Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
Tech Writers Rating: 8.9/10 (Legacy rating)
Pros
- Experience the sleek design with its flat sides.
- Immerse yourself in the stunning visuals of the new QHD+ screen.
- Enjoy smooth performance and cool operation.
- Navigate effortlessly with the intuitive One UI 6.1.
- Benefit from up to seven years of consistent updates.
- Stay powered throughout the day with phenomenal battery life.
- Discover the surprising value packed into this device.
Cons
- Note occasional struggles with capturing moving objects on the camera.
- Galaxy AI features may be inconsistent.
For years, the inclusion of Samsung’s “Plus” model within its Galaxy S lineup has seemed somewhat redundant. While the Plus phones typically offer excellent performance, the question remains: why opt for them when you could invest an additional $200 for the superior and more robust Ultra model? However, with the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus this year, the dynamics have shifted slightly.
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In 2024, the S24 Plus debuts with a revamped design, an enhanced screen, and a remarkably powerful processor. Despite these upgrades, it maintains the same $1,000 price tag that the Plus model has upheld for several years. In contrast, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s new $1,300 price creates a $300 price difference between the Plus and Ultra models. When considering these factors collectively, Samsung’s Plus phone becomes significantly more appealing than ever before
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: design
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus closely resembles its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Plus. Weighing in at 196 grams, it shares similar dimensions, being just slightly taller and thicker by less than a millimeter and 1/10th of a millimeter, respectively. Additionally, it maintains the same camera setup on the back, indicating Samsung’s decision not to drastically alter the design. However, there is a notable departure from its predecessor in the form of flat sides.
While last year’s S23 Plus featured a rounded aluminum frame with glossy sides, the S24 Plus retains the aluminum material but opts for flat edges with a matte finish. This design choice mirrors that of the iPhone 15, adding a sleek and modern touch that I find particularly appealing.
While the new frame doesn’t drastically alter the design of the Galaxy S24 Plus, it brings welcomed improvements all around. The matte finish not only enhances aesthetics but also prevents fingerprint smudges. The flat frame offers better grip, lending the phone a more refined appearance. Though subtle, these changes quickly grew on me.
Apart from this, the phone remains largely unchanged from last year. It boasts an IP68 rating for reliable dust and water resistance, with Gorilla Glass 2 protecting the screen. The matte finish on the back glass complements the frame. I have the Cobalt Violet variant, which I find visually appealing. The tactile feedback of the power and volume buttons is satisfying, and while the speakers sound nice, they can be a tad tinny. Additionally, the in-screen fingerprint sensor functions flawlessly.
I must emphasize the overall polished and premium feel of the device. When compared side by side with a Pixel 8 Pro or OnePlus 11, the Galaxy S24 Plus stands out for its superior build quality. It may seem like a minor detail, but it’s one that left a lasting impression on me.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: screen
While the design of the Galaxy S24 Plus is impressive, the part of the phone that commands the most attention is its screen, and fortunately, it’s truly exceptional.
The Galaxy S24 Plus boasts a 6.7-inch AMOLED 2X panel, slightly larger than its predecessor’s 6.6-inch display. The peak brightness has been significantly enhanced from 1,750 nits to an impressive 2,600 nits, while the resolution has soared from FHD+ to QHD+. In terms of pixel count, this translates to a jump from 2340 x 1080 pixels to 3120 x 1440 pixels. Additionally, the 120Hz refresh rate now scales down to as low as 1Hz, conserving power when the screen is not in active use.
The Galaxy S24 Plus has a fantastic screen.
The display on last year’s Galaxy S23 Plus was already impressive, but the enhancements Samsung implemented in the S24 Plus take it to the next level. Despite the lack of sunshine in Southwest Michigan during my review period, I encountered no difficulties viewing the screen outdoors, even under gray and overcast skies. Given its performance thus far, I’m confident it will handle brighter days just as effectively—whenever they occur. Additionally,
I appreciate how dim the Galaxy S24 Plus can become. Compared to my iPhone 15 Pro Max, the S24 Plus’ screen is noticeably darker at its lowest brightness setting—a convenient feature if you use your phone in bed next to your partner and wish to avoid disturbing them.
The resolution upgrade has been a significant improvement as well. By default, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is set to FHD+, but you have the option to switch to QHD+ at any time through the Settings app. While it may not be a drastic change, I find that it enhances the sharpness of text on the screen, especially for smaller fonts.
