Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus long-term review: better than the Ultra?
Verdict in brief
For Jen, the Galaxy S24 Plus is the better S24 Ultra for anyone who values handling and low weight and doesn't need an S Pen. In everyday use, performance, display, and Galaxy AI are almost identical, and the Ultra costs €300 more.
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The video is in German.
Pros
- Extremely well built, matte glass back, brushed aluminum frame
- 6.7-inch display with 513 ppi and up to 2,600 nits
- 36 g lighter than the S24 Ultra, sits more comfortably in the hand
- Exynos 2400 without stutters, Galaxy AI runs smoothly, 12 GB of RAM
- Battery lasts at least two days
- Like the Ultra: IP68, 45-watt charging, 15-watt wireless charging, Samsung DeX
Cons
- Main camera with 50 megapixels versus 200 megapixels on the Ultra, noticeable differences
- No S Pen
- Possible performance limits in graphically demanding games or rendering
The Galaxy S24 Plus is the middle child in Samsung’s flagship lineup this year. I’m one myself. The question is what its reason for existing is: is it just a bigger S24, or maybe even the better S24 Ultra? Either way, it’s extremely well built, and the look and feel is premium and nothing else.
Design and display
Someone wrote in my comments that Samsung devices are plastic toys and can’t hold a candle to the premium design of the iPhone. My answer: 2012 called and wants its opinions back. The S24 Plus has a matte glass back and a slightly brushed aluminum frame that is completely flat-edged for the first time. It looks modern and edgy.
The 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 120 Hz is first league. At 513 ppi, it even has a higher resolution than the S24 Ultra at 505 ppi, which of course you don’t notice when looking at it. Both get very bright at 2,600 nits, and in direct sunlight the display is even easier to read. The bezels are nice, thin, and even.
One difference can’t be argued away: the weight. The S24 Ultra weighs 232 g, which is 36 g more than the S24 Plus. You notice that clearly in everyday use as soon as you hold the device for more than a minute or put it in your pocket. With its rounded corners, the S24 Plus sits much more pleasantly in the hand.
ESR cases with MagSafe
Ad: The HaloLock kickstand cases for the S24 Ultra and the S24 Plus bring MagSafe to your Android smartphone. They have a strong magnet on the back for MagSafe-compatible accessories like PopSockets and wallets, plus a very flat fold-out kickstand for propping the device up. The cases weigh just 60 g, are robust against scratches and impacts, and add hardly any bulk. The raised rim also protects the display.
Exynos 2400 instead of Snapdragon
Everyone groaned when Samsung said in mid-January that only the S24 Ultra would get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while the S24 and S24 Plus would get Samsung’s own Exynos 2400 everywhere except in the US. Experiences with the Exynos, for example in the S22 Ultra, were anything but positive when it came to performance. Samsung confidently said the Exynos was comparable to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
I used the S24 Plus as a daily driver for almost a week and can confirm that. I had no stutters or long waits at any point. Even the new Galaxy AI features like AI photo editing, Interpreter, and Circle to Search ran quickly and smoothly. On paper, the difference to the Ultra is 4% in performance. Both devices have 12 GB of RAM regardless of storage. Maybe the Plus will stutter in graphically demanding games or when rendering. When browsing, taking photos, and using social media, I noticed no difference.
Battery
The battery differs only minimally, partly because of the processor’s energy efficiency. With 3.5 to 4 hours of screen time per day, I get two and a half days out of the S24 Ultra’s 5,000 mAh battery, sometimes more. With the S24 Plus’s battery, which isn’t much smaller, I get at least two days. With only 2 hours of screen time, two and a half or three days are possible.
Camera
The camera does a very good job, but there are noticeable differences compared to the Ultra. The S24 Plus has a 50-megapixel main camera, the S24 Ultra 200 megapixels. You can judge for yourself how that plays out in reality from the shots in the video.
Plus or Ultra?
The central question is: do I actually use in everyday life what the Ultra theoretically does more, or am I paying €300 extra for things I don’t need? That concerns the marginally better processor, the camera in a few moments, a bit more battery, and the S Pen. I love the S Pen, but I don’t use it that often.
Almost identical are:
- Display and brightness
- Everyday performance and Galaxy AI features
- 12 GB of RAM and stereo speakers
- 45-watt fast charging and 15-watt wireless charging
- Fingerprint and face unlock, both of which work well
- Samsung DeX and IP68 protection
The S24 Plus has one advantage: lower weight and the more pleasant form factor.
Verdict
Is the S24 Plus the better S24 Ultra? My answer is yes, for all the average users who value handling and low weight and don’t need an S Pen.
Questions and answers
- Is the Galaxy S24 Plus the better S24 Ultra?
- For Jen, yes, for all the average users who value handling and low weight and don't need an S Pen. Display, everyday performance, Galaxy AI, and features are almost identical.
- Is the Exynos 2400 in the Galaxy S24 Plus bad?
- No. As a daily driver, Jen experienced no stutters or long waits, and the Galaxy AI features ran quickly too. On paper, the difference to the Ultra is 4% in performance.
- How long does the Galaxy S24 Plus battery last?
- With 3.5 to 4 hours of screen time per day, Jen gets at least two days. The S24 Ultra with its 5,000 mAh battery manages two and a half days, sometimes more.
- How much more expensive is the Galaxy S24 Ultra than the S24 Plus?
- The S24 Ultra costs €300 more. Jen asks whether the extra money pays for things you don't need at all, such as the marginally better processor, the camera, a bit more battery, and the S Pen.
