Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely evaluation

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Yearly, it looks like telephone bulletins — significantly within the U.S. — get much less and fewer thrilling. We have begun to see diminishing returns in {hardware} innovation of ordinary slab telephones, and even large processing or software program developments not maintain the burden of pleasure they as soon as had. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 collection suits fairly completely into this description, as my colleague Harish Jonnalagadda wrote shortly after the telephone collection’ announcement.

However there’s magnificence within the pursuit of perfection. Radical innovation or revolution is not all the time essential, significantly when a product is pretty much as good because the Galaxy S24 Extremely. It hardly ever does something new, but it surely does nearly every part extraordinarily properly. In a nutshell, Samsung took a few of the finest options of a Google Pixel and put them within the extra dependable {hardware} of a Samsung Galaxy telephone with out eradicating any of the options Samsung followers know and love.

I definitely have my nitpicks — the sq. corners are uncomfortable, too many AI options are reliant on cloud connectivity, and the PWM price nonetheless bothers my eyes when there’s not sufficient ambient mild — however what Samsung delivered within the Galaxy S24 Extremely is nothing in need of pure excellence. It exhibits an organization keen to innovate the place it is necessary and unwilling to maneuver when it isn’t.

Greater than that, it exhibits that Samsung listens to its prospects and makes adjustments when requested. That is the flagship telephone that has one thing for everybody, as long as you may afford it.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely: Value and availability

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with its retail box and official case boxes

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The Galaxy S24 Extremely ships with a base of 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM for $1,299. Samsung is not providing the cheaper mannequin with lowered RAM this yr because it did with earlier Extremely fashions, though one of the best Galaxy S24 Extremely offers can get you upgraded to 512GB or 1TB of storage for lower than you would possibly anticipate.

The Galaxy S24 Extremely ships in Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Yellow, and Titanium Violet colorways at your favourite retailer or provider. Shopping for from Samsung.com grants entry to Titanium Orange, Titanium Blue, and Titanium Inexperienced colorways.

All Galaxy S24 telephones include seven years of OS and safety updates, a primary for Samsung telephones.

For my closing evaluation, I spent six weeks with an unlocked Galaxy S24 Extremely supplied by Samsung working One UI 6.1. The telephone noticed a number of updates and enhancements throughout that point, together with immediately addressing requests from its most loyal customers.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely: Show and design

The vibrant display of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The show on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely is one of the best show Samsung has ever created for one among its telephones, but it surely hasn’t been with out issues. The elephant within the room is, undoubtedly, the “scandal” attributable to the extra pure tone of the S24 Extremely’s show.

I far desire a extra natural-looking show, and it is objectively a greater show due to it, however that does not imply some customers have been pleased with the change. A late February patch added a “vividness” slider that clearly happy followers, guaranteeing that the Samsung mantra of “one thing for everybody” was current all over the place on this telephone.

Sadly, some items have a show defect we have not seen in years. The AMOLED show panel on the telephone displays what’s referred to as mura, which means that the individually lit pixels on an OLED panel do not get to the identical stage of brightness as adjoining ones. This could result in the show wanting grainy. Here is a collection of close-up pictures I took for example the distinction between in style telephones with OLED shows.

Picture 1 of 5

An extreme close up of the Galaxy S24 Ultra's panel at a brightness under 10%.An excessive shut up of the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s panel at a brightness underneath 10%.(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)An extreme close up of the Galaxy S23 Ultra's panel at a brightness under 10%.An excessive shut up of the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s panel at a brightness underneath 10%.(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central (Galaxy S23 Extremely mura comparability)An extreme close up of the Google Pixel 8 Pro's panel at a brightness under 10%.An excessive shut up of the Google Pixel 8 Professional’s panel at a brightness underneath 10%.(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)An extreme close up of the Honor Magic 6 Pro's panel at a brightness under 10%.An excessive shut up of the Honor Magic 6 Professional’s panel at a brightness underneath 10%.(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)An extreme close up of the OnePlus 12's panel at a brightness under 10%.An excessive shut up of the OnePlus 12’s panel at a brightness underneath 10%.(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The primary picture is the Galaxy S24 Extremely, and it is readily obvious how erratically lit the show is in comparison with the Galaxy S23 Extremely, Google Pixel 8 Professional, OnePlus 12, and Honor Magic 6 Professional.

