Samsung Galaxy S24+: The Unsung Hero of the Flagship Lineup Unveiled

The Plus version from Samsung stands as the middle sibling in the Galaxy S series, often overlooked by users. To many, the Galaxy S24+ appears as a simple upgrade of the Galaxy S24, featuring a larger screen and battery. A majority are willing to invest more for the more advanced Galaxy S24 Ultra. Nevertheless, the Galaxy S24+ offers more than just size. While it generally shares specifications with the Galaxy S24, the advantages of a larger model became apparent to me after testing the Galaxy S24+ for approximately a week.

Is it worth opting for the Galaxy S24+ over the Galaxy S24 or even the S24 Ultra? Read on to discover more.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ pricing in India

The Galaxy S24+ holds a steep price tag! It is available in two configurations in India: the 12GB + 256GB model priced at Rs. 99,999 and the 12GB + 512GB variant at Rs. 1,09,999.

The Galaxy S24+ is equipped with 45W rapid charging but does not come with an included charger

 

Regarding color selections, the Galaxy S24+ can be obtained in Cobalt Violet and Onyx Black, with the option to purchase online exclusive shades like Sapphire Blue and Jade Green. We received the Cobalt Violet model featuring 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

The package includes the smartphone, some documentation, a SIM eject tool, and a USB Type-C to Type-C cable.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ 5G Review: Build Quality

When it comes to design, it closely resembles a scaled-up Galaxy S24 or appears akin to Galaxy S23/Galaxy S22. The design has been consistent over the past few years, but the materials have improved in terms of durability and quality. The new Galaxy S24+ boasts a more robust Armor 2 aluminum frame compared to the Galaxy S23+. Despite its larger size compared to the standard Galaxy S24, it remains manageable for one-handed use, particularly if your hands are large. Weighing in at 197 grams, its thickness matches the Galaxy S24 at 7.7mm, imparting a premium feel that suggests it can withstand a fair amount of use (which I refrained from testing).

The Galaxy S24+ boasts a robust Armor 2 aluminum frame

 

The front features slim borders that are evenly distributed, now thinner than last year’s model. At the top, there exists a cutout for the speaker and an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. The Galaxy S24+ retains the same Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection and an IP68 certification as its smaller counterpart. On the rear, the familiar triple-camera layout is present, with each camera encased in its own metallic ring. The LED flash sits next to the three vertically aligned sensors, albeit positioned lower than that on the Galaxy S23+.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ Review: Features and Software

Examining specifications, the main distinction between the Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 lies in the battery size. It is powered by the 4nm Exynos 2400 SoC and the Xclipse 940 GPU, offering a maximum of 12GB RAM (up from 8GB on Galaxy S23+) and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. The phone does not support expandable storage. Connectivity options include tri-band Wi-Fi 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3 LE, a USB Type-C 3.2 port, along with standard GPS satellite functionality.

Samsung’s ultrasonic fingerprint sensor works reliably and I believe more smartphone manufacturers should consider adopting this technology over optical sensors. It is quicker and more precise, and I have faced no difficulties using it.

Samsung has committed to providing seven years of software updates for the Galaxy S24+

 

The Galaxy S24+ houses a 4,900mAh battery, which is significantly larger than the 4,000mAh cell found in the Galaxy S24 and slightly larger than the 4,700mAh battery in the previous Galaxy S23+. Nevertheless, it continues to support only 45W rapid charging and 15W wireless charging, consistent with last year’s offerings.

What has changed this year is the enhanced software support, with Samsung promising 7 years of Android OS and security updates. The Galaxy S24+ operates on Android 14 with One UI 6.1 pre-installed. You will also benefit from the new Galaxy AI feature set, which you can read more about in our Galaxy S24 review.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ Review: Performance

Switching focus to performance, the Exynos 2400 SoC in the Galaxy S24+ delivers flagship-level performance across various scenarios. While benchmark scores indicate that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy SoC is superior, everyday usage or gaming shows no noticeable difference. I conducted several benchmarks on the Galaxy S24+, which yielded results comparable to those of the Galaxy S24. In AnTuTu, the device achieved a score of 1,457,608, while on Geekbench, it recorded a single-core score of 1987 and a multi-core score of 6137. Although the AnTuTu score was slightly lower than that of the Galaxy S24, the Geekbench performance was better, likely due to the greater area available for cooling in the Plus model. Other test results were similar on GFXbench.

