In January, Samsung unveiled the 2024 Galaxy S24 Series, emphasizing the innovative AI-powered capabilities that would redefine the smartphone experience worldwide. Rather than focusing solely on hardware enhancements, the brand tried to create a comprehensive package. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra model garnered the most attention, today we will discuss the often-overlooked middle member of the Galaxy S24 family. The Galaxy S24+ may not be as large as the Ultra, but it offers more than the standard S24. With features shared with the Ultra and Base Model, it is a compelling middle-ground option. Our experience with the Galaxy S24+ has provided us with some insights that might come in handy when you are trying to decide which Galaxy should you opt for.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G Review Snapshot
Editor’s rating: 4.1/5
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Camera
Battery
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Pros
- Galaxy AI features
- Larger Battery
- Gorgeous Display
- Fast Chipset
- Refreshing new colors
- Seven years of Software Upgrades
Cons
- Lack of autofocus in ultrawide camera
- Charging speed could have been better
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G Price & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S24+ 5G is available in two storage configurations-
- 12GB RAM+256GB storage- Rs. 99,999
- 12GB RAM+512GB storage- Rs. 1,09,999
It can be bought via the Samsung India Online store, Amazon, Jio Mart, and other e-commerce portals. It is currently available in Cobalt Violet, Onyx Black, Sapphire Blue, and Jade Green in the country.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G Design: Marginally Taller, Yet the Same
The Samsung Galaxy S24+ boasts a rectangular shape with rounded corners and a sleek flat display. At first glance, it may appear to have the familiar Galaxy design that has been consistent across several generations. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll notice subtle changes that enhance the overall experience.
One notable difference is that the Galaxy S24 Plus is slightly taller than its predecessor. This alteration may go unnoticed by many, as it requires a keen eye to discern. Another noticeable design change is the fully flat side frame, replacing the previous slight curve on the edge. This modification gives the Galaxy S24+ a reminiscent feel of holding an iPhone in your palm.
Despite these design tweaks, the Galaxy S24+ maintains its aluminum build and does not incorporate titanium, resulting in the same weight as its predecessor. However, the matte finish on the back panel ensures minimal smudges and dust attraction, which is desirable. The device feels robust and remains free from any creaking or flexing, even during rough usage.
The buttons remain in their original positions. The volume and power switches are located on the right edge, while the SIM tray, USB-C charging port, and speaker grille are situated at the bottom. The device still maintains its IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The rear panel remains minimalistic, with a triple camera setup positioned at the top. Instead of a camera module, the three sensors are arranged vertically and slightly protrude. The Samsung branding can be found at the bottom of the rear panel.
Samsung continues to offer a wide range of colors for the Samsung Galaxy S24+. These include Onyx Black, Cobalt Violet, Marble Grey, Amber Yellow, Sapphire Blue, Jade Green, and Sandstone Orange. For this review, I received the Cobalt Violet variant. Upon first glance, the color appeared significantly different from what I had seen in online images. Cobalt Violet exuded a premium and classy look, making it suitable for individuals of all age groups. It is worth noting that one must personally experience the colors in a physical store to truly appreciate their appearance.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G Display: Loaded with upgrades
Samsung has been at the forefront of the display department for quite some time now. The Galaxy S24 Plus has taken the already impressive display of the Galaxy S23+ and made it even better. With a 0.1-inch increase in size, the device now boasts a 6.7-inch panel at the front. This was achieved by making the device slightly taller and the bezels a bit sleeker. The resolution and sharpness have also been enhanced, as the Galaxy S24 Plus now features a Quad HD+ display, providing superior visual quality compared to the FHD+ used in its predecessors. The colors on the screen are vibrant, the viewing angles are good, and the display is highly responsive.
Watching content on this device is truly immersive, allowing me to notice even the smallest details in Netflix and YouTube videos. The inclusion of LTPO 3.0 technology elevates the display quality even further. The dynamically adaptable 120Hz refresh rate adjusts itself based on the on-screen activity, matching the performance of other flagship devices that add to the overall display experience of the Galaxy S24 Plus. This device features a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with HDR and Vision booster, making typing feel buttery smooth and boosting my speed significantly.
In terms of brightness, it supports 2600 nits levels. The brightness level is the only aspect of the display that is slightly underwhelming. In outdoor environments, under harsh sunlight, the display is not as clearly visible as you would want it to be. The lowest its brightness levels can go is very dark, which came in handy when I was using it at night as it didn’t disturb anyone sleeping next to me.
