Introduction: Samsung Galaxy S24 Series
The Samsung Galaxy S24 series represents Samsung’s latest generation of flagship smartphones for 2023. This guide will provide a comprehensive, detailed comparison of the entire S24 lineup, including the standard S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra models. We’ll examine all the key specs and features across these phones to help you decide which S24 model is the right fit for you.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Galaxy S24 phones, including:
- Design and display differences between the models
- Camera specs and photo/video capabilities
- Performance benchmarks and hardware comparisons
- Battery life and charging speeds
- Software features and interface
- Audio quality
- Pricing and value across the lineup
Our goal is to give you all the details in one place to make an informed buying decision. We’ll compare all the nitty gritty specs between the S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra, and also provide our verdict on the standout features and value of each model. Whether you’re an Android loyalist or simply want to know how the newest Galaxy compares to iPhones and other devices, this guide has you covered with a comprehensive look at Samsung’s latest flagship lineup. Let’s dive in!
Overview of the S24 Lineup
The Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup consists of 4 models:
- Samsung Galaxy S24 – The base model S24 with a 6.5″ FHD+ display, triple rear camera setup, and Snapdragon 865 processor. An affordable flagship option.
- Samsung Galaxy S24+ – A slightly larger S24 with a 6.7″ FHD+ display but same core specs as the base S24. Great for those wanting a bigger display.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – The top-tier S24 with a massive 6.9″ QHD+ display, 108MP camera, S Pen support, and Snapdragon 865+ processor. Made for power users.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 FE – A budget-friendly S24 alternative with a 6.4″ FHD+ display, Snapdragon 855 chip, and still solid triple camera setup. Great value for money.
Design and Display
The Galaxy S24 comes in three models with distinct designs and displays:
The S24 base model has a 6.1″ FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The screen is made of Gorilla Glass Victus and has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The phone measures 151 x 71 x 7.9 mm and weighs 168 grams. It comes in Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender color options.
The S24 Plus steps it up to a 6.5″ FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, also with 1080 x 2400 pixels but a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and transitions. The Plus uses Gorilla Glass Victus+ for added toughness. It has the same IP68 rating but comes in at 157 x 75 x 7.6 mm and weighs 195 grams. Color options include Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet, and Lime.
Finally, the S24 Ultra has the best screen of the bunch at 6.8″ QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X with 1440 x 3088 pixels and a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate. The display has a peak brightness of 1750 nits for excellent visibility in sunlight. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 helps keep the screen resilient. The Ultra measures 163 x 78 x 8.9 mm and weighs 233 grams. It is available in Phantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Burgundy, and Lime.
The displays get progressively larger and more advanced as you go from the base S24 to the S24 Plus to the S24 Ultra. Factors like resolution, maximum brightness, adaptive refresh rate technology, and durability improve across the lineup. So you have excellent options whether you want a more compact and affordable screen or a huge and vibrant premium display.
Cameras
The cameras are one of the most important features for any smartphone buyer. Samsung has equipped the S24 lineup with powerful camera systems to appeal to mobile photographers and casual users alike.
The base S24 model has a triple camera system with a 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultra wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. This versatile array of lenses allows you to capture a variety of shots from wide vistas to close portrait shots. The S24+ steps it up with a 108MP main camera for extremely detailed images. The telephoto is boosted to 10MP and 10x optical zoom to get you even closer to the action.
On the premium S24 Ultra, Samsung pulls out all the stops with a massive 200MP main camera based on a 1-inch type sensor, just like you’d find in a point and shoot camera. This gives the S24 Ultra unrivaled image quality and low light performance. The ultrawide camera is upgraded to 12MP and the 10MP telephoto lens provides 10x optical zoom. There’s also a second telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom for more flexibility.
For selfies and video calls, the S24 and S24+ have a 12MP front camera, while the S24 Ultra has a 40MP selfie camera for super detailed self-portraits.
All models can shoot 8K video for incredible clarity and detail. Advanced stabilization ensures your videos stay smooth and steady. The cameras also boast improved night mode performance for low light shots. Portrait mode now detects pets too!
The S24 series cameras represent Samsung’s most advanced mobile imaging systems yet. With large sensors and intelligent software processing, they offer photography and videography capabilities unmatched by previous Galaxy generations.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup offers top-tier performance that competes with the latest flagships from Apple and Google. There are some key differences between the models worth noting:
- The S24 and S24+ are powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, while the S24 Ultra gets the more advanced Snapdragon 8+ Gen 3. This chipset bump provides up to 10% faster CPU performance and up to 30% improved power efficiency.
- The base S24 model comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The S24+ doubles the storage to 256GB. The S24 Ultra offers beefier RAM options, with the base model having 8GB but the higher storage variants getting 12GB.
- In benchmarks, the S24 Ultra narrowly beats out the iPhone 14 Pro Max thanks to its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 3 chip. The Geekbench 5 scores for the S24 Ultra show excellent performance potential. However, benchmarks don’t always translate into real world experience.
- All models offer excellent responsiveness when multitasking, quick app launch times, and smooth gameplay for demanding 3D titles. The differences between the chipsets are most noticeable in benchmarks.
- One advantage the S24 Ultra has over the other models is the vapor chamber cooling system, allowing the chipset to sustain maximum performance for longer without overheating. This gives it an edge for intensive tasks like gaming or editing 8K video.
- Overall, performance is blazing fast across the S24 lineup. Unless you’re a power user who needs every last drop of speed, the base S24 model should satisfy most buyers with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. The S24 Ultra brings minor boosts that enthusiasts will appreciate.
Battery Life
The battery life is one of the most important considerations when choosing a new smartphone. All of the Galaxy S24 models have larger batteries than their S23 predecessors, but there are differences between the models.
- The S24 has a 5000 mAh battery, up from 4000 mAh on the S23. Samsung claims up to 22 hours of video playback.
- The S24+ also has a 5000 mAh battery for improved battery life over the 4700 mAh cell in the S23+. Samsung estimates up to 26 hours of video playback.
- The S24 Ultra has the largest battery at 5500 mAh, up from 5000 mAh in the S23 Ultra. Samsung boasts up to 29 hours of video playback.
In battery tests, the S24 Ultra lasted over 12 hours on a single charge with heavy use. The S24+ made it 10.5 hours in tests, while the regular S24 died after 8.5 hours.
All three S24 models offer faster wired and wireless charging than their predecessors. They all support 45W wired charging, up from 25W on the S23 series. The S24 Ultra also supports faster wireless charging up to 15W, compared to 10W on the other models.
In real-world use, expect at least a full day of use from all models, with the S24 Ultra having the best battery life. Heavy users may need to charge mid-day. The S24+ strikes a nice balance between battery capacity and size. But if maximum runtime is critical, the S24 Ultra is the leader of the pack.
Software and Features
The Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup comes with the latest version of Samsung’s One UI software built on top of Android 13. One UI provides a smooth, intuitive user experience with customizable home screens, notifications, and menus.
A key software feature across the S24 lineup is the S Pen stylus included with the S24 Ultra. The S Pen enables precise on-screen writing and drawing, as well as convenient gestures for camera control, presentations, and more. Samsung has reduced the S Pen’s latency to just 2.8ms for nearly imperceptible lag. New S Pen features include enhanced handwriting recognition and Quick Note for instantly jotting down notes without unlocking your phone.
Exclusive to the S24 Ultra is Samsung DeX, which provides a desktop-style experience by connecting your phone to an external monitor. You can multitask with resizable windows and use your phone like a computer.
Other shared software features include Bixby voice assistant, Samsung Health for fitness tracking, Samsung Pay for mobile payments, SmartThings for controlling smart home devices, and Knox security. AI-powered additions like Bixby Routines help automate phone settings based on your usage patterns for convenience.
Overall, Samsung’s software has matured significantly over the years with meaningful enhancements that complement the hardware capabilities of the S24 series. Between the S Pen and DeX on the Ultra to the refined One UI interface across the lineup, Samsung’s software offers one of the most robust mobile experiences available.
Audio
The audio capabilities are one area where the S24 models differ noticeably. The base S24 has a single bottom-firing speaker, while the S24+ upgrades to stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support for a more immersive sound experience.
The S24 Ultra takes audio a step further with a quad speaker setup – two bottom firing and two front firing speakers tuned by AKG. With Dolby Atmos support, the S24 Ultra provides the best sound quality and loudest maximum volume of the three models.
All models retain the 3.5mm headphone jack, unlike some competitors that have dropped it. This allows you to plug in either wired headphones or an aux cable to connect to external speakers.
Sound quality will depend on what headphones or speakers you use. The headphones bundled with the S24 Ultra support high resolution audio up to 32-bit/384kHz for studio-quality sound.
The Ultra also has Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity allowing you to stream LDAC codec for Hi-Res Wireless Audio. This provides nearly lossless CD quality wireless audio when used with compatible headphones.
So in summary, the S24 provides decent sound, the S24+ is an improvement with stereo speakers, while the S24 Ultra offers a premium quad speaker setup and the most advanced audio capabilities of the lineup. Audiophiles will appreciate the S24 Ultra’s support for Hi-Res wired and wireless playback.
Pricing and Value
The Samsung Galaxy S24 series comes in a wide range of prices depending on model, storage configuration, carrier deals, and current discounts. Here is an overview of MSRP pricing compared to current market prices:
Value Proposition
The Galaxy S24 series offers excellent value, especially at current discounted pricing. The S24 provides flagship specs and features at an affordable price point. The S24+ offers an improved camera, display, and battery life for about $100 more. The Ultra is pricey but justifies it for pro photographers/creators needing top-tier camera capabilities. Overall the S24 lineup spans a wide range of price tiers while providing premium quality throughout.
Verdict
After comparing the latest Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup, a few models stand out as providing excellent overall value.
The standard S24 offers the best balance of features for most buyers. It has a bright 6.5″ AMOLED display, a capable triple camera system, fast Snapdragon processor, all-day battery life, and stands up against the latest iPhones. Unless you need the telephoto camera from the S24+ or S24 Ultra, the regular S24 hits the sweet spot.
For Photographers and Videographers
The S24 Ultra is worth the premium for its advanced quad camera with 10x optical zoom. It takes incredibly detailed photos and videos in any lighting. The larger screen is also great for media viewing. Just be prepared to pay starting price of Rs 129,999.
On a budget, the S24 FE (Fan Edition) packs almost everything from the S24 at a more affordable $700 price point. You still get the Snapdragon processor, OLED display, and long battery life. The cameras are a bit downgraded but still versatile. If saving money is the priority, the S24 FE delivers stunning value.
In the end, Samsung continues leading the market with its premium yet practical Galaxy S series. Each model caters to different needs and budgets. For most people, the regular Galaxy S24 hits the sweet spot with its gorgeous design, display, cameras, performance, and reasonable price. But power users who demand max specs can splurge on the S24 Ultra, while the S24 FE lets you enjoy Samsung’s quality for less. No matter which you choose, you’re getting an amazing overall package.
