Samsung Galaxy S24 series review: Is it still worth it in 2026?

TL; DR

✨The Samsung Galaxy S24 series offers strong performance, vibrant displays, capable cameras, and solid build quality across all models. The S24 and S24+ deliver high-end specs with smooth performance and bright, detailed screens, while the S24 Ultra adds a larger display, S Pen functionality, and premium materials. The S24 FE offers a slightly pared-down yet durable design, good cameras, smooth performance, and excellent battery life, making it a great budget phone. Even with the Galaxy S26 series now available, the S24 lineup remains a smart, cost-effective choice for 2026. It's for those buyers who want flagship features without the premium price.

Why you can trust this Samsung Galaxy S24 series review

At Back Market, we have a single goal — to make tech reliable, sustainable, and affordable. Here, we live and breathe tech, and our Samsung Galaxy S24 series review is built on trusted insights and deep expertise in the latest tech trends. With a background in tech journalism and engineering, our review delves into what matters most — design and build, performance, camera quality, display, and battery life — offering a comprehensive look at how the models in this series perform in everyday use. With a focus on sustainability and affordability, we're here to provide honest, no-nonsense insights into tech that still delivers excellent value.  

Samsung Galaxy S24 review  

Samsung Galaxy S24 specifications

✨The Galaxy S24 is a compact flagship that combines a sharp 6.2-inch display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance, a capable triple-camera system, and long software support in a lightweight, premium design.

Is the Galaxy S24 built for 2026?

✨Despite the newer Galaxy S26 being out now, the Galaxy S24 still stands out as a well-built, powerful flagship that delivers excellent real-world value.

The Galaxy S24 comes in a compact design with an aluminum frame, flat edges, and a matte finish. At just 5.93 ounces, the Galaxy S24 is easy to hold and carry in your pocket. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the front and back of the S24, with the Armor Aluminum frame doing the rest. The right edge features the volume and power buttons, with the bottom edge housing a USB-C port and the speaker. With an IP68 rating, the Galaxy S24 is water- and dust-resistant, surviving up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1.5 meters. Three cameras line up on the rear, while a front-facing camera sits in the top center of the screen, with an under-display fingerprint sensor offering biometric security. Despite Samsung's launch of the Galaxy S26 series, the S24's build and premium materials keep it feeling like a premium flagship. And with prices now significantly lower than at launch, it offers excellent value.

How does the Galaxy S24's display hold up today?

✨The Galaxy S24's 6.2-inch display delivers almost the same vibrant, smooth, and bright performance as the newer S26 while offering better value.

The Galaxy S24 features a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 2340 x 1080-pixel resolution (FHD+). Like its siblings, it offers the 120Hz variable refresh rate as standard, with the screen dipping as low as 1Hz to preserve power and equally scaling up for smooth gaming performance. The S24 has some of the thinnest bezels, and its OLED panel pumps out vivid, dynamic colors with excellent contrast, givingHDR content serious oomph. The display can reach a peak brightness of 2600 nits with manual and adaptive brightness modes for easy use outdoors. Compared to the Galaxy S26, which uses a slightly larger 6.3-inch display with similar specs and peak brightness, the S24's screen holds up very well in real-world use. It offers an almost identical performance while costing considerably less.

Can the Galaxy S24 keep up with today's apps and games?

✨The Galaxy S24 delivers smooth, responsive performance for everyday use and gaming, holding up almost as well as the newer Galaxy models.

Under the hood, the Galaxy S24 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. This chipset is specifically optimized for Galaxy devices, resulting in better performance and efficiency. The S24 uses Android 14 with One UI 6.1 layered on top. This entry-level model comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. Despite having less RAM than the S24+ and S24 Ultra, the S24 is still pretty fast for the average user. For everyday tasks like messaging, emails, and streaming, you won't experience any lag or stutter, and switching between apps is seamless. The S24 is excellent for gaming, producing a smooth experience with no dropped frames or slowdowns, even at the highest settings. While the Galaxy S26 builds on this with a newer chip and slightly more RAM, real-world benchmarks and everyday use show that the S24's performance remains very close to the newer models.

Can the Galaxy S24 camera keep up with today's standards?

✨The Galaxy S24's cameras deliver nearly the same high-quality photos and videos as the S26, with most improvements in the newer model coming from software.

