I am a giant fan of compact smartphones with highly effective internals and cameras. Nonetheless, it’s extremely uncommon to see such telephones lately. Cue the Samsung Galaxy S24, which retains the custom alive amongst different equally sized telephones such because the iPhone 15 and the Google Pixel 8. My first tryst with a compact smartphone was after I bought the Sony Xperia Z Compact, and what an exquisite telephone that was. The Galaxy S24 provides the identical chipset and rear digicam setup because the Galaxy S24+ however is available in a smaller bundle that can be utilized one-handed.
Might the Samsung Galaxy S24 be the perfect compact smartphone of 2024? Let’s discover out.
Samsung Galaxy S24 worth in India
Earlier than we focus on the telephone, let’s discuss its pricing. The Galaxy S24’s worth in India begins at Rs. 79,999 for the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, whereas if you would like 512GB storage, you may must shell out Rs. 89,999. It’s kind of disappointing that Samsung nonetheless doesn’t supply the next RAM variant. So energy customers should accept 8GB RAM regardless of shelling out near Rs. 90,000.
Galaxy S24 is offered in two storage choices
The telephone is available in Amber Yellow (the one we’re reviewing), Cobalt Violet, and Onyx Black. If you are going to buy it from Samsung’s on-line retailer, you too can get it in Sapphire Blue and Jade Inexperienced.
After you have bought the Galaxy S24, you may discover that there is not a lot accessible within the field. You get the telephone, a USB Kind-C to Kind-C cable, some paperwork, and the SIM ejector software.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Overview: Design
In case you personal a Galaxy 23, then you may idiot your mates into pondering that you’ve got the newest Galaxy S24. When it comes to design, there’s hardly any distinction between the 2. They appear and feel the identical, and also you get the identical aluminium glass sandwich. The rear glass panel makes use of Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The telephone feels fairly strong by way of construct high quality. It weighs 167 grams, and the flat sides make it simple to grip. The general compact kind issue additionally makes the Galaxy S24 an incredible machine for one-handed use. This time round, the aluminium body has a slight curvature, so it will not poke into your fingers across the edges and rounded corners. The again panel homes three separate rings for the triple cameras, and there is additionally a flash module in a smaller circle positioned subsequent to the cameras.
The Galaxy S24 has a 12-megapixel entrance digicam
On the entrance, the show options slim uniform bezels throughout and a hole-punch cutout on the high centre for the entrance digicam. The show is barely larger than final 12 months’s mannequin, however Samsung has managed to maintain the size just about the identical. The Galaxy S24 can be IP68-certified for mud and water resistance. The panel is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Aside from a barely larger panel and the next screen-to-body ratio, the Galaxy S24 as soon as once more appears to be like similar to the Galaxy S23.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Overview: Specs and software program
As for specs, we have now one thing fairly attention-grabbing underneath the hood this 12 months. Samsung bravely opted for its personal silicon, with the Exynos 2400 SoC, which is paired with its Xclipse 940 GPU. After a number of years of going with Qualcomm silicon we do not assume it’s a good suggestion. However that is higher defined within the efficiency part of this evaluate. The chipset is paired with as much as 8GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.
The handset has a twin nano-SIM slot that helps twin 5G standby. It will get a USB Kind-C port on the backside, together with a speaker, microphone, and SIM card slot. Samsung has organized each energy and quantity buttons on the left body of the handset. For communication, the Galaxy S24 comes with dual-band Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3 with LE, GPS (Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS) and NFC.
The ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is well-positioned
Samsung continues to make use of an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner on its flagship telephones, and extra firms ought to do that. The scanner is positioned underneath the show, is well reachable, tremendous quick, and works flawlessly each time.
You get a 4,000mAh battery on the Galaxy S24, which is smaller than the competitors. Nonetheless, it’s barely larger than its predecessor. The telephone helps 25W wired quick charging, 15W wi-fi, and 4.5W reverse charging.
When it comes to software program, the Galaxy S24 runs Android 14-based OneUI 6.1 out-of-the-box. Samsung has executed a Google and promised seven years of Android OS updates and safety patches. Since AI is the brand new buzzword within the business, Samsung has additionally included a number of helpful AI options. 
Galaxy AI will solely be free until the top of 2025
The South Korean producer is asking it Galaxy AI, and it helps you do issues similar to take away objects from pictures, create wallpapers, transcribe telephone calls, reside translate, and extra. Nonetheless, a lot of the AI options are solely free till the top of 2025, and that is an actual bummer.
