Looking to upgrade to the latest Android smartphone from Samsung? You can choose from the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+ or Galaxy S24 Ultra. These handsets share many of the same specifications, but also have a few specific features that set them apart. So which Galaxy S24 model should you buy? We break it all down to help you choose.
Updated January 2024: We’ve removed the pre-order language and added our thoughts on the hardware we’ve now tested.
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What’s new in the 3 phones
Photography: Julian Chokkattu
The Galaxy S24 line doesn’t add any spectacular new hardware features over last year’s Galaxy S23 line. Let’s start with the specifications common to all three phones. They are all powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. The AMOLED display supports a 120Hz screen refresh rate, with each having the option to lower it to 1Hz to save battery if not Not much happens on screen. These displays can also all reach a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, making them one of the brightest smartphone displays on the market.
These smartphones have the usual array of features such as an IP68 water resistance rating, 5G connectivity, and wireless charging. (The new Qi2 wireless charging technology is not supported on the new Galaxies, but the current Qi standard is.) Samsung promises seven years of OS upgrades and software updates. security, matching Google’s Pixel 8 series. There are also a handful of new intelligent AI software features available on all three handsets, dubbed ‘Galaxy AI’. I talk about it in more detail here. OK, now let’s see how they are different.
Ideal for most
The Galaxy S24 (8/10, WIRED recommends) is best suited for fans of smaller phones because it’s easy to use with one hand. Technically, it’s a bit larger than last year’s S23 with its 6.2-inch screen, but the phone’s dimensions aren’t that different. Samsung has shaved the edges of the screen to make this possible. The S24 is the only model that starts with 8GB of RAM (the others have more), which is more than enough for most smartphone tasks. It still only comes with 128GB of internal storage, but you can upgrade it up to 256GB. Since it is the smallest, it has the lowest battery capacity at 4,000mAh , but I regularly managed to get through a full day of use with around 15% battery life each night, even with six hours of screen time. If you’re a heavy user, you’ll probably want to carry an external battery. It is protected by extra strong Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back and has an aluminum frame that makes it durable.
Ideal for big screen fans
All of the above rings true for the Galaxy S24+ (8/10, WIRED recommends), except that it has a larger 6.7-inch screen. Get it if you don’t like the Ultra but still want a bigger screen. Bigger size also means bigger battery: the 4,900 mAh cell achieved seven hours of on-screen battery life with 24 percent remaining in my testing. You’ll probably have enough juice for one day and then the next morning. This one starts with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, expandable to 512GB. The cameras are the same as the standard S24: a 50-megapixel main camera is joined by a 12-megapixel ultra-wide and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens offering 3X optical zoom. There is a 12-megapixel selfie camera on the front.
Ideal for camera and stylus enthusiasts
The 6.8-inch Galaxy S24 Ultra (8/10, WIRED recommends) is the largest of the lot, and it ditches aluminum in favor of titanium, which is a more durable material. The titanium skeleton is also supposed to make it lighter, but you won’t find much weight savings here compared to last year’s S23 Ultra. The cover glass is also unique, made from Corning’s new Gorilla Armor, which the company says is its most scratch-resistant material yet. Time will tell us. There’s a 5,000mAh battery cell to match its size, and I was able to achieve six hours of screen time with 32% remaining, so you can easily take it to day two on a single charge.
It’s still the only model in the range with a built-in S Pen, accessible from the bottom edge of the phone. If you like to doodle or tend to sign a lot of documents on your phone, it might be worth it. Like the S24+, it has 12GB of RAM and starts with 256GB of storage, but you can upgrade the storage to 1TB if you need that much space. As for cameras, it shares a similar 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and 3X optical zoom, but the main sensor is a 200-megapixel camera, and there is an additional 5X optical zoom camera of 50 megapixels. This was previously a 10X zoom camera on its predecessor, so you lose the S23’s superior zoom capability here, but the 5X zoom is probably more useful than the 10X zoom in most situations.
There are other great Android phones out there. Phones are unnecessarily expensive these days and Samsung is pushing prices towards the high end. You don’t need to spend almost $800 to get a great smartphone. Check out our Best Android Phones and Best Cheap Phones guides for additional recommendations at prices that are much easier to digest.
Should you upgrade? If you own the Galaxy S23 or Galaxy S22, there’s no reason to upgrade. You people who own a Galaxy S21 are probably fine too, unless you’re having issues with your battery or screen and can’t get it fixed. If your S21 still makes you pretty happy, save your money and wait another year (or two). Anyone with an old Samsung phone should feel encouraged to upgrade; just know that these aren’t your only options. Samsung phones also regularly go on sale, so if you’re not in a hurry, it’s worth waiting for the next big holiday sales event to see how much prices drop for the S24 line.
Where to buy the unlocked Galaxy S24 series
At WIRED, we always recommend purchasing your smartphone unlocked. It makes switching between carriers easier, unlike phones sold locked to a particular carrier’s network. Bringing a locked phone to a new carrier requires contacting your carrier (or visiting their retail store) and jumping through a few hoops to make the device usable elsewhere. Unlocking also makes it easier to use data-only SIM cards when traveling. There is often much less bloatware installed on phones when you buy an unlocked one, and unlocked phones generally receive software updates faster than locked phones.
You can get up to $750 in instant credit if you trade in an eligible device in good condition (the amount varies depending on the device you purchase). Samsung is also offering 20% off Samsung Care+ With Theft and Loss, its accident protection subscription service that offers unlimited repairs, theft and loss coverage, and replacement and setup of a new device the same day. It currently costs $12 per month (it’s usually $15).
If you buy from Amazon, you can get a free $50 Amazon.com gift card (see code below price) for the S24, $150 for the S24+, and $200 for the S24 Ultra. There is an option to bundle Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro headphones, which will allow you to save around $20 since they are usually available on Amazon for $170.
You can save up to $600 on the S24or until $750 for the S24+ and S24 Ultra if you trade in an eligible device. Best Buy is offering a $50 gift card and a one-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with every purchase of the S24. This goes up to a $100 gift card with the S24+ and $150 for the Ultra.
Wireless carrier deals for the Galaxy S24 series
If you prefer to just get your smartphone through your carrier, here’s what the big three offer.
- Verizon offers up to $800 off Galaxy S24or up to $1,000 off Galaxy S24+ And Galaxy S24 Ultra if you add a new line with an unlimited plan selected and redeem an eligible model. Savings come in the form of bill credits over 30 months. You can also get up to $350 in promotional credit over 36 months if you add a Galaxy Watch to your order.
- AT&T matches Verizon with almost the same exchange promotion for the Galaxy S24, S24+And S24 Ultra, applied over 36 months in bill credits. However, you can also get a Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G if you buy the phone on a plan and trade in a device, choose or upgrade to an unlimited plan, then add the Tab A9+ to your cart. You will need to ship your old device to AT&T first. You will see savings in the form of bill credits of $270. If you add an accessory to your cart when you buy a phone, you can also save up to 50%.
- T Mobile offers up to $1,000 off all three Galaxy S24 devices provided you are on a specific unlimited plan and are trading in an eligible device. You can also simply add another phone line to your plan without swapping devices to participate in the same promotion.