Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus evaluation: Must you purchase it?

The Galaxy S24 household has landed with super-long replace assist and Galaxy AI in tow. The Galaxy S24 Extremely may get the lion’s share of consideration in Samsung’s advertising and marketing, however you’ll do properly to recollect Samsung’s oft-forgotten center little one earlier than shopping for a brand new smartphone. It has way more display screen actual property than the infant S24, however it’s not as heavy or costly because the monstrous S24 Extremely, providing a reliable center floor. Positive, it’s lacking some Extremely-tier options just like the S Pen and twin telephoto digicam lenses, however the Galaxy S24 Plus has quite a bit to supply the proper purchaser.

In case you have been to attract the world’s most generic telephone in 2024, it could look one thing just like the Galaxy S24 Plus. That’s not essentially unhealthy, however there isn’t a lot to the design right here if you happen to’re after one thing new and thrilling. There’s a flat panel of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back and front, a flat aluminum body between them, and three digicam cutouts on the again. The telephone is nearly all show from the entrance — the OLED takes up 92% of the footprint, with a slim, symmetrical bezel operating all the way in which round. It’s the flat slab smartphone, distilled to its most important parts.

To me, although, a telephone that appears a bit of boring isn’t an issue when most individuals slap them in instances, anyway. In case you select to fondle the S24 Plus caseless, you’ll be impressed with the construct high quality. The body is extraordinarily inflexible, and the buttons are clicky and wobble-free. The iPhone-y flat edges don’t really feel a lot totally different than the Galaxy S23’s rounded form. Samsung did spherical off the sting the place the body meets the again, making it extra snug to carry.

The centerpiece of the Galaxy S24 Plus is the 6.7-inch OLED display screen, which has been upgraded this 12 months from 1,080p to 1,440 x 3,120. That’s the identical decision because the S24 Extremely, and the panel itself is barely a tenth of an inch smaller. It’s nonetheless a 120Hz show with an ideal peak brightness of two,600 nits, so it’s nonetheless a bit of off Samsung’s high canine within the specs race, however even telephones with half as a lot luminance are fairly readable in direct daylight, so you possibly can wager this one is, too. The S24 Plus offers you an choice in order for you a bigger display screen than the infant S24’s (6.2-inch) however with out going all the way in which to the S24 Extremely.

The Galaxy S24 Plus runs Android 14 out of the field with One UI 6.1 on high, and whereas we all the time prefer to see the most recent model of Android, that’s not what makes this telephone’s software program particular. Samsung and Google have been going forwards and backwards as they attempt to supply the longest Android software program assist, and Samsung has set a brand new milestone. All members of the Galaxy S24 household get a whopping seven years of OS and safety updates. Meaning the Galaxy S24 Plus might be operating Android 21 in 2031, placing it in keeping with the Pixel 8 collection because the finest replace coverage within the sport.

Whereas it’s not Extremely-expensive, I’m certain consumers will respect realizing that their $1,000 funding might theoretically nonetheless be protected to make use of into the following decade. Whether or not or not the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will nonetheless be quick sufficient to run the present in seven years is unsure. Because it presently stands, this telephone is ludicrously quick. Apps open instantly, multitasking is a breeze, and video games render on the highest high quality. Samsung telephones have nice velocity briefly bursts, however they (Galaxy S24 Plus included) are likely to warmth up shortly.

In case you’re taking part in a high-end sport for longer than a couple of minutes, you’ll lose a few of your efficiency from thermal throttling. The graph above reveals the worst-case state of affairs, retaining the SoC cranked to the max for 20 minutes. In a few of these exams, the chip drops 30-40%. Fortunately, Samsung’s overclocked model of Qualcomm’s 2024 flagship chip — dubbed the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy — has velocity to spare. Even when it will get heat, the telephone can deal with the fundamentals.

In fact, the elephant within the room on efficiency is that not everybody will get to benefit from the energy of Snapdragon. In varied world markets, together with the UK and throughout Europe, the Galaxy S24 Plus is as an alternative powered by the Exynos 2400. Fortunately, our testing has proven that not like the darker years of the Snapdragon vs Exynos battle, Samsung’s personal silicon truly holds up fairly properly this time. Take a look at our Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs Exynos 2400 deep dive or watch the video under for all of the nerdy information.

