The much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S24 series has officially landed, marking a new era for Samsung flagships. Galaxy Unpacked 2024 introduced three distinct models: the Samsung Galaxy S24, Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, and the top-tier Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. With pre-orders live and the official release slated for January 31st, the crucial decision now lies in choosing the perfect S24 for your needs. While all bear the Galaxy S24 name, significant differences set them apart.
This comprehensive comparison dives deep into the Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra, highlighting their key distinctions to empower you to make an informed choice.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Series: Spec-by-Spec Comparison
To kick things off, here’s a detailed specs table offering a side-by-side look at the core features of each model:
| Feature | Galaxy S24 | Galaxy S24 Plus | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $799 | $999 | $1,299 |
| Display Size & Resolution | 6.2-inch AMOLED, FHD+ Flat | 6.7-inch AMOLED, QHD+ Flat | 6.8-inch AMOLED, QHD+ Flat |
| Refresh Rate & Brightness | 1-120Hz Adaptive, 2600 nits peak | 1-120Hz Adaptive, 2600 nits peak | 1-120Hz Adaptive, 2600 nits peak |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (Select Regions) / Exynos 2400 (Select Regions) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (Select Regions) / Exynos 2400 (Select Regions) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (Global) |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage Options | 128GB, 256GB | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Rear Camera System | 50MP Main, 12MP Ultrawide, 10MP Telephoto (3x) | 50MP Main, 12MP Ultrawide, 10MP Telephoto (3x) | 200MP Main, 12MP Ultrawide, 50MP Telephoto (5x), 10MP Telephoto (3x) |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP |
| Battery Capacity | 4,000 mAh | 4,900 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Charging Speed | 25W Wired | 45W Wired | 45W Wired |
| Dimensions | 5.79 x 2.78 x 0.30 inches | 6.24 x 3.00 x 0.30 inches | 6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 inches |
| Weight | 5.93 ounces | 6.95 ounces | 8.22 ounces |
| Colors (Standard) | Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow | Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow | Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Series: Price Breakdown
Image alt text: Close-up hands-on view of the Samsung Galaxy S24 series phones showcasing their design and color options.
Price is a primary differentiator within the S24 lineup. The Samsung Galaxy S24 emerges as the most accessible entry point, starting at $799 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage configuration. A 256GB storage variant is also available for those needing more space.
Stepping up, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus begins at $999, offering a base configuration of 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, with a 512GB option for users with extensive storage demands.
At the premium end, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra commands a starting price of $1,299. This flagship model boasts 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage in its base version, extending to 512GB and a massive 1TB storage option for power users and content creators.
Color availability also varies slightly. The Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus share a similar color palette including Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, and Amber Yellow, alongside Samsung.com exclusives like Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, and Sandstone Orange. The Galaxy S24 Ultra adopts a titanium-inspired color scheme to complement its titanium frame, featuring Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow, with Samsung.com exclusive Titanium Green, Titanium Blue, and Titanium Orange shades.
Design and Display: Flat Screens Across the Board
Image alt text: A comparative shot of the Samsung Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra displays, highlighting their flat screens and slim bezels.
A unified design language permeates the Galaxy S24 series with all three models featuring flat AMOLED displays. This marks a shift even for the Ultra, traditionally known for its curved screen. Shared display attributes include a dynamic 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate for smooth scrolling and optimized battery efficiency, and a peak brightness of 2600 nits for excellent outdoor visibility. Notably slimmer bezels across all models contribute to slightly larger displays within similar phone dimensions.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 sports a 6.2-inch FHD+ resolution display and compact dimensions of 5.79 x 2.78 x 0.30 inches, weighing 5.93 ounces. The Galaxy S24 Plus increases screen real estate to 6.7 inches with a sharper QHD+ resolution, measuring 6.24 x 3.00 x 0.30 inches and weighing 6.95 ounces.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra features the largest display at 6.8 inches, maintaining QHD+ resolution and dimensions of 6.40 x 3.11 x 0.34 inches. A key design change for the Ultra is the introduction of a titanium frame, aiming for enhanced durability without increased weight. However, it maintains the same 8.2-ounce weight as its predecessor, remaining the heaviest in the S24 family.
Display protection also differs. The S24 Ultra boasts Gorilla Armor, promising a remarkable 4x improvement in scratch resistance over Gorilla Glass Victus 2, alongside reduced screen glare. The S24 and S24 Plus utilize Gorilla Glass Victus 2, also found on all three models’ back panels. The Ultra further enhances thermal performance with a 1.9x larger vapor cooling chamber, crucial for sustained performance and heat management, especially with the titanium frame. Exclusively for the Ultra, the integrated S Pen stylus caters to productivity and creativity, a feature not available on the S24 or S24 Plus.
Performance and Specs: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Power
Image alt text: A lifestyle shot of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus in Amber Yellow, emphasizing its sleek design and premium feel.
Performance-wise, the Samsung Galaxy S24 series presents a nuanced picture. In North America and select regions, the standard Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus are equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. The Galaxy S24 Ultra exclusively features the “Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy,” a specifically optimized version of the chipset promising enhanced performance on Galaxy devices.