We’re nonetheless unsure how widespread this defect is however our evaluation unit is affected and lots of customers on social media have complained of the identical issues. Samsung urges prospects to succeed in out to technical help to obtain a guaranty substitute of their telephone if it bothers them.

Comparing the glare on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra's display with and without a tempered glass screen protector installed

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Now, whereas the S24 Extremely’s launch was fraught with just a few show points, one change has been universally constructive: the brand new anti-glare display screen coating. The picture above exhibits the Galaxy S24 Extremely with a tempered glass protector on the left — which represents what the glass would appear to be with out this anti-glare coating — whereas the Galaxy S24 Extremely on the suitable is how the telephone seems to be out of the field.

To say this makes an enormous distinction in readability in all lighting situations is an understatement.

The show is less complicated to see, has a greater PWM price, and options extra pure colours out of the field.

This is likely one of the finest enhancements Samsung has ever added to its shows, and it makes seeing the Galaxy S24 Extremely simpler in any mild. If extra shows applied this kind of anti-glare filter, we would not be seeing the obnoxious brightness race elevate a lot.

Sadly, this implies display screen protectors will destroy one of the best a part of the show. Moreover, Samsung’s continued use of ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensors implies that most tempered glass display screen protectors will intrude with the efficiency of the fingerprint sensor. I’ve tried a number of and all of them make it very irritating to unlock the telephone through fingerprint.

Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategorySamsung Galaxy S24 UltraDisplay6.8-inch AMOLED (2,600 nits)ResolutionQHD+Refresh rate120Hz (1-120); 240Hz contact samplingProcessorSnapdragon 8 Gen 3 for GalaxyMemory12GB RAM, 256GB/512GB/1TB storageCamera 1 (Most important)200MP (OIS), Laser Auto Focus (LAF), f1.7Camera 2 (Ultrawide)12MP, f2.2, 120-degree FoVCamera 3 (Telephoto)10MP (OIS), f2.4, 3x optical zoomCamera 4 (Telephoto)50MP (OIS) 2PD, f3.4, 5x optical zoomSelfie Camera12 MP (2PD AF), f2.2Battery5,000mAhCharging45W; 15W (wi-fi)ProtectionIP68; Gorilla Armor Glass; Titanium frameConnectivitySub-6/ mmWave 5G; Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.3; UWBDimensions & weight6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 in, 8.22ozColorsTitanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Yellow, and Titanium Violet, Titanium Orange, Titanium Blue, Titanium Inexperienced

The Galaxy Word’s DNA runs as deeply by means of the Galaxy S24 Extremely because it has for the previous few years, and also you’re both going to like or hate Samsung’s boxy design right here. I discover a big telephone with sq. corners very uncomfortable, but it surely additionally implies that few telephones look fairly like a Galaxy S Extremely.

Samsung’s addition of a titanium body this yr is essentially gimmicky, but it surely implies that the Galaxy S24 Extremely feels much more premium than any earlier Galaxy S Extremely. There’s one thing palpably extra high quality feeling about titanium over aluminum, and the matte texture means it is each simpler to grip and does not appeal to fingerprints like Armor Aluminum on the S22/S23 Extremely.

Past simply the body, Samsung has flattened the show for the primary time within the historical past of the collection, even when the precise glass itself remains to be barely curved on the edges.

Picture 1 of 4

Taking a closer look at the mostly flat display of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Taking a closer look at the mostly flat display of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)The Samsung Galaxy 24 Ultra's colors(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)The Samsung Galaxy 24 Ultra's colors(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The titanium body feels splendidly premium, and the anti-glare layer on the flat show is nothing in need of perfection.

