Should I buy the Galaxy S24+ or the S24 Ultra?

For most people, the S24+. PhoneArena's verdict is literally 'Skip the Ultra, buy the Plus,' and How-To Geek calls it 'the best S24 for most people.' You keep the big 6.7-inch QHD+ display, seven-year updates and strong performance while saving roughly $300. Choose the Ultra only if you specifically want the 200MP sensor, 5x periscope zoom or the S Pen.

Is the Galaxy S24+ still worth buying in 2026?

Yes — it's one of the best price-to-performance used buys around. A 2026 two-year revisit found performance 'still a beast,' and creators put the used price near $350–$400 with about five years of software updates still remaining, calling it unbeatable value at that point.

How is the camera on the S24+?

Competent but the line's weak point. It's a 50MP main, 10MP 3x telephoto and 12MP ultrawide — identical to the S24 (per DXOMARK) and largely unchanged from the S23+. Trusted Reviews said the camera 'needs some TLC,' and owners describe it as good but soft on fine detail with a weaker telephoto. Photography-first buyers should consider the Ultra or a Pixel.

Does the S24+ have the Exynos or Snapdragon chip?

It depends on region. The US gets the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy; many other markets get the Exynos 2400. Testers measured the Exynos running a few degrees hotter with weaker gaming endurance, though several long-term users say the difference isn't noticeable in everyday use.

How long will the S24+ get software updates?

Seven years of OS and security updates — the same pledge as the S24 Ultra and matching Google's Pixel commitment (Wired). That's the single biggest reason reviewers consider it a strong long-term investment.

What's the battery life like?

Solid all-day. It has a 4,900mAh battery (200mAh more than the S23+) with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging. Owners report roughly 3–4 hours to as much as 10 hours of screen-on-time depending on use; the One UI 8 update slightly trimmed endurance for some to ~6–7 hours.

How does the S24+ display compare to the S23+?

It's the headline upgrade: the S24+ moves to a 6.7-inch QHD+ LTPO panel (up from the S23+'s 1080p) at 120Hz with a 2,600-nit peak — bright enough that one reviewer noted even the iPhone can't reach it. It's excellent for outdoor visibility and media.

Does the S24+ have an S Pen?

No. The S Pen is exclusive to the S24 Ultra. The S24+ also lacks the Ultra's 200MP main sensor and 5x periscope telephoto — those are the main hardware trade-offs for its lower price.

How does it handle gaming?

Fine for most, but not a gaming phone. In sustained tests it throttles around 45–47°C, and versus the S24 Ultra it runs 3–4°C hotter and drains faster (34% vs 21% over an hour of gaming). Stuff notes dedicated mobile gamers will still prefer Qualcomm-tuned gaming rivals.

What are the S24+'s biggest weaknesses?

Three recur across reviews: an unremarkable camera that's largely the same as the S23, speakers that feel below par for a $1,000 phone, and — in Exynos regions — more heat and weaker efficiency than the Snapdragon model. Some owners also saw early screen scratches.

Image: Samsung

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S24+

Smartphones

Older model

22 expert reviews

6 user opinions

Updated May 19, 2026

High confidenceUp to date

Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S24+ is the value-sweet-spot of the S24 line: it takes the big 6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz display (a real upgrade from the S23+'s 1080p panel), a brighter 2,600-nit screen, a bigger 4,900mAh battery and the same seven-year update pledge as the Ultra, without the Ultra's gut-punch price or the S Pen most people never use. Reviewers repeatedly land on 'skip the Ultra, buy the Plus' / 'the best S24 for most people.' The catches are a camera system that's good-not-great and unchanged from the S23, mediocre speakers for a $1,000 phone, and a hotter, slower Exynos chip in non-US regions. Buy this if you want a big-screen flagship that ages well and holds value (now ~$350–$400 used); skip it if photography is your priority — the Ultra or a Pixel will serve you better.

Skip the Ultra, buy this

Pros reviewers agree on

Strengths consistently called out across sources

The 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 120Hz with 2,600-nit peak is excellent and a clear upgrade over the S23+'s 1080p panel.
It is the best-value S24 for most people — most of the Ultra's experience without the Ultra price or the rarely-used S Pen.
Seven years of OS and security updates makes it a genuine long-term investment that still feels current after two years.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy performance is fast and stays smooth, with a larger 4,900mAh battery (+200mAh vs S23+) delivering solid all-day life.
It still feels premium and flagship-grade years later, and is an outstanding price-to-performance buy on the used market.

Cons reviewers agree on

Weaknesses flagged across multiple sources

The camera is good but unremarkable and largely unchanged from the S23 — soft fine detail and a weaker telephoto; 'needs some TLC.'
The Exynos 2400 variant in many regions runs 3–4°C hotter and is less power-efficient than the Snapdragon model.
Speakers and some finish details feel below par for a $1,000 flagship, and scratches appeared within the first two weeks for some owners.

What reviewers disagree on

Points where expert verdicts diverge — weigh based on your priorities

Plus vs Ultra — most reviewers say skip the Ultra and buy the Plus for value; camera-focused buyers and Reddit owners say the Ultra (or a Pixel) is worth the jump for the zoom and 200MP sensor.
Exynos vs Snapdragon — some long-term users say the chip difference is unnoticeable in daily use; testers measuring thermals and gaming endurance show a clear Snapdragon advantage.
Camera vs Pixel — some owners prefer the S24+'s rendering over the iPhone and even the Pixel; others switched and still missed the Pixel's photos.

How This Review Was Created

15Publications

10YouTube Reviews

5Reddit Threads

30Total Sources

High ConfidenceLaunch reviews January 2024 through long-term revisits May 2026

This is a synthesis of expert reviews and user discussions; we may not have physically tested the product. See methodology.

Detailed Breakdown

📱Design & Build

A sleek one-piece flat design with rounded corners and an aluminium frame, under 200g. It looks very similar to the S23+ but feels premium and dense.

Sleek one-piece design with a brighter screen gives the big-screen, fuller features of the S24 Ultra without nearly the price gut-punch.— Android Police
Still feels really premium thanks to the solid, dense body, matte glass back and brushed aluminium frame, with great colour options.— YouTube — S24+ after 2 months
Flat aluminium frame with nicely rounded corners, reliable in-display fingerprint reader and lightweight under 200g.— YouTube — S24+ 8 months later
The two smaller siblings look very similar to last year's devices and lack the Ultra's bigger screen, 5x telephoto and stylus.— The Verge
Upper screen scratches appeared within the first two weeks of use for one long-term owner.— YouTube — S24+ 8 months later

🖥️Display

The headline upgrade. The S24+ moves to a 6.7-inch QHD+ LTPO panel (up from the S23+'s 1080p) at 120Hz with a 2,600-nit peak.

It is a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ panel rated at 2,600 nits peak.— GSMArena
The QHD+ resolution is a significant upgrade from the S23+'s 1080p, paired with an LTPO panel for granular refresh control.— GSMArena
Maximum peak brightness of 2,600 nits — which even the iPhone can't reach — gives perfect visibility on sunny days.— YouTube — S24 Plus after 4 months
The 6.7-inch screen with ultra-thin bezels offers much more viewing space and is perfect for work or media.— YouTube — S24 Plus after 4 months

📸Cameras

A 50MP main, 10MP 3x telephoto and 12MP ultrawide — identical to the S24, and largely unchanged from the S23+. Competent but the line's weak point.

The S24+ and S24 share the exact same rear camera specs and chipset, so DXOMARK results are identical to the S24.— DXOMARK
Three-camera system: 50MP 24mm main, 10MP 67mm 3x telephoto and 12MP 13mm ultrawide, plus a 12MP selfie.— YouTube — Galaxy S24 Plus Exynos review
A solid all-rounder with a premium design and great screen, but the camera setup in particular needs some TLC.— Trusted Reviews
The cameras are preferred over the iPhone's by this owner, but still feel like smartphone cameras — soft on fine detail with a lesser telephoto.— YouTube — S24+ 8 months later
Cameras are very good but didn't surprise — for higher quality you need to step up to the Ultra series.— YouTube — S24 Plus after 4 months
iPhone takes it on video recording, but the S24+ is still super great with strong overall quality and a nice 12MP selfie.— YouTube — S24 Plus camera 7 months later

⚡Performance & Gaming

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy in the US; Exynos 2400 in many regions. Fast in daily use, but testers find the Exynos hotter and gaming endurance behind the Ultra.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Android base shine through to deliver one of the best smartphone experiences out there.— 9to5Google
Versus the S24 Ultra the Plus runs 3–4°C hotter with a lower thermal cap; after an hour of gaming the Ultra used 21% battery while the Plus used 34%.— YouTube — S24 Ultra vs S24+ battery test
Exynos 2400 variant scored higher in Geekbench than the S23 with less frame drop, but ran 2–3°C hotter; both throttled around 47°C.— YouTube — S24+ vs S23 Exynos thermals
In Genshin Impact and a 30-minute PUBG run both phones reached ~45–47°C, with the S24+ holding a more stable performance curve than the S23.— YouTube — S24+ vs S23 Exynos thermals
Two years on, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Exynos 2400 with 12GB RAM still performs like a beast.— YouTube — S24 Plus review in 2026
Qualcomm-powered rivals remain the top pick for dedicated mobile gamers despite Samsung's ray-tracing claims.— Stuff

🔋Battery & Charging

A 4,900mAh battery (+200mAh vs S23+) with 45W wired and 15W wireless. All-day life is consistent; charging is unremarkable by 2026 standards.

4,900mAh battery — 200mAh more than the S23+ — added without increasing the phone's weight.— GSMArena
Around 10 hours of screen-on-time is achievable for some owners on the S24+.— Reddit — r/Android
Typically 3–4 hours of screen time with 30% left by bedtime, and at least 15% on heavier days.— 9to5Google
45W fast charging still feels good, though it's no longer a standout against 2026 fast-charging rivals.— YouTube — S24 Plus review in 2026
Screen-on-time landed around 6–7 hours after the One UI 8 update (down slightly from 7–8 before), with no display or green-line issues.— YouTube — S24 Plus One UI 8 review

🤖Software & Galaxy AI

Galaxy AI plus Samsung's seven-year update pledge. The longevity is the standout; the AI features mirror what's on the Ultra and Pixel.

New AI-powered features plus a promise of seven years of software and security updates.— The Verge
Seven years of updates plus continued One UI revisions help the software shine on largely the same hardware.— Android Police
Seven years of OS and security updates means you can rely on this phone for a long time.— YouTube — S24+ 8 months later
Seven years of support matches Google's Pixel 8 commitment — among the longest software support on any phone.— Wired
On One UI 7 / Android 15 the S24+ gains many features that were exclusive to newer models, keeping it current.— YouTube — S24 Plus in 2025 with One UI 7

💰Value vs Competition

Launched at $999 (256GB), the S24+ is widely framed as the best-value S24 and an exceptional used buy in 2026.

PhoneArena's verdict is explicit: 'Skip the Ultra, buy the Plus.'— PhoneArena
Titled outright as 'A Good Phone and the Best S24 for Most People.'— How-To Geek
It was the most interesting S24 upgrade — more RAM, higher-resolution display and bigger battery at the same $1,000 starting price.— YouTube — S24+ 8 months later
Two years on at around $350–$400 used, nothing beats the S24 on price-to-performance — SD 8 Gen 3, big battery, good cameras and 5 more years of updates.— YouTube — Galaxy S24 2 years later, find one now
After 2 months it's 'the one to get this year from Samsung' for most buyers.— YouTube — S24+ after 2 months
As a $1,000 flagship it deserves better speakers than it ships with.— YouTube — S24+ 8 months later

Long-term Verdict

What creators say after 30, 100, or 365 days of real-world use — the post-honeymoon reality that launch-day reviews can't cover.

⏳Long-term Verdict

Revisits at 2 months, 4 months, 8 months, 1 year and 2 years are remarkably consistent: the S24+ ages into one of Samsung's best value buys. Performance and the display hold up, the seven-year update pledge keeps it current, and the recurring long-term gripes are mediocre speakers, early screen scratches and a camera that never wows.

