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Although studies on this subject are rather rare, the only ones that exist, such as those carried out in April 2023 by the firm Counterpoint, are rather formal. Whether on the new or second-hand market, “classic” smartphones, such as the iPhone 14, the iPhone 15 or the Galaxy S23, are preferred by the general public.
It must be said that the “ Pro ”, “ Max ” versions and “Ultra” from Apple, Google, Xiaomi and Samsung are often excessive for most basic daily uses. They are often “too much” large, even “too much” powerful”. Indeed, not everyone is a designer, photographer or videographer. And above all, by being technological showcases, these ultra premium versions are much more expensive, sometimes several hundred euros.
Consequently, the youngest children of each sibling are often more than enough to satisfy the desires of ordinary mortals. Aware of this context, we wanted to take our time to test the latest addition to the Galaxy family, the S24.
What does it have that another premium Android smartphone doesn't have ? Is it so different from the S24+ and S24 Ultra ? Here is our detailed opinion in this complete test.
Samsung Galaxy S24 review: what amazed us
His talent in photography (especially at night)
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This is what we call a paradox. The Galaxy S24 offers the same technical configuration as its predecessor, the S23, which already had a lot in common with the S22. Namely:
- a 50 Mpx wide-angle sensor with a 23 mm lens, an F/1.8 aperture, Dual Pixel autofocus and optical stabilization.
- A 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor with a 13mm lens and an aperture of F/2.2.
- A 10 Mpx telephoto lens with a 67mm lens, an aperture of F/2.4 and an optical zoom x3
- A 12MP front sensor with a 26mm lens and an aperture of F/2.2.
And yet… The Galaxy S24 made a better impression on us this year in terms of photos. Which leads us to think that Samsung must have revised either its optical formula, or its AI processing algorithms, or both. Difficult to say check it. On such crucial information, manufacturers are generally not forthcoming.
Throughout our test, the main sensor behaved like a charm in good light conditions. The sharpness is excellent and the dynamic range is well controlled.In gray weather, unlike last year, the smartphone does not fall into the pitfall of overexposure in the center of the image. Overall, textures and depth effects are extremely well reproduced, even when the photo is taken quickly.
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Pleasant, the ultra-wide-angle handles the distortion effect quite well, especially in places with monuments, and the accentuation of micro-contrasts is not excessive . As a result, the photos do not lose brightness as is often the case with this type of sensor. Once again, it is better than in 2023.
For its part, the telephoto lens is as good as its counterparts if we limit ourselves to its x3 optical zoom range. Beyond that, the x5 and x10 zooms remain acceptable for certain specific situations, but no more. As for the x2 zoom, equivalent to a focal length of 48 mm, it is ideal for taking portraits and the bokeh never looks too artificial. It is rather soft and crescendo depending on the scene.
Bokeh management is intuitive
The background blur adapts to the areas of the shot
wide-angle sensor
3x zoom
5x zoom
Finally, and it is especially at this level that the S24 is making great progress, the colorimetric management is finally worthy of the greatest. Whatever the objective, the tones are more natural, more punchy, without falling into too demonstrative warmth.
In low light conditions in an urban environment, this new chromatic expertise is simply astonishing. On really complex scenes (neon lights, illuminated signs, street lights, light in an apartment), the S24 manages to perfectly manage all light sources with consistency.
The photos are beautiful, often subtle and the sharpness at the edges is never prohibitive. Some sharpness problems sometimes appear, but this is really very rare. And above all, much better managed than the competition.
For a long time, Huawei smartphones made a strong impression on us at night, then the Google Pixels took over. At the start of the year, the night champion is South Korean.
Great bright screen sound
It's an open secret: Samsung knows how to do it with screens. Yet with each new premium smartphone, the South Korean manufacturer manages to amaze us with small improvements here and there.
In terms of format, nothing is really changing. The Galaxy S24 features a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED (1080 x 2340 pixels) panel, which is 0.1 inch larger than the Galaxy S23. If the refresh rate does not change (it goes up to 120 Hz) Samsung has the good idea to add LPTO technology to the youngest of this 2024 vintage. This rate can now dynamically adapt from 1 Hz up to its maximum depending on your activity.
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Rather well calibrated, we advise you to switch to “Natural” mode all the same, the S24 especially surprises this year with its leap forward in terms of brightness. Officially, it goes to peak HDR from 1750 nits to 2600 nits.
In fact, this gain is immediately noticeable. It is no longer necessary to increase the brightness to the maximum to be able to fully enjoy its content outdoors. Something that is difficult to do with a iPhone 15…
And who can do more, can do less. Conversely, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is flexible enough to also be effective in minimum brightness. In the darkness of a room, it never attacks our peepers, which is very appreciable.
