We tested the Galaxy S24, Samsung’s new high-end smartphone. Design, battery life, camera, performance… here’s our full review of this phone.
Unveiled with great fanfare on January 17, 2024, the new Samsung Galaxy S24 models showcase big ambitions. This new range introduces Galaxy AI, the brand’s latest software features based on artificial intelligence. It’s a major initiative that positions these three smartphones as the first representatives of a new era.
But is that really the case? Is the difference noticeable? Have other aspects been neglected? We’ll tell you everything in this review of the Galaxy S24, the smallest of the family.
Technical Specifications
- Model: Samsung Galaxy S24
- Dimensions: 70.6 mm x 147 mm x 7.6 mm
- Manufacturer Interface: One UI
- Screen Size: 6.2 inches
- Resolution: 2340 x 1080 pixels
- Pixel Density: 418 ppi
- Technology: AMOLED
- SoC: Samsung Exynos 2400
- Internal Storage: 128 GB, 256 GB
- Rear Camera:
- Sensor 1: 50 MP
- Sensor 2: 12 MP
- Sensor 3: 10 MP
- Front Camera: 12 MP
- Video Recording Resolution: 8K@30fps
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth: 5.3
- 5G: Yes
- NFC: Yes
- Fingerprint Sensor: Under-screen
- Connector Type: USB Type-C
- Battery Capacity: 4000 mAh
- Weight: 167 g
- Colors: Black, Silver, Blue, Cream
A design inspired by Apple
Once again, Apple sets the tone. The new trend inspired by the iPhone has now reached Samsung with the Galaxy S24 series, which features flat edges instead of the previous rounded ones. Whether you like it or not, it’s hard not to feel that it’s a shame that the number one (or former number one?) feels the need to follow trends when it already had its own distinct style, which was far from lacking.
Of course, there are many advantages to this design. Not only does it free up space for the phone’s internals, but it also significantly improves grip. Another fun little feature: you can place the phone on any of its edges, and it stands upright effortlessly. This is handy for taking group photos, for example.
However, personally, I find one downside: the sharp edges can become uncomfortable during prolonged use, depending on how you hold the phone. But not everyone will have the same experience—it really depends on the grip.
Aside from this major change, Samsung maintains its excellent level of craftsmanship. The matte back is stunning, completely resistant to fingerprint smudges, which is a big plus, and its three camera lenses are discreetly integrated with impressive uniformity. The whole design exudes durability, and the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 promises to protect the phone from minor drops and less severe scratches. It’s also IP68 certified, ensuring resistance to water and dust. However, the titanium frame is reserved for the ultra-premium models, while the standard Galaxy S24 models have to settle for aluminum. Samsung still claims a 10% increase in durability compared to the previous generation—though we obviously couldn’t test that on a loaned phone.
The premium feel extends to the front as well, with its very thin and uniform screen bezels. There’s no curved screen here, nor 3.5D glass, just a perfectly flat surface (which I must admit, I personally enjoy).
As for ergonomics, the small size of the phone (70.6 x 147 x 7.6 mm) is a big help. All the buttons are easily accessible, although you may need to stretch your thumb a bit to reach the volume up button. And at just 167 grams, it won’t weigh down or bulge in your pockets. From those around me, opinions seem unanimous on at least one point: the compact format is both cute and comfortable.
A Very Bright Screen
The Galaxy S24’s screen sees several changes this year. Besides being flat and slightly larger (6.2 inches instead of 6.1), it is also the first standard Galaxy S model to feature an LTPO OLED panel, allowing it to lower its refresh rate to as low as 1 Hz, with a maximum of 120 Hz. Its resolution remains Full HD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels), resulting in a pixel density of 415 ppi.
Most notably, this display offers impressive brightness, ensuring good readability even in direct sunlight. During our tests, we recorded a peak brightness of 2376 cd/m² in HDR and up to 1309 cd/m² during regular use. This Samsung Display panel is also used by other manufacturers this year, such as the OnePlus 12, which exhibits similar performance. It’s a pity that Samsung reserved its impressive anti-reflective treatment for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, as that’s a significant feature.
