
Trying to improve to Samsung’s latest Android smartphone? You may select from the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, or Galaxy S24 Extremely. These handsets share lots of the identical specs but in addition have a number of particular options that make every one stand out. So which Galaxy S24 mannequin must you purchase? We break all of it down that will help you select.
Up to date January 2024: We have eliminated preorder language and added our ideas on the {hardware} that we have now examined.
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What’s New in All 3 Telephones
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
The Galaxy S24 lineup does not add dramatically new {hardware} options over final yr’s Galaxy S23 vary. Let’s begin with the specs all three telephones share. They’re all powered by the identical Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. The AMOLED show on ’em helps a 120-Hz display refresh fee, every with the aptitude to decrease that all the way down to 1 Hz to avoid wasting battery life if not a lot is occurring on the display. These screens can all additionally hit as much as 2,600 nits in peak brightness, making them among the brightest smartphone shows round.
These smartphones have the same old slate of options like an IP68 water resistance ranking, 5G connectivity, and wi-fi charging. (The rising Qi2 wi-fi charging tech shouldn’t be supported on the brand new Galaxies, however the present Qi customary is.) Samsung is promising seven years of working system upgrades and safety updates, matching Google’s Pixel 8 collection. There are additionally a handful of recent good software program AI options out there throughout all three handsets, dubbed “Galaxy AI.” I speak about them in larger element right here. OK, now let’s go over how they’re completely different.
Greatest for Most
The Galaxy S24 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is greatest fitted to lovers of smaller telephones as is simple to make use of one-handed. Technically, it is a tad greater than final yr’s S23 with its 6.2-inch display, however the cellphone’s dimensions aren’t all that completely different. Samsung shaved down the bezels on the display to make this potential. The S24 is the one mannequin that begins with 8 GB of RAM—the remainder have extra—which is loads sufficient for many smartphone duties. It nonetheless solely comes with 128 GB of inside storage, however you possibly can improve that to 256 GB. Since it is the smallest, it has the bottom battery capability at 4,000 mAh, however I routinely managed to get by way of a full day of use with round 15 p.c left every night time, even with six hours of screen-on time. When you’re a heavy consumer, you may most likely wish to carry an influence financial institution. It is protected by extra-tough Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back and front and has an aluminum body which makes it sturdy.
Greatest for Massive-Display Lovers
Every little thing above rings true for the Galaxy S24+ (8/10, WIRED Recommends), besides it has a bigger 6.7-inch show. Get this in case you do not take care of the Extremely however nonetheless need the bigger display. A much bigger measurement additionally means an even bigger battery—the 4,900-mAh cell hit seven hours of screen-on time with 24 p.c left in my testing. You will probably have sufficient juice to final a day after which the next morning. This one begins with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of inside storage, which is upgradeable to 512 GB. The cameras are the identical as the usual S24: a 50-megapixel primary digicam is joined by a 12-megapixel ultrawide, and a 10-megapixel telephoto providing 3X optical zoom. There is a 12-megapixel selfie digicam on the entrance.
Greatest for Digicam and Stylus Fiends
The 6.8-inch Galaxy S24 Extremely (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the most important of the lot, and it ditches aluminum for titanium, which is a extra sturdy materials. The titanium skeleton is meant to make it extra light-weight too, however you will not discover a lot weight financial savings right here over final yr’s S23 Extremely. Additionally distinctive is the duvet glass, which is produced from Corning’s new Gorilla Armor, which the corporate says is its most scratch-resistant materials thus far. Time will inform. There is a 5,000-mAh battery cell to match its measurement, and I used to be capable of hit six hours of display time with 32 p.c left, so you possibly can simply take it to day two on a single cost.
It is nonetheless the one mannequin within the lineup with a built-in S Pen stylus, which is accessible from the underside fringe of the cellphone. When you wish to doodle or are likely to signal a variety of paperwork in your cellphone, then it is perhaps price it. Just like the S24+, it has 12 GB of RAM and begins with 256 GB of storage, however you possibly can improve the storage to 1 TB in case you want that a lot house. As for the cameras, it shares the same 12-megapixel ultrawide and 3X optical zoom digicam, however the main sensor is a 200-megapixel digicam, and there is a further 50-megapixel 5X optical zoom digicam. This was a 10X zoom digicam on its predecessor, so that you’re dropping out on the S23’s superior zoom functionality right here, however 5X zoom is probably going extra helpful than 10X zoom in most conditions.