It’s expected for Samsung to deliver exceptional displays on its phones at this stage, but I’ve been particularly impressed with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Plus in this regard. Apart from being slightly smaller and lacking Gorilla Armor glass for reduced reflections, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus’ screen matches the quality of its Ultra counterpart in every aspect. Considering the $300 price difference this year, that’s quite an achievement.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: Camera
Although Samsung implemented numerous upgrades to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus’ screen, the same cannot be said for the phone’s cameras. The physical camera hardware remains identical to that of the S23 Plus:
- 50MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture
- 10MP telephoto camera with f/2.4 aperture and 3x optical zoom
- 12MP ultrawide camera with f/2.2 aperture and 120-degree field of view
- 12MP selfie camera with f/2.2 aperture
It’s a commendable camera setup, closely resembling the cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro. Are they effective? Yes, but with a caveat.
When capturing images of landscapes, pastries, stationary pets, or any other non-moving subjects, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus delivers impressive photos. Samsung introduced a new “dedicated color tuning solution” for the entire Galaxy S24 series, aiming to achieve a “more accurate and natural color tone.”
In my opinion, it succeeds. While some photos may exhibit slightly more vibrant colors compared to similar shots taken with an iPhone, they never appear excessively saturated to me. All of the aforementioned photos were captured using the 50-megapixel main camera.
However, once any movement comes into play, the Galaxy S24 Plus encounters difficulties. Whether it’s a cat darting across a bed or a stool, a dog engaged in play with a chew toy, or even a bearded dragon slightly shifting on someone’s shoulder, the autofocus struggles, leading to less-than-ideal photos.
This issue isn’t entirely novel for Samsung phones, but for some reason, it appears to be particularly pronounced on the Galaxy S24 Plus.
What about the other cameras? They perform quite well. The ultrawide camera’s 120-degree field of view is impressive, and its color reproduction closely matches that of the main camera. While the telephoto camera’s 3x optical zoom limit may not be groundbreaking in 2024, it adequately fulfills its purpose when you need to get closer to your subject.
Technically, you can zoom up to 30x in the camera app, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Anything beyond 3x is purely a digital zoom, and the quality suffers noticeably. While some 10x photos may be usable (such as the above photo of the squirrel), it’s best to avoid pushing the zoom beyond this point.
Finally, let’s talk about the selfie camera. It performs well, though it’s nothing extraordinary, capturing sharp images with pleasing colors. Overall, I’ve been satisfied with its performance.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: performance
Beneath the surface of the Galaxy S24 Plus lies Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, the go-to processor for flagship Android phones this year. It has proven to be an absolute powerhouse in the Your Future in Your Hands: Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Premiere. Last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was already an outstanding performer in every phone it was tested in, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is already demonstrating noticeable improvements.
In terms of day-to-day performance, the Galaxy S24 Plus effortlessly handles everything you throw at it. Apps launch instantly, multitasking is incredibly smooth (aided by 12GB of RAM), and all of One UI 6’s animations are exceptionally fluid. While good everyday performance has been expected from flagships in recent years, the S24 Plus feels particularly responsive during my time with it.
The impressive performance extends to gaming as well. Call of Duty: Mobile, my preferred mobile game, runs flawlessly on the Your Future in Your Hands: Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Premiere. The phone effortlessly handles CoD: Mobile at Medium graphics and 120 frames per second (fps) without any lag. What’s more, it maintains its cool even after multiple gaming sessions. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 also proves to be exceptionally efficient, but I’ll discuss that further in the battery section.
It’s important to note that only the U.S. model of the Galaxy S24 Plus is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. In other countries, it comes with an Exynos 2400 chipset. While I haven’t personally used the international version of the S24 Plus, Samsung’s Exynos chips are generally not as highly regarded and often lag behind their Qualcomm counterparts. This is something to consider before making a purchase.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: Galaxy AI
Alright, let’s delve into the realm of AI. Regardless of which Galaxy S24 model you opt for, Samsung’s major selling point for all three phones is Galaxy AI. This encompasses a range of artificial intelligence features spanning photo editing, translation, and various other aspects of the phone. While some of these features are impressive, others are inconsistent, and a few fall short of expectations.
Among the Galaxy AI features, the photo-editing capabilities have stood out as my favorites thus far. This consists of two main components: Edit Suggestions and Generative Edit. The former is demonstrated in the photo above. When viewing an image in the Gallery app, simply swipe up to access its metadata. Within a moment, you’ll receive suggested edits for that particular picture.
These edits can encompass tasks such as adding background blur, eliminating shadows or reflections, or enhancing the photo with improved colors and brightness. Importantly, all of these edits occur locally on the device, eliminating the need for an internet connection. In my testing, the results have consistently appeared impressive.
