So, you're looking for the best Android has to offer? And you're not a fan of enormous smartphones? That narrows it down a bit. I'd say the list is already probably just the Google Pixel 8 and Samsung's Galaxy S24.
Don't get me wrong, here at Digital Spy, we're fans of all things Pixel – but I'd put it like this, if you're already used to Samsung's software quirks (and the stats say that a bunch of you are), the S24 is lighter, faster and has an actual dedicated 3x zoom lens within its camera array.
It's a close contest for the best compact Android but you're arguably getting more for your money with the S24. That's before mentioning that both manufacturers now claim to offer long-term software support for their flagships.
Pros
- Small and light
- Top camera performance
- Better battery than predecessor
- Longer software update support
Cons
- Not that many changes from S23
- A few software quirks
Samsung Galaxy S24 specs
| Screen size | 6.2 inches |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels |
| Operating system | Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Processor | Samsung Exynos 2400 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (if bought in USA, Canada or China) |
| Cameras | 12MP front-facing, 50MP wide, 10MP telephoto, 12MP ultrawide |
| Battery | 4,000mAh |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Weight | 167g |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
| MicroSD slot | No |
Samsung Galaxy S24 design
I don't know about you, but I miss small phones. With the arrival of the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra and the lack of a successor to the 5.9-inch Zenfone 10, it's safe to acknowledge that petite and powerful smartphones with screens smaller than six inches aren't coming back.
The iPhone 13 mini was the last of the small iPhones, and the category is, sadly, effectively now non-existent on the Android side. However, that's not to say that phones can't feel small. And this is where the Samsung Galaxy S24 is such a winner.
The design now embraces flat sides, making it easier to hold, and it feels quite different compared to the larger phones I'm often testing, like the recent Nothing Phone (2a). This is a convenient and light form factor at 167g.
For those keeping track, that makes it 20g lighter than the Pixel 8. That makes a small but noticeable difference. Hold it side-by-side with the Samsung Galaxy S23, though, and you'll only be able to see a few changes – it's not a complete reinvention.
It looks sleek and would work well with or without a case (we especially liked keeping it in the Mous Limitless case though because it's protective and adds MagSafe compatibility) and it comes in a wider range of fetching colours than most of the competition.
You can get it in Sapphire Blue, Jade Green, and Sandstone Orange as the exclusive shades from Samsung's site, or in Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow (the colour of my review unit), Onyx Black and Marble Grey there... and everywhere else you'd go to buy a phone.
The display is marginally bigger than on the S23 but much brighter, leaping to 2,600 nits of peak brightness, up from 1,750 nits on the older phone. You're also getting a 1Hz-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and the lowest possible brightness is now lower too. Overall, this is a screen that'll work for you when checking the time ahead of the movie in a dark cinema or when out in the blazing sunlight (if it ever arrives).
Samsung Galaxy S24 cameras
Most of us buy phones these days for their cameras, and I have to say that I've got on well with what the Samsung Galaxy S24 offers. I spent some time testing the Galaxy S23 and S23 Ultra last year, and falsified moon photos aside, I wasn't blown away by the consistency of the performance when switching between the lenses. It sometimes felt like a snap taken on the ultrawide was from an entirely different phone to shots taken on the main sensor.
While the actual hardware of the camera system on the S24 is the same as what was present in the previous generation – it's a 12MP selfie camera, a 12MP ultrawide, a 50MP main sensor and a 10MP telephoto – I think there are notable improvements to the consistency and the processing of photos.
Overall, I'm impressed with the shots I’ve been getting out of this system. The presence of that actual dedicated 3x zoom lens makes it a much more competitive rival for versatility when you're comparing it to the Pixel 8 or Apple's iPhone 15. From those brands, you are forced to upgrade to the Pro models to get an extra lens. Samsung is proving that it's possible to deliver this feature at a sensible price.
I think it's always worth keeping in mind how each of these companies approaches photos and colours – without editing, Samsung pictures tend to be highly vibrant, especially when you're looking at green, red and blue tones (you should be able to spot this in the sample pictures below). Overall, you get rich and detailed results that I don't think you'll be disappointed in, but they won't look as subtle or neutral as snaps from rival cameras.
To help you with your decision, I've included several test shots taken on the S24, all unedited and straight from the phone.
Samsung Galaxy S24 sample photos
Samsung Galaxy S24 battery life
There's a small upgrade here to note. The Galaxy S23 has a 3,900mAh battery capacity, and that's now ever so slightly better in the S24, going up to a size of 4,000mAh. Look, I'm not going to oversell it, but battery life will be very good for the majority of users. It'll last all day and, for most people, that's going to be more than enough. The same was true of the S23.
