What is the Difference Between Samsung S24 and S24+?

When Samsung launches its flagship phones each year, it’s not just the Ultra model that steals the spotlight. The Galaxy S24 and S24+ both sit in that sweet spot where price meets performance but many buyers wonder, what exactly sets them apart? Let’s break down the difference between Samsung S24 and S24+ in a natural, easy-to-understand way.

Design and Build

At first glance, the two phones look nearly identical. Samsung has kept the same flat design for both, with a matte finish and clean, separated camera rings at the back. The new Armor Aluminum frame adds durability, while Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the front and back panels.

The real distinction comes in size. The S24+ is taller, wider, and about 30 grams heavier. It feels more substantial in the hand, while the standard S24 is lighter and easier to use one-handed. Both phones share the same premium materials, so the decision here mostly depends on how you like your phone to feel compact and practical, or big and immersive.

Display: Size and Resolution

Samsung’s displays are always impressive, and both these phones are no exception. You get bright, colorful 120Hz AMOLED panels that look stunning indoors and outdoors. However, there’s one major edge for the Plus model: its screen is not only larger but also sharper.

The Galaxy S24 comes with a Full HD+ resolution, while the S24+ packs a QHD+ panel. That means text, images, and videos look slightly crisper on the Plus, with 513 pixels per inch compared to 416 on the smaller model. The brightness is excellent on both, peaking at around 1,400 nits in sunlight. HDR10+ support and adaptive refresh rates (ranging from 24Hz to 120Hz) make them equally smooth for gaming or streaming.

In short, if you love watching movies or playing games on your phone, the S24+ gives you that little extra punch in display quality. But if you prefer a more compact screen, the regular S24 still delivers a flagship experience.

Battery and Charging

Battery life is another point where size makes a difference. The S24 holds a 4,000 mAh battery, while the S24+ houses a 4,900 mAh one. On paper, that’s a noticeable bump, but in real-world use, the difference isn’t massive. The S24 scored around 12 hours of active screen time, while the S24+ managed about half an hour more. It’s impressive for both, especially considering their bright displays.

Charging speeds, however, tell a clearer story. The standard S24 supports up to 25W fast charging, while the S24+ jumps to 45W. In testing, the S24 reached 59% in 30 minutes, whereas the Plus hit 74% in the same time. A full charge took about an hour and fifteen minutes on the smaller model and just under an hour on the Plus. For anyone who hates waiting around for their phone to charge, the S24+ has the edge here.

Performance and Hardware

The performance gap between these two phones is actually very narrow. Depending on where you live, both models come with either the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Samsung’s own Exynos 2400 chip. The Exynos version is what most global users will see, and it offers a strong balance of speed and efficiency.

In daily use opening apps, gaming, or handling AI-powered features both phones perform almost identically. The main difference lies in memory. The S24 starts with 8GB of RAM, while the S24+ gives you 12GB. That extra RAM helps with multitasking and future-proofing, especially for heavy users. Also, the base S24 model includes a 128GB storage option that uses slightly slower UFS 3.1 storage, whereas the Plus starts at 256GB with faster UFS 4.0 speeds.

So, while raw performance feels the same, the S24+ is a bit more equipped for those who need more storage and memory headroom.

Software and Features

Both phones ship with Samsung’s One UI 6.1 on top of Android 14, featuring plenty of AI-driven tools like live translation, intelligent summarization, and advanced photo editing. Samsung also promises seven years of software updates, which is a big deal ensuring these devices will stay current longer than most Android phones.

In terms of audio, both offer stereo speakers that sound balanced and loud, perfect for watching videos without headphones. The overall multimedia experience feels premium on either one.

Another small advantage the S24+ holds is the inclusion of Ultra Wideband (UWB) support, a niche feature that improves spatial tracking for devices like smart tags or digital car keys. It’s not a must-have for everyone, but it’s nice to have if you’re into the Samsung ecosystem.

Cameras: Still Great, Still the Same

Interestingly, Samsung didn’t change the camera setup this year. Both the S24 and S24+ use the same triple-lens system: a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The front camera is a 12MP shooter with autofocus.

Photos from both phones are crisp, detailed, and colorful. Samsung’s new image processing focuses on slightly higher contrast and more natural textures, reducing the over-sharpening seen in previous models. In daylight, the shots are lively but balanced. At night, both phones handle low light gracefully, offering well-exposed photos with realistic tones and minimal noise.

Video quality remains top-notch too, with stable 4K recording across all cameras. There’s no real difference between the two models in this department; they’re equally reliable for photography enthusiasts.

Which One Should You Buy?

Now that we’ve covered every detail, the final question is: which one’s the better buy?

If you value portability, want to save a couple hundred dollars, and don’t need a huge screen, the Galaxy S24 makes perfect sense. It’s compact, powerful, and brings all of Samsung’s flagship features in a smaller body.

On the other hand, if you enjoy watching content, need faster charging, or prefer a higher-resolution display, the S24+ is worth the extra money. It’s basically the same phone, just bigger and better in a few areas.

At the end of the day, the difference between Samsung S24 and S24+ mostly comes down to size, display sharpness, RAM, and charging speed. Both deliver the same smooth experience, stellar cameras, and long software support so you can’t go wrong either way.

Final Thoughts

Samsung has done a great job keeping consistency across its flagship lineup. The S24 series offers premium features, clean design, and reliable performance in two sizes. Whether you pick the S24 for its simplicity or the S24+ for its enhanced screen and battery, you’re still getting one of the best Android phones of 2025.

See Also One UI 8 vs One UI 8.5: What’s the Difference?

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