Usually, when Samsung launches its new Galaxy S smartphones, it is the Ultra that steals the spotlight with its premium features.
But, there’s an interesting twist this year because the standard S24 and S24+ are also drawing a lot of attention.
The reason lies in one word: Exynos.
Yes, folks, hardware fragmentation is back on Samsung flagships, with the S24 and S24+ getting Exynos power yet again.
Will the Exynos chip hold back the S24 and S24+? Or could it offer a unique edge? Let's jump in and see what the return of Exynos means.
Galaxy S24 & S24 Plus Performance: Exynos 2400 Heating Test
Samsung’s new Exynos 2400 found on the S24 and S24+ is a 4nm chip with a deca-core CPU and an AMD architecture-based Xclipse 940 GPU.
So, how does it compare to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3?
Please watech the video for the heat test and benchmark results.
I did a 10-minute 8K video recording test on the S24 Plus and the Snapdragon-powered Ultra to see if they heat up. To my surprise, the Plus actually remained slightly cooler towards the end.
Then, I put both the smartphones through two GPU-heavy stress tests one after the other.
The Exynos performed better in the Solar Bay ray tracing stress test. But, it experienced a noticeable performance drop and increased temperature during the Wildlife Extreme Stress test that immediately followed.
Do note that the Ultra has a bigger vapour chamber, so it is designed to be more thermally efficient.
Hopefully this gave you a rough idea of what to expect when you push the Exynos 2400 to its limits.
The chip can handle graphic-intensive games without any issues, but, if you're really into gaming and push your phone to the limit, you might want to check out phones with more advanced cooling solutions.
Galaxy S24 & S24 Plus Design
Samsung set a signature style for its Galaxy phones in 2023, and it looks like that design is sticking around for 2024.
At first glance, these smartphones look exactly like their predecessors. But if you take a closer look, you'll spot some subtle tweaks that make them stand out.
The frame, for instance, has undergone a transformation to a more refined matte finish, moving away from the previous gloss. It is also flatter than before, and that’s something which will divide opinions.
The design evolution extends to the front of the devices, where the bezels have been reduced. The S24 models also finally achieve symmetry around all edges.
This refinement has allowed for an increase in display size by 0.1-inch across both models without compromising the form factor.
The regular S24 remains the only compact high-end Android smartphone on sale in india. Its accessibility and ergonomics are unmatched, making it a joy to use.
The S24+, on the other hand, is more of a standard-sized Android smartphone.
An important thing to note is that only the Ultra model is treated to a titanium frame, while the S24 and S24+ stick with the armoured aluminium of their predecessors.
Honestly, a more unified design and construction approach for all S24 models would have been appreciated.
It is also a missed opportunity by Samsung not to adopt the boxier aesthetic of the Ultra for the S24 and S24+, to distinguish them better from the lower-end Galaxy smartphones.
As for the colour options, this Cobalt Violet is the first time a Samsung purple has really caught my eye. It looks quite nice, and this other ivory-white colour is good too, except Samsung calls it Amber Yellow for some reason.
Galaxy S24 & S24 Plus Display & Utility
As previously stated, the displays on these phones have gotten a slight bump in size, with the S24 sporting a 6.2-inch AMOLED screen and the Plus version stretching to 6.7 inches.
Both displays now feature LTPO tech for better power management. They’re also brighter than before, with a peak brightness of 2600 nits achievable while watching HDR content. The sunlight legibility is excellent too.
The S24+ now boasts a QHD+ resolution, but it is set to FHD+ by default. The smaller S24 peaks at FHD+.
Both phones have an ultrasonic fingerprint reader, which is accurate and super fast. Do note that it will not work with a tempered screen protector.
You’d also find stereo speakers on these smartphones and the audio quality is loud with good bass, and great vocal clarity.
The larger S24+ model manages to squeeze out a bit more volume, but don't underestimate the smaller S24 — it can still pump out some incredible sound.
Both smartphones get UFS 4.0 storage as standard and the base variant on both models is 256GB now.
