Samsung's New Galaxy S24 Phones Go Heavy on Helpful AI Features

From laptops to smart fridges, AI is making its way into seemingly every kind of tech, and the new Galaxy S24 line is no exception. At the event, Samsung launched its Galaxy AI system, a suite of integrated features made possible by the S24’s more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. 

AI isn’t altogether new for Samsung phones. They already have Bixby assistant and AI-assisted photo enhancement, for example. But Samsung made clear that Galaxy AI is more central and integrated to a user’s experience and, as those who value digital privacy will appreciate, often performed locally on the device and within the native Samsung apps. That means personal data—like photos, calls, and text threads—don’t need to be stored and analyzed on Samsung’s servers to make use of AI. Most of the newest AI features were also created in partnership with Google. 

While only time—and more thorough testing—will tell whether these updates feel more like gimmicks than must-haves, we admit that some of the newly announced AI tricks do sound useful even to an average user.

Some of the neatest ones include the new “circle to search” function, which allows you to circle any item in an image, video, or string of text and get search results at the bottom of the screen in whatever app you’re using without having to open a separate tab. New AI-enhanced photo and video editing allow for sharper zooming, after-the-fact slow-mo video creation, smarter photo editing suggestions, and the ability to erase or move around components for a more perfect shot, much like the Google Pixel’s Magic Eraser feature. 

The S24 can even transcribe, format, and summarize audio recordings—handy for meetings, lectures, or creative brainstorming sessions—and translate calls and texts in real time in up to 13 languages, even when the person you’re conversing with is using a non-Samsung phone or a landline.

The introduction of a titanium frame for the S24 Ultra is the biggest design change, which Samsung says makes the high-end model more durable and scratch-resistant, a claim we plan to put to the test in our labs soon. The Ultra’s display now also uses the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Armor, which Samsung says is the strongest yet.

The screen brightness got a boost, with each model now able to hit 2,600 nits, Samsung says, up from 1,750 nits. All three models now also have a 120Hz refresh rate, allowing for smoother scrolling and graphics performance. 

Other than that, the look and feel of the S24 line will be familiar to most Samsung fans. The S24’s bezel shrunk just a tad, which allows for slightly more display for your buck. The corners of the S24 Ultra are still square rather than the slightly curved corners of the S24 and S24+, while the screen’s edges are a bit flatter. The high-end model’s tucked-away S-Pen also stuck around.

The range of colors has changed a bit—to black, gray, violet, and yellow—for all three models. Green, blue, and orange versions are available if ordering through Samsung online.

The cameras on the Samsung S23 line are already top-notch, so the S24 upgrades will likely appear fairly incremental to most people. 

For both the S24+ and S24, the camera setups stay the same as those on the S23+ and S23. The S24 Ultra keeps most of the rear camera setup from the S23 Ultra intact, including its massive 200-megapixel primary camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and 10-megapixel telephoto camera. But the S24 Ultra now has a 50-megapixel telephoto with 5x optical zoom. Its 12-megapixel selfie camera remains the same.

Most of the camera system improvements come on the software side. At the Unpacked event, Samsung touted clearer and brighter nighttime photos and video, more adaptive noise reduction for unsteady-hands video, thanks to an improved gyro sensor, and AI-enhanced zooming. This is alongside the handful of AI-enhanced editing features mentioned above.

The battery capacity for the S24 Ultra stays the same, while the S24 and S24+ both get a slight boost, Samsung says. (The S24+ now has nearly the same battery capacity as the S24 Ultra: 4,900mAh vs. 5,000mAh.) But Samsung says the more efficient processing chip and enhanced cooling system will improve the battery life of all three models, which CR will test in our labs soon. The models also default to Dark Screen Mode, which can help you conserve power. (See our review of the smartphones with the best battery life.)

After the biggest S24 announcements, Samsung also teased the forthcoming launch of its new Galaxy Ring—a wearable, Oura-like health tracker—that will integrate with a renovated and AI-enhanced Samsung Health app. The company says the device will be released in the first half of the year. No word yet on the price. We’ll be back with a fuller review of the Galaxy Ring when we learn more.

As is often the case, it depends on your needs. If you’re loyal to Samsung but your current model still works fine, you don’t need to upgrade just yet—unless, of course, the 5x zoom camera, titanium case, or one of the new AI features really appeals to you.

If you’re due for a new phone anyway, it might be worth spending a bit more to have a processor capable of keeping up with the AI innovations that are sure to keep coming.