Whereas digicam islands are nonetheless off-center and raised fairly a bit — resulting in wobble when positioned on a desk — one of the best Galaxy S24 Extremely circumstances all clear up this drawback. For those who’re like me and usually do not like utilizing circumstances, slapping a Thinborne case on it should make it really feel nearly caseless.

However it’s a must to watch out about which circumstances you employ on the telephone, significantly if you wish to use one of the best MagSafe equipment. As is the case with the S22 Extremely and S23 Extremely, circumstances that do not use correct magnetic shielding will trigger interference with the S Pen. Fortunately, this solely occurs with some circumstances and with some MagSafe equipment.

Whereas there isn’t any danger of long-term injury for those who use the flawed MagSafe case, you will not be capable to use the S Pen correctly whereas utilizing the flawed case/accent combo.

PWM measurements

The PWM measurement of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra at maximum brightness

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

As anticipated, the Galaxy S24 Extremely makes use of PWM dimming in any respect brightness ranges, and there isn’t any choice to allow DC-like dimming of the show at excessive brightness ranges, as is the case with another new telephones just like the OnePlus 12.

Nonetheless, Samsung did one thing fully sudden this yr: they elevated the PWM frequency to 480Hz, up from 240Hz. That is the kind of development we have wanted to see from Samsung for years, and it implies that they’ve lastly matched the PWM price Apple makes use of for its OLED telephones.

Meaning I can use the Galaxy S24 Extremely for substantial quantities of time with out having to put on my astigmatism-correcting glasses throughout the day. At night time or on cloudy days, the flickering show nonetheless negatively impacts me but it surely takes lots longer than when I attempt to use a Galaxy S23 Extremely — a telephone that provides me eye aches and
a headache inside seconds.

It is extremely refreshing to see Samsung make these adjustments, making me looking forward to the way forward for AMOLED-powered telephones.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely software program, efficiency, and battery life

Using Air Commands with the S Pen on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

With the Galaxy S24 household, Samsung has firmly declared 2024 to be the yr of AI. Fortunately, for anybody who purchased a 2023 Galaxy telephone, these options are additionally coming to your machine. Galaxy AI encompasses a set of a dozen instruments – some new, some repackaged current ones – that goal to create a extra useful expertise.

Most experiences require cloud connectivity to work, although. Worse, Samsung could cost for these cloud-connected experiences in two years until the phrases change. However, will you actually care a lot about these cloud-connected experiences exterior of some area of interest eventualities?

My guess is, no.

Here is a listing of the options that work with none web connectivity in any respect:

Edit strategies for photosPhoto Ambient WallpaperTranslation options (Calls, Interpreter, Messages)Immediate Sluggish-Mo

Testing out the phone call translation feature on a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Humorous sufficient, these have been the one options I discovered myself utilizing on any form of common foundation. It is not that the opposite cloud-connected options are ineffective, it is simply that they don’t seem to be one thing I care a lot about. These are the options it is advisable to be linked to the web to make use of.

Auto FormatCircle to SearchGenerate CoverGenerative EditGenerative WallpaperMagic Compose TextingSummary (Samsung Web, Samsung Notes, Voice Recorder)Writing Help

The lone exception was Google Circle to Search, a characteristic that is not even unique to the Galaxy S24 household within the first place. In brief, all the above options work fairly properly and are extraordinarily useful while you want them. I am glad Samsung added them, and I feel these kinds of instruments will considerably improve the smartphone expertise going ahead.

You are simply not going to seek out your self utilizing them on daily basis, and that is in all probability simply superb.

Ray-tracing on a telephone is a gimmick. Fortunately, battery life and efficiency right here usually are not.

On the efficiency entrance, I am unable to ask for rather more of a smartphone. Whereas the Galaxy S24 helps ray-tracing options, it is largely a gimmick that you simply will not see most video games implementing in any manner for a really very long time.

It is a type of bullet factors on a spec sheet that appears good however has little or no actual worth. The actual use of ray-tracing capabilities on a GPU is one thing like DLSS, which makes use of AI processing to boost graphics and efficiency over what pure silicon enhancements can. Samsung will not be utilizing this however a spokesperson advised me that the corporate is wanting into this and different extra sensible makes use of of ray-tracing {hardware}.