The Galaxy S24 camera system features three rear cameras and a 12MP front-facing sensor. The three at the back are a 50MP main camera, a 10MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide camera. This is the same setup featured on the latest Galaxy S26. The main and telephoto cameras support optical image stabilization (OIS), and the rear camera system can shoot up to 8K video, while the front camera can record up to 4K video. The S24 photos look great, unlike the overly saturated tone of previous models. The telephoto and ultrawide lenses perform just as well, and the selfie camera delivers excellent portraits even in low light conditions. Showcasing the same setup, any improvements in photo quality in the Galaxy S26 mainly come from software and AI image processing rather than new hardware. Overall, images and videos captured with the Galaxy S24 are crisp, vibrant, and well-detailed, even in challenging lighting conditions.

Does the Galaxy S24 have good battery life?

✨The Galaxy S24's 4,000 mAh battery delivers solid all-day use with efficient performance, though its charging speeds are slower than the larger S24+ and Ultra models.

The Galaxy S24 has a 4,000mAh battery that can last a while thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3's efficiency. Streaming HD content with the screen set to maximum brightness can last up to 13 hours, just an hour shy of the larger S24+ and S24 Ultra. Wired charging maxes out at 25W, a bummer as its larger siblings have up to 45W fast charging, and wireless charging reaches 15W. Reverse wireless charging is also offered at 4.5W. The phone doesn't come with a charging adapter, but you do get a USB-C cable.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ review

Samsung Galaxy S24+ specifications

✨The Galaxy S24+ offers a large, high-resolution display, powerful Snapdragon performance, versatile cameras, and a 4,900 mAh battery, making it a premium, well-rounded flagship.

Where does the Galaxy S24+ sit in the lineup?

✨The Galaxy S24+ offers a balanced, premium design with a comfortable size, durable materials, and solid build quality, holding its own in feel and construction even compared to the newer Galaxy S26+.

The Galaxy S24+ is the middle child of the Galaxy S24 series. It sits between the S24 and S24 Ultra in size and weight. While the S24 Ultra stands out with its blocky design and large size, the S24+ and S24 feature the same curved shape with more compact dimensions. It is not the largest in the series, but it's still a big phone, weighing 6.95 ounces—larger and heavier than the S24. All the same, the S24+ is easy to grip and carry due to its more comfortable rounded corners. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covers the front and back, with Armor Aluminum handling the rest. Three camera lenses line the top left corner at the back, and the IP68 rating means protection against dust and water. The differences in design and feel between the Galaxy S24+ and S26+ are modest, with the S26+ maintaining the same core build quality and materials.

What are the display specs of the Galaxy S24+?

✨The Galaxy S24+ delivers a bright, smooth, high-resolution display that performs nearly as well as the one on the Galaxy S26+.

The Galaxy S24+ features a large 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 2340 x 1080-pixel resolution. Unlike the S24, the S24+ lets you bump the resolution to the full 3120 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), matchingthe S24 Ultra. The display has a 120Hz variable refresh rate that dynamically adjusts from 1Hz to 120Hz based on your activity, offering a balance between smooth performance and battery efficiency. With a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, you should have zero issues viewing the screen outdoors in direct sunlight. Compared to the Galaxy S26+, which shares similar display specs but with a slightly larger panel, the Galaxy S24+ holds up very well in real-world use. Streaming, gaming, and scrolling all feel fluid and bright, making the screen still competitive and providing excellent value.

Can the Galaxy S24+ keep up in 2026?

✨The Galaxy S24+ delivers smooth, powerful performance and seamless multitasking, handling gaming and apps with ease.

Under the hood, the Galaxy S24+ is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, the same as the Galaxy S24. Unlike the S24, the S24+ ships with 12GB RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage. As for day-to-day performance, the S24+ cuts through everything thrown at it. Apps open instantly, multitasking is seamless, and all animations are fluid. The excellent performance extends to gaming, with the S24+ breezing through resource-intensive games without breaking a sweat (no skipped frames or slowdowns). The Gen 3 processor is also an efficiency monster, but more on that in the battery section.

What camera hardware is on the Galaxy S24+?

✨The Galaxy S24+ continues to offer flagship-level photography at a lower price, making it an excellent value for anyone who wants top-tier camera performance without paying for the latest generation.

The Galaxy S24 and S24+ share the same camera system as the Galaxy S26+, with the same hardware. They have a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. Up front, you get a 12MP selfie camera that can shoot 4K video. No matter the lighting conditions, the S24+'s camera delivers outstanding shots with crisp details and deep colors, rivaling even the latest iPhones and Google Pixels. Selfies taken with the 12MP front-facing camera have the same level of detail, sharpness, and color as the rear cameras. The S24+ also offers AI-assisted editing features similar to those on Google Pixel phones, including the ability to remove and resize items in photos in the gallery. It also includes Nightography for low-light shots, AI-powered slow-motion video creation, and other editing tools.

Does the Galaxy S24+ have a good battery life?

