Review Summary
Expert Rating
In the premium Android flagship category, Samsung’s Galaxy S-series lineup has always been at the top of the recommendation list. With all the bells and whistles one can expect, these smartphones have consistently impressed. This year with the Galaxy S24 series Samsung has elevated the game integrating AI into the mix. The ultra-premium Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review is already out.
Here we will touch upon the most affordable smartphone in the lineup, the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S24, and tell you why it should be your top pick if you are in the market for a powerful, compact Android flagship.
Table of Contents
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is a must-have for anyone looking for a compact yet powerful smartphone with some smart features. This premium flagship boasts a vibrant screen, advanced camera setup, reliable performance, and several AI features, which are available for free use until at least the end of 2025 to enhance your productivity.
Design and display
For anyone coming from a smartphone with a display size north of 6.1 inches, the Samsung Galaxy S24 design will come across as a breath of fresh air. The handset maintains its compact, thin, and lightweight profile, akin to its predecessor. However, the ergonomics has been enhanced with flat edges, which fall 90 degrees, instead of curved ones. As a result, the device fits snuggly into the hands so much so that I didn’t feel like altering its dimensions by adding a case.
Needless to say, the handset provides a premium in-hand feel. The framing of the smartphone is all aluminium, while the front and back of the phone are encased in Corning Gorilla Glass, providing robust construction. The rear cameras are vertically aligned in three individual rings, which jut out from the frame, causing the device to wobble when lying flat on a surface. The power and volume buttons are aligned on the right spine of the phone and are easily accessible without resorting to any finger gymnastics.
It would be unfair if we didn’t talk about the Galaxy S24’s in-display fingerprint scanner. The scanner is nicely positioned where your thumb would generally rest while holding the device, and it is unlike what I have seen in any other smartphone. Even a deft touch securely unlocks the device in a jiffy.
Moving on, the Samsung Galaxy S24 boasts the same Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with FHD+ resolution, HDR 10+ support, and adaptive 120Hz refresh rate as its predecessor. However, the panel is 0.1 inches bigger, now measuring 6.2 inches compared to the previous 6.1 inches. Additionally, the bezels are a hair slimmer, and the peak brightness now reaches up to 2,600 nits, a significant improvement from the 1,750 nits on the Galaxy S23 (review). Apart from the better outdoor visibility, there is no real-world difference in the viewing experience.
The picture quality is simply impeccable with a high contrast ratio, deep blacks, and vibrant colours, even when looked at from an angle. The handset may not boast the anti-reflective coating like the S24 Ultra, but it features Samsung’s new Vision Booster technology which is rated to preserve colour accuracy even under the harshest sunlight. The smartphone is equipped with stereo speakers that deliver crisp, loud sounds.
Cameras
The camera setup on the Samsung Galaxy S24 is the same as its predecessor. The handset sports triple rear cameras comprising a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens. Up front, the phone is equipped with a 12MP shooter for selfies and video calling. However, the company has added some additional features and improved imaging algorithms. While I didn’t have the S23 to check how much of an improvement the new image algorithms bring, the image quality of the S24 is generally excellent, reaching the standard of the flagship.
Typical of Samsung, the colours look slightly boosted, but they don’t deviate from reality much. The images look crisp and vibrant, with plenty of details across lighting scenarios. While the ultra-wide shots may not be as detailed as the regular camera, they still look plenty rich and appealing. There is no shift in colour while switching from the primary camera to the 3x telephoto sensor, and whether it is being used for close-ups or portraits, the results look impressive in favourable lighting conditions. However, the quality begins to deteriorate with digital zoom, and the smartphone’s maximum 30x zoom offers little to boast about.
Talking about the new features, the Samsung Galaxy S24 now supports Expert Raw mode, 8k 30fps video recording, Studio for video editing, and AI-powered video editing tools in the Gallery app, among other things.
Performance and software
After experimenting with the Snapdragon chipsets last year, Samsung has gone back to its in-house Exynos chipsets for the regular S24 and S24 Plus. Both devices rock the Exynos 2400 chipset, equivalent to Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, under the hood. The vanilla S24 gets 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of non-expandable storage. The performance is commendable for the device of its calibre. The smartphone is swift with everything thrown at it, be it multitasking, browsing, social media scrolling, or streaming. The handset can even manage gaming without breaking a sweat, although due to its small screen, the gaming experience might not be as impressive.
As for the Samsung Galaxy S24 AnTuTu, Geekbench, and other benchmark scores, they remain around the same ballpark as its elder sibling S24 Ultra. Check it out:
Software-wise, the Samsung Galaxy S24 runs on the all-new Android 14-based OneUI 6.1 out of the box. The UI remains largely the same as the previous iteration of OneUI, with several pre-installed apps from Google, Microsoft, and Samsung. However, there are a few iterations under the hood, including redesigned quick settings, clutter-free weather apps, new customisation options, performance enhancements, and more. All these changes make the software more user-friendly than ever before. The company has also extended its extended its software support for the device, from five major updates to seven, aligning it with the latest Google Pixel smartphones. This ensures that your Samsung Galaxy S24 will remain relevant until 2031.
Additionally, the smartphone is integrated with several AI features, including Live Translate, Circle to Search, Chat Assist, Transcript Assist, and more. You can read more about them in detail in our S24 Ultra review. In essence, these AI tools are here to enhance productivity, make communication more seamless, and add some fun to the captured moments. These features can be monetised starting in 2026.
Battery and charging
The Samsung Galaxy S24 houses a 4,000mAh battery, with 25W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging support. While the fast charging may seem slower compared to its competitors, it doesn’t feel as sluggish due to the smartphone’s compact battery pack. The handset takes roughly over an hour to achieve a full charge from 0-100 percent with a compatible charging brick, which needs to be purchased separately. The smartphone is only bundled with a Type-C charging cable.
After a full charge, the Samsung Galaxy S24 provides a decent battery backup that should comfortably last you through the day with regular usage. Slightly heavier usage, such as navigation and recording high-res video, may require you to charge the device at least once during the day. On the PC Mark battery test, the handset returned with a respectable score of 14 hours and 43 minutes. While the battery life looks fine for a compact phone, it could have been better.
Final verdict
Samsung Galaxy S24’s base variant with 256GB storage is priced at Rs 79,999, while the top-end 512GB variant is priced in India at Rs 89,999. Apart from the iPhone 15, the handset also competes against Android offerings like the OnePlus 12 (review) and Vivo X100 (review). However, its true rival has to be the Pixel 8 (review). Although limited, the Pixel 8 also boasts several AI photo and video editing features, and unlike Samsung, Google hasn’t announced its plans to end free access to these features yet!
Nevertheless, the Samsung smartphone emerges as a better overall smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S24 doesn’t throttle as much as the Pixel 8. Additionally, the handset delivers a crisp visual experience, commendable cameras, and a premium feel without compromising on functionality. While the battery life may not be the most impressive, the Samsung Galaxy S24 emerges as a top contender in its category.
Editor’s rating: 8/10
Reasons to buy
- Compact and lightweight design, ideal for one-handed use.
- Vibrant Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with improved peak brightness.
- The camera quality is excellent, reaching the standard of the flagship.
- The phone delivers smooth performance with useful AI features to enhance productivity.
Reasons not to buy
- Slightly slower wired fast charging compared to competitors.
- The handset isn’t bundled with a charger in the box.
 | Rs. 62,999.00 | Go To Store |
 | Rs. 79,999.00 | Go To Store |
 Samsung Galaxy S24 5G | vs |  Google Pixel 8 |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 5G | vs |  OnePlus 12 |