The second notable photo-editing feature is Generative Edit. This allows for more aggressive edits to photos, such as repositioning objects or removing them entirely. While it does require an internet connection and takes a few seconds to process, the results are often impressive. As seen in the example above, objects like benches and dirty snow can be effectively removed.
Galaxy AI also places significant emphasis on translation features. Live Translate can translate and transcribe phone calls when communicating with someone who speaks a different language, while Interpreter mode provides real-time translations for face-to-face conversations. Although I haven’t had the opportunity to utilize these features with the Your Future in Your Hands: Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Premiere, I anticipate that will be the case for many users. While Interpreter mode may not offer significantly different capabilities compared to Google Translate on other Android phones, it is noteworthy to have a language translator that functions entirely offline, without requiring a data connection.
Next, let’s discuss the AI features integrated into the Samsung Keyboard. The Galaxy S24’s keyboard incorporates a Chat Assist feature, which analyzes the messages you type and attempts to adjust their tone or style, such as making them more professional or casual. While it technically functions, the results can be comical. For instance, why would you want to text your partner, “I’m heading to the store to pick up a couple of things for dinner. Do you need anything?” when you could say, “I will be going to the store to procure a few items for the evening meal. Is there anything you require?” Thanks, Samsung.
Furthermore, Galaxy AI extends to the Notes, Voice Recorder, and Samsung Internet apps. Here, AI assists in formatting and summarizing notes, transcribing recordings, and summarizing webpages for you.
Another noteworthy AI feature, albeit more associated with Google than Samsung, is Circle to Search. This feature is quite impressive. By pressing and holding the home button or navigation bar on the S24 (depending on whether you’re using buttons or gesture navigation), you can tap, circle, or scribble on anything displayed on your screen to initiate a Google Search for it.
This feature proves to be incredibly useful when you encounter something on your phone that you want to search for but struggle to articulate it in words. While it’s not always flawless, when it does work, the results can be quite surprising. For example, I circled a picture of a burger I enjoyed during my visit to Las Vegas for CES 2024, and Circle to Search accurately identified the specific type of burger and the restaurant where I had it. (Editor’s Note — the hickory burger at Walk-On’s is fantastic)
Samsung has introduced some promising concepts with Galaxy AI, and a few of them have shown considerable potential. However, are any of these features compelling enough to justify purchasing the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus on their own? I would argue not. While I’ve enjoyed experimenting with the photo-editing capabilities, and it’s reassuring to know that I can translate phone calls if ever needed, none of these functionalities are essential must-have features for my smartphone usage.
It’s worth mentioning the future trajectory of Galaxy AI. Samsung has not only confirmed that Galaxy AI will eventually be available on other Samsung phones, but it will also introduce charges for some or all of Galaxy AI’s features down the line. While there are undoubtedly intriguing developments in this space, it’s advisable not to purchase any Galaxy S24 solely for its AI functionalities.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: software
The Galaxy S24 Plus comes pre-installed with Android 14, customized with Samsung’s One UI interface, specifically One UI 6.1. Historically, One UI hasn’t been my preferred Android interface due to its perceived bloat and added complexity compared to other Android interfaces. However, One UI 6.1 introduces some excellent new features.
One of the standout updates in One UI 6.1 is the redesigned Quick Settings panel. It now features more intuitive controls, enhancing user experience. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth toggles are more prominently displayed at the top, and the brightness slider is accompanied by convenient shortcuts for Eye Comfort Shield and Dark Mode. Additionally, you can access the full Quick Settings panel with a single swipe from the top-right corner of the phone, similar to how you access Control Center on iOS.
Speaking of iPhone resemblances, the always-on display now defaults to showcasing the lock screen wallpaper, mimicking the approach of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro. While the inspiration from iPhone is quite evident, I appreciate having this option. Similar to the iPhone, I believe it enhances the visual appeal of the always-on display and adds a touch of personality to the S24 Plus. The best part? You can easily disable the wallpaper if it’s not to your liking.
Other subtle enhancements within One UI 6.1 have caught my attention as well:
- You now have the freedom to relocate the lock screen clock.
- Samsung’s native apps feature streamlined names, such as “Notes” instead of “Samsung Notes.”
- Notifications have been made more conspicuous and user-friendly.
However, perfection eludes One UI entirely. Numerous features remain unused by me, such as Bixby and the Galaxy Themes store. The Samsung Keyboard’s performance is notably subpar and should be avoided at all costs. Despite some lingering quirks in Samsung’s software, I still find myself drawn to the simpler interfaces of Google Pixel and Motorola phones. Nonetheless, One UI 6.1 represents a step in the right direction, which is certainly encouraging.