The battery lifetime of the Galaxy S24 Extremely is nothing in need of stupendous in each regard. I used to be capable of pull round two days out of a single cost all through all the evaluation interval (10 days, as of this writing), and that is pushing 100% brightness all the time due to my sensitivity to PWM-dimmed shows.

Samsung has lengthy lagged behind opponents on charging velocity, and whereas I fully agree with my colleague Namerah about Samsung’s want to extend charging speeds, having two-day battery life helps me neglect about this plea even just a bit bit.

A 30W charger (the S24 Extremely helps as much as 45W) was ready so as to add 36% battery in 20 minutes (30% to 66%), which is greater than sufficient cost to get me by means of one other 24 hours of use. Nonetheless, it is arduous to seek out this acceptable when the OnePlus 12 goes from underneath 15% to 100% battery in the identical timeframe.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely: Cameras

Zooming in to 10x on a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra to take a picture of a chicken

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Cameras have lengthy been one among my favourite elements of the smartphone expertise, however Samsung telephones have hardly ever graced my record of favourite smartphone cameras. That adjustments with the Galaxy S24 Extremely, which now does a significantly better job than any earlier Samsung telephone in most classes.

In my Galaxy S24 Extremely digicam evaluation revealed shortly after the telephone debuted, I famous that the telephone’s general high quality was marred by its incapability to seize shifting topics. Since then, Samsung has issued a patch that irons out this drawback fairly a bit. It is nonetheless not excellent, although, as many rivals like Google, Vivo, and Honor do a greater job of capturing shifting children or pets, but it surely’s an enchancment over how the telephone dealt with these conditions at launch.

Beneath, you will discover a comparability. The primary two pictures have been taken on two completely different days earlier than the replace, whereas the second two pictures have been taken after the February replace.

Picture 1 of 4

Testing out motion capture capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra main camera sensorSamsung Galaxy S24 Extremely movement seize earlier than the February replace(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Testing the motion capture capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra using the minimal processing optionSamsung Galaxy S24 Extremely movement seize earlier than the February replace(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra motion capture after the February update(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra motion capture after the February update(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Samsung has improved every part from zoom element to extra pure processing, higher movement seize, and much more strong video recording efficiency.

The distinction right here is kind of outstanding, and it helps to largely resolve one of many solely destructive factors of the digicam. Movement seize remains to be not fairly pretty much as good as you will discover on a Google Pixel 8 Professional, Honor Magic 6 Professional, or another competing telephones, but it surely’s greater than ok and may fulfill nearly everybody.

And, fortunately, the remainder of the expertise does beat most competing telephones, particularly within the U.S. the place there aren’t as many choices for smartphones as you will discover worldwide.

Picture 1 of 8

A 10x telephoto camera sample from the Samsung Galaxy S24 UltraA 10x telephoto digicam pattern from the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)A 10x telephoto camera sample from the Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraA 10x telephoto digicam pattern from the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)A 5x telephoto camera sample from the Samsung Galaxy S24 UltraA 5x telephoto digicam pattern from the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)A 5x telephoto camera sample from the Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraA 5x telephoto digicam pattern from the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)A 5x telephoto camera sample from the Google Pixel 8 ProA 5x telephoto digicam pattern from the Google Pixel 8 Professional(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)A 3x telephoto camera sample from the Samsung Galaxy S24 UltraA 3x telephoto digicam pattern from the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)A 3x telephoto camera sample from the Samsung Galaxy S23 UltraA 3x telephoto digicam pattern from the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)A 3x telephoto camera sample from the Google Pixel 8 ProA 3x telephoto digicam pattern from the Google Pixel 8 Professional(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

The Galaxy S24 Extremely’s telephoto cameras win in each lighting situation I examined them in. The result’s a clearer, extra detailed picture that appears higher from each angle. We anxious concerning the change from a 10x optical lens to a 5x optical lens when the telephone was introduced, however the brand new 50MP sensor behind the optics greater than makes up for the distinction.

