Samsung is preparing to unveil its next flagship phone series, the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra, at its Unpacked event in January. Specifications and pricing details for the upcoming devices have now leaked online, giving us a glimpse of what Samsung has in store for 2024.
Key Galaxy S24 Series Upgrades
The Galaxy S24 series is expected to bring several notable upgrades compared to the current S23 lineup:
- New Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip for improved performance
- 200MP main camera on Ultra model
- Support for 8K 30fps video recording
- Faster charging speeds up to 45W
- New HyperOS custom Android skin
- Enhanced AI photo editing features
Here is a comparison of the rumored Galaxy S24 series specs versus the S23 series:
| Feature | Galaxy S24 | Galaxy S24+ | Galaxy S24 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB | 12GB |
| Rear Camera | 50MP main | 50MP main | 200MP main |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 12MP | 40MP |
| Battery (mAh) | 4700 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Fast Charging | 45W | 45W | 45W |
| Display | 6.1″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz | 6.6″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz | 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz |
Enhanced Cameras and AI Photo Editing
The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s rumored 200MP main camera would be a significant upgrade over the S23 Ultra’s 200MP sensor. Combined with Samsung’s improved image processing, this setup promises much better photo and video quality.
The phones are also expected to offer advanced AI-powered editing capabilities similar to Google’s Magic Eraser on Pixel phones. Users may be able to easily remove unwanted objects or people from photos with just a few taps.
Concerns Over Rising Prices
While the Galaxy S24 lineup brings noteworthy improvements, leaked pricing suggests Samsung may significantly increase costs from the S23 series:
| Model | Rumored Euro Pricing | Equivalent S23 Launch Price |
|---|---|---|
| S24 | €899 | €879 |
| S24+ | €1,099 | €1,049 |
| S24 Ultra | €1,399 | €1,249 |
For European customers, the base S24 and S24 Plus look to be €20-50 higher than their S23 counterparts. More concerning is the rumored €150 price hike for the S24 Ultra, taking it firmly into premium iPhone territory.
There’s still a chance Samsung may adjust pricing given these leaks. But if the current rumored pricing holds true, buyers should prepare to pay more for the latest Galaxy experience.
What’s Driving the Price Increases?
If the Galaxy S24 series sees a price jump at launch, what factors are driving Samsung’s decision? A few key reasons could include:
- Component costs – Prices of components like memory and displays are higher. Samsung may be passing those costs to consumers.
- Declining phone sales – With slower smartphone upgrade cycles, margins likely need to increase.
- Inflation – Rising inflation also puts pressure on costs and consumer prices.
- Feature improvements – Samsung may try justifying price hikes based on camera, performance and other feature upgrades.
However, increasing prices too much risks alienating buyers and losing sales – especially with excellent mid-range alternatives now available. It remains to be seen how aggressive Samsung ultimately decides to be with the S24 pricing.
What to Expect at the January Unpacked Event
Samsung traditionally unveils its early-year Galaxy S flagships at a dedicated Unpacked press event. The Galaxy S24 launch event is scheduled for January 19th, 2024.
Given the leaked specifications, buyers can likely expect strong emphasis on the S24 Ultra’s camera and AI capabilities during Unpacked. Pricing details may not be revealed until the actual on-sale date in February. Besides phones, Samsung should introduce the Galaxy Book 5 laptop and possibly tease the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 foldables.
In the meantime, more Galaxy S24 details could emerge. But the bulk of new information will likely wait until Unpacked when Samsung can fully control the narrative around its 2024 smartphone vision.
Should You Buy the S23 Series or Wait?
For those considering the Galaxy S23 series right now for a new device, is it still worth buying with the S24 launch looming?
The S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra are still highly capable phones expected to get 4 years of Android OS and security updates. Unless the rumored 200MP S24 Ultra camera or AI features are must-haves, the S23 series represents a solid value buy – especially if discounts appear. Keep in mind, Samsung offers excellent trade-in values to upgrade yearly. This minimizes the long term cost of owning the latest models.
However, for buyers who always want the newest Galaxy innovations, waiting for Unpacked in January is recommended. Just be prepared to potentially pay higher prices for the S24 vs. equivalent S23 models today.
Final Thoughts
The Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup appears set to deliver meaningful upgrades like improved cameras, faster performance, and handy AI editing tools. But those improvements may well be accompanied by price increases compared to previous years according to these early leaks.
Samsung now needs to balance driving advanced features while retaining the value proposition Galaxy S buyers expect. If they can keep price hikes moderate for such a premium brand, the Galaxy S24 series could become 2024’s premier Android phone. But substantial cost increases in the current economic climate seem unlikely to sit well with consumers.
We’ll know for sure how Samsung threads this needle at the Galaxy S24 Unpacked event on January 19th. Barring any surprises, the S24 series looks ready to uphold Samsung’s reputation for outstanding smartphone quality and innovation – if you’re willing to pay for it.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