Galaxy AI: a necessary learning curve
It's hard to miss it, as Samsung has been shouting it loud and clear for several weeks. According to the South Korean firm, there will be a before and after of the Samsung Galaxy S24. The artificial intelligence of these new smartphones would finally allow the general public to use this technology concretely and on a daily basis.
During our review of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, we already reviewed all of these new features. As we were able to write, Galaxy AI oscillates between excellent, very good and to be reviewed. This is normal, this is the first version of this new ecosystem, so everything is not yet perfect.
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During this month of testing the Galaxy S24, we noticed that such new features necessarily require some learning time. The first days, we are curious and impatient, so we try everything.
We show the Notes and Web assistant to our friends, we swoon at how easy it is to edit our photos thanks to AI and we have fun with the styles message assistant presets. Then the days pass and the bellows falls again. We almost forget that we have so many tools available in our pocket.
For the simple reason that to adopt a new use, you almost have to “force yourself” at the beginning. It is a necessity so that the discovery gradually becomes a reflex. And let the reflex become a use. If you ignore this adaptation time, or if you do not allow yourself it, Galaxy AI will mechanically seem gimmicky to you.
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In fact, it was after three full weeks that our use began to become more natural. Yes, Galaxy AI can revolutionize the way we interact on a daily basis with our smartphone, but for that we have to give time.
Samsung Galaxy S24 review: what we liked
Design, the most “compact” of the band
Although the term should obviously be taken with a pinch of salt, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is one of the most “compact” premium smartphones. Which is not to displease us, as the excess of certain models (Galaxy Ultra, iPhone 15 Pro Max, Google Pixel 8 Pro, etc.) is ultimately more restrictive in the long run than we might think.
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With its virtually unchanged dimensions and weight (147 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm for 167 grams), the S24 is as easy to handle as its predecessor. Especially since this year, the edges of the aluminum frame are more rectilinear. This slight flattening makes the grip firmer, while the edges, always skillfully rounded, remain at the same time pleasant in the hollow of the palm.
And that’s a big argument for the S24. Those who like to often use their smartphone with one hand will be delightedto be able to launch an application or do a search on the web without having to act like a contortionist. Or without being afraid of dropping your smartphone on the ground.
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At the back, the S23 and S24 family look exactly the same. A soft, even sometimes slippery, mineral glass coating and an alignment of three sensors embedded in the back. Although Samsung changes almost nothing here, the minimalism of the Galaxy S24 is an elegant success and its more “compact” size a real decision-making factor.
Performance: the great return of the Exynos
After a year 2023 where everyone was in the same boat, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Samsung is reintroducing Exynos SoCs in its premium models.
Not on the S24 Ultra, which runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but on the S24 and the S24+ which each have an Exynos 2400. Engraved in 4 nm by Samsung, this chip comes with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage on our test version.
In terms of computing power, our benchmarks indicate that nothing really scares the Galaxy S24. The Exynos 2400 is faster than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and is quite close to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
In use this was confirmed for more than a month, whether on powerful 3D games or creation applications like Canva or InShot, the S24 performs proves to be a powerful smartphone that has met all our uses. And even though they have the smallest RAM of the bunch, we didn't notice any slowdown when multitasking.
Prices (slightly) down
We didn't really know where to place this review, but all things considered, every price drop is good news To acquire the Galaxy S24 in version 8 /128 GB, you will have to pay 899 euros and for the e Galaxy the S24 in 8/256 GB version, 969 euros.That is to say a decrease of 60 euros and 50 euros respectively compared to 2023.
Inaugurated by Apple last September with some of its iPhone 15s, this price drop is once again a good thing. For several years now, the price of the most premium smartphones has continued to rise, which technological developments sometimes struggle to explain. Especially when we take a look at the technical specifications of certain mid-range smartphones.
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However, this slight decline should be qualified. Indeed, the Galaxy S24's memory is not expandable via a microSD card. Therefore, if you want to invest for several years, the 128 GB storage model may be just right. Or, you will often have to clean up and store your photos externally (hard drive, computer) or on the cloud.
Finally, this reduction does not make us forget that the smartphone comes with a simple USB-C cable. If you want to equip yourself with the official charger and a case, the bill gets even higher. We then exceed 1000 euros. So yes, thank you for the drop, but I hope it continues. Or at least let it last forever.
Samsung Galaxy S24 review: what annoyed us
A slight tendency to heat up…
It was a little surprise. Compared to high-end chips from Qualcomm, the Exynos SoCs that we have already been able to test are rather a good compromise between performance and heat dissipation. You just have to remember the overheating problems of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor in 2022 to be convinced of this. The American chips are powerful, certainly, but also difficult to understand in this area by the engineers of each brand.
Put like this, the choice of Samsung seems rather logical. Include in its most “compact” smartphone, a chip supposed to keep a cool head. However, between theory and use, this was unfortunately not the case.
