Samsung Galaxy S24+ review
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is a compact flagship that brings high-end features in a pocketable form factor. Compared to the more expensive S24+, the vanilla model doesn't bring many upgrades but refines some existing features. These include a brighter and more adaptive screen, a more powerful chipset that powers new AI functionality, and a matte armor aluminum frame that's supposed to be tougher this year. The phone's 6.2-inch OLED display has a 1080p resolution, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, and a 60Hz refresh rate with LTPO Tech that adapts the screen's refresh rate for better battery life. The camera setup remains largely unchanged from last year, but the new chipset and AI processing bring improved performance. The Galaxy S24 has an under-display fingerprint reader, which is fast and reliable. Storage options include 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB, with the 128GB model using slower UFS 3.1 storage. The phone runs on Samsung's One UI 6.1 software based on Android 14, which brings refinements like a reorganized quick toggles page and a promise of 7 years of software support. In terms of performance, the Galaxy S24 delivers Flagship-grade results with its new chipset, but some users may be disappointed by the return to the Exynos chip. Battery life has improved slightly, but charging speeds remain at 25W, which is slower than some other phones. Camera-wise, the Galaxy S24's upgrades are minor, and some features like video stabilization in low light conditions are still not up to par with competitors. Overall, the Galaxy S24 is a solid incremental upgrade to last year's model, but its high price might make it hard to recommend until the retail price settles down. In summary, while the Galaxy S24 has some nice improvements over last year's model, it may not be enough to justify the higher price tag for some users.
Build Quality and Design
The Samsung Galaxy S24+ boasts a design that is reminiscent of previous models, with a flat back made of Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The matte finish gives the phone a sleek and premium look, while the sharp edge where the frame meets the back adds a touch of sophistication. The armor aluminum frame is touted to be tougher this year, providing a sense of durability that is hard to ignore. In terms of build quality, the Galaxy S24+ feels sturdy in the hand, with a solid weight that suggests a high-quality construction. The phone's matte finish helps to minimize fingerprints and smudges, making it a joy to hold and use. However, the design itself may feel a bit stale compared to some other recent Samsung phones. One notable feature of the Galaxy S24+ is its IP68-rated dust and water resistance, which provides peace of mind for those who take their phone with them on the go. The 6.2-inch OLED display is slightly larger than last year's model, and it boasts a crisp 1080p resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. The use of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back helps to protect the phone from scratches and other forms of damage, making it a great choice for those who value durability. Overall, the build quality and design of the Galaxy S24+ are top-notch, providing a solid foundation for what is otherwise an excellent smartphone experience. While some may find the design to be a bit too familiar, there's no denying that the Galaxy S24+ has been crafted with care and attention to detail. The phone's solid weight and premium materials make it feel like a luxury item, even if the design itself doesn't necessarily break new ground.
Battery Life
One aspect where the Samsung Galaxy S24+ shows improvement over its predecessor is battery life. The device packs a 4,000mAh battery, which is larger than last year's model. This increased capacity translates to better overall performance in everyday use. In our testing, the Galaxy S24+ delivered an impressive 12 hours and 6 minutes of active usage time, with video playback scoring a respectable 10 hours and 30 minutes. This represents a welcome improvement over its predecessor, which managed around 9 hours and 40 minutes of video playback. However, it's worth noting that the S24+ doesn't quite live up to expectations in terms of charging speed. The phone supports 25W fast charging, but doesn't come with a charger in the box. Despite this, our tests showed that the device can reach 59% charge in just half an hour, and a full charge took around an hour and 15 minutes. While these numbers are certainly respectable, they don't quite match the speeds we've seen on other flagships. Nevertheless, the Galaxy S24+'s battery life is still among the best in its class, making it a solid choice for those who value all-day performance without needing to constantly top up their phone.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy S24's display is a notable improvement over its predecessor. The screen size has increased slightly to 6.2 inches, with a resolution of 1080p and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. The OLED panel boasts a 0Hz refresh rate, which is adaptive in nature, meaning it can dynamically adjust the frame rate to conserve energy when not needed. One of the standout features of the Galaxy S24's display is its exceptional brightness. In manual mode, we measured a maximum output of over 780 nits, while in auto mode, it boosts to an impressive 1,400 nits. This makes the screen easily viewable even in bright lighting conditions. Color accuracy is another area where the Galaxy S24 excels. The display produces vibrant and natural colors, with excellent support for HDR10+ content. The added feature of a super-HDR preview on the viewfinder and gallery adds to the overall viewing experience. The bezels have been slimmed down slightly, making for a more immersive experience when consuming media. The stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support also contribute to an engaging audio-visual experience. Overall, the Galaxy S24's display is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, offering improved brightness, color accuracy, and overall viewing experience. While it may not be a revolutionary change, the enhancements to the display make a noticeable difference in everyday use. The Galaxy S24's screen is now one of the best-in-class displays on a compact flagship phone, making it a compelling option for those seeking a premium mobile viewing experience.
