The Galaxy S24+, Samsung’s Plus edition, often finds itself overlooked as the middle option in the Galaxy S series lineup. To many, it appears to be just a larger Galaxy S24, featuring an expanded display and enhanced battery. Most consumers tend to opt for the more premium Galaxy S24 Ultra. Yet, the Galaxy S24+ is more than just that; while it shares many specifications with the standard S24, my week-long experience with the S24+ has convinced me that sometimes, bigger is indeed better.
Is it worth choosing the Galaxy S24+ over the Galaxy S24, or perhaps even the Galaxy S24 Ultra? Read on to discover more.
Pricing of Samsung Galaxy S24+ in India
Be prepared for a steep price with the Galaxy S24+, which comes in two variants in India: the 12GB + 256GB model priced at Rs. 99,999, and the 12GB + 512GB option available for Rs. 1,09,999.
Galaxy S24+ supports rapid 45W charging, but a charger is not included.
In terms of color choices, you can find the Galaxy S24+ in Cobalt Violet and Onyx Black, with additional exclusive options like Sapphire Blue and Jade Green available for online purchase. We received the Cobalt Violet variant, equipped with 12GB RAM and 512GB of storage.
The box contains the phone, basic documentation, a SIM ejector tool, and a USB Type-C to Type-C cable.
Design Review of Samsung Galaxy S24+ 5G
Regarding design, the Galaxy S24+ can be seen as a larger version of the Galaxy S24 or a continuation of the Galaxy S23/Galaxy S22 aesthetics. While the overall design remains consistent from previous years, the materials used are of a noticeably higher quality. In comparison to the Galaxy S23+, the updated Galaxy S24+ features a more robust Armor 2 aluminum frame. Despite being larger than the standard Galaxy S24, it remains manageable for one-handed use for people with bigger hands. Weighing in at 197 grams and retaining a thickness of 7.7mm, it exudes a premium feel and is built to withstand daily use (though I did refrain from testing this aspect).
The Galaxy S24+ showcases an Armor 2 aluminum construction.
It boasts uniform and slim bezels on the front, which are more streamlined than those found on previous models. There’s a small opening at the top for the earpiece speaker and an in-screen ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. The Galaxy S24+ is protected by the same Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and has an IP68 rating as its smaller counterpart. On the back, you’ll find the familiar triple-camera setup, with each lens encased in its own metal ring. The LED flash is situated alongside the three vertically aligned sensors but is placed a bit lower than that of the Galaxy S23+.
Specifications and Software Review of Samsung Galaxy S24+
When it comes to specifications, the only variance between the Galaxy S24+ and the standard Galaxy S24 is the increased battery size. The phone is powered by the 4nm Exynos 2400 SoC and is complemented by the Xclipse 940 GPU, offering up to 12GB RAM (an upgrade from the 8GB on the Galaxy S23+) and up to 512GB UFS 4.0 storage. It’s important to note that there’s no option for expandable storage. For connectivity, the device supports tri-band Wi-Fi 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3 LE, as well as a USB Type-C 3.2 port, alongside typical GPS satellite support.
Samsung’s ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is highly dependable, and I believe more smartphone manufacturers ought to utilize this technology in place of optical sensors due to its quicker speed and accuracy. I have never encountered issues with it.
Samsung has committed to providing seven years of software updates for the Galaxy S24+.
The device is equipped with a 4,900mAh battery, which is considerably larger than the 4,000mAh battery of the Galaxy S24 and slightly bigger than the 4,700mAh battery found in the Galaxy S23+. Nonetheless, it only supports 45W fast charging and 15W wireless charging, which remains unchanged from last year’s offerings.
However, there’s a significant change this year regarding software support. Samsung is now offering seven years of Android OS and security updates. The Galaxy S24+ comes pre-installed with Android 14 and One UI 6.1. Additionally, it includes the latest Galaxy AI features, the details of which can be found in our comprehensive Galaxy S24 review.
