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Editor's Choice
Samsung Galaxy S24
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is a great all-round flagship. Equipped with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile processor, it's a solid performer, even if the 8 GB of RAM is a limiting factor and the camera looks a bit old. However, if you are looking for a stylish branded Android flagship from a trusted brand, you should buy this one.
Advantages- More powerful Snapdragon SoC
- Slimmer and lighter
- Sleek and well-supported operating system
Disadvantages- Outdated camera system
- Limited to 8GB RAM
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Best value
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Samsung's popular Fan Edition series has arrived in the Galaxy S24 family, with the new S24 FE representing an attractive, affordable alternative to the more expensive flagships. Its Exynos SoC isn't as impressive as the S24's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but it still offers respectable performance. It also brings you the full range of fun and useful new Galaxy AI features.
Advantages- Larger 6.7-inch display
- Bigger battery
- Full Galaxy AI support
Although brands like OnePlus and Google are still pushing for the throne, Samsung arguably remains the king of Android phones. The flagship Galaxy S24 series launched earlier this year, and now Samsung is expanding its popular fan edition series into the family with the new Galaxy S24 FE. The FE models are positioned as a budget alternative to the more expensive flagships, which begs the question: How do the Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 FE compare to each other? Let's delve deeper and find out which phone offers better value for money.
Price, specifications and availability
The Samsung Galaxy S24 family made its debut in January 2024 at the Galaxy Unpacked event. The range initially included three devices: the standard flagship Galaxy S24 and the premium models Galaxy S24 Plus and S24 Ultra. Samsung followed in September with the launch of the Galaxy S24 FE, a lower-priced variant that offers a “flagship-lite” experience at a lower price than the other S-series phones.
The retail price for the Samsung Galaxy S24 starts at $799 for the 128GB model; A 256GB storage upgrade is also available. Unfortunately, the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage variant is not available in the US. The Galaxy S24 FE comes with a sticker price of $649 for the base 128GB model. Both devices are regularly available for less than retail prices Galaxy phone deals This comes in the form of trade-in discounts, sign-up offers from cell phone providers, and regular price drops. Galaxy phones are available from Samsung, wireless carriers, and major third-party retailers like Best Buy.
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Samsung Galaxy S24 Samsung Galaxy S24 FE SoC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform Samsung Exynos 2400e Advertisement 6.2-inch FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate R.A.M. 8GB 8GB storage 128GB, 256GB 128GB, 256GB Micro SD card support NO NO battery 4,000mAh 4,700mAh Loading speed 25W wired, 15W wireless and 4.5W reverse wireless 25W wired, 15W wireless and 4.5W reverse wireless Ports USB-C USB-C Connectivity 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth v 5.3 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth v 5.3 Dimensions 5.79 x 2.78 x 0.30 inches (147.1 x 70.61 x 7.62mm) 6.38 x 3.04 x 0.31 inches (162 x 77.3 x 8mm) Weight 5.93 ounces (168.1 g) 7.51 ounces (213 g) IP rating IP68 IP68 Colors Onyx black, marble gray, cobalt violet, amber yellow Blue, graphite, gray, mint Operating system Android 14, One UI 6.1 Android 14, One UI 6.1 Price Starting at $799 From $649 Camera (rear, front) 50MP f/1.8 main camera, 10MP f/2.4 3x telephoto, 12MP f/2.2 ultra wide angle, 12MP f/2.2 selfie 50MP f/1.8 main camera, 8MP f/2.4 3x telephoto, 12MP f/2.2 ultra wide angle, 10MP f/2.4 selfie Security Ultrasonic fingerprint reader, face unlock Ultrasonic fingerprint reader, face unlock
Design and presentation
The family resemblance is obvious
Neither the Galaxy S24 nor the S24 FE break new standards in smartphone design. They have a very similar design language and also look virtually identical to Samsung's 2023 flagship phones. The most noticeable design difference is the size: the Galaxy S24 has a 6.2-inch display, while the S24 FE's screen measures 6.5 inches diagonally. Both AMOLED panels have the same crisp FHD+ resolution and a consistent 120Hz refresh rate, although the Galaxy S24 has a higher pixel density for a smaller size.
The Galaxy S24 FE is of course larger than its flagship counterpart, but both are about the same thickness at just under a third of an inch. However, the S24 FE is significantly heavier, weighing 7.51 ounces compared to the Galaxy S24's curb weight of 5.93 ounces. The Galaxy S24 also has slimmer display bezels. Overall, the flagship Galaxy S24 looks and feels a bit more sophisticated, but which model you prefer may depend on which size you prefer.
