Samsung has officially announced the new Galaxy S24 series. Starting at $799, the Galaxy S24 offers a powerful new processor, impressive AI abilities, and continues Samsung’s line of excellent camera features.
While the Galaxy S24 is an excellent device overall, the specs of its base model are fairly similar to the Galaxy S23. Most of its best features are reserved for the premium Galaxy S24 Ultra, which received a price bump for this generation.
Let’s learn about the Samsung Galaxy S24 and see if it’s the right device for you.
Samsung Galaxy S24 specs and features
Samsung Galaxy S24 series specs
| Galaxy S24 | Galaxy S24+ | Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.2 inches | 6.7 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Cameras | 50MP main 12MP ultra-wide 10MP telephoto 12MP selfie |
50MP main 12MP ultra-wide 10MP telephoto 12MP selfie |
200MP main 12MP ultra-wide 50MP telephoto (5x zoom) 10MP telephoto 12MP selfie |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Galaxy AI features | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh | 4,900 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Storage sizes | 128GB 256GB |
256GB 512GB |
256GB 512GB 1TB |
| Colors | Cobalt Violet Amber Yellow Onyx Black Marble Gray |
Cobalt Violet Amber Yellow Onyx Black Marble Gray |
Titanium Gray Titanium Black Titanium Violet Titanium Yellow |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
IP68 |
| Starting price | $799 | $999 | $1,299 |
Samsung Galaxy S24 models and colors
The Galaxy S24 series continued Samsung’s typical lineup of three models for its flagship series. There’s a base-model Galaxy S24 and a slightly larger S24+ that share the same specs in terms of processing power and cameras. The top-tier model is the Galaxy S24 Ultra with an extra telephoto camera, a larger battery, and an S Pen (stylus).
The S24 and S24+ share color options. There are four standard colors available from all retailers and an extra three colors only available by ordering directly from Samsung.
.png "Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ standard colors.")
The Galaxy S24 and S24+ colors include:
- Cobalt Violet
- Amber Yellow
- Onyx Black
- Marble Gray
- Jade Green (Samsung store exclusive)
- Sapphire Blue (Samsung store exclusive)
- Sandstone Orange (Samsung store exclusive)
The Galaxy S24 Ultra took a page from Apple’s playbook for the iPhone 15 Pro models and made the device’s frame out of titanium. Like the S24 and S24+ models, there are four standard colors and three Samsung-exclusive colors.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra colors include:
- Titanium Gray
- Titanium Black
- Titanium Violet
- Titanium Yellow
- Titanium Blue (Samsung store exclusive)
- Titanium Green (Samsung store exclusive)
- Titanium Orange (Samsung store exclusive)
Samsung Galaxy S24 cameras
Samsung did not upgrade the camera hardware for the base-model S24 and S24+ this year. These are the same camera specs included on the Samsung Galaxy S23.
Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24+ camera specs
| Main camera | 50MP, ƒ/1.8 |
|---|---|
| Telephoto camera | 10MP, ƒ/2.4, 3x zoom |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12MP, ƒ/2.2 |
| Selfie camera | 12MP, ƒ/2.2 |
Let’s be clear—just because S24 has the previous generation’s camera hardware doesn’t mean it takes bad pictures. The S23 had one of the best camera arrays ever put in an Android device. Plus, smartphone photography is more than just sensors and lenses. The way a device processes images is just as important. This is the area where Samsung upgraded the Galaxy S24 series.
Utilizing Galaxy AI (more on that in the section below), Samsung enabled its cameras to do more than ever before. The company claims this new generation can take more natural-colored photos and has further improved low-light photography. Plus, Samsung’s ProVisual engine allows for up to 3x zooming capabilities with AI maintaining image sharpness in processing.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra was the only model to get a camera upgrade.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra camera specs
| Main camera | 200MP, ƒ/1.7 |
|---|---|
| Telephoto (portrait) camera | 10MP, ƒ/2.4, 3x zoom |
| Telephoto (periscope) camera | 50MP, ƒ/3.4, 5x optical zoom |
| Ultra-wide camera | 12MP, ƒ/2.2 |
| Selfie camera | 12MP, ƒ/2.2 |
The quad-camera array of the S24 Ultra offers a larger main camera sensor and an extra telephoto lens for increased zooming capabilities. This 50MP periscope telephoto lens is also the main difference between the S23 Ultra and S24 Ultra. The S23 Ultra had a 10MP periscope telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom. On paper, the S24 Ultra only offers a 5x optical zoom, though it did get a larger sensor.
Samsung claims the S24 Ultra can zoom just as well as the previous generation thanks to the new Galaxy AI. Though the phone’s hardware is capped at a 5x optical zoom, it can zoom past that and use AI to sharpen the resulting images. Samsung claims this feature essentially equals a 10x “optical quality” zoom. While it’s technically a downgrade, you shouldn’t notice a difference in most circumstances.
