Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus review: Is It the Best Android Phone?

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus was almost the last of its kind but Samsung brought it back with key upgrades. Unlike previous models, S24 Plus now offers real advantages over standard Galaxy S24 and even challenges Ultra model in some ways.

This year, Galaxy S24 Plus has sharper QHD+ display (previously only available on Ultra) for clearer and more detailed 6.7-inch screen compared to S24’s FHD+ display. It’s powered by a strong Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Exynos 2400 chip, depending on region which introduces advanced AI features across Galaxy S24 lineup. These AI features include tools like Circle to Search, real-time translation and photo editing.

Design-wise, Galaxy S24 Plus has narrower bezels and a more durable Armor Aluminum frame. Its 4,900mAh battery is slightly larger, making it best in battery life among the S24 models, though real-life difference is small due to new, more demanding software.

While Galaxy S24 Ultra still has best camera, S24 Plus has solid photography options including 50MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom and 12MP front camera. Added Galaxy AI also brings helpful editing features to improve photo quality.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is clear step up from last year’s S23 Plus, combining high-end features and long battery life without Ultra’s premium price. It’s strong choice for anyone wanting excellent performance at good value.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Specification

Category	Specification
📶 Network	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
📅 Launch	Announced: January 17, 2024
📏 Body	Dimensions: 158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7 mm
🏗️ Build	Glass front & back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
📱 SIM	Nano-SIM and eSIM / Dual SIM (2 Nano-SIMs and eSIM, dual stand-by)
💧 Water Resistance	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
🖥️ Display	Type: Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)
	Size: 6.7 inches
	Protection: Gorilla Glass Victus 2
💻 Platform	OS: Android 14, One UI 6.1.1
⚡ CPU	8-core (Snapdragon)
🎮 GPU	Adreno 750 (Snapdragon)
💾 Memory	256GB/512GB 12GB RAM
📸 Main Camera	Triple: 50 MP (wide), 10 MP (telephoto, 3x zoom), 12 MP (ultrawide)
	Features: LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
	Video: 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, HDR10+
📱 Selfie Camera	12 MP, HDR, HDR10+, Video: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
🔊 Sound	Stereo speakers
📡 Comms	WLAN: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
🧭 Sensors	Fingerprint (under display), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
🔋 Battery	Type: Li-Ion 4900 mAh, Charging: 45W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless
🎨 Misc	Colors: Onyx Black, Marble Grey, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Jade Green, etc.
💲 Price	$641.68 / £675.00 / €775.99
📊 Performance	AnTuTu: 1,290,977 (v9) / 1,774,819 (v10), GeekBench: 5987 (v5) / 6926 (v6)
💡 Display	Max Brightness: 1452 nits
📸 Camera	Photo/Video quality rated as very good
🔋 Battery (new)	Active use score: 12:30h

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Price and Availability

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus starts at $999.99 / £999 / AU$1,699 and was unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked event on January 17, 2024. It’s now available to order worldwide and comes in seven color options.

For the base model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, price is $999.99 / £999 / AU$1,699. If you want the upgraded version with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, it costs $1,119.99 / £1,099 / AU$1,899.

Compared to last year’s Galaxy S23 Plus which started at $999.99 / £1,049 / $1,649 with 8GB RAM, Galaxy S24 Plus offers more RAM for same starting price. In the UK, it’s even £50 cheaper than previous model.

In Galaxy S24 lineup, standard Galaxy S24 starts at $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,399 while top-tier Galaxy S24 Ultra begins at $1,299.99 / £1,249 / AU$2,199.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Design

Galaxy S24 Plus keeps similar look to its predecessor but with some small improvements. Its edges are flatter, bezels are a bit narrower and it has a stronger Armor Aluminum frame, making it feel sturdier and less prone to fingerprints than last year’s model.

Phone’s size is 158.5 x 75.9 x 7.7mm and it weighs 196g. While it still uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on screen which doesn’t prevent scratches as well as glass on Galaxy S24 Ultra, you might want to consider getting a screen protector.

Galaxy S24 Plus comes in several colors: Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Sandstone Orange, Sapphire Blue and Jade Green with last three available only on Samsung’s website. Cobalt Violet model I tested has a smooth matte finish, though Galaxy S24 Ultra’s titanium colors have more premium look.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Display

Galaxy S24 Plus now has a QHD+ display, a first for any Plus model, making its 6.65-inch AMOLED 2X screen sharper and more detailed than the standard Galaxy S24. Previously, only Ultra models had this high-resolution display so it’s nice to see this upgrade.