The remainder of the digicam expertise is fairly just like the Galaxy S23 Extremely, although, which is essentially an excellent factor. Samsung improved the processing on the principle sensor so it seems to be extra prefer it got here from a correct digicam as a substitute of a smartphone, and video seize is pretty much as good as you’d anticipate from a Galaxy S Extremely telephone.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely: Competitors

iPhone 15 Pro Max review

(Picture credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

At this worth stage, the one actual competitors for the Galaxy S24 Extremely within the U.S. is the iPhone 15 Professional Max. It is an unbelievable telephone with an incredible digicam, Apple’s long-term software program help (that Samsung lastly matches), and that ecosystem that individuals particularly swap to Apple for.

On the Android facet, almost all one of the best Android telephones price a lot lower than a Galaxy S24 Extremely. The OnePlus 12 launched for $799 with the identical quantity of RAM and storage as Samsung presents at $1,299. Its digicam does not match Samsung’s generally — portrait mode being the largest exception — however OxygenOS is a incredible expertise and a UI that I desire over Samsung’s One UI.

Worldwide, telephones just like the Honor Magic 6 Professional and Xiaomi 14 collection problem Samsung in substantial methods. Most provide higher pricing, even higher cameras, and much better shows — minus the superb anti-glare coating on the S24 Extremely. The downsides are that these firms do not provide the identical replace promise, aren’t as extensively out there, and infrequently have UI designs which are much less acquainted to Android lovers.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely: Do you have to purchase it?

The back of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in the Titanium Grey colorway

(Picture credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

You should purchase this if…

You need one of the best Android telephone in the united statesA high-quality digicam is essential to you.You want to carry on to your telephone for years.

You should not purchase this if…

You might have children or pets that do not maintain nonetheless for pictures.You are extraordinarily PWM-sensitive.You are not comfy with spending $1,300 or extra on a telephone.

Anybody utilizing a Galaxy S23 Extremely proper now should not trouble upgrading. The brand new anti-glare filter is unbelievable, and I hope to see it on extra Samsung telephones sooner or later, however S23 Extremely house owners can a minimum of partly replicate the impact with an anti-glare display screen protector in the intervening time.

The upgraded PWM price on the S24 Extremely is an enormous deal for the long run and makes it attainable for some flicker-sensitive of us to make use of a Samsung telephone — one thing that hasn’t been attainable for a very long time. You might be okay with out it if the Galaxy S23 Extremely’s display screen does not provide you with eye aches or complications.

However there’s one thing to be stated about Samsung’s worth right here, regardless of the value. A $1,300 beginning worth is tough to abdomen, but it surely’s additionally the primary time Samsung has promised to maintain the telephone up to date and related for seven years. That, alone, could be well worth the improve for anybody who likes to carry on to their telephones for some time.

S23 Extremely house owners should not trouble upgrading, however everybody else ought to severely think about this as one of the best new premium choose.

On a extra private word, I have been so pleasantly shocked with the Galaxy S24 Extremely. It is the primary non-folding Samsung telephone I’ve loved utilizing in a very long time. Final yr, I used to be prepared to maneuver on from the most recent Samsung machine due to how its shows made me really feel sick, and now I can lastly use one once more with out ache. Throughout the day, a minimum of.

Samsung’s glorious developments in digicam high quality be sure that I will not attain for the Pixel 8 Professional simply to take an amazing image. That is really incredible information for Samsung customers because it means the corporate’s telephones not play second fiddle to Google’s flagships.

However Samsung’s reliance on cloud-based AI is problematic, particularly in mild of firms like Honor and Oppo placing a lot emphasis on locally-computed AI. Other than taking even higher pictures, these telephones will not need to go to the web even for advanced AI-based duties.

Galaxy AI is nice and exhibits that Samsung is keen to regulate and evolve shortly with the altering market — even when it means extra reliance on Google and fewer on Samsung’s personal in-house software program options — however MWC confirmed us that different firms are pushing more durable and sooner towards an AI-run future with out requiring the cloud, and I feel that is a much more essential purpose than what Samsung is doing right here.

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