Can a “new” $800+ compact flagship really justify itself when last year’s model is hundreds cheaper and barely behind it?
That’s the uncomfortable question hanging over the Samsung Galaxy S24. Samsung polished a lot, broke almost nothing, but also played things extremely safe. If you were expecting a meaningful leap over the S23, this is more of a quiet shuffle.
Design: Compact, Premium… and Weirdly Familiar
The Galaxy S24 sticks to the same basic template as the S23: compact, flat panels, and a minimalist triple‑camera stack. The big physical change is the new flat matte aluminum frame (Armor Aluminum 2) paired with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides and IP68 protection. It looks and feels premium in the hand, with a 7.6 mm profile and a starting weight of around 167 g.
Ergonomics are strong. The edges are flat but slightly contoured, so the phone doesn’t dig into your palm. One‑handed use is easy, and this is still one of the very few genuinely compact Android flagships you can buy.
The problem is visual identity. From the back, the S24 is almost indistinguishable from Samsung’s cheaper A‑series phones. Same floating camera rings, same flash placement, same overall silhouette. Multiple users mistook the S24 for an A‑series in casual use, which isn’t exactly what you want from a $800–900+ flagship.
Exclusive color options on Samsung’s online store (like Sapphire Blue, Jade Green, and Sandstone Orange) at least help it stand out a bit if you’re willing to hunt for them—or you just hide the whole design under a case.
Display: Finally LTPO, Finally Properly Bright
The display is one of the few areas where the S24 feels genuinely modern. Samsung stretches the panel from 6.1 inches to 6.2 inches without enlarging the body, thanks to thinner and more symmetrical bezels. Resolution stays at 1,080 x 2,340 (416 ppi), but the panel is now an LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2X with a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and HDR10+.
Brightness is where this thing flexes. Samsung claims up to 2,600 nits peak, and independent testing backs the general ballpark: around 446 nits manual, up to 785 nits with extra brightness, and roughly 1,400 nits with auto brightness on a large white area. Shrink the bright content and it climbs above 2,000 nits, so outdoor readability isn’t an issue.
Refresh rate behavior is more flexible thanks to LTPO. In Adaptive mode, the S24 hits 120 Hz across the UI and many compatible apps, then drops as low as around 24 Hz on static content. It bounces between 24, 30, 50, 70, 80 and 120 Hz depending on what you’re doing—UI, web, games, or video. Frame‑matched refresh is supported: 24 Hz for 24 fps, 30 Hz for 30 fps, 60 Hz for 60 fps, and so on.
The Always‑on Display also sits at about 24 Hz. Switch to the Standard mode and you’re effectively capped at 60 Hz in motion, though it still scales between 24/30/60 to save some power.
The panel is covered with Gorilla Glass Victus 2, so protection is solid. Overall, the screen is a clear improvement over the S23’s non‑LTPO unit—but not exactly a reason to upgrade by itself.
Performance: Exynos 2400 Is Better, But Not Great Under Heat
Samsung splits chipsets again this year. The S24 and S24+ get either Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (US, Canada, China) or Exynos 2400 (most other markets). The S24 Ultra is Snapdragon‑only. The unit reviewed here is Exynos 2400.
Exynos 2400 is a 4 nm chip (4LPP+ EUV) with a 10‑core CPU: 1x Cortex‑X4 up to 3.2 GHz, 2x Cortex‑A720 at 2.9 GHz, 3x Cortex‑A720 at 2.6 GHz, and 4x Cortex‑A520 efficiency cores at 1.95 GHz. GPU duty is handled by an AMD‑based Xclipse 940 on RDNA 3, clocked around 1,109 MHz and roughly comparable on paper to Adreno 750 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) and Immortalis‑G720 MC12 (Dimensity 9300).
Paired with LPDDR5X and either UFS 3.1 (128 GB) or UFS 4.0 (256/512 GB), day‑to‑day performance feels fast. Apps open quickly, animations in One UI 6.1 are smooth, and general responsiveness isn’t an issue—unless you push it.
