Samsung officially announced the Galaxy S24 series this week, and despite so much information about the devices leaking ahead of time, there is still a lot to unpack (no pun intended). The Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra are packed to the brim with new features on both the hardware and software front, so much so that it appears to be the reason why the company decided not to launch any other products alongside them (a Galaxy Ring tease notwithstanding).
After extensive coverage of Samsung's latest Unpacked event, we're trying to take a moment to catch our breaths and have finally found the time to ponder over everything that we saw and learned over the last 24 hours. What's our take on Samsung's latest flagship lineup? Are we impressed, unimpressed, or somewhere in between?
To answer that, we rounded up some thoughts from our team of Samsung experts.
Adnan Farooqui
Samsung has done a good job of improving the value proposition of all three models with strategic differentiation that makes each model worth its asking price. I particularly appreciate the camera improvements that Samsung has made with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, building on the solid foundations of Nightography and exceptional zoom performance to significantly enhance these crucial elements of the camera experience. I'm also cautiously optimistic about the expanded use of AI as this is just the beginning, and Samsung's renewed interest in AI can bring us superior solutions in the future.
Danny Dorresteijn
Samsung nailed it this time, the company managed to further refine what was an already amazing design, with those symmetrical bezels being simply outstanding. Not only that, but AI finally feels like something we can touch with our hands. I may also make an exception this year and get the Galaxy S24+, as the size gap between the Plus and Ultra models has gotten smaller in 2024.
Asif Iqbal Shaik
Samsung did well this year by refining the formula it already had with its Galaxy S smartphone lineup. The Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S24+ get important improvements with brighter and more efficient screens, improved thermals, and faster performance, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra received a luxurious titanium build, even better zoom cameras for varied situations, and the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 For Galaxy processor.
All phones should offer better and more consistent image and video quality. While Samsung showcased some really good AI features as a part of the Galaxy AI suite, I think people will get bored of most of those features soon, especially the ones related to image editing and wallpapers. I am sure the Galaxy S24 Ultra will turn out to be the hit of the year. The success of the Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S24+, though, will largely depend on the performance of the Exynos 2400 and how it compares with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in terms of efficiency.
Mihai Matei
The Galaxy S24 series proves, more than any other Galaxy phone, that the era of yearly design experimentation is over, as it should be. The new flagship phones embody Samsung's commitment to creating experiences that help and meet the demands of today's mobile users, and the Galaxy S24 has both style and substance.
Unpacked 2024 brought Samsung and Google closer together, which should spell good news for these companies and their customers. And the new AI features introduced by the Galaxy S24 series are very promising. With faster SoCs, better cooling, brighter and better displays, and a clear vision for One UI and Samsung apps, the Galaxy S24 series is the perfect starting point for what appears to be the era of mobile AI.
Abhijeet Mishra
I'm a strong believer in the form-follows-function design philosophy, but the Galaxy S24 series has me wondering if I should switch to the function-follows-form camp. The Galaxy S24 Ultra in particular looks absolutely stunning, with the titanium frame and cool new colors making it the prettiest phone from Samsung in recent memory. The hardware upgrades, which, again, are more prominent on the Ultra model, are impressive as well, and I think this is the first time that a company has made me excited to try out AI-based software features.
I'm just disappointed by Samsung's decision to bring Exynos chips back to its flagships. While my colleagues are choosing to be optimistic about the Exynos 2400, as SamMobile's resident cynic I have zero hope, though I will be the first to admit I'm wrong if testing reveals Samsung's new Exynos chip to be the return-to-form fans have been waiting to see for half a decade.
