Fresh off the back of a busy CES 2024, South Korean tech giant Samsung is showing no signs of slowing down and has today announced its newest generation of smartphones – the Galaxy S24 series.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 mark the latest flagship devices from the South Korean manufacturer and usher in a “new era of how smartphones work”, according to a company spokesperson. All three of the new phones are powered by the latest chipset from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy which – if you haven’t already guessed from the name – has been customized for Samsung and is arguably the most powerful mobile phone chip currently available. In fact, according to benchmarking platform NanoReview, the base model Qualcomm chip used in the new Samsung S24 Ultra (even before being optimized for Galaxy) scores higher in overall performance tests when compared to Apple’s latest flasgship A17 Pro chip used in the iPhone 15 Pro.
All models have seen a cosmetic update, if minor, with flatter screens that replace the curved ones found on the the previous S23 series. The phones feature slimmer bezels than before that help to maximize the available viewing area, with all round larger displays that measure in at 6.2-inches (Galaxy S24), 6.7-inches (Galaxy S24+) and 6.8-inches (Galaxy S24 Ultra). The upper tier Galaxy S24 Ultra has also seen an upgrade to its body and becomes the first Samsung phone made from titanium, a lightweight but extremely resilient metal that puts Samsung’s top model on par with Apple’s. The brand has also built on its relationship with Gorilla Glass manufacturer, Corning, and debuts an all new Gorilla Armor material in its Galaxy S24 Ultra model. This new glass, according to Samsung, will offer users an “unparalleled combination of durability and visual clarity” whilst retaining all of its strength properties.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, AI has a starring role in the new Galaxy S24 series – the brand has given this its own name, Galaxy AI. Users of any of the three new devices will find elements of Galaxy AI woven throughout their phone: Live Translate, for example, is a real-time, two-way voice and text translator built into the app natively which will allows users to speak or type in their native language and have it instantly translated and delivered in the native language of the receiver; Circle to Search, created with Google, will let users circle anything on screen for immediate search results; and photo and video creators now have generative features usually found on desktop applications available on their phone, with Generative Edit allowing users to fill parts of an image using generative AI, and Instant Slow-mo turning any video into slow motion, even when not shot at a high enough frame rate to natively slow the video down (it does this by using AI to generate additional frames which are placed into the video to create the effect).
The onboard cameras on all models of the Galaxy S24 series have been improved. The flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra model combines a Quad Tele System with a 50MP sensor for picture perfect results up to 10x magnification. The digital zoom capabilities take that forward tenfold for a 100x enhanced digital zoom. The camera’s new sensor is built up of larger pixels – 60% bigger than the previous generation – which absorb more light to allow better quality photo and video in low-lighting conditions.
Mobile gamers will be pleased to know that all three of the Galaxy S24 phones feature displays capable of adaptive refresh rates (1-12o Hz), meaning smooth frame rates for even the most-demanding mobile games. Power users will find the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s updated vapour chamber – 1.9 times bigger than before – helps to regulate surface temperatures for longer and more comfortable gameplay over time. All models have a peak brightness of 2,600nits, allowing them to be used with ease in outdoor or brighter settings.
The Galaxy S24 Series is launching on January 31 – with pre-orders starting today – and each model will be available in seven colors. The Galaxy S24 is available in two models, 128GB (£799 GBP / $799 USD) and 256GB (£859 GBP / $859 USD), as is the Galaxy S24+ at 256GB (£999 / $999 USD) and 512GB (£1099 GBP / $1119 USD). The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes in three models, 256GB (£1249 GBP / $1299 USD), 512GB (£1349 GBP / $1419 USD) and 1TB (£1549 GBP / $1659 USD).
