Hector Marcano
Jan 17, 2024
Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 plus blurs the lines between reality and creation
Samsung has unveiled its latest smartphones, the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus, at its Unpacked event. These phones include generative AI capabilities, powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This technology allows for on-device AI functions, which are considered more secure than cloud-based AI.
One of the interesting features enabled by this technology is Circle to Search:
where users can circle an item on the screen for the AI to search for it.
Other importants AI functions include note summarization and voice tone adaptation in messages.
The generative AI capabilities also extend to photography, with features like generative editing, adjustment of image tilt, erasing reflections and shadows, and filling in the background when enlarging an image. These features will improve over time as the system learns from the user's photos. Additionally, users can generate slow-motion videos by generating extra frames in between.
These generative AI features will be available in the Galaxy S24 series as well as several of last year's phones, including the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 Fan Edition, Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, and Tab S9 tablet by the first half of 2024. This suggests that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip in those phones may also support generative AI.
In addition to the generative AI capabilities, the Galaxy S24 series features other improvements. The S24 and S24 Plus have slightly larger screens compared to last year's phones, and the S24 Plus's display has Quad HD resolution. The phones also have increased peak brightness for better visibility outdoors. The standard S24 and S24 Plus retain aluminum frames and IP68 water and dust resistance ratings, while the S24 Ultra has a titanium frame.
The camera setup of the standard S24 and S24 Plus remains similar to last year's phones, with notable improvements in low-light photography and noise reduction algorithms. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset also offers better performance and improved ray tracing compared to its predecessor.
Overall, the Galaxy S24 series introduces generative AI capabilities, mentioning one more of them: Live translation of your calls, even works on messages, along with several other improvements that make them a competitive option in the smartphone market.
Samsung has introduced the S24 and S24 Plus phones with simplified storage and memory configurations. The S24 maintains the same specifications as its predecessor, including 8 GB of RAM and options for 128 GB or 256 GB of storage. On the other hand, the S24 Plus offers an upgrade with 12 GB of RAM (compared to 8 GB in the S23 Plus) and storage choices of 256 GB or 512 GB.
The battery capacities have also received a slight boost with the S24 featuring a 4,000 mAh battery (100 mAh more than the S23), while the S24 Plus boasts a 4,900 mAh battery (200 mAh more than the S23 Plus). Samsung claims that the phones have improved battery efficiency of 5% thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
In terms of sustainability, Samsung has increased the usage of recycled materials in the S24 series. This includes incorporating up to 50% recycled cobalt in the batteries of the S24 Ultra and Plus models, as well as 100% recycled rare earth elements and 40% recycled steel in the speakers. The packaging also consists of 100% recycled paper material. The company aims to eliminate single-use plastics and incorporate recycled materials in all its products by 2025. Further sustainability goals include zero standby power consumption in chargers and zero landfill waste in global operations.
In an effort to reduce electronic waste and contribute to sustainability, Samsung has announced that the S24 phones will receive seven years of Android and security updates. This will please owners who aim to extend the lifespan of their devices and likely result in fewer old phones ending up in landfills. This commitment aligns with Google's and is nearly as impressive as Fairphone's eight-year upgrade promise.
While the initial prices of the S24 and S24 Plus in the United States remain unchanged at $800 and $1,000 respectively, the S24 Ultra has become slightly more expensive at $1,300 compared to last year's S23 Ultra priced at $1,200. To offset this increase, Samsung is offering deals at launch that allow for a free storage upgrade.
All three S24 models will be available in yellow, purple, gray, and black. Additionally, Samsung's website will offer green, blue, and orange color options for customers to choose from.