Everything You Need To Know About The Samsung Galaxy S24

The annual Samsung Unpacked event – when the Korean tech giant reveals their forthcoming gadgets – never disappoints. For their latest event in January, they announced details of a soon-to-come Smart Ring. But the brightest spotlight was on the Galaxy S24, the new version of their flagship phone.

For this model, AI comes to the fore – it’s set to be the real selling point, with nifty new features like a real-time voice and text translator (even when you’re abroad on flight mode), and assistants to help you compose perfectly-pitched messages. Aside from this, the S24 and S24 Plus have become easier to hold, with brighter, sharper screens and the batteries are slightly better. And with the phone market becoming more competitive, the price has dropped since last year, making it even more of an attractive purchase. At the higher-spec end, the Ultra has had the biggest upgrade, getting a titanium finish and a flatter, brighter 6.8” screen.

The real question is, is it worth shelling out for this latest phone? Let’s take a closer look to see what it offers.

Camera

The big news about the S24 is the AI-enhanced camera that can take brilliantly bright, crisp images, even in very low light. All three Galaxy S24 models have the same 12MP front facing camera – as with the previous model. On the S24 Ultra, you get an impressive wide-angle camera and powerful zoom, with a rear 12MP Ultra Wide Camera, 200MP Wide-angle Camera, 10MP Telephoto Camera and 100X Space Zoom. The S24 and S24 Plus have the same spec of Ultra Wide and Telephoto Camera, but with a reduced 50MP Wide-angle Camera and only 30X Space Zoom. So it’s worth considering the higher spec if you want the best quality photos and videos.

Battery performance

The battery on the S24 and Plus has had an upgrade that isn’t a massive increase from previous models, but does give you a bit longer in between charges. There’s not much between each model: the S24, with a 4000mAh battery, offers up to 29 hours video playback, while the Plus will give you up to 31 hours. The Ultra battery has stayed the same at 5000mAh, giving you up to 30 hours playback.

Design and display

You should find the new Galaxy S24 models easier to grip than previous models. The flat edges make it more comfortable to hold up to take selfies, and keep steady when filming. If you accidentally drop it, all three S24 models are water resistant, with a toughened screen that’s less likely to get damaged.

The S24 (which is 167g) has a 6.2” screen, with the Plus model (weighing 196g) featuring a larger screen at 6.7”. The Galaxy S24 Ultra (at 232g), the 6.8” display is brighter, sharper and flatter than the previous model.  Those boosts will make a real difference to watching movies on your phone, and editing photos and videos. If you read long pages of text, the crisp focus will be gentler on your eyes too. With the screen panel now being flat, you’ll find it smooth to use with the integrated stylus.

For all three models, you’ve a stylish choice of colours – take your pick from violet, yellow, black or grey.

Tech spec

To handle the new AI-features, there’s a new processor in the S24 Ultra: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is the newest chipset on the block. Meanwhile, the S24 and S24 Plus use Samsung’s own Exynos 2400. Like the previous model, the S24 Ultra also features a built-in stylus that’s thinner for this upgrade.

The Galaxy S24 is available with either 128GB or 256 GB of storage – the same as the previous models. The S24 Plus offers a bit more, coming in 256GB or 512GB, with the Ultra offering three options: 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.

Price and availability

You can pre-order your Samsung Galaxy S24 now, but it doesn’t land in the UK until January 31st. The price drop since last year means prices start at £799 for the 128GB S24, £999 for the 256GB S24 Plus and £1249 for the 256GB S24 Ultra.

If you’re looking to protect your mobile take a look at Switched On’s feature packed mobile phone insurance. With three levels of cover you can choose the right policy for your needs. Plus all policies include 24/7 online claims, immediate cover and fast repairs and replacements. Find out more by visiting the Switched On website.