Under sustained load, the compact chassis starts to bite. In CPU stress tests, the S24’s Exynos 2400 throttles to around 60% of peak. GPU stress runs saw roughly 50% performance loss after 20 loops. Last year’s S23 with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 actually holds up a bit better over time.
Samsung did increase vapor chamber size, but it looks like that was just enough to avoid disaster, not to deliver truly strong sustained performance. The frame gets toasty during heavy gaming or long 4K recording, though not dangerously hot. The bigger problem is performance sag if you’re doing serious gaming or video editing.
For light to moderate workloads, it’s fast. For power users, it’s inconsistent. If you’re in a Snapdragon market, you’ll likely have a better time—but most buyers don’t get to choose the SoC at all.
Battery and Charging: One Step Forward, Still Behind Rivals
Battery capacity creeps up from 3,900 mAh to 4,000 mAh. Combine that with LTPO and a more efficient SoC, and you get decent—but not class‑leading—endurance.
Testing shows an “Active Use Score” around 12 hours and 7 minutes, roughly 40 minutes better than the S23 in a mixed usage scenario. Video playback improves, helped by dropping refresh rate aggressively, but overall battery life isn’t dramatically different from the previous generation.
Where the S24 really lags is charging. Samsung still caps the vanilla model at 25 W wired, with 15 W wireless and 4.5 W reverse wireless. Using Samsung’s 25 W charger, you’re looking at about 29% in 15 minutes, 59% in 30 minutes, and a full charge in around 75 minutes.
In a world where similarly priced Android flagships are routinely pushing 60–100 W wired and charging to full in under 30–40 minutes, 25 W is hard to justify, especially when the phone’s battery life isn’t exceptional to compensate.
There is at least a decent set of battery protection options: Basic (stops at 100% and resumes at 95%), Adaptive (learns your charging habits) and Maximum (caps at 80%) to preserve long‑term health. Good for longevity, less good for anyone who needs a quick top‑up.
Cameras: Same Hardware, Mixed Results, Great Video
Samsung lifts the entire camera setup straight from the S23. On the back: a 50 MP f/1.8 main (ISOCELL GN3) with OIS, a 10 MP f/2.4 3x telephoto (ISOCELL 3K1) with OIS, and a 12 MP f/2.2 ultrawide without autofocus. Up front: a 12 MP selfie camera with autofocus.
With the same sensors and a new chip plus updated software, you’d expect somewhat better photos. In practice, stills are a mixed bag. Detail is generally good, but contrast can be underwhelming, and color tends to lean cooler with a bluish cast in some scenes. When everything lines up—lighting, subject, and Samsung’s tuning—the S24 can output very pleasing images with accurate color and good detail. The problem is consistency.
The 3x telephoto is fine in good light but doesn’t impress in low light and can’t compete with rivals using higher‑reach periscope optics. Zoom flexibility lags behind phones like Xiaomi 14 or iQOO 12 in photo quality. The ultrawide is serviceable but the lack of autofocus hurts versatility for close‑up shots.
The standout is the selfie camera. Autofocus makes a real difference, keeping faces sharp at varying distances and delivering reliably detailed shots.
Video is where Samsung pulls ahead. Every camera can shoot up to 4K 60 fps, and you can switch lenses while recording. The main camera also does 8K 30 fps. Color reproduction, stabilization, and zoom behavior in video are all strong, making the S24 a very capable vlogging or content‑creation phone—as long as you keep an eye on thermals so the phone doesn’t start dropping frames or weakening stabilization mid‑clip.
Software and Galaxy AI: 7 Years of Updates, Heavy on Promises
The S24 ships with Android 14 and One UI 6.1, plus Samsung’s big push: Galaxy AI. You’re getting features like on‑device and cloud‑assisted transcription, translation tools, and generative edits in the Gallery. In regions like Indonesia, AI features are already localized, making them more than a tech demo.
Seven years of OS and security updates is arguably the S24’s biggest single selling point. That’s a massive jump from the S23’s four OS and five years of security, and it should keep these phones out of landfills for much longer—assuming owners are willing to swap batteries mid‑cycle.
You also get the usual Samsung extras: DeX for desktop‑style use over DisplayPort 1.2 via USB‑C, Knox Vault for hardware‑based security, and a feature‑rich One UI that’s genuinely good for one‑handed operation—especially on a compact device like this.
Connectivity is solid but not bleeding‑edge: Wi‑Fi 6E (tri‑band including 6 GHz) instead of Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 with LE, NFC, USB‑C with USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) and display out. No microSD, no FM radio, no IR blaster, and no satellite connectivity.
One annoyance: Samsung is still using a virtual proximity sensor (Samsung Palm Proximity Sensor V2) for third‑party apps. There is a physical sensor, but it’s effectively locked to the Phone app. The behavior is mostly fine in calls, but this is a weird corner to cut on a flagship.
Pricing, Value, and the S23 Problem
On paper, the Galaxy S24 is the default compact Android flagship. In practice, pricing and Samsung’s own lineup undercut it.
The most sensible S24 variant is the 8 GB/256 GB model at around $860/€960/£860. The base 8 GB/128 GB at about $800/€900/£800 uses slower UFS 3.1 storage and is hard to recommend in 2024. There’s also a limited 512 GB variant in some markets.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S23 has dropped significantly. Rough current ballpark pricing: around $390/€655/£465 for 8/128 and about $560/€695/£480 for 8/256. You’re looking at a roughly €250–300 / £300 gap for very similar real‑world experience.
What do you actually gain with the S24 over the S23?
- Slightly larger, brighter LTPO display with better high‑brightness behavior
- Exynos 2400 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (with only moderate real‑world uplift, especially once throttling kicks in on Exynos)
- 100 mAh more battery and marginally better mixed‑use endurance
- Updated design with matte flat frame and tougher Armor Aluminum 2
- Galaxy AI features (which Samsung is starting to roll out to older models anyway)
- A bump to seven years of OS and security support
For many enthusiasts, that’s not enough to justify paying nearly double over discounted S23 pricing. And if you’re not locked to “small phone or nothing,” devices like Galaxy S23 Ultra, Pixel 8 Pro, and OnePlus 12 offer more display, more battery, or more camera hardware for similar or slightly higher prices.
Add in the fact that in markets like Indonesia, the S24 is actually more expensive than an iPhone 15 (whose price has already dropped), and the value equation looks even rougher—especially when the S24 still only ships with 8 GB RAM, 25 W charging, and a camera setup that hasn’t meaningfully advanced.
Verdict: Good Compact Flagship, Underwhelming Upgrade
The Galaxy S24 is a very familiar story: Samsung refines, polishes, and quietly ignores the most requested upgrades.
Pros:
- One of the few truly compact Android flagships left
- Excellent LTPO AMOLED display with very high peak brightness
- Solid build with Victus 2 and Armor Aluminum 2, IP68
- Strong video performance across all cameras, great AF selfie cam
- Seven years of OS and security updates
- One UI 6.1 is mature, feature‑rich, and AI‑enhanced
Cons:
- Camera hardware is unchanged; photo output is inconsistent and behind some rivals
- Exynos 2400 version throttles noticeably under sustained load
- 25 W wired charging is slow for the price segment
- Battery life is only mildly better than S23 and standby can be weak
- 8 GB RAM and 128 GB UFS 3.1 base storage feel cheap on a flagship
- Design is too close to mid‑range A‑series, visually diminishing its status
If you absolutely need a small Android flagship right now and want the longest possible software support window, the Galaxy S24 is a safe but unexciting buy.
If you already own a Galaxy S23—or you can pick one up at current discounts—the S24’s upgrades are thin for the asking price. In many regions, the smarter move is to grab a cheaper S23, a more capable big flagship, or wait for Samsung to feel some pricing pressure.
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