Regarding color reproduction, we observed that the DCI-P3 spectrum is not fully covered according to our measurements: 88.3% in Vivid mode and 84.5% in Natural mode. Fortunately, the sRGB spectrum is well covered (131.8% and 126%, depending on the display mode). However, the demanding BT2020 spectrum is only covered up to 59.7% at best. There is room for improvement.
Color Accuracy and Adaptive Color Tone
We measured a color delta (delta E) of 3.72 in Vivid mode and 2.91 in Natural mode on the DCI-P3 spectrum, with a color temperature peaking at 6941 K. While these results could be considered “not bad,” they indicate a slight discrepancy between the displayed and expected colors, with a tendency towards cooler tones. In 2024, much cheaper phones perform just as well, if not better, in this regard, although you can adjust the white balance in Vivid mode.
Inspired by the iPhone’s True Tone, the “adaptive color tone” adjusts the color calibration based on ambient light to provide a sense of uniformity throughout the day. This feature is quite nice, although you might want to turn it off for tasks requiring precise color calibration, such as photo editing.
Android 14, One UI 6, and AI Features
From a software perspective, Samsung is hard to beat in 2024. Running natively on Android 14, the Galaxy S24 benefits from One UI 6.1, Samsung’s latest interface (with the January 2024 security patch). Moreover, it is among the first—along with the Pixel 8—to offer certain Google AI features, as well as Samsung’s own enhancements in the field, Galaxy AI.
Another major advantage: with seven years of guaranteed major updates, the Galaxy S24 is well-positioned to be your primary device for a long time. Buying a Samsung phone is almost like making an investment. Currently, only Google and Apple offer comparable support.
One of the major drawbacks of some of these features is that you have to remember they exist. While some are well-highlighted (like those integrated into the keyboard or call translation), others are less prominent (such as conversation translation or “Surround to Search”). It’s mainly a matter of getting used to it, similar to gesture navigation.
Personally, I really appreciate One UI, with its clear organization and extensive customization options. Coming from a daily Pixel user, I particularly like that the Wi-Fi and Mobile Network tiles are separated in the quick settings. The sidebar of apps (a sort of always-accessible folder) is also very practical.
However, there are two main drawbacks to this otherwise nearly perfect interface: the app drawer scrolls horizontally while opening vertically, which requires a change in movement (though it’s just a matter of getting used to it), and the pre-installed apps. While it might be forgivable on a €200 phone, it’s hard to accept on a device approaching €1000. Specifically, there are numerous Samsung apps that either duplicate Google apps or serve very niche functions (Shop, SmartThings, Wearables, Internet, Health, Messages…), as well as Microsoft apps (365, OneDrive, LinkedIn, Outlook), and Spotify and Netflix. It’s way too much, especially when the weather widget displays vague messages like “this/this/this night” (sic).
The Exynos 2400 Still Falls Short
After a year of using Snapdragon, Samsung has reverted to its in-house chips for the Galaxy S24 and S24+, reserving Qualcomm’s chip for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The RAM is capped at 8 GB.
On paper, the Exynos 2400 doesn’t fall short. Synthetic benchmarks for CPU calculations (PC Mark and Geekbench) show higher performance than Qualcomm’s chip. However, the Exynos chip demonstrates some weakness in GPU performance, with lower gains compared to its predecessor.
In practice, the performance is mixed. Unlike the Exynos 2200 in the Galaxy S22, the Exynos 2400 performs well in some demanding games. For instance, in Genshin Impact, I was able to play with all visual effects set to maximum, achieving 58 to 60 FPS. Only during zone changes did I notice slight drops in frame rate, but it remained between 52 and 55 FPS.
