Samsung Galaxy S24 Review: Six Months Later

The Samsung Galaxy S24 has been out in the market for more than half a year, which makes it the perfect time to reflect on how this compact flagship actually performs in everyday life. While launch-day reviews often focus on raw specs and first impressions, living with a phone for months tells a more complete story. After consistent use, the Galaxy S24 has proven itself to be a reliable and customizable companion, though not without its quirks.

Design and Build

At first glance, the S24 feels almost too familiar. It looks very similar to the Galaxy S23, with only subtle differences like slimmer bezels and fully flat matte side rails. The compact form factor remains one of its strongest points, making it easy to use one-handed while still delivering a premium feel.

One small caveat is the material choice. While the S24 Ultra features titanium side rails, the standard S24 settles for aluminum, which can dent more easily. Still, the matte finish feels modern and reduces fingerprints, making it pleasant to handle.

The back design remains minimalist, with the camera lenses aligned neatly, but Samsung’s decision to keep the design language so close to its budget models means the S24 doesn’t visually stand out as a flagship at first glance. That said, if you usually keep your phone in a case, this similarity won’t matter much.

Display Experience

Samsung’s displays are always a highlight, and the S24 doesn’t disappoint. It carries a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that now supports LTPO technology. This allows the refresh rate to scale between 1 Hz and 120 Hz, optimizing battery usage during lighter tasks. Peak brightness is slightly improved, making outdoor visibility excellent.

However, if you’re upgrading from the S23, the changes are almost invisible in daily use. Both phones already had crisp, vibrant screens, and unless you’re comparing side by side, you won’t notice much difference. For new buyers though, it’s still one of the best compact displays in the market.

Camera System

Photography is where Samsung made very few changes. The S24 sticks to a triple-lens system: a 50 MP main, a 12 MP ultrawide, and a 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. These are nearly identical to what the S23 offered, with the only small tweak being a slightly wider telephoto field of view.

Despite the lack of major hardware upgrades, the results are consistently reliable. The main sensor captures sharp and well-balanced photos, while the ultrawide and telephoto add versatility. Video quality is stable too, and the camera app’s performance is smooth, with no lags or crashes, a common issue on some competitors like the Pixel 8 Pro.

Still, some users may feel underwhelmed, especially if they expected a bigger leap in low-light performance or zoom quality. The system is solid, but it doesn’t set new standards.

Fingerprint and Haptics

Samsung has kept the same ultrasonic fingerprint scanner as in previous years, which remains fast and accurate. Haptics are also crisp and well-tuned, giving the phone a premium touch. But again, there’s nothing new here compared to the last two generations.

Performance and Software

Running on One UI 6.1, the Galaxy S24 shines in reliability. Apps open quickly, the interface rarely stutters, and even under heavy use, the phone doesn’t overheat. Depending on the region, it comes with either Qualcomm Snapdragon or Samsung’s Exynos chipset.

One UI continues to be one of the most customizable software experiences available. Features like Good Lock let users redesign home screens, hide system elements, adjust grid sizes, and even change the feel of the interface without third-party launchers. This level of flexibility is unmatched in the smartphone world.

Compared to Google’s Pixel phones, Samsung sacrifices a bit of fluidity for customization, but for many users, the trade-off is well worth it.

Reliability in Real Use

Over months of daily use, what stands out is how stable the S24 feels. Unlike some Android phones that struggle with app crashes or overheating, the S24 “just works.” Whether it’s multitasking, taking photos, or streaming media, the phone handles it consistently.

One issue that does pop up is GPS reliability. On multiple occasions, navigation apps like Google Maps have shown delayed location updates, causing missed turns. It’s not a constant issue, but it’s significant enough to be frustrating when it happens. A software fix could solve this, but until then, it remains a weakness.

Battery Life

On paper, the S24 has a slightly bigger battery than the S23. In practice, battery performance feels weaker. Where the S23 often ended the day with nearly half its charge remaining, the S24 typically finished closer to 20%.

The Exynos model in particular seems less efficient than the Snapdragon variant, which might explain the difference. Still, for most users, it’s enough to get through a full day, just not with the same confidence as last year’s model. Charging remains at 25W wired, which is slower compared to many Android rivals but acceptable for overnight charging.

Final Verdict

After six months, the Samsung Galaxy S24 proves itself as a reliable and highly customizable flagship that focuses more on refinement than reinvention. Its compact size, excellent display, dependable cameras, and unmatched software flexibility make it a strong choice for those who want a phone that simply works day in and day out.

But it’s also clear that Samsung played it safe. The design hasn’t evolved much, the cameras are nearly identical to last year’s, and battery life feels like a small step backward. If you already own the S22 or S23, the S24 doesn’t offer enough reasons to upgrade.

For new buyers, however, it remains one of the best compact premium phones you can buy in 2025. It may not dazzle with groundbreaking features, but it delivers consistency and sometimes, that’s exactly what you want from your everyday device.

interested in My Honest Experience with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.

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