Camera
The camera performance of the Samsung Galaxy S24 is a minor but notable improvement over its predecessor. The 50-megapixel primary sensor produces excellent photos during the day, with vibrant yet realistic colors and a wide dynamic range. However, compared to last year's model, the new S24 has more contrast and tone-down sharpening detail, which results in a slightly different character. One of the notable features of the Galaxy S24 is its ability to capture three levels of zoom in portrait mode, with one time and two times captured on the primary sensor, while the three times portraits are taken with the telephoto camera. The auto night mode has been refined, producing more balanced results compared to previous models. However, the dedicated night mode on the S24 still struggles to deliver perfect results. Highlights can be clipped, and noise levels remain high in darker areas. The white balance is also inconsistent when using the dedicated night mode. The telephoto camera's performance at night is less than ideal, with noise in darker areas and clipped highlights around point light sources. While the detail level is not much different from the previous generation, the new S24's telephoto camera does have a slightly more contrasty output. The ultra-wide camera has seen some improvements compared to the S23, with generally sharper shots and improved noise performance. However, night mode still struggles to deliver perfect results, with inconsistent white balance and high noise levels. Selfies taken using the 12-megapixel front camera are top-notch, with excellent detail, low noise, and pleasing colors. The ability to record video in 4K at 60fps from all four cameras is also a welcome feature, producing vibrant yet realistic footage with great exposure and dynamic range.
Price and Value
In today's world of rapid technological advancements, smartphones are no exception. The latest offerings from manufacturers often bring incremental upgrades over their predecessors. This is precisely the case with the Samsung Galaxy S24+, a device that builds upon its predecessor while offering some notable improvements. Priced at a premium, the Galaxy S24+ comes across as an investment rather than a necessity for those looking to upgrade. The question remains: is this phone worth your hard-earned cash? Considering last year's model was already a solid choice, it's natural to wonder if the additional features justify the price hike. One of the standout aspects of the Galaxy S24+ is its display. The screen has seen a minor boost in size and brightness, with the added benefit of being more adaptive. This means that users can expect a smoother viewing experience across different scenarios. While this is undeniably an upgrade, it doesn't necessarily warrant the increased cost. Another area where the Galaxy S24+ excels is its camera capabilities. Though the changes might seem minor to some, the new chipset and AI processing bring about improvements in low-light photography and video recording. These enhancements are undeniably welcome but may not be enough for those looking to splurge on a phone at this price point. Ultimately, whether or not the Galaxy S24+ is worth the investment depends on individual preferences and needs. If you're due for an upgrade and value the incremental improvements over last year's model, then it might be worth considering. However, if budget constraints are a concern or you're looking to purchase at the lowest possible price point, last year's Galaxy S23 might still be the more practical choice.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S24+ is an incremental upgrade over its predecessor, and as such, it's essential to examine how well it performs. In this review, we'll dive into the phone's performance capabilities. The Galaxy S24+ boasts a powerful Exynos 2400 chipset, which provides seamless performance in daily tasks and gaming. However, when compared to other high-end flagships with Snapdragon processors, the S24+ falls slightly behind in terms of raw performance. This is evident in benchmark tests, where the phone's scores are comparable but not quite as impressive. Thermal management is another area where the Galaxy S24+ could improve. During our stress testing, we observed a gradual throttling down to 60% of maximum CPU performance, which may be a concern for heavy users. However, this issue was not severe, and the phone still managed to deliver smooth performance in most scenarios. In terms of battery life, the Galaxy S24+ has seen a slight improvement over its predecessor. Our testing yielded an overall active use score of 12 hours and 6 minutes, which is decent but not exceptional. Charging speeds are also average, with a 25W charger taking about an hour and 15 minutes to top up the battery from empty. The camera performance, while improved, remains relatively minor over the previous generation. The new chipset does provide some benefits in terms of processing power, but it's not enough to significantly enhance the camera capabilities. Night mode, in particular, can be inconsistent, and the auto white balance is sometimes unreliable. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S24+ delivers respectable performance, especially considering its compact size. While it may not be the most powerful phone on the market, it should suffice for general use cases. However, those seeking top-tier performance might want to consider other options in the same price bracket.