The built-in ultrasonic fingerprint scanner remains unchanged and continues to deliver fast, accurate, and reliable performance. For those who prefer alternatives, face unlock and security pin options are also available. Additionally, the display is safeguarded by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, ensuring protection against minor accidental drops and scratches.
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Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G Camera: Same on the Outside, Different from Inside
The camera setup of the middle member of the S24 Family appears to be similar to its predecessor on paper. It consists of three sensors at the back – a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, and a 10MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. Additionally, there is a 12MP wide-angle sensor at the front for selfies and video calls. Although the camera setup may seem unchanged externally, there have been significant improvements internally.
Samsung claims to have enhanced image processing by utilizing the ProVisual Engine, which combines AI technology to deliver better photos in low-light conditions and improve motion blur and camera stability. The integration of AI has also contributed to an overall improvement in camera quality. Notably, features like Generative Edits provide helpful suggestions for image enhancement when rotating or moving images.
Now, let’s discuss the performance of the entire camera setup in various conditions. During the day, the main 50MP sensor captures realistic and natural images. The shots are not overly sharpened, and the details have a softer touch, making them visually appealing. The colors and dynamic range are impressive, leaving no room for complaints. The white balance in the shots is also very decent, ensuring consistent exposure. Overall, the final output is satisfying.
The camera’s zooming capabilities are decent, offering up to 30x zoom. However, it’s important to note that graininess becomes noticeable after reaching 3x zoom levels.
Moving on to low-light conditions, the main 50MP sensor performs well. It captures equally beautiful and detailed photos even in indoor low-light settings. The level of detail is neither excessive nor inadequate, striking a balance that results in dynamic shots. Shadows are well-detailed, and even the brighter areas do not appear overexposed. The night mode does not excessively brighten the image, and the presence of flattened textures helps to balance out any graininess.
The portrait mode has been enhanced this time around, featuring a foreground blur option that elevates the quality of photos, avoiding the cardboard cutout effect. The improved details and colors result in shots with more depth and character. Below are some camera samples showcasing the portrait mode.
Moving the 12MP ultrawide camera delivers natural images with rich, vibrant colors that are less intrusive. The wide-angle shots are detailed, maintaining quality even when zoomed in. The lack of autofocus in anything other than the Ultra model is a drawback due to Samsung’s stubbornness. The improved image processing reduces noise in lowlight ultrawide shots, while sharpness has slightly increased. Although white balance in Night Mode still needs work, overall performance has improved.
The third lens, a 10MP telephoto camera, benefits from Samsung’s enhanced image processing across the entire camera setup. While zoom quality remains similar to its predecessor, the shots are more natural and subtle. However, there is room for improvement in lowlight conditions, as noise is present in shots and the lighting balance is slightly off.
In conclusion, the camera setup of the middle member of the S24 Family may seem similar to its predecessor, but significant improvements have been made internally. The integration of AI technology and enhancements in image processing have resulted in better performance in various conditions, including low-light scenarios.
The 12MP selfie camera on the Samsung Galaxy S24+ continues to deliver high-quality selfies, perfect for enhancing your social media presence. Users have the flexibility to choose between solo and group selfies, capturing detailed images with minimal noise compared to the S23 Plus. Skin tones appear natural and colors are well-balanced. Even without effects or filters, the selfies turn out great.
Additionally, the device allows for 4K video recording at 60fps with all four cameras, while the main camera can record 8K videos at 30fps. Galaxy AI enables users to easily switch to slow-motion mode by touching and holding a video during playback.
Here are some more samples taken using the super-fun ‘Food Mode’ of Galaxy s24+
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Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G Performance: Meaner than Ever Before
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G is equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, ensuring a powerful performance. With 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage, this device offers ample space for all your needs. The chipset has been specifically optimized for the Galaxy S24 smartphones, providing a faster and more efficient experience compared to its predecessor.
One area that Samsung has focused on is gaming. The Galaxy S24+ delivers an impressive gaming performance, allowing popular titles like Genshin Impact, Free Fire Max, and Mario Kart to run smoothly without any lag. Even after a 40-minute gaming session, the device remains cool, ensuring a comfortable gaming experience. However, if you require more storage than the provided 512GB, you may consider the Ultra model, which offers 1TB of storage. It’s important to note that the storage of this smartphone cannot be expanded.
Now, let’s take a look at the benchmark scores of the Galaxy S24 Plus:
- Geekbench single core: 2247
- Geekbench multi-core: 6815
- 3D Mark Wild Life Extreme: 4808
- AnTuTu: 1290977
One of the standout features of the Galaxy S24 Series is Samsung Galaxy AI. This innovative technology brings various capabilities that change the way smartphones can be used. Before diving into the AI features, let’s explore the software offerings provided by Samsung.