As before, the smartphones come with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
Additionally, both models have Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection at the front and back, unlike the Ultra which comes with the latest Gorilla Glass Armour.
The useful anti-reflective display coating from the Ultra is not present on these phones either.
Galaxy S24 & S24 Plus Camera Review
The S24 and S24+ have basically the same camera sensors as the S23: a 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom.
However, this time around, Samsung has made certain changes to its post processing algorithms, and it gives mixed results.
Please watch the video to see camera samples.
For instance, indoor shots tend to lean towards cooler tones. The image on the left is much more accurate.
Other than that, colours during daytime as a whole are now less saturated than before, well, except for the sky, which is always much bluer than it should be.
The main camera still excels in dynamic range, and produces decent, if not class leading detail.
Low light shots are bright with noise well contained.
While photos from the main sensors may no longer best in the segment, it is a different case for videos.
Videos come out to be excellent with great stability, impressive dynamic range, and reliable auto focus. Even low light videos have low noise and no exposure jump issues.
The 12MP ultrawide camera remains quite a capable performer. Its colour science in daylight is quite well matched with that of the main sensor. But, there are variations in colours in indoor shots.
Ultrawide videos are very impressive and stable by secondary sensor standards.
The telephoto sensor, however, is showing its age. It takes good photos in daylight, but its indoor shots are softer than I’d like.
So, Samsung has reused the rear camera hardware on these phones for 3 generations now. While it is still very good, it’s no longer the best in the segment.
Anyway, the front 12MP camera takes detailed and sharp photos and should keep selfie enthusiasts happy.
Galaxy S24 & S24 Plus Software
Samsung’s new OneUI 6.1 based on Android 14, debuts with the S24 series.
The update gives the drop-down menu a fresher new look, makes app animations smoother, and allows more customisation on the lock screen and always-on display.
While the interface is feature-rich, it can feel complex due to numerous menus and Samsung's own apps alongside Google's.
Day to day usage on both the smartphones is flagship grade smooth and quick, which is aided by 8GB of standard RAM on the S24 and 12GB on the S24+.
But, Samsung’s new Galaxy AI is the star of the show here. It brings some incredibly cool AI features to these smartphones.
For instance, I love Circle to Search because it makes the process of Googling something much faster.
Also, AI baked into Samsung Notes can enhance your productivity significantly. You have other niche but futuristic features like Live Translate for real-time language translation.
We've thoroughly explored all the ins and outs of Galaxy AI in our S24 Ultra review. I'll make sure to pin it below for you to check out.
But I must mention that Galaxy AI will not remain exclusive to the S24 series as Samsung is planning to bring some of these features to the S23 series very soon.
Also, Samsung is promising 7 major Android updates on the S24 series. So, these two phones will get Android 21, which is quite insane to be honest.
Galaxy S24 & S24 Plus Battery Life
The S24 gets a 4,000mAh battery while Plus gets a 4,900mAh cell. Both are beefier than their predecessors due to the larger displays on offer.
In practical terms, the battery life is commendable across both devices. The S24 offers around 7.5 of screen time, while the Plus model extends this to about 9 hours on a mixed-use basis.
The charging speeds for these models aren't particularly groundbreaking, with the Plus maxing out at 45W and the S24 a bit slower at 25W. Wireless charging at 15W also remains the same.
However, since Samsung wants you to use these phones for 7 years, slower charging might help with battery longevity.
Galaxy S24 & S24 Plus Review
So, it turns out that Exynos 2400 is actually pretty good this time around and it should not stop most of you from buying the S24 and S24+.
These two smartphones also offer excellent displays, great software, and some handy AI features.
That being said, for those looking for a dedicated camera phone or gaming phone, the market does offer more specialised alternatives.
The S24 Ultra, for example, offers an enhanced telephoto camera. It even includes an S Pen for those who find that tool useful.
The S24 and S24+ are reliable all-rounders made for those who want a premium Android experience but do not want to cross the six-figure price barrier.
Also watch: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review
