Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus review: Should you buy it?

The Galaxy S24 household has landed with super-long replace help and Galaxy AI in tow. The Galaxy S24 Extremely would possibly get the lion’s share of consideration in Samsung’s advertising, however you’d 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 child 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 loads to supply the best purchaser.

In the event you have been to attract the world’s most generic cellphone in 2024, it will look one thing just like the Galaxy S24 Plus. That’s not essentially dangerous, however there isn’t a lot to the design right here when you’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 cellphone is sort of 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 cellphone that appears somewhat boring isn’t an issue when most individuals slap them in instances, anyway. In the event 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 comfy 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 a terrific peak brightness of two,600 nits, so it’s nonetheless somewhat off Samsung’s prime canine within the specs race, however even telephones with half as a lot luminance are fairly readable in direct daylight, so you possibly can guess this one is, too. The S24 Plus offers you an possibility in order for you a bigger display screen than the child 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 prime, and whereas we at all times prefer to see the newest model of Android, that’s not what makes this cellphone’s software program particular. Samsung and Google have been going forwards and backwards as they try to supply the longest Android software program help, 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 step with the Pixel 8 collection as the very best replace coverage within the sport.

Whereas it’s not Extremely-expensive, I’m positive patrons will recognize 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 at present stands, this cellphone is ludicrously quick. Apps open instantly, multitasking is a breeze, and video games render on the highest high quality. Samsung telephones have nice pace briefly bursts, however they (Galaxy S24 Plus included) are inclined to warmth up rapidly.

In the event 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 exhibits the worst-case situation, maintaining the SoC cranked to the max for 20 minutes. In a few of these checks, 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 pace to spare. Even when it will get heat, the cellphone 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 a substitute powered by the Exynos 2400. Fortunately, our testing has proven that in contrast to the darker years of the Snapdragon vs Exynos battle, Samsung’s personal silicon really holds up fairly properly this time. Try our Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs Exynos 2400 deep dive or watch the video beneath for all of the nerdy information.

The battery life will not be objectively superb, however it’s improved from 2023’s Samsung flagships. I think about {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 way of a day with the Galaxy S24 Plus. With a mixture of searching, 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 with out a recharge was additionally doable, however solely with cautious battery administration. That offers you some leeway because the battery loses capability over time, however you’ll in all probability want not less than one battery swap when you use this system for the complete seven years.

The tech sector’s rising obsession with generative AI has lastly come to Samsung’s cell 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 Dwell Translate can immediately translate to and from different languages on a cellphone name. These options work in the way in which most generative AI merchandise do — they’re competent however removed from good. We recognize the AI photograph modifying, which lets you transfer or take away objects, and the automated summarizing and formatting in Samsung Notes is usually a actual time saver.

Samsung caught up with Apple this 12 months, shifting past aluminum for the Galaxy S24 Extremely and embracing a titanium construct for enhanced sturdiness. Nonetheless, that’s the one titanium cellphone within the S24 household. The Galaxy S24 Plus nonetheless has Samsung’s Armor Aluminum, a considerably tougher 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 value. At $1,000, the S24 Plus actually should 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 suppose. 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 the event you restrict Galaxy AI to make use of your native {hardware}, a few 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 top of 2025. After that, we could also be taking a look at a subscription-based mannequin.

Whereas the battery life is strong, I’m a bit dissatisfied that Samsung hasn’t improved charging pace. You’re nonetheless restricted to 45W wired, and the cellphone 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 the event you don’t have a correct fast-charging plug, although, it takes totally 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 loads, so there are in all probability going to be pre-loaded apps and options you don’t need. It may be somewhat 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 characteristic overload that made its older telephones such a ache to make use of.

Samsung additionally continues to set weird defaults all around the cellphone, like three-button navigation and launching Bixby with the ability button. So, that’ll in all probability require some tweaking, and when you resolve 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, generally in counterintuitive methods. You may’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 scenario 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 might 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 major, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide, identical 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 major digicam. The bottom Galaxy S24 has the identical digicam setup because the S24 Plus.

A lot of the photographs I took with the S24 Plus regarded nice. The cellphone evens out highlights and shadows fairly properly, and there’s little or no noise. However when you didn’t like Samsung’s photograph 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 photographs actually pop (particularly when you use Samsung’s new Extremely HDR possibility), however they will look a bit unnatural. The longer exposures make movement tougher to seize, too. In reality, Samsung’s points with shifting targets is but once more a common subject, identical to it was with the Galaxy S24 Extremely.

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

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

The Galaxy S24 Plus would possibly enhance its standing if you’re extra serious about video. This cellphone helps the identical most 8K decision because the $1,300 S24 Extremely, and Samsung’s super-steady possibility 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 think about that an enchancment is basically a query of non-public desire. I do, nonetheless, recognize the upgraded OLED with a corresponding battery enhance, and the cellphone is loads lighter than the S24 Extremely (by 36g), even with a display screen that’s virtually as massive.

Galaxy AI is good to have, however don’t anticipate it to vary the way in which you employ your cellphone simply but. A lot of the instruments are built-in with Samsung’s apps, so that you received’t get as a lot profit when you desire 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 help to seven years is a win.

The $1,000 price ticket is cheap for a high-end Samsung cellphone, however your pockets is perhaps happier with a less expensive cellphone just like the Pixel 8 ($699 at Amazon), which takes higher photographs 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 really like its digicam a bit extra in some cases.

Nonetheless, when you’re one of many Samsung devoted otherwise you simply can’t go up that seven-year replace assure, the S24 Plus is perhaps the best alternative. It’s smaller and cheaper than the Extremely ($1419.99 at Samsung), with a a lot larger display screen than the bottom Galaxy S24 ($859.99 at Samsung), and also you get all the identical software program goodies.