It is in some way been a 12 months since Samsung introduced the Galaxy S24 Extremely, a cellphone we touted as the most effective premium Android expertise all through 2024. Samsung launched the cellphone with a newly minted flat show, a singular anti-glare layer on the display screen, a stronger titanium body, and a stronger software program replace assure than ever.
At launch, it was clear what Samsung would wish to do to make the Galaxy S25 Extremely a greater cellphone. However whereas 2024’s greatest premium cellphone launched robust, nagging points crept up all year long.
The flamboyant new show was discovered to endure from some unusual high quality and configuration points, and a few construct high quality points with the glass have crept up after just a few months of use. Samsung’s Android 15 replace was delayed a number of occasions, and whereas we’re already on One UI 7 beta 3, the ultimate model is not anticipated till not less than someday in late January on the earliest.
One UI 7 has additionally been the supply of a lot criticism and, humorous sufficient, reward attributable to some main UI design modifications. However whereas One UI 7’s new design does not appear to be everybody’s cup of tea, Samsung is delivering some main enhancements for the S24 Extremely that may in the end please followers ultimately, particularly because the newer Galaxy S25 sequence approaches.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely: Show and design
Ever because the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s launch, customers have been complaining in regards to the show. Whether or not it was the graininess of the pixels or the everlasting smudges which have began showing on some folks’s cellphone shows, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely’s show has been a little bit of a disappointment.
Complaints have revolved round just a few issues, a few of which will be thought-about main given the excessive worth of the Galaxy S24 Extremely. All Galaxy S24 Extremely models are affected by mura, which signifies that every pixel is not reaching the identical brightness degree as adjoining pixels. This does not simply occur at excessive brightness, and it exposes a high quality downgrade we did not anticipate to see in a Samsung flagship.
We have additionally seen a number of situations of individuals getting everlasting “smudges” on their screens. Primarily based on a number of examples, it looks as if it is the results of the oleophobic layer rubbing off prematurely. There isn’t any solution to repair this if it occurs outdoors of changing the outer glass solely, so it is best to put a display screen protector on it as quickly as you unbox it to forestall this problem.
Samsung might need mounted the uninteresting display screen problem a few month after launch however the firm continues to be seeing complaints of diminished show brightness and shade banding throughout social media. Among the brightness points should do with thermal administration, because the cellphone tones down the brightness after a couple of minutes to maintain it from getting sizzling.
Nevertheless, the largest problem is that Samsung artificially reduces the utmost brightness by utilizing PWM dimming. This dimming methodology helps enhance shade accuracy on OLEDs at low brightness however Samsung is utilizing it in any respect brightness ranges for an unknown purpose. Utilizing PWM dimming at excessive brightness reduces the perceived brightness degree of the show, one thing Samsung might repair it it provided a correct PWM-free dimming mode as rivals just like the OnePlus 13 do.
We have additionally seen a number of reviews of customers on Reddit getting micro scratches on their shows regardless of claiming to watch out with their telephones. Smartphone glass has advanced lots over time, however there appears to be one thing totally different in regards to the glass used on the S24 Extremely. My unit additionally has just a few micro scratches regardless of it not being my predominant cellphone all year long.
Each time I’ve used the Galaxy S24 Extremely over the previous 12 months, I’ve had points utilizing the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Whereas some people want ultrasonic sensors, folks like myself discover them to be much less dependable than optical sensors, particularly when a display screen protector is utilized. Fortunately, the upcoming One UI 7 replace addresses issues of fingerprint sensor pace and accuracy and, to date in my testing, has made it considerably extra dependable.
However whereas the show may not be the most effective factor on this planet, Samsung’s design and construct high quality of the S24 Extremely’s remaining {hardware} has shone by way of. The titanium body has acquired loads of reward and holds up effectively with use, though just a few customers have discovered that sure circumstances can scratch the body. It is unusual, for positive, however one thing to look out for for those who’re nonetheless rocking a pristine Galaxy S24 Extremely.
Whereas Samsung has been utilizing very sq. corners on the Galaxy S Extremely line because the Galaxy S22, rumor has it that the Galaxy S25 Extremely will put off these for extra rounded corners. Regardless of rounding out the corners, Samsung is reportedly making the perimeters of the cellphone utterly flat throughout.
This design would match that of the Galaxy S24 which acquired the flat remedy final 12 months. Personally, I hate the flat facet rail design and would slightly see Samsung maintain the curved sides from the Galaxy S24 Extremely, that are a lot nicer to carry and make it simpler to choose the cellphone up from a desk or different flat floor.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely: Software program and updates
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely arrived with the primary seven-year replace promise Samsung has ever made for its telephones. Whereas that sounds good on paper, Samsung might be roughly 4 months late in delivering its Android 15 replace by the point One UI 7 lastly makes its public debut.
Android 15 actually is not the largest replace on this planet however One UI 7 seems to be well worth the wait. I attempted out the second One UI 7 beta again in December and was usually impressed with what I noticed. Samsung lastly ditched the age-old paginated app drawer for a vertical app drawer by default, though you possibly can swap again to the outdated type for those who want that.
The corporate can also be utilizing a brand new design for its multitasking interface that appears virtually similar to an iPhone. Some folks may not be pleased with the change because of this, however it’s much more sensible than the terrible outdated side-by-side design. This design makes it simpler to shortly multitask as you possibly can “peak” on the subsequent few apps whereas scrolling by way of the tiles whereas the earlier design solely confirmed one app’s tile at a time.
Samsung can also be borrowing Apple’s cut up notification pane design, making it in order that the cellphone’s notification pane solely seems when swiping down on the left facet of the standing bar, whereas swiping down on the appropriate facet brings up a full-screen fast toggles pane. This design is polarizing because it’s opposite to straightforward Android design, however some people want the bigger fast toggles pane to be the default.
No matter your choice, almost every little thing will be personalized out of the field to fit your preferences. The one exception, for now, is the multitasking interface, which normally requires Samsung Good Lock to alter. Fortunately, Samsung is alleged to be giving Good Lock a complete overhaul when One UI 7 formally launches later this month, so it’s best to be capable of change it for those who’re not a fan of the brand new design (or like one of many many options Samsung has at all times provided).
Samsung’s actual power has lengthy been providing one thing for everybody, and the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s software program expertise completely embodies that mantra.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely: Efficiency and battery life
As we anticipated when Samsung introduced it final 12 months, ray-tracing on telephones hasn’t caught on but. Diablo Immortal launched its large ray-tracing replace, however we’ve not seen an enormous push for utilizing this know-how on telephones, presumably attributable to battery life and efficiency constraints that telephones uniquely face when in comparison with consoles or PCs that push the identical tech.
General, although, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely nonetheless delivers stellar real-world efficiency. Newer telephones just like the OnePlus 13 considerably outpace it by way of efficiency and thermal limits, however that is totally anticipated from a brand new era. For its half, the Galaxy S24 Extremely by no means feels sluggish, however Samsung tends to throttle brightness fairly a bit when the cellphone begins to get heat.
This retains efficiency excessive and prevents the cellphone from overheating, however it’s annoying to should take care of low brightness on the worst time: within the vibrant solar. Outdoors of this case, nonetheless, the S24 Extremely performs admirably and may please even the pickiest of customers, even a 12 months later.
One downside that solely feels worse with time, nonetheless, is the dreadfully sluggish charging pace. Samsung, Google, and Apple’s telephones all nonetheless cost extremely slowly, even with a “quick” 45W charger. Telephones just like the OnePlus 12 can totally cost in about half-hour with the charger included within the field, however Samsung telephones nonetheless take effectively over an hour.
Some folks have gotten by way of this by having a nice wi-fi charger on their desk or of their automobile, however it does not substitute the right quick charging that the majority Android manufacturers provide. At least, battery life continues to be nice a 12 months later and extra software-side tweaks in One UI 7 ought to additional assist maintain battery life nice over the seven-year lifespan of the cellphone.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely: Digital camera
After I printed the Galaxy S24 Extremely digital camera evaluate final 12 months, I marveled on the enhancements Samsung had made. The corporate had gone from mediocre to the most effective in most conditions, barring only one large space: movement seize.
Whereas the Galaxy S24 Extremely provided up some choices to assist scale back blurry shifting topics — normally youngsters or pets that will not maintain nonetheless — its efficiency was nonetheless worse than the competitors. As of a 12 months later, this hasn’t modified a bit. If something, Samsung seems worse than ever as a result of even OnePlus has mounted the identical downside that plagued its telephones for a very long time.
Outdoors of blurry shifting topics, the Galaxy S24 Extremely nonetheless suffers from an extremely irritating sluggish shutter pace downside. Once you press the shutter button to take an image on a Galaxy S24 Extremely, there is a really annoying lag that takes place within the digital camera viewfinder. I do not see this on any different cellphone available on the market and it is one thing Samsung wants to deal with on the S25 Extremely.
Samsung nonetheless does a superb job of portrait images, however I have been much less impressed with the cellphone’s digital camera this 12 months than I used to be final 12 months. Low-light photographs aren’t nearly as good because the Pixel 9 Professional or OnePlus 13, and even daytime portrait photographs aren’t as vibrant or lovely as I anticipate. Whereas images from some newer Android telephones is likely to be higher, the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s video recording high quality continues to be top-notch amongst Android telephones.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely: Is it nonetheless price shopping for?
With the Galaxy S25 Extremely on the cusp of being formally introduced, you are most likely questioning if it is nonetheless price shopping for the Galaxy S24 Extremely. Whereas I am unable to totally reply that query till the Galaxy S25 Extremely is definitely introduced, we all know for positive that you may get a Galaxy S24 Extremely deal that may prevent lots of versus ready per week or so to preorder a Galaxy S25 Extremely.
The primary query is how choosy you will be about any potential show points you are sure to run into with the S24 Extremely. The show has garnered the biggest variety of complaints I’ve seen in regards to the cellphone during the last 12 months, and whereas a few of them are from energy customers who nitpick the smallest particulars, loads of issues have been observed by people who aren’t tech-savvy, too. There isn’t any assure that Samsung will repair any of those with the S25 Extremely, however it’ll possible tackle not less than just a few.
You will additionally want to contemplate the digital camera, which can be the largest purpose to decide on one thing else. When you primarily take footage of your youngsters or pets, it’s best to contemplate a OnePlus 13 or a Pixel 9 Professional. Each take much better footage of shifting topics, with the Pixel taking a slight edge on this class. If this explicit pictures class is not large in your listing, the S24 Extremely might be an awesome decide.
Lastly, you could wish to contemplate grabbing a OnePlus 13 over both a Galaxy S24 Extremely or a possible Galaxy S25 Extremely for battery life and charging pace. Samsung telephones, together with iPhones and Pixels, have lengthy been among the many slowest-charging smartphones available on the market. That is by no means been more true in 2025 when telephones just like the OnePlus 13 take 20 minutes to top-up the battery whereas an S24 Extremely would possibly take an hour and a half.