I don't like to make definitive battery proclamations based on only a couple of weeks of use, but I can confirm that there have been no issues with this battery and that it'll get you through the entire day with no problems at all (and it may even last you into the next day). Most of us would want to give it a bit of a recharge overnight, although Samsung says it'll get you up to 29 hours of video playback on a single charge – that's definitely more than enough for almost everything.
And, if you're genuinely worried about it, it'll refuel very quickly via a power bank or mains charger. It'll support a fast charge at 25W or 'super-fast charging' of 45W with a compatible cable and a 45W power adapter.
Samsung Galaxy S24 software and performance
I have my concerns about Samsung software because it tends to be stuffed full of bloatware and requires me to spend quite a bit of time changing all the defaults to get all the settings right. Overall, it isn't as intuitive or clean as the Android experience on Pixel smartphones.
There's a bit more effort involved to get everything working properly but, with that said, I do still think One UI 6 is a far better overall version of Android than what I experienced on One UI 5 last year. It feels like there are fewer of those unnecessary pre-installed apps and the general navigation and interface feel well-designed and fluid.
I'm also happy to see Samsung promising long-term support for the S24, just like Google is doing for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Samsung says the S24 series will get seven generations of OS updates and seven years of security updates, which is a notable extension of what it's offering for the S23 smartphones.
Performance-wise, you're not going to notice any issues for normal use at all. It comes with Samsung's Exynos 2400 chipset and it's hard to fault. The phone is fast and responsive and will handle lots of multi-tasking, gaming and photo editing too. For day-to-day performance, it's among the best Androids available.
Samsung Galaxy S24 drawbacks
There aren't many downsides to the S24 if you're used to how Samsung does things. But, if you're moving to this handset from a Pixel phone, you'll notice a few of the quirks.
For example, it defaults to the old-school button navigation style, still comes with bloatware (like pre-installed Facebook, YouTube Music and LinkedIn) you probably won't use and isn't quite as user-friendly as the simpler Android from Google. If you're anything like me, you'll need to dive into the settings app and tinker until it works the way you want it to.
It's also fair to say that while this has some nice upgrades, it's not exactly a reinvention of the S23 and certain critiques still stand, namely that this isn't that much of an exciting design. We don't think this is a major ding against the phone, though, especially given how capable it is for the price. One last thing to mention is that if you're looking at the Samsung lineup and realise you need more screen size, a longer zoom and more battery, though, I'd say this isn't the phone for you and you're after the Ultra instead.
Samsung Galaxy S24 verdict
At its base configuration and specifications, the Samsung Galaxy S24 goes for £799, making it the same price as an iPhone 15 and quite close in price to the Google Pixel 8. We think that the Pixel is the better-value buy and that it's more approachable to Android newbies switching over from Apple, but for those already in the world of Samsung phones, the S24 is the better pick.
It's good value for the amount it offers, beating several rivals in its price tier by offering an actual dedicated 3x zoom lens in its capable camera setup along with long-term upgrade support, an excellent bright screen, a fast and powerful chip, an all-day battery performance and a design that's lighter and easier to use one-handed.
Sure, certain power users may need the advanced features of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the AI wizardry of the Google Pixel 8 Pro, but I think, for most longtime Android fans, the Galaxy S24 stands out as the all-rounder upgrade you've been waiting for.
Pros
- Small and light
- Top camera performance
- Better battery than predecessor
- Longer software update support
Cons
- Not that many changes from S23
- A few software quirks
Other products to consider
The most obvious alternative to consider is the Samsung Galaxy S23, which you should be able to pick up for £100 less than the starting price of the S24. It's not that different of a device, and only a slight downgrade to the battery, processor and screen. It gets those new AI features in the latest Samsung phones and has the same camera hardware as the S24.
The Pixel 8 would then be the next most recommended alternative, especially as it also comes at a lower price of £699 and much less when on offer. This has a bright, high-refresh-rate screen, a clean Android experience, loads of AI-powered features, and lengthy software update support.
Need a bigger display, more resolution and more battery? I'd suggest going for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, which delivers exactly that with a larger 6.7-inch panel and 4,900mAh battery capacity. The final big step up would be to go for the high-end Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – this adds upgraded cameras, the built-in S Pen, and a crisp, reflection-resisting 6.8-inch display.
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