Samsung Galaxy S24+ Review

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ sits amidst a sea of flagship smartphones vying for your attention. As the middle child of the S24 lineup, it promises a blend of premium features and relative affordability. But does it deliver a compelling upgrade over its predecessor, or is it simply a familiar face with a few minor tweaks? Let's delve into the details to find out.

Design: Subtle Shifts, Familiar Feel

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has a sleek and elegant design that is sure to turn heads. The phone has a 6.7-inch screen that covers almost the entire front of the device, with minimal bezels and a centered punch-hole camera. The back of the phone is made of glass, with a camera module that houses three lenses and a flash. The phone comes in seven colors: sand stone orange, sapphire blue, cobalt violet, jade green, marble gray, onyx black, and amber yellow. The phone also has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, and supports wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ is comfortable to hold and use, thanks to its curved edges and smooth finish. The phone measures 6.24 x 2.99 x 0.30 inches and weighs 6.91 ounces, which makes it slightly larger and heavier than the Galaxy S23+, but still manageable for one-handed use. The phone has a power button and a volume rocker on the right side, a SIM tray on the top, and a USB-C port and a speaker on the bottom. Unfortunately the phone lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Display: A Feast for the Eyes

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has a stunning display that is one of the best in the market. The phone has a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a QHD+ resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels, which translates to a pixel density of 513 ppi. The screen is bright, sharp, and colorful, with excellent contrast and viewing angles. The screen also supports HDR10+ for enhanced dynamic range and vivid colors.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, which means that the screen can adjust its refresh rate according to the content being displayed, ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz. This feature helps to save battery life and improve the smoothness and responsiveness of the screen. The screen also has a variable touch sampling rate, which can go up to 480Hz for faster and more accurate touch input.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has an in-display fingerprint scanner that is fast and reliable, as well as a face unlock feature that works well in most lighting conditions. The phone also has an always-on display mode that shows the time, date, battery level, and notifications without waking up the screen.

Camera: A Capable Shooter, But Not a Game-Changer

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has a versatile camera system that can capture stunning photos and videos in various scenarios. The phone has a triple camera setup on the back, consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera. The phone also has a 12MP selfie camera on the front.

The main camera has a large 1/1.56-inch sensor, an f/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), and phase detection autofocus (PDAF). The main camera can take detailed and crisp photos in daylight, with accurate colors and exposure. The main camera also supports 8K video recording at 30fps, 4K video recording at 60fps, and super slow-motion video recording at 960fps.

The ultra-wide camera has a 123-degree field of view, an f/2.2 aperture, and a 1/2.55-inch sensor. The ultra-wide camera can capture more of the scene in a single shot, with minimal distortion and good dynamic range. The ultra-wide camera also supports night mode, which can enhance the brightness and clarity of low-light photos1.

The telephoto camera has a 3x optical zoom, an f/2.4 aperture, OIS, and PDAF. The telephoto camera can zoom in on distant subjects without losing much detail or quality. The telephoto camera also supports portrait mode, which can blur the background and highlight the subject. The telephoto camera can also record 4K videos at 30fps.

The selfie camera has an f/2.2 aperture, a 1/3.2-inch sensor, and phase detection autofocus (PDAF). The selfie camera can take decent selfies, with good skin tones and details. The selfie camera also supports portrait mode, night mode, and 4K video recording at 30fps.

The Galaxy S24+ has a number of smart AI features that can enhance the camera performance and user experience. The phone has a scene optimizer feature, which can automatically detect the scene and adjust the settings accordingly. The phone also has a single take feature, which can capture multiple photos and videos with different effects and angles in one shot. The phone also has a director's view feature, which can show the live feed from all three rear cameras and the front camera at the same time, and allow the user to switch between them while recording a video. The phone also has a pro mode, which can give the user full control over the camera settings, such as ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and focus.

Hardware: Powerhouse Performance

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has a powerful hardware that can handle any task or game with ease. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset, which is a 4nm octa-core processor with a clock speed of up to 3.0GHz. The phone also has 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB or 512GB of internal storage. The phone also has a dedicated AI engine, which can perform various AI tasks, such as speech recognition, natural language processing, image processing, and machine learning.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has a stereo speaker system, which can deliver loud and clear sound, with Dolby Atmos support for enhanced surround sound. The phone also has a Bluetooth 5.3, which can connect to multiple devices at the same time, and support aptX, aptX HD, and LDAC codecs for high-quality wireless audio. The phone also has NFC, Wi-Fi 6E, and 5G connectivity, which can provide fast and reliable data transfer and internet access.