Other display improvements include a peak brightness of 2,600 nits and better outdoor visibility with Samsung’s Vision Booster feature. Refresh rate is now 1-120Hz, providing smoother performance for gaming and video.

Vision Booster also enhances visibility in bright sunlight, so watching videos outdoors is more enjoyable. AMOLED screen delivers vibrant colors and wide viewing angles, making this the most impressive Galaxy Plus display yet.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Camera

Galaxy S24 Plus has same camera setup as its predecessor, Galaxy S23 Plus, with a 50MP main lens, 12MP ultra-wide lens, 10MP telephoto lens and 12MP selfie camera. While it lacks a big hardware upgrade, it still delivers impressive photos with bright, natural-looking results. Samsung’s updated image processing reduces over-sharpening, though sometimes images may appear slightly soft.

Galaxy S24 Plus supports Ultra HDR, helping photos maintain accurate colors even in high-contrast scenes, making it a good choice for social media. However, Night mode can sometimes over-brighten certain colors, particularly blue, though it still enhances low-light shots. Portrait mode now includes foreground blur for more immersive effect.

New modes like Food mode and Dual Record (which lets you record from two cameras at once) are ideal for content creators. Samsung also introduced AI-powered editing features such as Edit Suggestion, Generative Edit for background adjustments and Instant Slow-mo for smoother videos. While these AI tools add convenience, they raise questions about photo authenticity. Nonetheless, they’re helpful for enhancing images on go.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Performance

Galaxy S24 Plus comes with different chipsets depending on the region: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the US and Exynos 2400 in other areas. In everyday use, both versions perform excellently, with only minor benchmark differences. While the Snapdragon scores slightly higher in tests, the real-world impact is minimal.

Galaxy S24 Plus excels in gaming. It can run games smoothly without rapidly overheating because to its bigger vapor chamber for improved cooling and support for ray tracing. Phone remained comfortably cool longer than Galaxy S23 Plus when playing games like EA Sports FC 24 for extended periods of time.

Thanks to Galaxy S24 Plus’s remarkable dual stereo speakers which produce rich & robust sound experience, audio is yet another good element.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Software

Galaxy S24 Plus features Samsung’s new Galaxy AI which offers handy tools like Live Translate for real-time call translation and Note Assist for summarizing text. It also includes “Circle to Search,” allowing users to search web by simply drawing a circle around an object on screen. While these features improve usability, they mostly enhance rather than transform the experience.

Although Samsung’s One UI software offers great deal of customisation, sheer number of menus & settings can be overwhelming. Nevertheless, One UI 6.1 has helpful additions like enhanced Samsung DeX which enables users to utilize the phone as a desktop by connecting it to a monitor.

Samsung promises seven years of OS and security updates for Galaxy S24 Plus, giving it a longer lifespan—comparable to latest iPhones and Google Pixel devices. This means phone should remain current and secure until at least 2031.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus Battery

Galaxy S24 Plus features a 4,900mAh battery which is slightly larger than 4,700mAh battery in the S23 Plus. However, this small increase doesn’t lead to a significant improvement in battery life. Still, the S24 Plus lasts longer than the standard Galaxy S24.

During testing, Exynos version of the S24 Plus lasted over a day and a half with normal use, even with always-on display. The Snapdragon version achieved around 16 hours in battery tests.

Phone supports 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging but you won’t find a charger in box. In tests, Snapdragon model reached 40% charge in 15 minutes and 72% in 30 minutes. Exynos version took a bit longer but still reached full charge in just over an hour which is faster than standard Galaxy S24.

One minor issue to note is that if the phone shuts down from low battery, you may need to leave it plugged in for a couple of minutes before you can unlock it again.

✅Pros	❌Cons
✅ Big, bright QHD+ display	❌ Cameras haven’t changed
✅ Same AI features as S24 Ultra	❌ Design feels less premium than Ultra
✅ Excellent battery life	❌

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Conclusion

Galaxy S24 Plus may look simple but it feels like a top-tier phone. It has a better display, slightly longer battery life and more RAM compared to regular Galaxy S24. While it lacks the fancy titanium frame and advanced camera of S24 Ultra, S24 Plus still provides a great smartphone experience at a more affordable price especially with Samsung’s mixed AI features available across Galaxy S24 line.