As Samsung continues to tread this path of improvement, the Galaxy S24 Plus stands to reap the rewards of the company’s efforts for the foreseeable future. This is largely due to the S24 Plus being guaranteed seven years of Android updates and security patches. This impressive commitment extends to all Galaxy S24 models, including the regular S24 and the S24 Ultra, making it a noteworthy enhancement to these devices.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: Battery Performance and Charging
Battery life stands out as one of the most remarkable features of the Galaxy S24 Plus. Housing a 4,900mAh battery, it surpasses the S23 Plus by 200mAh. Coupled with the enhanced efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and the display’s refresh rate, this translates into exceptional endurance.
Even with the QHD+ screen resolution and always-on display activated (with wallpaper display enabled), the S24 Plus delivers impressive battery performance. On one occasion, starting at 8:10 a.m. with a full charge, the phone retained 38% battery by 10:55 p.m. after extensive usage, including downloading game assets for Call of Duty: Mobile, extensive Telegram usage, browsing Twitter, Chrome, Instagram, and various other apps, resulting in 4 hours and 15 minutes of screen-on time.
Under more moderate usage, the Galaxy S24 Plus easily extends into a two-day smartphone. Another instance began with 100% battery at 8:50 a.m. and retained 50% charge until 12:30 a.m. the following day, despite 2 hours and 50 minutes of screen time, which included over 20 minutes of CoD: Mobile gameplay and more than 40 minutes of YouTube viewing.
This exceptional battery life can be further enhanced with minor adjustments. By switching the screen resolution to FHD+ and disabling the wallpaper for the Always-On Display (AOD), you can likely extend the battery life to two-and-a-half or even three days. Samsung has truly excelled in this aspect.
When it comes to charging the Galaxy S24 Plus, impressive speeds await. With up to 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging capabilities, the S24 Plus charges rapidly. Utilizing the 45W wired charging, the phone goes from 3% to 43% in just 20 minutes and reaches a full 100% battery capacity in a little over an hour. While not as rapid as the 80W charging of the OnePlus 12, it outpaces phones like the Google Pixel 8 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Moreover, there’s also 4.5W reverse wireless charging available for charging other devices such as phones or earbuds.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: Pricing and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is currently on sale and can be purchased through various channels including Samsung’s official website, Amazon, Best Buy, and major carriers across the U.S. It kicks off at $1,000 for the entry-level model featuring 256GB of storage. Alternatively, there’s an option for a 512GB storage variant priced at $1,200.
Available in four base colors – Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Amber Yellow, and Cobalt Violet (the shade of my review unit) – the Galaxy S24 Plus can be found everywhere. Additionally, Samsung offers exclusive colors exclusively on its website, such as Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, and Sandstone Orange.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus: Conclusion
I really enjoyed the Galaxy S23 Plus, but I found it challenging to recommend to specific individuals. However, with the Galaxy S24 Plus, Samsung has delivered another outstanding smartphone that makes a lot more sense.
For those seeking a large Samsung device, I would personally recommend the S24 Plus over the S24 Ultra. The hardware is top-notch, the screen rivals the best, performance is excellent, battery life is exceptional, and you still get all the Galaxy AI features. The main differences between the S24 Plus and the S24 Ultra are the improved camera system and the inclusion of the S Pen. But is that worth the extra $300? I don’t believe so. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra is undeniably impressive and one of the top choices in 2024, it comes with a hefty $1,300 price tag.
The primary drawback of the Galaxy S24 Plus is its camera system, which doesn’t quite match up to other smartphones in this price range. While it’s not bad, if photography is your main focus, there are better options available, such as the Google Pixel 8 Pro. However, the Pixel sacrifices in performance, battery life, and display quality compared to the S24 Plus.
Another contender to take into account is the OnePlus 12, offering comparable performance and battery life at a price of $800. While it presents a great overall package, it comes with drawbacks such as a curved screen, a lower IP rating, absence of AI features, and fewer software updates.
Alternatively, the standard Galaxy S24 shares many of the exceptional qualities of the S24 Plus at the same $800 price point. However, it comes with trade-offs such as a smaller screen, reduced battery life, and slower charging speeds.
When considering alternatives to the Galaxy S24 Plus, you’ll find a multitude of options, as is common when purchasing any smartphone. Each alternative has its own set of compromises. If the strengths of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus align with your priorities in a phone — including hardware, display, performance, and battery life — then it comes highly recommended