There are different nice Android telephones. Telephones are unnecessarily costly nowadays, and Samsung is pushing costs towards the excessive finish. You needn’t spend anyplace close to $800 to get an awesome smartphone. Try our Greatest Android Telephones and Greatest Low-cost Telephones guides for added suggestions at costs which are a lot simpler to abdomen.
Must you improve? When you’ve got the Galaxy S23 or Galaxy S22, there isn’t any cause to improve. You of us with a Galaxy S21 are probably tremendous too, except you are having points together with your battery or your display and might’t get it fastened. In case your S21 continues to be making you largely glad, save your money and wait one other yr (or two). Anybody with an older Samsung cellphone ought to really feel welcome to improve; simply know that these will not be your solely choices. Samsung telephones additionally routinely go on sale, so in case you’re not in a rush, it is price ready for the subsequent massive vacation sale occasion to see how low costs drop for the S24 vary.
The place to Purchase the Galaxy S24 Collection Unlocked
We right here at WIRED at all times advocate you purchase your smartphone unlocked. It makes it simpler to change between carriers, not like telephones which are bought locked to a specific service’s community. Taking a locked cellphone to a brand new service requires contacting your service (or visiting their retail retailer) and leaping by way of a number of hoops to make the system usable elsewhere. Going unlocked additionally makes it simpler to make use of data-only SIM playing cards when touring. There’s usually so much much less bloatware put in on the telephones while you purchase one unlocked, and unlocked telephones sometimes obtain software program updates extra rapidly than locked ones.
You may rise up to $750 in instantaneous credit score in case you commerce in an eligible system in good situation (the quantity varies on the system you are shopping for). Samsung can be providing 20 p.c off Samsung Care+ With Theft and Loss, which is its unintended safety subscription service that provides limitless repairs, theft and loss protection, and same-day substitute and setup of a brand new system. It prices $12 per thirty days proper now (it is often $15).
When you purchase from Amazon, you will get a free $50 Amazon.com reward card (see the code under the value) for the S24, $150 for the S24+, and $200 for the S24 Extremely. There’s an choice to bundle Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Professional earbuds, which can allow you to save round $20 since they’re sometimes out there on Amazon for $170.
It can save you as much as $600 on the S24, or as much as $750 for the S24+ and S24 Extremely in case you commerce in an eligible system. Greatest Purchase is providing a $50 reward card and an Xbox Sport Go Final 1-month membership with each buy of the S24. That goes as much as a $100 reward card with the S24+ and a $150 for the Extremely.
Wi-fi Provider Offers for the Galaxy S24 Collection
When you want to only get your smartphone by way of your service, here is what the large three are providing.
- Verizon is providing as much as $800 off the Galaxy S24, or as much as $1,000 off the Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Extremely in case you add a brand new line with a choose limitless plan and commerce in an eligible mannequin. The financial savings come within the type of invoice credit over 30 months. It’s also possible to rise up to $350 in promotional credit score over 36 months in case you add a Galaxy Watch to your order.
- AT&T is matching Verizon with practically the identical trade-in promotion for the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Extremely, utilized over 36 months in invoice credit. Nevertheless, it’s also possible to get a Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G if you are going to buy the cellphone on an installment plan and commerce in a tool, select or improve to an infinite plan, after which add the Tab A9+ to your cart. You will have to ship your outdated system to AT&T first. You will be seeing the financial savings as $270 in invoice credit. When you add an adjunct to your cart as you purchase a cellphone, it’s also possible to save as much as 50 p.c off.
- T-Cell is providing as much as $1,000 off all three Galaxy S24 gadgets offered you are on a particular limitless plan and are buying and selling in an eligible system. It’s also possible to simply add one other cellphone line to your plan with out buying and selling in a tool to participate in the identical promotion.