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During our extensive tests on 3DMark, the temperature could rise up to 45°. And during our intensive gaming sessions, a slight heating at the back of the Galaxy S24 was actually felt. Please note, this in no way prevents us from continuing to using the smartphone, we weren't on the verge of burning out either, but still. This is important to note. And to see how it will behave in summer.
If the Galaxy S24 had been equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip it would have been different ? Given the gluttony of Qualcomm's SoC and the more compact form factor of the Galaxy S4, we don't think so.
A (too) average autonomy…
Compared to last year, the Galaxy S24 battery goes from 3900 mAh to 4000 mAh. The increase isn't huge, but it's better than nothing. During versatile use, the smartphone has always been able to last a day. However, its few battery crumbs forced us to plug it in before sleeping.
During really geeky use (video streaming, 3D games, lots of photos), especially on weekends, it was necessary to pass it through the case recharges around 9 or 10 p.m. In absolute terms, this result is not poor. It is just too average for a smartphone of this standing and above all slightly in decline compared to last year's S23. In any case in France…
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And yes! In the United States and Canada, as well as in China, the entire Galaxy S24 family is in the same boat. In other words, all three smartphones are equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. In Europe, Samsung has chosen to split, as in 2022, by integrating an Exynos chip into the Galaxy S24 and S24+.
If the Galaxy S24 had been equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, its battery life would have been better ? Presumably .
Already, because all things considered, the autonomy of the Galaxy S24 Ultra made an excellent impression on us. And then, because beyond pure power, the SoC chosen has a real impact on the autonomy of a smartphone.
If on the Galaxy S23, the Snapdragon and Samsung duo pleasantly surprised us in terms of autonomy, in 2024, the Exynos and Samsung duo will make us a little l’ opposite effect.
Recharge, a slow stagnation
We wonder in this little game which, Apple or Samsung, needs it more on purpose. Compatible with a charging mechanism capped at 25 watts, the Galaxy S24 took on average 40 minutes to recover half of its battery and almost 1h15 for its entirety. It's more or less the same as last year, just about right.
And again, we had a Power Delivery 3.0 compatible charger on hand. Without it, we can easily predict that the time would have been even longer.
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Without entering into a debate on the durability of batteries, some smartphones have technologies allowing them to recharge in 30 minutes, sometimes even less.
Couldn't Google, Apple and Samsung find a happy medium? And finally offer “fast” charging on their premium models ;nbsp;”, really fast.
And the Galaxy S24+, which audience is it aimed at?
Aside from size, battery life and price, the Galaxy S24+ has exactly the same components as the Galaxy S24.
With its 4 900 mAh battery and 45-watt charging, it will be slightly more durable and quicker to recharge. Allow around 1 and a half days in standard use and a full day in geek mode. To regain his strength, he will be faster by a good quarter of an hour. It's better, but in our opinion these are not aspects which legitimize or not its purchase.
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On the other hand, its screen size (6.7 inches) is one. With this format, the daily experience completely changes. It's up to everyone to gauge what they prefer between an XL smartphone and a more compact smartphone. Finally, obviously, another argument to weigh in the balance, the price. With the Samsung Galaxy S24+, the bill will be higher, and not just a little. The fault of this screen, but also of slightly more muscular configurations.
For 12/256 GB, the S24+ costs 1 169 euros, while its 12/512 GB version reaches 1  ;289 euros.Even if the price drops by 50 euros each time compared to last year, the gap remains expensive for “only” a bigger screen.
In this regard, if you would like to take a look at all the differences between the Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra, do not hesitate to consult our comparison.
Our opinion on the Samsung Galaxy S24
Premium smartphones are too often criticized for only improving slightly from one year to the next. And that’s often true. In their defense, the sector's technological glass ceiling is almost already reached. In any case, we come close to it.
To break it, Samsung is banking on new Galaxy AI features. Although some can be improved, they can serve as purchasing arguments. Setting a foot in this new ecosystem, and understanding it, is truly exhilarating.
Above all, Samsung's best idea here is not to make any exceptions between its models. The entire 2024 premium family benefits from Galaxy AI. Which makes the S24 a little unique compared to the competition.
To be compared to its big brothers, the S24 has two major arguments for it. Its “compact” format and lower price. For the rest, it is either equally good (screen, design, photo and video part, software), or quite sufficient for the vast majority of uses (performance).
It thus ticks the boxes of what will best suit the general public. With, as always, areas for improvement. We are thinking in particular of its autonomy and its charge which are just correct.
Are these arguments enough to convince S23 owners? Not necessarily since Samsung has announced that it wants to benefit from some of its AI features on its models of smartphones and tablets from 2023. And for all owners of previous models or other Android smartphones ? Definitely..
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