We tried the brand new Galaxy AI options, that are the spotlight of the brand new Galaxy S24 lineup, and so they work fairly effectively. A few of the options, such because the AI photograph editor, reminded us of the AI on the Google Pixel 8 sequence. The AI photograph editor can take away, transfer, and resize objects and folks in a photograph. This does require a Samsung account login and an lively web connection.
Creating wallpapers utilizing AI was enjoyable
One other attention-grabbing AI function is Circle to Search with Google, which helps you to merely circle something on the display screen and seek for it. This function can be accessible on the newest Google Pixel telephones. The actual-time telephone translation and the Interpreter mode that offers you a reside translation of conversations in textual content or voice output works solely with the Samsung Telephone app. We tried this function, and it labored very well. In the meanwhile, Reside Translate solely works with a choose variety of languages. The Generative AI wallpapers are additionally enjoyable, however you may solely create a restricted variety of wallpapers with the inputs accessible.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Overview: Efficiency
Coming to the telephone’s efficiency, you may anticipate the Galaxy S24 to run any job with ease. Sure, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset would’ve carried out higher, however the Exynos 2400 isn’t any slouch. We ran AnTuTu, Geekbench 6, 3D Mark, and GFXBench benchmarks on the smartphone, and the outcomes have been attention-grabbing.
The Galaxy S24 isn’t any slouch regardless of having an Exynos SoC
On AnTuTu, the Galaxy S24 scored 1480582 factors, which is not unhealthy, however should you’re all about numbers, then this is not that nice both. For instance, the Xiaomi 14 scored 1973937 factors, the OnePlus 12 managed 1629220, and the Vivo X100 Professional powered its technique to 2020631 factors. The identical was the case after we in contrast Geekbench 6 and 3D Mark scores. In GFXBench, the Galaxy S24 managed 119 fps on Manhattan 3.1 and T-Rex exams, which is just a few factors decrease than the Xiaomi 14’s 121 fps.
Transferring to sport efficiency, we have been capable of play BGMI and Asphalt 9: Legends on the highest settings with none drop in body fee, even after half-hour of gameplay. Nonetheless, throughout longer gaming classes, we did see a small drop within the framer fee because the telephone began throttling so as to preserve the temperatures at bay. Throughout shorter gaming classes, the telephone solely bought heat to the contact. Gaming on the Galaxy S24 is a enjoyable affair because of the wonderful show with 120Hz refresh fee with 240Hz contact sampling fee, the succesful chipset, and good sound.
The telephone does not warmth up lots when gaming
Speaking about sound, the hybrid stereo audio system on the Galaxy S24 are fairly good. They provide good separation, are clear, and still have some bass. Name high quality can be nice on the handset.
Transferring on to the show, the Samsung Galaxy S24 has a 6.2-inch LTPO AMOLED 2X panel that gives an adaptive 120Hz refresh fee and a couple of,600 nits of peak brightness. It provides 50 % greater brightness and has wonderful readability underneath direct daylight. There’s additionally an Further brightness mode for once you’re open air.
The panel provides Vivid and Pure color modes, however there’s additionally an Adaptive color tone that adjusts colors and white stability based mostly on ambient mild circumstances. Show viewing angles, distinction, and hues are wonderful, and it is positively among the finest panels on a compact-sized telephone. You may love watching movies and taking part in video games on the Galaxy S24.
General, we would say that the Galaxy S24 provides wonderful flagship-level efficiency. We did not face any form of main heating points, slowing down, or lag throughout heavy and common utilization. The 4,000mAh battery additionally held up fairly effectively and lasted virtually 24 hours on most days with some gaming, digicam use, watching YouTube, texting, GPS, and calling. The telephone took about an hour and 20 minutes to totally cost utilizing a 20W adapter that we had mendacity round. Samsung ought to actually begin providing sooner charging assist on their flagship telephones because the 25W wired and 15W wi-fi charging speeds fall horribly in need of the competitors.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Overview: Cameras
Samsung has been utilizing good digicam {hardware} on its Galaxy S sequence telephones, and so they ship wonderful pictures and movies, however with the saturation toggle dialled up a notch. The identical is the case with the Galaxy S24, however not as a lot because it was. You may get wonderful pictures and movies with the digicam system.
There is a 50-megapixel main digicam on the again
The Galaxy S24 has a triple rear digicam setup that seems just like final 12 months’s setup. It features a 50-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL GN3 main sensor, a 10-megapixel telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide with a 120-degree discipline of view. On the entrance, the telephone will get a 12-megapixel selfie digicam. The ultra-wide digicam nonetheless lacks auto-focus, which is let down as a result of the competitors is now providing the function.