The display on the Galaxy S24+ reaches a peak brightness of 2,600nits

 

Now, addressing the display, which is an area of significant enhancement. The Galaxy S24+ sports a slightly larger 6.7-inch screen compared to the 6.6-inch display of the previous Galaxy S23+. The display is characterized by slimmer bezels and features a brighter LTPO AMOLED 2x panel with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits and QHD+ resolution. It maintains a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring it is exceptionally bright and easily readable in outdoor conditions.

The phone has a hybrid dual speaker arrangement, which produces loud audio with satisfactory bass. Call quality is also commendable.

Gaming on the Galaxy S24+ provides a similar experience to that of the smaller S24. All games can be run at the highest settings without noticeable lag. However, heat does become a factor during extended gaming sessions. I also observed that the device generates more heat during benchmarking.\p>

The phone experienced heat under charging and gaming conditions

 

Regarding battery endurance, the device lasted 19 hours and 17 minutes during our HD loop test with the screen resolution set to QHD+. The higher resolution does consume battery faster, but users can achieve improved battery life by lowering the resolution. Under normal usage, the phone easily lasts more than a day; however, with intense usage, it may need recharging by the end of the day. Fully charging the device requires approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes with a 45W+ charger and a compatible cable. The phone is packaged with a 3A-rated cable that supports only 25W fast charging, and I utilized a 125W charger for our charging trial.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ Review: Camera Performance

Identically to the smaller Galaxy S24, the Samsung Galaxy S24+ features the same camera arrangement. It includes a 50-megapixel primary rear camera with OIS, a 10-megapixel telephoto unit offering 3x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with a 120-degree field of view. For selfies, there is a 12-megapixel sensor, complete with auto-focus capabilities.

The Galaxy S24+ captures impressive images under daylight conditions

 

In reality, the photo and video quality is nearly identical between these two devices. Nonetheless, compared to the Galaxy S23+, there has been a slight reduction in saturation and an increase in contrast. Ultra-wide images are decent, although a lack of auto-focus can cause some shots to appear blurry, particularly in low-light scenarios. Speaking of low-light performance, the primary camera does perform admirably. Below are some sample images to illustrate the camera’s capabilities.

Main rear camera samples: Top — Daytime; Bottom — Low-light (Tap to expand)

 

Ultra-wide camera samples: Top — Daylight shot. Bottom — Low-light

 

3x Telephoto samples: Top — Daylight. Bottom — Low-light (Tap to expand)

 

For additional camera samples, please refer to our Galaxy S24 review.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ Review: Conclusion

Prior to stating my final thoughts, let’s explore some alternatives. The OnePlus 12 (Review) presents an enticing choice, featuring a larger display, slightly enhanced cameras, the 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 likely to excel in still photography, deliver more AI features, and offer a comparable or even superior software experience. Moreover, it is priced lower while having a better telephoto camera. The option of the iPhone 15 Plus is available, which, despite lacking a telephoto lens, promises solid performance and battery longevity. Finally, you might consider the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which provides enhanced performance, a similar display size, S-Pen support, a larger battery, and superior camera capabilities, potentially at the same cost as the Galaxy S24+.

As indicated earlier, the Galaxy Plus variant typically goes unnoticed by buyers, as it mainly serves as a larger alternative to the standard S model. This notion may have been valid in previous years, but the Galaxy S24+ creates a different narrative. It now features an improved, brighter display, superior build quality, a standard 12GB of RAM, and a commitment to seven years of software updates. It aligns more closely with the Galaxy S24 Ultra in terms of specifications, making it a more compelling choice for those looking to save some money and who do not prioritize the Ultra’s superior cameras but do seek a larger display and enhanced battery capacity.

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