Samsung Galaxy S24 AI features
The big story from the launch of the Galaxy S24 series is the premiere of Galaxy AI. These AI tools aren’t simply limited to photography. New features also help with translating, note transcription, and even supercharging your Google searches. These features are available on all three models, so you don’t have to spring for a more expensive device to access them.
Some of the newest AI features include:
- Live translate: Two-way, real-time voice and text translations of phone calls.
- Interpreter: Split-screen text translation of live conversations.
- Note assist: AI-generated summaries of notes.
- Circle to Search: Circle, highlight, scribble on, or tap anything on the screen to search for it on Google.
- ProVisual Engine: Comprehensive suite of AI-powered tools that sharpen images, enhance zooming, and improve color.
- Edit Suggestion: AI-driven suggestions to improve images in post-processing.
- Generative Edit: Uses generative AI to fill in image backgrounds and adjust subjects.
- Instant Slo-mo: Generates additional frames to slow down videos.
Samsung is following in Google’s footsteps by unveiling these types of features. Truthfully, there’s not much here that makes Samsung unique. The Google Pixel 8 also offers features like AI-driven photo editing and live translation. Plus, some of the Samsung-exclusive features (like Circle to Search) will eventually come to the Pixel lineup since they were created in partnership with Google.
You should also note that some features–like Generative Edit–will leave a watermark on the images and metadata showing that AI was used on the photo. Additionally, you can turn off all the new features if you’re uncomfortable with AI having this much control over your phone, data, and photos.
Samsung Galaxy S24 processor
What’s running all these new AI features? All three devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. Samsung’s version of this chip is specifically designed to bring generative AI and increased performance to the Galaxy lineup. Qualcomm claims it provides a 20% boost to the CPU and 26% faster graphics over the previous generation. This translates to incredibly fast processing speeds and smooth mobile gaming capabilities.
Samsung Galaxy S24 battery
The battery sizes for the Galaxy S24 lineup are:
Samsung Galaxy S24 series battery sizes
| Galaxy S24 | 4,000 mAh |
|---|---|
| Galaxy S24+ | 4,900 mAh |
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | 5,000 mAh |
Samsung devices are notorious for their poor battery life. The batteries of the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S23 were some of the biggest issues the devices faced. The Galaxy S24 series might make a bit of progress here as the batteries for all three models are slightly larger. That said, remember that these devices also received a new power-hungry Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor.
Samsung hasn’t provided specific battery life metrics for the S24 lineup, but we think it’ll match and possibly exceed the S23 series. You can expect to get all-day battery life, but you may need a charge in the afternoon if you perform power-hungry tasks like mobile gaming or photo editing.
How much does the Galaxy S24 cost?
Samsung Galaxy S24 series pricing
| Galaxy S24 | Galaxy S24+ | Galaxy S24 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $799 | $999 | $1,299 |
As a premium smartphone lineup, the Samsung Galaxy S24 series is not cheap. The S24 and S24+ retained the normal cost for these models. Pricing starts at $799 and $999 respectively and gets more expensive if you opt for extra storage space.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra model got a price increase over last year’s S23 Ultra. With a starting price of $1,299, this is currently the most expensive non-foldable smartphone on the market. It outprices the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (starting at $1,199) and the Google Pixel 8 Pro (starting at $999). Like the other S24 models, you can also get more storage space for an even higher price.
Samsung Galaxy S24 plans
Luckily, you may not have to pay full price to snag Samsung’s newest device. Purchasing the Galaxy S24 through a carrier installment plan or trade-in is a great way to get this device on the cheap. That said, those options typically lock you to a specific carrier. Purchasing outright is the best option for customers who like to save money by frequently switching carriers.
Samsung Galaxy S24 prices: Monthly payments vs. outright purchase
Monthly installments
Pros
- Cheaper upfront cost
- Eligible for early device upgrades
- Available device installment financing
- Great carrier deals
Cons
- Deals lock you into a carrier for 24-36 months
- Must pay off phone in full before switching
- Pricier monthly phone bills
Outright purchases
Pros
- No monthly payments bundled into your phone bill
- You own your phone immediately
- You can switch carriers at any time
Cons
- Significantly higher upfront cost
- Not eligible for early phone upgrades
- Fewer carrier deals when bringing your own device or purchasing outright
The best options for installment plans and trade-ins are with big carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Their unlimited plans–while pricy–are typically tied with steep discounts on the newest phones.
You can see some of the top unlimited plan offers that include the Galaxy S24 from the Big Three below:
Samsung Galaxy S24 5G 256GB Plans
|
Verizon
Unlimited Prepaid Phone Plan
$50.00/mo
$60 without AutoPay | AutoPay discount applies after 1st month
+ $859.99 Upfront
|
Smaller carriers called MVNOs may not offer a free Galaxy S24, but many of them may have special discounts that at least make the device cheaper. These carriers offer discounted plans that work on the big carrier networks. You may even find it’s cheaper to pay full price for the Galaxy S24 and get a discounted plan than getting a free device but being locked into a three-year contract with a major carrier.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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