Software: One UI 6.1 - Refinement Meets Innovation

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ runs on Android 14, which is the latest version of Google's operating system. The phone also has Samsung's One UI 6.1, which is a custom skin that adds some features and tweaks to the Android experience. The One UI 6.1 has a simple and intuitive interface, with a dark mode, a one-handed mode, a gesture navigation system, and a customizable edge panel. The One UI 6.1 also has some exclusive features, such as Samsung DeX, which can turn the phone into a desktop-like environment when connected to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The One UI 6.1 also has Samsung Pay, which can enable secure and convenient mobile payments with NFC and MST technology. The One UI 6.1 also has Samsung Knox, which can provide enterprise-grade security and privacy for the phone and its data.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ also has some smart AI features that can improve the user experience and productivity. The phone also has Bixby Routines, which can automate some functions and settings based on the time, location, and usage patterns. The phone also has Samsung SmartThings, which can control and manage compatible smart home devices, such as lights, thermostats, cameras, and speakers.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has a longer software update support than previous Galaxy flagships. Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra will get software updates for seven years after launch as part of the company's environmental sustainability efforts. That's three additional years compared to existing Galaxy flagships and mid-range phones. Those updates will include new versions of Android and One UI and new security patches. Since the Galaxy S24 lineup comes with Android 14 out of the box, Android 21, or whatever Google is calling the operating system at that time, will be its final OS upgrade.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ also has a regular software update schedule that provides performance improvements and the most up to date Android security patches on the device. The phone received its first software update on January 30, 2024, which brought the January 2024 security patch and some bug fixes. The phone can check for system updates manually or automatically, and download and install them over Wi-Fi or cellular network.

Performance: Powerhouse Performer, Thermal Concerns Linger

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has an excellent performance that can handle any task or game smoothly and efficiently. The phone can run multiple apps and tabs without lag or stutter, thanks to its powerful processor and ample RAM. The phone can also play high-end games with high graphics settings and frame rates, thanks to its Adreno 750 GPU and 120Hz display. The phone can also perform various AI tasks, such as speech recognition, natural language processing, image processing, and machine learning, thanks to its dedicated AI engine and neural network accelerator.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ has a benchmark score of 1,290,977 on AnTuTu, which is one of the highest scores among Android flagships. The phone also has a score of 5,987 on Geekbench 5 single-core, which are also among the top scores in the market. The phone also has a score of 14,082 on 3DMark Wild Life, which is a respectable score for gaming performance.

While the Samsung Galaxy S24+ delivers impressive performance, thermal throttling under sustained heavy load, particularly during extended gaming sessions, is a point to consider. This is likely due to the larger screen and higher resolution compared to the S24, pushing the thermal limits under extreme use.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ occupies a curious position in the ever-evolving smartphone landscape. It delivers a familiar yet refined experience, boasting a beautiful display, solid performance, and a capable camera system. One UI 6.1 brings welcome improvements in customization, security, and productivity. However, its design changes are minimal, the camera performance holds back from groundbreaking territory, and thermal throttling under heavy load might raise concerns for power users.

Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy S24+ is a dependable choice for Android users seeking a premium, well-rounded phone. It excels in areas like display quality, software features, and overall smoothness. However, those yearning for cutting-edge design, a revolutionary camera experience, or sustained peak performance might find themselves looking elsewhere.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ walks a fine line between familiarity and progress. It doesn't stray far from the successful formula of its predecessor, offering a refined experience with some key upgrades. But does that evolution warrant an upgrade or attract new users? Ultimately, the answer depends on your priorities and expectations.

Pros:

• Stunning Display: Immerse yourself in the gorgeous QHD+ display, perfect for movies, games, and creative work.
• Powerhouse Performance: The latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers smooth and responsive performance for most users.
• Software Savvy: One UI 6.1 brings a host of customization, privacy, and productivity features.
• Versatile Camera: Capture diverse moments with the triple-lens system, offering wide angles, detailed shots, and high-resolution video.
• All-Day Battery: Enjoy ample battery life for most users, with fast charging support for quick refills.
• Reliable & Familiar: If you prefer a polished and dependable experience, the S24+ delivers.

Cons:

• Design Iteration: The design feels familiar, lacking the innovation some might expect.
• Camera Limitations: While decent, the camera falls short of groundbreaking territory, especially in low-light scenarios.
• Thermal Throttling: Power users and hardcore gamers might experience performance dips under heavy load.
• No Major Leap: Upgrades over the previous model are incremental, potentially underwhelming for those seeking significant advancement.

Who Should Buy It:

• Users seeking a premium, familiar, and reliable experience with a beautiful display and smooth performance.
• Casual gamers and everyday users who value a well-rounded package without needing cutting-edge tech.
• Samsung fans who appreciate the One UI software ecosystem and its latest features.

Who Should Look Elsewhere:

• Power users and hardcore gamers who demand sustained peak performance without thermal throttling concerns.
• Users seeking a radically different design or a camera system offering exceptional low-light photography and superior zoom capabilities.
• Early adopters who crave the latest and greatest technologies and features, regardless of familiarity.

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ might not be a revolutionary step forward, but it refines a successful formula for specific user groups. Consider your priorities carefully and weigh the pros and cons to see if this iteration of the S24 series aligns with your vision for your next smartphone companion.