Samsung Galaxy S24 Review

Samsung Galaxy S24: The Intelligent Refinement

In a market saturated with iterative hardware updates, the Samsung Galaxy S24 arrives with a different proposition. It isn’t just about a faster chip or a brighter screen, though it has both. Instead, Samsung is betting its flagship on intelligence. The S24 is the company’s first concerted push into the on-device AI era, wrapping a suite of “Galaxy AI” features into a package that is otherwise a masterclass in refinement. This isn’t a revolutionary leap in hardware, but it might just be a foundational shift in how we interact with our most personal device.

Design: Flat is the New Black

Taking a clear design cue from its pricier Ultra sibling and a certain Cupertino competitor, the S24 embraces a completely flat aesthetic. The rounded “Contour Cut” frame of its predecessors is gone, replaced by a sharp, matte-finished Armor Aluminum frame. This change makes the phone feel remarkably solid and modern in the hand. Combined with its compact 6.2-inch display and slim bezels, the S24 is a triumph for one-handed use—a refreshing outlier in a world of ever-expanding phablets. While the design is undeniably clean and premium, it’s also incredibly safe. Those hoping for a bold new look will find the S24 feels more like a perfected S23 than a brand-new generation.

Display: A Brilliant Window

Samsung’s display prowess is on full show here. The Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel is, in a word, stunning. The key upgrade this year is a massive boost in peak brightness to 2,600 nits, making outdoor visibility a non-issue. Colors are vibrant without being oversaturated, and blacks are perfectly inky. More importantly, the S24 finally gets a proper LTPO panel, allowing the refresh rate to dynamically scale from 1Hz all the way to 120Hz. This not only makes for buttery-smooth scrolling but also contributes to better power efficiency when viewing static content. It’s an unequivocally top-tier display that leaves absolutely no room for complaint.

Performance and the AI Core

Under the hood, the S24 is a powerhouse, equipped with either the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy or Samsung’s own Exynos 2400, depending on your region. Regardless of the silicon, daily performance is flawless. Apps open instantly, multitasking is a breeze, and demanding games run without a hitch. The improved vapor chamber also keeps thermals in check during extended sessions.

The real story, however, is One UI 6.1 and the integrated Galaxy AI. Features like “Circle to Search,” which lets you instantly google anything on your screen by simply drawing a circle around it, feel genuinely futuristic and useful. Live Translate during phone calls works as advertised, breaking down language barriers in real-time. AI-assisted photo editing can remove objects or re-frame shots with generative fill. While these features are impressive, they are not without caveats. Many require an internet connection and a Samsung account, and their long-term value will depend on how well Samsung supports and expands them. For now, they are a compelling, if not entirely seamless, glimpse into the future.

Cameras: Smart, Not New

The camera hardware on the S24 is virtually identical to the S23: a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP 3x telephoto lens. While the lack of new hardware might disappoint spec-chasers, the results speak for themselves. Thanks to improved image processing powered by the new ProVisual Engine, photos in good light are excellent, with sharp details and pleasing color science. The 3x telephoto remains one of the most useful and high-quality zoom lenses you can find on a compact phone. However, the system can still be bested by rivals in challenging low-light scenarios, where noise can creep in. The improvements here are software-driven, reinforcing the phone’s core theme of intelligence over raw hardware revolution.

Battery and Value Proposition

With a slightly larger 4,000mAh battery and a more efficient chipset, the S24 delivers reliable all-day battery life for most users. It’s a solid performer that will comfortably get you from morning to night. The sore spot, however, remains charging speed. The S24 is still capped at a pedestrian 25W for wired charging and 15W for wireless. In an age where competitors offer charging speeds two or three times as fast, Samsung’s reluctance to upgrade feels decidedly out of step.

At its starting price, the Galaxy S24 is a premium device that largely justifies its cost through polish, performance, and a seven-year commitment to software updates. It’s an exceptional compact flagship that executes the fundamentals perfectly.

The Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is the quintessential “smart” upgrade. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel with its hardware but instead focuses on refining a winning formula and layering it with genuinely useful AI features. This phone is for the user who values a premium, pocket-friendly design, a best-in-class display, and reliable performance, and is intrigued by the burgeoning world of on-device AI. It’s for those who want a polished, complete package and are willing to overlook slower charging speeds and an iterative design for a taste of tomorrow’s software, today.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon