Samsung Galaxy S24 (Snapdragon) review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Samsung Galaxy S24 (Snapdragon) is the compact flagship of its year: a 6.2-inch 120 Hz OLED at 2,600 nits in a 167 g body, running the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for the US market. Launched at $799 for 8/128, it now trades around $275 used — among the strongest flagship values in the catalog. Seven years of updates from 2024 means years of runway remain.

Display and design

The 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED at 120 Hz and 2,600-nit peak scores 86/100 — bright, color-accurate, and comfortably the best small display of its generation. The 167 g flat body with IP68 sealing and Armor Aluminum is the most pocketable flagship of the year; compactness of 99/100 says it outright: this is the modern phone for people who miss small phones.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 scores 87/100 everyday and 54/100 gaming — flagship through and through, with the small chassis occasionally throttling sustained loads earlier than the Ultra. Seven years of OS updates from launch leaves roughly five years of committed support as of today, the deepest runway at this used price.

Camera

A 50 MP stabilized main, 12 MP ultrawide, and 10 MP telephoto with 8K30 video score 42/100 — the versatile middle stack of the lineup. Daylight output is consistently good, zoom to 3x is genuinely usable, and low light from the main sensor is competitive. The camera is not the reason to buy this phone; it is also not a reason to avoid it.

Battery and charging

The 4,000 mAh battery scores 20/100 on endurance — the compact flagship's standing tax; moderate use clears a day, heavy use will not. Charging at 25 W (7/100) is the lineup's slowest. The S24 Plus exists for buyers for whom this section is disqualifying.

Verdict

At around $275 used, the Snapdragon S24 is arguably the best value in the entire catalog: a true flagship chip, a superb compact screen, IP68, and five-plus years of remaining updates. Battery and charging are the compromises. The S24 Ultra adds camera reach; the Plus adds endurance; neither adds necessity.