The entrance digicam on the Galaxy S24 has auto-focus
Earlier than we discuss digicam efficiency and present you some samples, let’s get the digicam app out of the best way. The Galaxy S24’s digicam app is straightforward to make use of and provides loads of modes to attempt. You get a devoted Evening mode, Professional mode, a Professional video mode, hyper-lapse, sluggish movement, and Skilled Uncooked (this must be downloaded).
In daylight, the pictures taken from the first digicam are sharp and well-detailed, with good publicity and white stability. Generally, the HDR is usually a bit an excessive amount of with a halo exhibiting round objects/topics, however that is very uncommon.
Galaxy S24 daylight samples: Prime- Important digicam; Centre – 3x Telephoto; Backside – Extremely-wide (faucet to pictures to broaden)
In low mild, the principle digicam continues to carry out effectively, however you may discover some grain. Nonetheless, there’s loads of element, good saturation, white stability, and dynamic vary. In auto mode, the digicam app will robotically allow evening mode when the environment are too darkish. You can even use Evening mode within the guide, the place you may rise up to 25 seconds of publicity time if positioned on a tripod. The resultant pictures are sharper and extra detailed.
Galaxy S24 lowlight digicam samples: Prime – Important digicam; Centre – Extremely-wide; Backside – 3x Telephoto (faucet pictures to broaden)
The ultra-wide digicam produces excellent pictures in daylight, however as soon as once more, colors are saturated. Skies, particularly, look bluer than they need to be. Aside from that, the whole lot appears to be like just like the principle digicam. In low mild, pictures shot utilizing the ultra-wide digicam are noisy, with a visual lack of element across the edges. Even with auto evening mode in ultra-wide, the pictures can nonetheless be noisy.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Portrait photographs: Prime – 3X zoom; Backside – 2x zoom
Now, let’s speak in regards to the telephoto digicam. The telephoto digicam produces excellent portrait photographs, and edge detection is superb. 3x zoom photographs in daylight have good element and supply good dynamic vary. Nonetheless, in low-light circumstances, the 3x telephoto shooter does not carry out that effectively, even with the evening mode enabled. You may discover plenty of noise and distortion in pictures.
Galaxy S24 provides good edge detection in portraits
The selfie digicam is nice and works effectively in each daylight and lowlight circumstances. You can even shoot in 4K at 60 fps. Portrait selfies and evening mode selfies are additionally good, with loads of particulars and a few noise however not over-sharpened.
Coming to video, the Galaxy S24 provides wonderful video efficiency. The dynamic vary, colors, sharpness, publicity, dynamic vary, and stabilisation are wonderful. What’s good is that every one 4 cameras on the telephone can shoot at 4K decision and produce outcomes which might be colour-matched. The principle rear digicam may shoot at 8K 30fps. In low mild, the principle and ultra-wide cameras ship good outcomes with some noise, however the telephoto isn’t nice.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Overview: Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is a flagship compact telephone and has loads of competitors in its worth vary. Its important opponents are the Apple iPhone 15 (Overview), the Google Pixel 8 (Overview), the OnePlus 12 (Overview), the Vivo X100, the newly launched Xiaomi 14 (Overview), and the Galaxy S23 (Overview). I’ve talked about the latter as a result of there are no main upgrades with the brand new telephone. You get a greater show, a barely larger battery, a brand new chipset, and barely improved cameras.
Apple’s iPhone 15 isn’t as a lot of an all-rounder because the Galaxy S24, because it lacks a telephoto digicam. Nonetheless, the efficiency and battery life on the iPhone 15 certainly is healthier. The Pixel 8 isn’t actually nice relating to efficiency, however you get good cameras, an even bigger battery, comparable compact dimension, Google software program and AI options, and it is usually slightly cheaper.
The OnePlus 12 and the Xiaomi 14 are all less expensive than the Galaxy S24 and supply virtually the identical options minus the AI tips. You may get higher efficiency, bigger screens, and larger batteries, however with extra up to date digicam {hardware}.
To conclude, is the Galaxy S24 the perfect compact smartphone of the 12 months? We would say NO! It is a superb compact telephone, however there’s not sufficient to warrant an improve from the Galaxy S23 (or perhaps a Galaxy S22). Nonetheless, should you’re coming from an iPhone and need a compact Android all-rounder with a superb show, succesful and versatile cameras, good battery life, AI options, and lengthy software program assist, then the Galaxy S24 ought to be in your cart. With extra decisions within the compact flagship class with each passing 12 months, it is positively a contender for the perfect compact smartphone of 2024.