Camera: Some Fine-Tuning Needed
With the general increase in quality across the smartphone market, the camera often remains a key differentiator in the high-end segment. The Galaxy S24, while not as well-equipped as the Ultra model, still has a notable camera setup:
- Wide-Angle (23 mm): 50 MP, f/1.8
- Ultra-Wide-Angle (13 mm): 12 MP, f/2.2
- Telephoto x3 (69 mm): 10 MP, f/2.4
- Selfie: 12 MP, f/2.2
Photo Quality
- Details: Photos in bright light show excellent sharpness and good color reproduction.
- Low Light: The night mode is effective, reducing noise while preserving details.
- Zoom: The 3x optical zoom works well, but performance with digital zoom can vary.
Features
- Portrait Mode: The background blur is well-executed, with good subject outlining.
- Super Stabilization: Ideal for videos, providing smooth images even while moving.
- Shooting Modes: Several options such as Pro, Panorama, and Macro, allowing creative flexibility.
User Interface
- Ease of Use: The camera interface is intuitive, with quick access to different modes.
- Built-in Editing: Simple editing tools to adjust photos directly after taking them.
The Samsung S24 offers a highly capable camera that satisfies both enthusiasts and professionals. With its numerous features and image quality, it stands out as one of the best choices on the market.
Audio
The audio setup of the Galaxy S24 remains similar to what is commonly found: no headphone jack, but two speakers—one located on the bottom edge and the other above the screen and the selfie module.
At full volume, the sound is acceptable, but the overall quality is limited by the size of the speakers. While there is no distortion, the frequencies tend to blend together, with very weak bass and mids that can feel somewhat resonant. It improves slightly when the volume is set below 80%, but it still sounds flat. Should we expect better from a smartphone of this size? Only a few high-end models truly excel in this area.
n the settings of the phone, you’ll find a Dolby Atmos option to optimize the sound. When activated, the sound becomes slightly richer, which is a nice bonus.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S24’s battery life is powered by a 4000 mAh non-removable battery. This is relatively low for a smartphone — the average is around 5000 mAh — but it has the advantage of its smaller size, which consumes less energy in daily use. Samsung claims up to 25 hours of internet usage (Wi-Fi or 4G) and up to 29 hours of video playback.
In practice, it’s more mixed. During web browsing, the battery drains closer to 10% per hour, meaning about 10 hours at best. In daily use, with a primarily sedentary (Wi-Fi) and simple usage (social media, web browsing, a bit of background music, messaging…), I get between 4 to 4.5 hours of screen time per charge, which is just okay.
As soon as you push the SoC a little, the phone heats up, and the energy loss becomes noticeable. On games like Genshin and Fortnite, expect about 10% of battery for 18 to 20 minutes of playtime. This is slightly worse than the Pixel 8, which sits just above average.
It’s clearly this type of usage that affects the phone’s battery life. In our automated SmartViser protocol simulating daily usage, the Galaxy S24 lasted 13 hours and 41 minutes, which is 30 minutes longer than the Galaxy S23 and almost an hour more than the Pixel 8. However, it’s still about 40 minutes behind the Galaxy S24 Ultra. That said, this test doesn’t make the phone heat up.
Network and Communication
In terms of connectivity, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is well-equipped, though it doesn’t integrate the latest standards. It supports 4G and 5G (dual SIM with eSIM), Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC, but Wi-Fi is limited to the 6E standard. This is already very good and more than most users will need, but since Wi-Fi 7 is one of the selling points of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, it would have been nice to see it across the entire lineup, not just reserved for the ultra-premium model. At 900 euros and with a lifespan of at least seven years, adopting the latest standards isn’t just a luxury.
When it comes to communication, the Galaxy S24 is simply excellent. Even in noisy or windy environments, your callers will hear you perfectly, without any interference. The noise-cancellation algorithms work flawlessly, and only sharp, brief noises (like a car horn) can break through, but they remain clearly in the background compared to your voice.
Price and Release Date
The Samsung Galaxy S24 starts at 1000 USD (for 128 GB of storage) and is available in black, silver, indigo, and cream. On Samsung’s official store, you can also find it in blue, green, and orange. The price drop compared to last year is appreciated.
A 256 GB version is also available at a price of 1080 USD.