After two years of real-life use the performance is 'still a beast' and the seven-year update policy makes the S24+ a genuine long-term software investment.— YouTube — S24 Plus review in 2026
Two years on, nothing beats the Galaxy S24 on price-to-performance at ~$350–$400 used: SD 8 Gen 3, big battery, triple camera with a great selfie and 5 years of support left.— YouTube — Galaxy S24 2 years later, find one now
After 8 months of daily carry, the reasons it was bought hold up: more RAM, higher-resolution display and bigger battery at the same $1,000 price.— YouTube — S24+ revisited 8 months later
Eight months in, it still feels premium and lightweight (under 200g) with a reliable in-display fingerprint reader.— YouTube — S24+ revisited 8 months later
As a $1,000 phone it deserves better speakers, and upper screen scratches appeared within the first two weeks — the main long-term disappointments.— YouTube — S24+ revisited 8 months later
After 2 months as a main phone it's 'the one to get this year from Samsung,' with ~5–6 hours of heavy-use screen-on-time.— YouTube — S24+ after 2 months
Four months in, the 2,600-nit display impresses, but the cameras are good-not-surprising — for higher quality you need the Ultra.— YouTube — S24 Plus after 4 months
It still feels very much like a flagship years later, with ~5 more years of software support, though some battery degradation has set in.— YouTube — S24+ in 2026, still worth buying
One year later the selfie camera still impresses and battery comfortably reaches the evening on 5G mobile data.— YouTube — S24 Plus one year later
On One UI 7 / Android 15 the aged S24+ gains many features that were exclusive to newer models, keeping it relevant.— YouTube — S24 Plus in 2025 with One UI 7
After the One UI 8 update screen-on-time settled around 6–7 hours (down slightly from 7–8 before) with no display or green-line issues.— YouTube — S24 Plus One UI 8 review

Real-World Tests

Battery drain runs, durability tests, camera shootouts, and gaming benchmarks — the numbers that only video testers capture.

🧪Real-World Tests

Hands-on testers ran the S24+ through head-to-head battery and thermal drains versus the S24 Ultra and S23, sustained gaming, charging clocks and a durability test. Numbers below are from measured tests, not spec sheets.

Versus the S24 Ultra: after an hour of gaming the Ultra used 21% battery while the S24+ used 34%, and the Plus's chipset ran 3–4°C hotter with a lower thermal cap.— YouTube — S24 Ultra vs S24+ battery test
The S24+ was measured draining faster than the Ultra on a 5G connection, suggesting a 5G optimisation gap at launch.— YouTube — S24 Ultra vs S24+ battery test
Exynos S24+ vs S23: higher Geekbench score, 44% better GPU, less frame drop and more stable performance (72% vs 66% stability) — but ran 2–3°C hotter.— YouTube — S24+ vs S23 Exynos thermals
In a 10-minute Genshin Impact run both the S24+ and S23 hit 47°C and began CPU throttling; a 30-minute PUBG run finished near 45°C.— YouTube — S24+ vs S23 Exynos thermals
After matched battery-drain runs the S24+ ended with 25% left versus the S23's 13% — a clear endurance gain over the prior generation.— YouTube — S24+ vs S23 Exynos thermals
Idle thermals were modest at ~31–32°C in a 25°C room, and the +200mAh battery was added without raising the device weight.— YouTube — Galaxy S24 Plus Exynos review
Camera test: the iPhone edges video recording, but the S24+'s 50MP main and 12MP selfie hold up well with no quality complaints in daily shooting.— YouTube — S24 Plus camera 7 months later
Post One UI 8 update, real-world screen-on-time measured ~6–7 hours (down from ~7–8 before), with the fingerprint and face unlock both fast and reliable on the Exynos variant.— YouTube — S24 Plus One UI 8 review

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Frequently Asked Questions about Samsung Galaxy S24+

Update History

May 19, 2026— Review refreshed with latest sources
May 19, 2026— Added Real-World Tests section (8 points)
May 19, 2026— Added Long-term Verdict section (11 points)

Source Scores

The Verge

“The two smaller siblings include new AI-powered features and a promise of seven years of software and security updates.”

