Samsung is releasing three Galaxy S models this time around. While the standard and Plus models have never been as flashy as the Ultra, the company’s added several feature upgrades this year that make the two a rather promising duo of devices.
Generally, the phones feel thinner and lighter than previous models, with a flat-edged design that, respectfully, reminds me of an iPhone. They come in Violet, Yellow, Gray, and Black colorways, with up to 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM.
Both the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus now field variable refresh rate displays. That means the screens will adjust their smoothness based on the task at hand; a slower refresh rate for when you’re looking at static images and a higher refresh rate for more animated activities like gaming. They’re also brighter than ever at 2,600 nits — that’s significantly more than the iPhone 15’s 2,000-nit rating.
Also: Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 beats the iPhone 15 Pro in one very meaningful way
The efficiency gains of the new LTPO displays should work in tandem with the larger 4,000mAh and 4,900mAh batteries, up 100mAh each from last year’s models, though charging for the standard and Plus models remain capped at 25W and 45W respectively. There is no Qi2 wireless charging support.
At the center of the handsets is Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which brings improved graphics performance and AI computing. You’ll receive more RAM on the Plus model (12GB instead of 8GB), for what it’s worth.
As for the cameras, Samsung says it’s packed the new Galaxy S24 line with larger pixel sensors and 2x wider optical image stabilization. Expect clearer and less jittery photos and videos when taken in low-light environments, and better color reproduction in general.
Pricing for the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus starts at $799 and $999, respectively. That’s the same as last year’s asking price, which is good to see, provided you’re getting improvements — both in hardware and software — across the board. On top of that, Samsung is now promising up to seven years of operating system updates for all Galaxy S24 models, matching Google’s commitment for its devices.