Winner: Galaxy S24
Performance and software
It comes down to Snapdragon vs. Exynos
Using Circle to Find on Galaxy S24
The Galaxy S24 series brought with it lots of new AI features (as you'd expect with any new flagship release in 2024), and the good news is that the Galaxy S24 FE also gets the full Galaxy AI treatment . The Galaxy S24 series runs on Android 14 with Samsung's OneUI interface. Galaxy fans should already know that Samsung OneUI offers a sleek and intuitive Android experience, and Galaxy AI brings some useful generative AI tools. AI improvements include live translation and transcription, photo and video editing tools built into the camera app, and a browser search assistant.
Admittedly, these tools are similar to what you'll find in other apps, but Galaxy AI integrates them directly into the operating system. Overall, you can expect a similar (if not identical) Android experience with both phones, right down to the new AI features. What sets the Galaxy S24 and S24 FE apart (and where you'll notice a difference in performance) is what's under the hood – more specifically, the system-on-chip that powers each device.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 features the impressive innovation from Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile SoCwhich has set a new standard for mobile processors. Its budget sibling, the Galaxy S24 FE, runs on Samsung's Exynos 2400e series chipset. Both are based on a power-efficient 4nm architecture, but otherwise the Snapdragon chip outperforms Exynos in almost every way. Benchmark tests show that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC is ahead in CPU performance, gaming performance and even battery life. That's not a big surprise considering how impressive Qualcomm's latest generation of mobile hardware is, and that by no means means the Exynos 2400e is weak. But when it comes to juggling apps, running mobile games, and taking advantage of these new generative AI tools, the flagship Galaxy S24 has a clear advantage over the S24 FE.
Winner: Galaxy S24
Camera and battery life
Neither phone will win any awards here
While the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor in the Galaxy S24 is excellent, we wish we could say the same about the cameras. As of 2024, the camera module of the Galaxy S24 is three generations old and needs to be replaced. For better or worse, the Galaxy S24 FE has a similar photography setup, albeit with a few differences. The standard and ultrawide sensors are almost identical, although the Galaxy S24 FE can record slow-motion videos at up to 960 FPS, while the Galaxy S24 is limited to 240 FPS. On the other hand, the Galaxy S24 has 10MP telephoto and selfie cameras, as opposed to the S24 FE's 8MP telephoto and selfie sensors. So for the most part we call this a wash.
The cameras are fine, but they won't delight photography enthusiasts. With a current generation Google Pixel and OnePlus device, you get top-notch photography capabilities. On the bright side, the Galaxy AI offers lots of photo enhancement features that we found really useful and fun. Battery life isn't a disappointment either, especially thanks to the efficient 4nm process of the Snapdragon and Exynos SoCs. The Galaxy S24 FE does have a larger battery than the flagship S24 (4,700 mAh versus 4,000 mAh), but time will tell if that makes a noticeable difference in everyday use. Considering we got great all-day battery life with the Galaxy S24, we don't expect the Galaxy S24 FE to disappoint. However, with both models you're still limited to the 25W wired charging speed, and there's no charging brick included in the box. Whatever phone you choose, make sure you have it Grab a good charger for it.
Winner: Draw (for now)
Which one should you buy?
Compared to the Galaxy S24 FE, the flagship Galaxy S24 is the superior phone. Although they are similar, the S24's more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile CPU is too hard to beat. You'll have to decide for yourself whether this performance increase is worth the extra $150 at retail.
Editor's Choice
Samsung Galaxy S24
$720 $800 Save $80
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is the base model of the S24 series. It's ideal for anyone looking for a smaller smartphone with good cameras at a reasonable price.
The Galaxy S24 and S24 FE are close enough to justify the cheaper model if you're on a tighter budget. The Galaxy S24 FE offers a lot of phone for the money, even if its Exynos processor falls short of the S24's Snapdragon SoC. You still get a beautiful (and larger) 120Hz AMOLED display, fun new AI features, Samsung's sleek OneUI interface, and a solid camera setup. It's a very attractive and high-quality alternative to its more expensive flagship siblings.
Value alternative
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Built on the AI-based ProVisual Engine and Galaxy AI's Photo Assist features, the Galaxy S24 FE features an improved camera setup that allows users to be more creative. With a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a long-lasting 4,700mAh battery1 and a powerful Exynos 2400e series chipset, it's the perfect device for gaming on the go. The Galaxy S24 FE offers premium Galaxy AI2 tools and ecosystem connectivity to improve communication, productivity and creativity – all housed in an iconic design and protected by robust Samsung Knox security.