While details on the exact performance gains of the “for Galaxy” chip remain to be seen in benchmarks, Samsung emphasizes “remarkable NPU improvement for incredibly efficient AI processing,” suggesting the Ultra might hold an edge in AI-driven tasks. In some regions, including the UK, the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus will utilize the Exynos 2400 processor. Importantly, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy remains consistent across all Galaxy S24 Ultra models globally.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is anticipated to deliver significant performance boosts across CPU, GPU, and NPU, alongside improved power efficiency. This translates to enhanced AI capabilities and superior gaming experiences with smoother gameplay, better lighting effects, and improved ray tracing. Memory configurations also differ. The standard Galaxy S24 offers 8GB of RAM, while both the Galaxy S24 Plus and S24 Ultra upgrade to 12GB of RAM as standard, ensuring smoother multitasking and application handling. Storage options for the S24 are 128GB and 256GB. The S24 Plus and S24 Ultra offer 256GB and 512GB, with the Ultra extending to a 1TB option for users demanding maximum storage capacity.
Battery and Charging: Endurance and Speed
Image alt text: Group shot of the Samsung Galaxy S24 series phones in various colors, showcasing their battery life and charging capabilities.
Battery capacity naturally scales with phone size in the S24 series. The Samsung Galaxy S24 houses a 4,000 mAh battery, which is substantial considering its display size and resolution. The Galaxy S24 Plus steps up to a 4,900 mAh battery, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra leads with a 5,000 mAh battery. Real-world battery performance will require testing, but the efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is expected to contribute to improved battery life across all models, building upon the already impressive battery performance of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Charging speeds also vary. The Galaxy S24 retains 25W wired charging, reaching 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes. The Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra both benefit from faster 45W wired charging, capable of reaching 65% charge in around 30 minutes. All three models support 15W Qi wireless charging, although wired charging remains significantly faster.
Camera Capabilities: Ultra Leads the Photography Pack
Image alt text: Close-up view of the Samsung Galaxy S24 camera system, highlighting its triple-lens array and advanced photography features.
The camera systems are where the most significant differences emerge, particularly favoring the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus share an identical triple-lens rear camera setup: a 50MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. Both also feature a 12MP front-facing camera.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a more advanced quad-lens rear camera system: a 200MP main lens, a 12MP ultrawide, a 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. It also shares a 12MP front camera. The Ultra’s camera prowess is further enhanced by its “Quad-Tele System,” enabling “optical quality” zoom at 2x, 3x, 5x, and 10x magnifications by cropping high-resolution images down to 12MP. Samsung’s 100x Space Zoom and Nightography features return, leveraging larger pixels and wider OIS for improved low-light performance and reduced motion blur.
All S24 models offer Super HDR for realistic previews and enhanced integration with third-party social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat, ensuring consistent image quality when sharing directly from the camera. While comprehensive camera comparisons require hands-on testing, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s hardware advantage strongly suggests superior photographic capabilities, especially in zoom and low-light scenarios.
Galaxy AI: Intelligent Features Across the Series
Image alt text: Samsung Galaxy S24 showcasing its AI features, emphasizing user experience enhancements and intelligent functionalities.
A major highlight of the S24 series is the integration of Galaxy AI features, and crucially, these features are consistent across all three models. Rumors of AI exclusivity to the Ultra proved unfounded, ensuring all S24 users benefit from Samsung’s new AI-driven tools. Galaxy AI focuses on enhancing user experience through intelligent assistance. Browsing Assist summarizes online content, while Chat Assist, integrated into the keyboard, offers real-time tone and style adjustments in six styles, alongside translation capabilities. The Interpreter tool in the phone app provides live text translations in 13 languages and 17 dialects.
Samsung Notes app gains Transcribe Assist, which transcribes, translates, and summarizes notes, even neatening S Pen handwriting on the Ultra. Circle to Search with Google allows users to circle any on-screen content for instant Google search results, also compatible with the S Pen on the Ultra. AI-powered photo editing tools include Edit Suggestions, analyzing photos and learning user editing habits to suggest improvements. Generative Edit fills in missing background or objects using generative AI, and Instant Slow-mo converts standard videos into slow-motion clips without requiring dedicated slow-motion recording.
Final Verdict: Choosing Your Ideal S24
Image alt text: A concluding group shot of the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, encouraging viewers to choose the model that best fits their needs and preferences.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus receive significant and welcome upgrades, particularly the Plus model, which emerges as a compelling option at its $999 price point. However, the Galaxy S24 Ultra remains the undisputed king of the Samsung flagship lineup. With its optimized Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, titanium frame, and advanced quad-lens camera system, it offers the ultimate Samsung experience – albeit at a higher cost.
For users seeking the absolute best Samsung has to offer, the Ultra is the clear choice. However, for those prioritizing value and excellent features without the top-tier price, the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus present outstanding alternatives within the S24 series. Ultimately, the “best” S24 depends on individual needs, budget, and priorities.