✨The Galaxy S24+ offers all-day battery life and fast charging that matches the S26+, making it a strong, cost-effective choice in 2026.

The Galaxy S24+ comes with a 4,900mAh battery, which, combined with the improved efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the display's dynamic refresh rate, translates to excellent endurance. Even with the QHD+ screen resolution and Always-on display enabled, the S24+ still offers excellent battery performance. The S24+'s battery can last up to 14 hours streaming HD content with the screen set to maximum brightness. Regarding charging, you can get up to 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. Should you need to juice up another phone or earbuds, the S24+ offers 4.5W reverse wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra specifications

✨The Galaxy S24 Ultra combines premium materials, top-tier performance, and a highly versatile camera system into a no-compromise flagship experience built for power users.

What sets the Galaxy S24 Ultra apart in design and durability?

✨The Galaxy S24 Ultra delivers a flagship-level design, premium materials, and S Pen functionality, offering nearly the same experience as the S26 Ultra at a lower price.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the largest model from the S24 series, and it stands apart from its smaller siblings with its squared-off design, built-in S Pen, and longer-range cameras. There is no doubt that the S24 Ultra is a massive phone. It measures 6.4 in tall and weighs 8.22 oz. Its large size means that if you prefer using your phone one-handed, you're better off with the S24, S24+, or S24 FE—all of which aresmaller, lighter, and more rounded. Corning Gorilla Armor, the toughest smartphone glass, protects the S24 Ultra's display, and it is less reflective, reducing glare by up to 75%. Four camera lenses—three large and one smaller—line up at the back, which is protected using Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with a matte finish that resists fingerprints. Unlike other phones in the series, the S24 Ultra has a titanium build—an upgrade that brings unique color options exclusive to this model. The phone has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and an under-display fingerprint sensor provides a reliable biometric security option.

Is the Galaxy S24 Ultra's display good for 2026?

✨The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s large, bright, and smooth QHD+ display still delivers flagship-level performance, closely matching that of the S26 Ultra.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra has the best screens of its generation. It's a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz. The screen can dynamically adjust its refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz based on your activity, balancing power and performance. Out of the box, the S24 Ultra is set to FHD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels), but you can boost this to QHD+ (3120 x 1440 pixels). The display's images are crisp, and the animations are fluid. With a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, a bright display, and reflection-resistant glass, the S24 Ultra's screen remains visible even under the harshest lighting conditions. The Galaxy S26 Ultra has just launched with its latest Privacy Display feature. Beyond that, Samsung has increased screen real estate to 6.9 in, providing more room for gaming and media consumption.

What chip powers the Galaxy S24 Ultra?

✨The Galaxy S24 Ultra, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 For Galaxy chip, remains a fast, capable flagship for everyday use, offering high-end performance comparable to the S26 Ultra.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy powers almost all Galaxy S24 models, including the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Designed specifically for Galaxy devices, this chip delivers excellent power and efficiency. The base S24 Ultra comes with 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage, customizable to up to 1 TB. You should encounter no problems using the S24 Ultra for everyday tasks, including browsing, texting, and streaming. The phone barely gets warm, even when running resource-intensive games on the highest settings.

What camera hardware is on the Galaxy S24 Ultra?

✨The Galaxy S24 Ultra's versatile quad-camera system delivers flagship-level photo and video quality in most conditions, holding up well against the newer S26 Ultra for everyday use.

Unlike the rest of the series, the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with four cameras: a 200MP main camera with OIS, a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x zoom, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 50MP telephoto with 5x zoom and OIS. At the front, you get a forward-facing 12MP camera that can shoot 4K video, with the rear system shooting 8K. The S24 Ultra delivers outstanding shots across various environments and lighting conditions, providing clear details and rich saturation. The image quality rivals that of current Apple and Google flagships. Selfies are sharp and detailed, too, with only some slight oversaturation. Like Google's Pixel phones, the S24 Ultra uses AI to edit images in the gallery. Nightography is another AI-powered feature on this model that enhances low-light images by reducing noise and boosting detail, resulting in rich, colorful shots. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is out, and Samsung has refined the hardware for brighter, cleaner low-light shots and richer detail. However, real-world comparisons show the S24 Ultra's camera quality is still very good, and for most everyday photography uses, it holds its own against the newer model.

How is the Galaxy S24's battery life and charging?