The company revealed an impressive commitment to providing extended seven-year software support for the Galaxy S24 Series. This mirrors the strategy adopted by Google for the Pixel 8 Series. With this lengthy support period, users can enjoy the latest software updates until the end of the decade, including all upcoming One UI versions up to Android 21. The current iteration ships with One UI 6.1 out of the box, featuring a range of AI enhancements. The user interface is designed to be intuitive, vibrant, highly customizable, and devoid of unnecessary pre-installed apps. This clean and streamlined UI empowers users to efficiently manage their device storage according to their preferences.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G Galaxy AI: Loaded with New Capabilities
The Galaxy S24+ is equipped with an AI-powered website summarizer, allowing you to condense lengthy paragraphs into just a few lines. This feature not only saves time but also eliminates the need to read through lengthy write-ups.
Additionally, the Chat Assist feature, integrated into the keyboard, assists in rewriting your messages in real time before sending them. The Phone App includes Live Translate, enabling real-time voice and text translations.
While all these features are impressive, the Circle to Search capability stands out as the most useful. With this AI-powered tool, you can easily find information related to what is displayed on your screen without having to perform a separate search. Simply open the image, press the home button, and circle or tap the desired object. Google will swiftly detect all relevant information within seconds. This feature proves particularly handy when you struggle to describe an object in words.
Furthermore, the Galaxy S24+ offers Generative Editing, allowing you to enhance your photos by removing reflections and utilizing the object eraser.
Additionally, videos in your gallery can be viewed and converted to slow motion with a simple touch-and-hold gesture on the screen. Samsung promises even more AI advancements in future software updates, further enhancing the capabilities of their devices.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G Battery Life: Lasts all day, juices up in an hour
Samsung has put significant effort into improving battery life, in addition to introducing Galaxy AI Features. When a brand wants to attract more users to their devices, they typically either reduce the price or extend the battery life (while also reducing charging time). Samsung has chosen the latter approach with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, which boasts a longer battery life compared to its predecessors. Not only has the screen size increased, but the battery capacity has as well.
The S24 Plus is equipped with a 4900mAh battery, which is 200mAh larger than the S23 Plus and only 100mAh smaller than the Galaxy S24 Ultra. This means that the battery life of the S24 Plus is almost on par with the ultra-model. The larger battery naturally results in a longer-lasting charge, and when combined with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, Smart AI capabilities, and LTPO tech for display optimization, it further enhances the overall battery performance. In my experience, with moderate usage, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus easily lasted around 35-40 hours, which is just shy of two full days. I began using the device at approximately ten in the morning and continued until seven in the evening without interruption. Then, I resumed usage from midnight until sometimes four in the morning. Even after 13 hours of continuous usage, the battery level only dropped by 40%.
The Samsung Galaxy S24+ is equipped with 45W fast charging capability but does not include a charging brick in the box. Users will need to either use a third-party charger or purchase Samsung’s brick separately. With a 45W charger, the Galaxy S24+ can reach around 54% in just 30 minutes. However, it takes slightly over an hour to fully charge to 100%, which is slower than its predecessor, the Galaxy S23+, which took exactly an hour to reach full charge. The Galaxy S24+ offers a battery protection mode where users can select between Basic (charging stops at 100% and resumes after a 5% drop), Adaptive (charging adjusts based on user’s sleep pattern), and Maximum (charging stops at 80%) to enhance battery lifespan. Additionally, the device supports 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
Review Verdict: Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G?
The Samsung Galaxy S24+ is positioned as a balanced Android smartphone that closely resembles its higher-end counterpart, the Ultra model, rather than the younger sibling. Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, LTPO AMOLED display, a 4900mAh battery, Galaxy AI features, and a promise of seven years of security updates, this device offers a compelling package. Notably, it comes at a starting price of just under 1 lakh, in contrast to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which exceeds 1.2 lakh in cost. Additionally, the S24+ boasts an appealing design and camera setup. While it may lack certain Ultra-exclusive capabilities such as S-pen support and dual telephoto lenses, the Galaxy S24+ presents itself as a sensible choice for individuals seeking a premium Samsung Android smartphone without the need to spend over a lakh on their device.
Reasons to buy
- Galaxy AI features
- Larger Battery
- Gorgeous Display
- Fast Chipset
- Refreshing new colors
- Seven years of Software Upgrades
Reasons to not buy
- Lack of autofocus in ultrawide camera
- Charging speed could have been better
