Samsung kicked off the year with its first Unpacked event in San Jose, unveiling the Galaxy S24 series well ahead of schedule, extending the anticipation until mid-January. While the event showcased the usual spectacle, the real question on everyone’s mind was whether Samsung could surpass the success of the well-received S23 or introduce something entirely new. The buzz around the “new” primarily centered on artificial intelligence (AI), with a plethora of AI-based solutions integrated into the S24 family. However, most of these new features and services relying on AI are software and/or cloud-based solutions, meaning that while they will initially be exclusive to the S24 models, they will eventually make their way to earlier models through updates.
Hardware Advancements
One key question arises: in what other aspects did Samsung manage to advance? The hardware, strictly speaking, carries some risks with the new models. The two smaller S24 models once again come equipped with Samsung’s in-house Exynos chipset. However, this time it’s the new Exynos 2400, not the 2200 that somewhat underperformed against Qualcomm’s solution in the S22 series. Although the official statement doesn’t address economic reasons for returning to in-house chipsets, Samsung claims that the Exynos is more adept at certain tasks compared to Qualcomm. Nevertheless, they acknowledge that fewer resource-intensive applications, especially games, are optimized for the Exynos chipset. To counter this, Samsung collaborates with various well-known game developers. When discussing the S24 as a gaming phone, the focus is primarily on the S24 Ultra, built around Qualcomm’s solution.
In terms of hardware, the Ultra features the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while the other two models house the Exynos 2400. Samsung asserts that the Exynos 2400 demonstrates a 1.7 times performance improvement over the Exynos 2200 in processing power and over twelve times improvement in AI-based tasks, thanks to the new NPU. Given the emphasis on AI-driven features, Samsung claims significant advancements in GPU development, utilizing the AMD RDNA 3 architecture in the Xclipse 940. This brings advanced ray tracing, shadow, and reflection rendering, creating more realistic images, especially in games.
External Design and Display
Externally, the models have undergone minimal changes in terms of design. The smallest S24 now features a 6.2-inch display, maintaining the same device size by reducing bezels. The S24+ has a 6.7-inch display, and the Ultra boasts a 6.8-inch screen. All three phones feature the Samsung 1-120 Hz dynamically adaptive refresh rate Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, offering a maximum brightness of 2400 nits, improved anti-reflective properties, and better visibility in direct sunlight.
The new colors lean towards a matte, pastel direction, and the Corning Gorilla Armor provides enhanced protection, claiming to be four times more resistant than previous solutions. Unsurprisingly, the Ultra features a titanium exterior, much like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but the 2024 model is slightly lighter by 2 grams.
Camera Innovations
In terms of cameras, only the Ultra sees significant changes in specific sensors and lenses. The S24 and S24+ retain last year’s setup, with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide module, and a 10-megapixel telephoto module with 3x optical zoom. The Ultra, however, introduces a twist. While the main (200 megapixels) and ultra-wide (12 megapixels) cameras remain unchanged, the 10-megapixel unit supporting 3x zoom has been replaced with a 50-megapixel, 5x zoom module. Initial tests suggest excellent quality in both 10x zoom and intermediate ranges. The front-facing camera across all three models is 12 megapixels. Night mode has seen improvements in all devices, with a focus on nighttime video shooting, especially when using zoom. Additionally, HDR effects are now visible in the preview image.
Battery capacities have slightly increased, with the S24 going from 3900 mAh to 4000 mAh, the S24+ from 4700 mAh to 4900 mAh, and the Ultra remaining at 5000 mAh. Unfortunately, charging speeds remain unchanged, with the smallest device supporting 25W charging, and the other two models supporting 45W. The wireless charging solution remains at 15W, and reverse charging allows devices to be charged with 4.5W. Notably, charging adapters are not included in the boxes.
AI-Powered Features
With the S24 series, Samsung introduces AI features as the central theme for the year. While every tech company is involved in AI development, Samsung appears to be the first to present such a comprehensive package of AI-based solutions in a mobile device. The S24 series incorporates numerous new features relying on AI, including machine learning and generative AI. However, it’s important to note that most of these innovations are software changes requiring cloud-based computation (internet connection), indicating that previous flagship models will likely receive updates to incorporate these features.
The AI solutions can be divided into language-related tricks and enhancements in image and video processing. However, it is expected to be available in our language later this year. Two significant language-based features include a groundbreaking AI that translates phone conversations. Integrated into the Samsung One UI dialer, users can select two languages for translation during a call, facilitating multilingual conversations. Another language-based feature involves converting voice-recorded text into written form, which can be formatted, structured, and expanded into coherent sentences. The AI also assists in composing emails, providing appropriate formulations. Additionally, AI aids in message writing by proofreading hastily written comments and messages. Google’s visual AI search is also included.
Multimedia AI primarily simplifies post-processing of photos. Users can swiftly remove unwanted objects or people from an image, relocate shapes, and have the system fill in the background. Videos can be slowed down fourfold, with the AI generating missing frames to maintain smooth playback. Shadows and reflections can be removed from photos, and average images can be enhanced with contrast, saturation, and sharpness adjustments, making them more Instagram-friendly. All modifications are indicated with a watermark in the bottom left corner, and the metadata of the image file specifies that it’s a photo altered with AI assistance.
Galaxy S24 Series – Prices:
- Samsung Galaxy S24 with 128 GB storage: $799.99
- Samsung Galaxy S24 with 256 GB storage: $859.99
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus with 128 GB storage: $999.99
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus with 256 GB storage: $1199.99
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with 12 GB RAM, 256 GB storage: $1,299.99
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with 12 GB RAM, 512 GB storage: $1,419.99
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with 12 GB RAM, 1 TB storage: $1,659.99
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S24 series marks a significant leap forward in AI integration, offering a plethora of innovative features that enhance user experience. From hardware advancements to AI-powered language translation and image processing, Samsung has set the bar high for flagship smartphones in 2024. The series not only showcases the company’s commitment to cutting-edge technology but also emphasizes its dedication to delivering a comprehensive and intelligent user experience. As the year unfolds, users can expect further enhancements and updates that will extend the AI capabilities to earlier Samsung flagship models.