✨The Galaxy S24 Ultra's 5,000 mAh battery delivers all-day use with fast wired and wireless charging, matching its high-performance capabilities.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra features a massive 5,000 mAh battery, with enough stamina to match the phone's enormous power. The large battery, combined with the Gen 3's excellent efficiency, means the S24 Ultra can last up to 14 hours streaming HD content with the screen at maximum brightness. Regarding charging, it offers 45W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging. Reverse wireless charging is on board, too, delivering up to 4.5W. The S24 Ultra only offers a USB-C cable; you must purchase the 45W adapter separately.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE specifications

Is the Galaxy S24 FE built like a flagship?

✨The Galaxy S24 FE offers a sleek, durable design with premium construction materials, strong dust and water resistance, and a secure, easy-to-use form factor.

Like the S24 and S24+, the Galaxy S24 FE features rounded edges, an aluminum frame, and glass on both the front and back. Measuring 6.38 inches in height and weighing 7.51 ounces, the S24 FE is larger than the S24 and S24+ but smaller than the S24 Ultra. Despite its large size, the phone is still sleek and easy to grip and use. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protects the front and back, offering scratch resistance and surviving drops from up to 2 meters. Its IP68 rating means it's virtually dustproof and waterproof. Three cameras line the top left corner of the back, and the S24 FE includes an under-display fingerprint sensor for security.

How good is the Galaxy S24 FE's display?

✨The Galaxy S24 FE's display delivers bright, smooth visuals and vibrant colors, but its lower resolution, lack of LTPO, and thicker bezels make it the least advanced in the series.

The Galaxy S24 FE has a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 2340 x 1080-pixel resolution (FHD+). It boasts a variable refresh rate of 120Hz and a peak brightness of 1,900 nits. Unlike its bezel-less siblings, the S24 FE has noticeable bezels, with the bottom edge thicker than the others. Blacks are rich, colors are bright and vibrant, and the 120Hz dynamic refresh rate is as smooth as can be on the S24 FE. That said, the S24FE's display quality is the lowest in the series. Its FHD+ resolution is significantly lower than the QHD+ on the S24+ and S24 Ultra, and its display is not an LTPO panel, so the refresh rate cannot drop below 60Hz. Additionally, Always-on display is available on this model, but it isn't customizable like on other S24 models. However, for the most part, the S24 FE's display performs brilliantly.

How powerful is the Galaxy S24 FE?

✨The Galaxy S24 FE delivers smooth, responsive performance and handles gaming well with its Exynos 2400e chip.

The Galaxy S24 FE was released a couple of months later than the rest of the S24 lineup. Consequently, it is the only model not powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. Instead, it gets the Samsung Exynos 2400e processor. The chip is comparable to the Exynos 2400 chip found in the international versions of the S24 and S24+. The S24 FE ships with 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. Despite not being powered by the Gen 3 processor, the S24 FE performs brilliantly. Apps launch instantly, scrolling is silky smooth, and the phone shows no signs of lag or stutter. The phone also handles gaming well, delivering smooth gameplay at the highest graphics and frame rate settings.

How good is the Galaxy S24 FE camera?

✨The Galaxy S24 FE's cameras capture detailed, vibrant photos and crisp 4K videos, performing well overall even if colors are a bit boosted and the telephoto lens can appear slightly soft.

The Fan Edition boasts a 50MP main camera with OIS, an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide lens. The rear camera system generally takes great shots. However, the colors look a bit exaggerated, and shadows are often washed out. By default, the main camera bins images to 12MP, producing colors that are brighter than real life, which some may prefer. Switching to the full 50MP mode maintains similar color tones while capturing more detail in distant subjects. The ultrawide camera matches the main shooter in consistency, while the 8MP telephoto captures good detail but can look hazy at times. Both front and rear camera systems shoot sharp 4K video.

Can the Galaxy S24 FE handle all-day use?

✨The Galaxy S24 FE delivers all-day battery life with reliable wired and wireless charging, including reverse charging.

While streaming HD content with the screen at maximum brightness, the S24 FE can last up to 15 hours, an hour longer than the S24+ and S24 Ultra. The S24 FE comes equipped with a 4,700mAh battery that offers 25W wired charging, 15W Qi2 wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. Like the rest of the series, you only get a USB-C charging cable and must purchase a compatible adapter for this phone.

Samsung Galaxy S24 series AI features

The Galaxy S24 series offers innovative AI features that can do everything from live-translating phone calls and text messages to removing photobombers from the background of your pictures. These AI features, which Samsung included in its Galaxy AI suite, are designed to make tasks faster, smarter, and more intuitive across the S24 series. Here are a few of the standouts.

• Circle to Search: This tool allows you to search the contents of your screen to find the details you need. Long-pressing the home button calls up the search tool, and you can circle or tap the object you want to search. The tool then takes a screenshot, browses the web, and returns the results without leaving the app.