8/10

Wired

“In a nutshell, the Galaxy S24 series marries the best hardware in Android with Google's smarts.”

8/10

Trusted Reviews

“A solid all-rounder with a premium design, great screen, and powerful processor, but the camera setup in particular needs some TLC.”

8/10

PhoneArena

“Galaxy S24 Plus Review: Skip the Ultra, buy the Plus.”

8.3/10

How-To Geek

“Samsung Galaxy S24+ Review: A Good Phone and the Best S24 for Most People.”

8.3/10

Android Police

“The Samsung Galaxy S24+ offers the big screen and fuller features of the S24 Ultra without its price tag being nearly as much of a gut punch.”

8.4/10

9to5Google

“The Android 14 base and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 shine through to deliver one of the best smartphone experiences out there.”

8.3/10

GSMArena

“The Galaxy S24+ has a higher resolution QHD+ display — a significant upgrade from 1080p.”

8.3/10

DXOMARK

“The Samsung Galaxy S24+ and Samsung Galaxy S24 share the same rear camera specs as well as the same chipset.”

8/10

Notebookcheck

“The big Galaxy S24 inches closer to the S24 Ultra.”

8.2/10

Phandroid

“Samsung's Galaxy S24 series phones are some of the best Android phones around.”

8.2/10

Stuff

“Qualcomm-powered rivals will still be the top pick for dedicated mobile gamers.”

8/10

MKBHD

“It has a 6.7 inch display instead of 6.8 and it drops the S Pen and one of the telephoto cameras for $300 off.”

positive

Unbox Therapy

“I think it's going to be the best compact flagship for 2024.”

positive

YouTube — S24+ 8 months later

“It was the most interesting upgrade out of the S24 series: upgraded RAM, higher resolution display, increased battery capacity while keeping the same starting price at $1,000.”

positive

YouTube — S24+ after 2 months

“After 2 months of using this as my main phone, I think it's the one to get this year from Samsung.”

positive

YouTube — Galaxy S24 2 years later

“I cannot think of any phones right now that can beat Samsung Galaxy S24 on that price point around $350 to $400.”

positive

YouTube — S24 Plus after 4 months

“Peak brightness of 2,600 nits, which even the iPhone can't reach, allowing perfect visibility on sunny days.”

mixed

YouTube — S24 Plus review in 2026

“After 2 years the smartphone performance is still beast.”

positive

YouTube — S24 Ultra vs S24+ battery test

“After an hour of gaming ultra used 21% battery while S24 plus used 34%.”

negative

Reddit — r/Samsung

“The s24 plus has more options, better chip set and the faster usb storage available on the 256gb and up version.”

mixed

Reddit — r/GooglePixel

“Before research I was going to go with the pixel because of the camera but then I saw that the battery and chip is better in the S24+.”

mixed

Reddit — r/Android

“Yeah I get about 10 hours of screen on time with my s24 Plus.”

positive

Reddit — r/OnePlus

“Everything was good on the S24+, performance, battery life, screen, but the cameras never surprised me like my Pixel 7 Pro did.”

mixed

Reddit — r/gadgets

“We did reach a point where almost all new stuff in phone is software.”

mixed

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This synthesis review was compiled from 30 independent sources. TechTalkTown did not receive products or compensation from Samsung.

Image: Samsung

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S24+

Smartphones

Older model

22 expert reviews

6 user opinions

Updated May 19, 2026

High confidenceUp to date

Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S24+ is the value-sweet-spot of the S24 line: it takes the big 6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz display (a real upgrade from the S23+'s 1080p panel), a brighter 2,600-nit screen, a bigger 4,900mAh battery and the same seven-year update pledge as the Ultra, without the Ultra's gut-punch price or the S Pen most people never use. Reviewers repeatedly land on 'skip the Ultra, buy the Plus' / 'the best S24 for most people.' The catches are a camera system that's good-not-great and unchanged from the S23, mediocre speakers for a $1,000 phone, and a hotter, slower Exynos chip in non-US regions. Buy this if you want a big-screen flagship that ages well and holds value (now ~$350–$400 used); skip it if photography is your priority — the Ultra or a Pixel will serve you better.

Skip the Ultra, buy this