The battery life is just not objectively wonderful, however it’s improved from 2023’s Samsung flagships. I take into account {that a} victory with the rise in show decision from 1080p to 1440p. The battery rising from 4,700mAh on the S23 Plus to 4,900mAh on the S24 Plus helps there. You shouldn’t have any hassle making it by a day with the Galaxy S24 Plus. With a mixture of looking, messaging, video games, and video, the S24 Plus has lasted roughly a day and a half with 7-8 hours of display screen time throughout my testing. Two full days and not using a recharge was additionally attainable, however solely with cautious battery administration. That provides you some leeway because the battery loses capability through the years, however you’ll in all probability want at the very least one battery swap if you happen to use this machine for the complete seven years.

The tech sector’s rising obsession with generative AI has lastly come to Samsung’s cellular operation within the type of Galaxy AI. These options fall into established AI containers like textual content composers and picture turbines. For instance, Chat Help can rewrite your messages with totally different tones, and Stay Translate can immediately translate to and from different languages on a telephone name. These options work in the way in which most generative AI merchandise do — they’re competent however removed from excellent. We respect the AI picture enhancing, which lets you transfer or take away objects, and the automated summarizing and formatting in Samsung Notes generally is a actual time saver.

Samsung caught up with Apple this 12 months, transferring past aluminum for the Galaxy S24 Extremely and embracing a titanium construct for enhanced sturdiness. Nonetheless, that’s the one titanium telephone within the S24 household. The Galaxy S24 Plus nonetheless has Samsung’s Armor Aluminum, a considerably more durable alloy than the aluminum on most telephones. To me, it looks like Samsung is simply making the S24 Extremely extra distinct to justify the inflated worth. At $1,000, the S24 Plus actually must have titanium, too. In any case, Apple’s titanium iPhones begin at $1,000.

Qualcomm’s newest ARM chip sports activities an upgraded NPU for machine studying and AI processing, and Samsung has baked all these new Galaxy AI options into the OS. A match made in heaven? Not as a lot as you’d assume. Most Galaxy AI options bypass the NPU to run workloads within the cloud. Samsung says it received’t retailer your information, however there’s a toggle deep within the settings to solely use native processing in order for you. In case you restrict Galaxy AI to make use of your native {hardware}, a number of the options (e.g. Chat Help) proceed to work, however they take longer to supply worse outcomes. Most don’t work in any respect. There’s additionally the looming menace of Galaxy AI options solely being assured to be free till the tip of 2025. After that, we could also be a subscription-based mannequin.

Whereas the battery life is stable, I’m a bit upset that Samsung hasn’t improved charging velocity. You’re nonetheless restricted to 45W wired, and the telephone doesn’t include a plug. You’ll want a high-power USB PD charger with PPS to succeed in the very best speeds, that are tolerable. You’ll have to plan forward earlier than you step out, however an hour or so is sufficient to fill the S24 Plus’ battery when it’s virtually useless. In case you don’t have a correct fast-charging plug, although, it takes solely too lengthy.

One UI 6.1 has all the identical options because the S24 Extremely, save for the S Pen choices. The S24 Plus does quite a bit, so there are in all probability going to be pre-loaded apps and options you don’t need. It may be a bit of overwhelming and claustrophobic to see web page after web page of buttons and toggles. With the addition of all these new AI options, Samsung is at risk of repeating the function overload that made its older telephones such a ache to make use of.

Samsung additionally continues to set weird defaults all around the telephone, like three-button navigation and launching Bixby with the ability button. So, that’ll in all probability require some tweaking, and if you happen to determine to ditch Samsung’s preloaded software program just like the keyboard, gallery, Samsung Notes, you’ll additionally lose the corresponding Galaxy AI options. These options are tied to Samsung’s apps, typically in counterintuitive methods. You possibly can’t simply invoke Galaxy AI and inform it to reformat the notes in Google Maintain, for instance. And why do I have to have Samsung’s keyboard chosen to vary the tone of textual content that’s already been typed out in Gmail or Messages? One UI in 2024 actually might do with a little bit of streamlining, particularly if Samsung’s going to cram extra generative AI into it. I’m hesitant to even communicate its title, however we don’t need one other TouchWiz state of affairs on our palms.