• Live Translate: This live translation tool that lets you translate text between two languages in real time. The tool works for phone calls and chats and supports several languages, allowing multiple people to converse even if they don't speak the same language.

• Generative edit: This feature helps you edit your photos. It can intelligently fill in missing or altered parts of a photo's background, including completing corners in a crooked shot or seamlessly blending the scene after removing an object or person.

• AI Zoom: This feature is exclusive to the S24 Ultra, enabling high-quality zoomed-in images with the 5x optical camera. The tool uses the Adaptive Pixel Sensor and ProVisual Engine to reduce shake and noise and eliminate pixelation in zoomed-in shots, even at 100x.

• Nightography: Similar to AI Zoom, Nightography leverages AI to reduce noise in low-light shots, sharpen images, reduce blur and shake, and optimize lighting for better exposures. Nightography uses a dedicated ISP block for noise reduction and can differentiate between subject movement and handshake for the best possible results.

• Transcript Assist: The Transcript Assist tool, embedded in the voice recorder, generates live transcriptions of voice-recorded notes, including sentence and paragraph breaks.

• Chat Assist: Chat Assist ensures you use the proper conversational tone in your messages. Just type your message into any app using the Samsung keyboard, and Chat Assist will adjust the text to ensure you use the right tone of voice.

Samsung Galaxy S24 series specs compared

Galaxy S24 FE vs. Galaxy S24 vs. Galaxy S24+ vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S24 series pros and cons

✨The Galaxy S24 series delivers flagship performance, cameras, and durability with long-term software support, making it a strong value overall, especially now that the Galaxy S26 is out.

How to buy a budget Samsung Galaxy S24

If you are shopping for a budget Galaxy S24, there are several ways to score a discount. The first is to wait for grand sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, where your favorite retailer may offer some savings. The second option is to take advantage of bundle deals. Pair your purchase with an adapter or earbuds for a small discount on your device. You can also wait for a newer series to launch to take advantage of the reduced prices of the previous generations.

The best way to score an affordable Galaxy S24? Shop on Back Market. At Back Market, you can grab a refurbished Galaxy S24 at a discount any day of the year. Our deals are available year-round, and every purchase comes with a 1-year warranty, free standard shipping, and a 30-day return period. If that sounds too good to be true, here's what one satisfied customer had to say about us:

"This is my third Back Market purchase, and it never disappoints. I could not be more pleased with the quality and condition of my Galaxy S24 - it's like brand new. I took advantage of the Visible-Back Market offer and am very happy with the results." Kevin P. Reviewed 12/5/25

Why buy refurbished

Buying refurbished devices is a smart move for your wallet and the planet. At Back Market, we sell refurbished devices. These devices have been professionally restored to full working order by industry experts and sold at 30-50% off the price of new ones. Before any device is sold, it undergoes thorough inspection, repair, cleaning, and testing to ensure it's in top working order. This is the Back Market Promise. Some parts, like batteries and screens, may be replaced to ensure optimal functionality, and all our devices come with at least 80% battery health and 100% charging capacity. Choosing refurbished also means choosing sustainability. Buying a refurbished smartphone is great for the planet, as it reduces the need for new manufacturing, which is responsible for at least 80% of a smartphone's total carbon emissions. Additionally, refurbished devices keep e-waste out of landfills and promote a more sustainable, circular economy by reusing valuable materials and extending the lifespan of technology. Here'swhat people are saying about us on Reddit:

"I've bought 3 phones and a laptop off Back Market. All great. They have 3 grades - Fair, Good, Excellent, or something like that. My laptop and recent phone were "Fair" and supposed to have light cosmetic damage. I've had a good look but can't see anything wrong with them." Reddit User.

Trade in your old tech for cash

Did you know there's still life in that old smartphone or laptop cluttering your drawers? Back Market's Trade-in Program offers an easy, sustainable way to turn old tech into cash with just three simple steps. Start by telling us about your device's condition to get an instant quote. Ship it to us for free, and once verified, you get paid. Yes, it's really that simple.

Price and availability

*Back Market prices taken at the date of publication — these are subject to change.

Final thoughts: The Galaxy S24 series is a worthy choice in 2026

Samsung's flagship phones are some of the top performers globally, and the Galaxy S24 series is no exception. With four models—the Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra—there is something for everyone in the series. While the latest Galaxy S26 series provides stiff competition, the Galaxy S24 series holds its own with impressive performance, a bright display, solid build quality, excellent battery life, and innovative AI features. Plus, with 7 years of software and security updates promised, you're getting a future-proof device at its lowest price yet. If you're shopping for a new Android phone, the Galaxy S24 series is a good place to start.