Is the Samsung Galaxy S24 the perfect blend of power and portability? We’ve been using it for months to find out. Our in-depth review covers everything from performance and battery life to design, display, camera, and more.
Galaxy S24’s Design
The S24 is a joy to hold. It’s lightweight and feels incredibly comfortable in the hand, thanks to its flat sides reminiscent of the iPhone. The triple camera system sits flush on the back, avoiding the bulky camera bumps seen on some phones. We particularly like the clean and modern design aesthetic.
The phone boasts an Armor Aluminum 2 frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front for scratch resistance, and an IP68 rating for water and dust protection. While the flat sides offer a nice grip, some users might find the edges slightly sharp.
Display: A Visual Feast
Samsung is known for its exceptional displays, and the S24 is no exception. It features a stunning 6.2-inch LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2x display with minimal bezels. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and transitions, while HDR10+ support delivers vibrant colors and deep blacks. The display is easily viewable even in bright sunlight with a peak brightness of 2600 nits and an HBM of 1000 nits. Overall, the S24 offers one of the best displays in its price range.
Speed and Power
The Galaxy S24 boasts the Exynos 2400 processor in India, paired with a 10-core CPU and the xclipse 940 GPU. This translates to benchmark scores of around 1.5 million on AnTuTu, putting it neck-and-neck with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. While impressive, it falls slightly short of the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
However, raw power doesn’t tell the whole story. While the S24 might not be the absolute leader in benchmarks, the user experience is smooth and responsive. Games like BGMI run flawlessly at 90fps on the “extreme” settings. The phone also features a 1.6x VC cooling chamber to manage heat during demanding tasks.
Overheating: A Burning Issue?
We tested the phone’s thermal performance in various scenarios. During everyday use, the S24 stays cool. However, pushing it with benchmarks and extended gaming sessions can cause some heat build-up. The good news is it doesn’t become uncomfortably hot, and the cooling system prevents overheating.
S24’s Battery Life:
The S24 packs a 4000mAh battery, which might seem a bit low on paper, especially considering some competitors offer larger capacities. But remember, this phone prioritizes compactness. With moderate usage, you can expect a full day’s charge. Heavy users might need to top up in the late afternoon, but the phone manages a respectable 6 hours of screen-on-time (SOT), which is decent for its size.
Galaxy S24’s Software
The S24 runs Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6.1 on top. The interface is smooth and responsive, with animations feeling even smoother than previous iterations. One UI 6.1 retains all the familiar features you love from Samsung like the AI-powered “circle to search” function, photo editing tools, translation capabilities, and note summarization.
Samsung Galaxy S24’s Camera
The S24 features a triple-camera system on the back: a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto sensor. The 12MP front-facing camera ensures decent selfies.
In good lighting conditions, the S24 takes excellent photos. Colors are generally accurate, leaning slightly towards a natural look. Photos boast good detail, although some users might occasionally find them dull or dark. Zooming in can reveal some focusing issues at the 2x digital zoom level.
The ultrawide sensor captures expansive shots, but sharpness might be compromised in low-light situations. The telephoto lens performs well for portraits and close-ups, offering good 3x optical zoom. However, low-light performance could be improved. While selfies are generally good with balanced skin tones, sometimes clothing details can appear washed out.
One impressive feature is the 8K video recording capability at 30fps. The phone also offers decent portrait video mode functionality.
The Final Verdict: Samsung Galaxy S24 long-term
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is a compelling option for users who prioritize a powerful and comfortable phone with a compact form factor. Here’s a quick recap of its strengths and weaknesses to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you:
Strengths:
- Excellent Performance: The Exynos 2400 delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks and even demanding games like BGMI.
- Compact Design: The lightweight and comfortable design with a flat frame makes it a pleasure to hold and use one-handed.
- Superb Display: The LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2x display is bright, vivid, and offers a smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
- Long Battery Life (for its size): With moderate usage, you can expect a full day’s charge from the 4000mAh battery.
- Capable Camera: The triple-camera system takes good photos in most lighting conditions, especially with its 3x optical zoom and 8K video recording.
- Software-Rich Experience: Android 14 with One UI 6.1 provides a familiar and feature-rich user experience.
Weaknesses:
- Heating: The phone can get warm during extended gaming sessions or benchmarks, though it doesn’t become uncomfortably hot.
- Battery Life for Power Users: Heavy users might need to top up the battery before the end of the day.
- Low-Light Camera Performance: While good in most scenarios, low-light photos can sometimes be dull, and details might be lost.
Who Should Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24?
If you’re looking for a phone that packs a punch without feeling bulky in your hand, the Galaxy S24 is a great choice. It’s perfect for everyday users who prioritize performance, a beautiful display, and a comfortable design. Gamers will also appreciate its smooth performance, though heavy users might need to be mindful of the battery life and potential for heating during extended gaming sessions.
