The "1-Minute" Review
Verdict
A well-rounded phone with strong performance and improved cameras, wrapped in a practical, compact design.What's good
- Solid build quality
- Bright, vivid display
- Excellent cameras
- Fast processor
- Seven-year software support
What's bad
- Limited RAM options
- Can get warm during use
- Complicated software
- No charger included
- Slippery back
Design
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is built with practicality in mind. It has a compact and light form factor making it easy to handle and carry. The flat edges and matte finish on the aluminum frame provide a comfortable grip and add to the premium feel. Both the front and back are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which offers enhanced scratch and drop resistance.
Reviewers appreciated the sleek design, with one noting, 'The sides are flat, which makes the phone easy to hold and reduces accidental drops'. Despite the smaller size, it does not compromise on build quality.
Its slim profile and IP68 rating mean you can trust it to handle everyday knocks and splashes.
Display(s)
The Galaxy S24 features a 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED screen that offers vibrant colors and deep blacks. The screen's 2,340-by-1,080-pixel resolution ensures text and images look sharp and clear. You'll enjoy scrolling and content consumption thanks to the smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
Even in direct sunlight, you'll see the screen clearly due to its peak brightness of 2,600 nits. This makes it easy for outdoor use. According to PCMag, 'the display stays clear in bright sunlight, which is a huge benefit for mobile users.'
Whether you're watching videos, playing games, or reading articles, this screen makes media look fantastic without straining the eyes. The adaptive refresh rate also helps prolong battery life by lowering the refresh rate for static content.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S24 delivers impressive performance with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, making everyday tasks and light gaming smooth and enjoyable. Despite its compact size, you get plenty of power that can handle most apps efficiently.
One noticeable drawback is the limited 8GB of RAM, which can affect multitasking for more demanding users. Reviewers have noted that it can get warm during extended gaming sessions, affecting comfort during prolonged use.
Overall, the Galaxy S24 offers a solid performance that meets the needs of the average user, but with some limitations in heavy multitasking.
Software & Storage
The Samsung Galaxy S24 comes with the One UI 6.1 interface over Android 14. This interface includes advanced multitasking and access to Samsung DeX but suffers from complexity. One review from TechRadar mentioned, 'Samsung needs to prune its features and simplify.'
New AI features like Circle to Search provide quick answers, while the Generative Edit tool removes unwanted items from photos. Despite these perks, the software complexity can be overwhelming.
Cameras
The camera system includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. This array promises detailed and colorful images, ensuring high photo quality even in challenging light settings.
Samsung's AI technology plays a significant role by enhancing image clarity and reducing noise. Photos look more natural and less oversaturated compared to older models. Overall, you'll appreciate the vividness and sharpness in your everyday shots.
According to PCMag, the camera captures 'beautiful dynamics and natural color balance,' making it a reliable choice for both casual and enthusiast photographers.
Battery
With a 4,000mAh battery, you'll find the Samsung Galaxy S24 lasting through a full day of moderate use, offering peace of mind for those with busy schedules. This is a step-up from its predecessor, reflecting Samsung's efforts to improve endurance in their compact designs.
The phone supports 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, allowing you to gain a significant battery boost in a short time. "In my battery tests, the S24 survived for 13 hours and 5 minutes," a PCMag reviewer observed, highlighting its respectable endurance.
Note that Samsung continues to not include a charger in the box, so you'll need an existing one or an additional purchase. Wireless reverse charging is also available, perfect for giving your earbuds a quick recharge in emergencies.
Audio
Using the Galaxy S24 for calls is a pleasant experience due to its effective background noise cancellation. Reviewers from PCMag praised its ability to handle loud environments with clarity.
When it comes to entertainment, the stereo speakers deliver a powerful sound that reviewers from TechRadar found satisfactory for most casual listening, but noted a lack of depth in low tones. For enhanced audio quality, experts recommend using Bluetooth headphones.
Despite these minor limitations, the Galaxy S24's audio handling ensures that your calls and media experiences remain clear and engaging.
The Bottom Line
This phone offers sharp performance, aided by the latest processor and helpful AI features. Its durable build feels premium and is very pocketable. The camera system, while not massively different from previous models, delivers more realistic colors and improved detail. Though some may find the software complex, it remains a powerful option worth considering for its enhanced battery life and user-friendly features.
Reviewers assert, 'It’s not all good news, though. Samsung’s software lags far behind... Samsung needs to just work a lot more on its software...' (TechRadar) but still conclude its performance and features make it a solid choice (PCMag, TechRadar).
What the Critics Are Saying...


- Mahananda Bohidar, The Hindu Business LineFor fans of compact Android flagships, the Samsung S24 is a great option. It boasts a powerful processor, a decent set of cameras, non-worrying battery life, and a user interface that is highly customisable and now includes meaningful AI features. What I’m starting to get bored of is the design, whi...


- Simon Cocks, Digital SpyIt's good value for the amount it offers, beating several rivals in its price tier by offering an actual dedicated 3x zoom lens in its capable camera setup along with long-term upgrade support, an excellent bright screen, a fast and powerful chip, an all-day battery performance and a design that's l...


- Luke Baker, Digital Camera WorldThe Samsung Galaxy S24 is an excellent flagship phone in a compact package. If you prefer a phone that’s a little more pocket-friendly but still wants top performance, then you won’t be disappointed. However, with very few hardware changes since last year, it’s hard to get too excited, and savvy sho...


- Antonio Villas-Boas, Business InsiderThe best Samsung phone overall, the Galaxy S24 is the first phone I'd recommend to anyone looking for a premium Android phone. Its combination of performance, camera quality, camera options, battery life, AI features, and design isn't beaten by any of its competitors in the US. It's also the only ba...


- Luke Baker, Tech AdvisorThe hardware upgrades may be minor, but the Samsung S24 does just enough to retain its spot as one of the best compact flagships on the market. It’s an excellent phone, though the incremental nature of this update makes it hard to get too excited about.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
The Galaxy S24 price will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. You can compare Samsung Galaxy S24 prices from around the web here on The Informr.
We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy S24 user manual here.
Samsung backs up the Galaxy S24 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Galaxy S24 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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