Performance Review of Samsung Galaxy S24+
Diving into performance, the Exynos 2400 SoC within the Galaxy S24+ delivers flagship-level efficiency across all tasks. Although the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy SoC may perform better in benchmark comparisons, you’ll likely not perceive any differences during regular use or gaming. During my performance evaluations of the Galaxy S24+, I found its benchmark scores to be comparable to those of the Galaxy S24. The device achieved an AnTuTu score of 1,457,608 and recorded a single-core Geekbench score of 1987 and multi-core score of 6137. While the AnTuTu score was marginally lower than that of the Galaxy S24, its Geekbench score was superior, potentially due to the increased cooling surface area of the Plus model. Similar outcomes were noted in GFXbench tests.
The Galaxy S24+ display achieves a peak brightness level of 2,600nits.
Now addressing the display—this is where the improvements are notably palpable. The Galaxy S24+ sports a slightly larger 6.7-inch display compared to the 6.6-inch one on last year’s Galaxy S23+. Additionally, it embraces slimmer bezels and features a brighter LTPO AMOLED 2x panel with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits and QHD+ resolution. It maintains a fluid 120Hz refresh rate. The display is intensely bright and easily readable in outdoor conditions.
In terms of audio, the smartphone employs a dual speaker configuration, delivering ample sound with satisfying bass. Call clarity is also exceptional.
When it comes to gaming, the experience on the Galaxy S24+ is quite similar to that of the standard S24—games run smoothly at maximum settings with no noticeable lag. You might, however, observe some heat generation during prolonged gaming sessions. I found that the device heats up relatively quickly when running benchmark tests as well.
Heat buildup occurs during charging and gaming sessions.
Regarding battery efficiency, the phone lasted 19 hours and 17 minutes in our HD loop test with QHD+ resolution settings. While the higher resolution can impact battery longevity, you may extend usage periods by lowering the resolution. With standard usage patterns, the device easily lasts over a day, though heavy users may need to recharge by day’s end. Charging takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes when using a 45W+ charger with a high-rated cable. The device comes with a 3A-rated cable supporting up to 25W fast charging. For charging tests, I utilized a 125W charger.
Camera Review of Samsung Galaxy S24+
The Galaxy S24+ captures stunning photos in daylight settings.
In truth, there’s little distinction in photo and video capabilities between this model and its smaller counterpart. However, in comparison with last year’s Galaxy S23+, you may observe somewhat less saturation along with increased contrast. The ultra-wide imagery is impressive; yet, without auto-focus, some low-light shots may turn out blurred. Nighttime photography from the main camera performs well. Below are sample images showcasing the camera’s capabilities.
Main camera samples: Top – Daylight; Bottom – Lowlight (click to enlarge)
Ultra-wide camera samples: Top – Daylight shot; Bottom – Lowlight.
3x Telephoto samples: Top – Daylight; Bottom – Lowlight (click to view full size).
For additional camera samples, you can check our review of the Galaxy S24.
Final Verdict on Samsung Galaxy S24+
Before providing my concluding opinion, let’s explore some alternatives. The OnePlus 12 (Review) is a great choice that offers a larger display, enhanced camera capabilities, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, a bigger battery, and quicker charging—all at a lower price than the Galaxy S24+. The Google Pixel 8 Pro (Review) is expected to outperform in still photography, bringing additional AI features and a comparable or superior software experience, along with a more economical price tag and a better telephoto camera. You may also consider the iPhone 15 Plus, which, although it lacks a telephoto lens, excels in battery longevity and performance. Lastly, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is worth considering, offering enhanced performance, similar display size, support for S-Pen, a more substantial battery, and superior cameras. You may find it priced similarly to the Galaxy S24+.
As noted earlier, the Galaxy Plus variant is often disregarded by consumers who see it as just a larger version of the smaller S variant with marginal expansions in screen and battery size. While that may have held true in the past, the Galaxy S24+ is a different story. It now features a superior, more vibrant display, enhanced build quality, 12GB RAM as standard, and a promise of seven years of software updates. In terms of specifications, it’s now more aligned with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, making it a more attractive purchase if you’re looking to economize and don’t have a strong interest in the Ultra’s camera offerings, but prefer a larger display and battery.