The show, as talked about above, has been bumped to the identical decision because the S24 Extremely. That’s good, however even Samsung’s 1,080p OLEDs look nice. A greater display screen improve would have been Gorilla Glass Armor, which you do get on the S24 Extremely. The most recent Gorilla Glass has an anti-reflective coating that makes an enormous distinction open air and underneath brilliant lights. The S24 Plus is simply as reflective as different smartphones, which could be annoying even with the excessive brightness.

The Galaxy S24 Plus digicam setup has not seen any updates this 12 months, so we’re nonetheless working with a 50MP main, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide, similar to the Galaxy S23 Plus. On the entrance, there’s a 12MP selfie digicam. The Galaxy S24 Extremely provides a 5x telephoto lens, which is 50MP and may sensor crop for much more attain, in addition to a 200MP main digicam. The bottom Galaxy S24 has the identical digicam setup because the S24 Plus.

Many of the images I took with the S24 Plus appeared nice. The telephone evens out highlights and shadows fairly properly, and there’s little or no noise. However if you happen to didn’t like Samsung’s picture processing earlier than AI got here to city, you received’t prefer it now. The digicam leans towards longer exposures with increased brightness and extra vibrant colours. The ensuing images actually pop (particularly if you happen to use Samsung’s new Extremely HDR choice), however they will look a bit unnatural. The longer exposures make movement more durable to seize, too. In actual fact, Samsung’s points with transferring targets is but once more a basic situation, similar to it was with the Galaxy S24 Extremely.

The shortage of a second telephoto digicam is smart, however limiting the optical zoom to 3x feels missing in 2024 when 5x is extra frequent. That sensor will get you nearer to your topic, however it’s not supreme for taking pictures from lengthy distances, and digital zoom doesn’t look nice once you solely have 10 megapixels to work with.

Samsung made a couple of tweaks to the digicam software program. For instance, portrait mode snapshots now have foreground blur, which might make the topic stand out much more. There are additionally AI-assisted enhancing and remastering options. The edits often look good, however we wouldn’t say they’re goal enhancements. Most of the time, the “remastered” photos are only a bit brighter. We’ve received full-resolution variations of all these images on this Drive folder.

The Galaxy S24 Plus may enhance its standing in case you are extra involved in video. This telephone helps the identical most 8K decision because the $1,300 S24 Extremely, and Samsung’s super-steady choice makes it simpler to seize movement.

There aren’t any main surprises within the Galaxy S24 Plus. The one bodily change of word is the redesigned flat body, and whether or not or not you take into account that an enchancment is basically a query of private desire. I do, nonetheless, respect the upgraded OLED with a corresponding battery enhance, and the telephone is quite a bit lighter than the S24 Extremely (by 36g), even with a display screen that’s virtually as giant.

Galaxy AI is sweet to have, however don’t anticipate it to vary the way in which you employ your telephone simply but. Many of the instruments are built-in with Samsung’s apps, so that you received’t get as a lot profit if you happen to choose to put in different apps, and Galaxy AI barely works with out the cloud. Perhaps Galaxy AI will enhance over time, and also you’ll be capable to discover out with the S24 Plus —Samsung’s resolution to increase assist to seven years is a win.

The $1,000 price ticket is affordable for a high-end Samsung telephone, however your pockets may be happier with a less expensive telephone just like the Pixel 8 ($699 at Amazon), which takes higher images and has cleaner software program. There’s additionally the OnePlus 12 (on the product’s web site), which is simply as quick and prices $200 much less, and I truly like its digicam a bit extra in some situations.

Nonetheless, if you happen to’re one of many Samsung trustworthy otherwise you simply can’t go up that seven-year replace assure, the S24 Plus may be the proper selection. It’s smaller and cheaper than the Extremely ($1419.99 at Samsung), with a a lot greater display screen than the bottom Galaxy S24 ($859.99 at Samsung), and also you get all the identical software program goodies.