatively modest chipset and display resolution. Overall, Samsung has done an excellent job in improving the battery life of the Galaxy A24, making it a great option for those who value long-lasting devices without breaking the bank.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy A24's display is a notable improvement over its predecessor. The phone features a 6.5-inch AMOLED panel with a 1080p resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. This results in a more vibrant and contrasty image, with deep blacks that enhance the overall viewing experience. Compared to LCD panels, the AMOLED display on the A24 offers superior color accuracy without a bluish tinge often associated with lower-end screens. The phone also allows users to adjust color settings for a more personalized experience. In terms of brightness, the A24's display shines, reaching a maximum of 460 nits in manual mode and over 1000 nits in auto mode. One area where the display falls short is in refresh rate handling. Unlike some high-end devices that can dynamically adjust their refresh rates to save energy when idling, the Galaxy A24's screen remains at 90Hz even when not in use. This may result in slightly longer battery life, but it also means users won't experience the full benefits of a dynamic refresh rate. While the display is a highlight of the Galaxy A24, its limitations in terms of refresh rate handling should be considered by potential buyers. Overall, however, the AMOLED panel on this device provides an enjoyable viewing experience with good color accuracy and high brightness levels. This, combined with the phone's other features, makes it a solid choice for those seeking a budget-friendly Samsung option.
Camera
The camera on the Samsung Galaxy A24 is a mixed bag. The 50-megapixel primary sensor takes decent daylight shots with low noise, great contrast, vibrant colors, and a wide enough dynamic range. However, in low light conditions, the photos are well-exposed with good contrast and likable saturated colors, but the detail level is subpar. One of the notable improvements over its predecessor is the main camera's ability to take 12.5-megapixel photos by default using pixel binning, resulting in better image quality overall. The lack of a depth sensor means that portrait mode performance is still good, with decent subject separation. However, the ultra-wide camera is a different story altogether. Its 5-megapixel photos are rather poor, with over-sharpening, mediocre detail, and a bluish tinge. Low-light photos from the ultra-wide camera are also subpar, often too dark to see what's on them. There's no support for night mode here either. Videos captured by the main camera are decent, with okay detail, low noise, true-to-life colors, and good dynamic range. However, the ultra-wide videos have an acceptable level of detail but suffer from cooler-than-expected colors. The 2-megapixel macro camera is unimpressive, producing photos with okay colors and dynamic range but minimal detail. On the other hand, the new 13-megapixel front-facing camera takes great selfies with plenty of detail, balanced rendition, accurate colors, and a wide dynamic range. Overall, while the Galaxy A24's camera has its moments, it falls short in certain areas. The ultra-wide camera is particularly disappointing, but the main camera performs well in decent lighting conditions. If you're looking for a budget phone with good camera capabilities, the Samsung Galaxy A24 might be worth considering, but don't expect top-notch performance across the board. In terms of features, the camera app itself is pretty standard, with a few settings to tweak exposure compensation and other options. However, some enthusiasts might find themselves missing more advanced features or better image quality in certain scenarios.
Price and Value
The Samsung Galaxy A24 is a mid-range smartphone that punches above its weight class. As one of the more affordable options in Samsung's A series, it offers a compelling blend of features and value. Priced competitively at around $300-$350, the A24 delivers an impressive array of specs, including a high-quality AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a decent battery life that can last up to 141 hours, and an expandable storage capacity. The device also runs on Samsung's One UI 5.1 software package based on Android 13. While it may not have the premium features of its pricier siblings, such as waterproofing or stereo speakers, the A24 more than makes up for these omissions with its strong performance and feature set. The camera capabilities, although not outstanding, are sufficient for everyday use, while the display is a highlight of the device. In terms of value, the Galaxy A24 represents an excellent entry point into the Samsung ecosystem. For those looking for a budget-friendly option that still offers a premium experience, this phone is well worth considering. Its price and features make it a compelling choice in the mid-range market, and its overall package earns it our recommendation. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A24 is a solid choice for anyone seeking a reliable and feature-rich smartphone without breaking the bank. With its impressive display, decent battery life, and expansive storage capacity, this phone offers great value for money.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A24 is a budget-friendly mid-ranger that has made some notable improvements over its predecessor. One aspect where the phone shines is in its performance. The Mediatek Helio G99 chipset, although not the most powerful processor, does a decent job of handling everyday tasks and apps. In benchmarks, the Galaxy A24 performs relatively well, even outperforming last year's model. However, it's worth noting that the phone may struggle with demanding games or resource-intensive tasks. Longer loading times can be expected, but this is still manageable for a budget device. One area where the phone excels is in thermal management. The Helio G99 processor does an excellent job of keeping temperatures in check, ensuring that the phone remains comfortable to hold and use during extended sessions. The performance is further aided by the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage configuration, which provides sufficient multitasking capabilities and storage space for most users' needs. Expanding storage via microSD is also possible, making it ideal for users who need more room for apps, photos, or videos. While not perfect, the Galaxy A24's performance is respectable considering its price point. It may not be as snappy as higher-end devices, but for general use and casual gaming, it should suffice. Overall, Samsung has done a good job in balancing power and efficiency in this mid-range offering.