There have been plenty of good smartphones launched in 2024, and it’s really not simple to choose “the perfect.” However, for me at the least, I battle to place the Galaxy S24 Extremely on the prime of that record.

In recent times, selection throughout the Android market has felt extra constrained. Many units really feel like simply one other taste of the identical product. 2024, fortunately, didn’t really feel like that too a lot, as every main model has taken by itself identification. However, nonetheless, whenever you’re taking a look at “the perfect Android telephones,” there are only some key locations to look.

The Pixel 9 Professional. The Galaxy S24 Extremely. The OnePlus 12. That’s fairly a lot it in lots of markets, at the least when it comes to wanting on the high-end flagship Android system. “Finest” could be very a lot subjective, however personally, I feel it actually boils all the way down to a type of three, plus the newest iPhone too.

For me, if I needed to choose a type of, I’d be hard-pressed to choose between the Pixel 9 Professional and the OnePlus 12. The Pixel 9 Professional (and the XL) was simply the most-improved system of the 12 months. Google’s design was polished, Tensor G4 is kind of good, and the costs are nonetheless honest. OnePlus, in the meantime, put out a cohesive flagship within the OnePlus 12 that battles, typically even beats the competitors when it comes to the {hardware} and the digital camera, all whereas undercutting on value dramatically. Actually, the one sore factors for me on the OnePlus 12 had been the digital camera, which was nonetheless a bit inconsistent, and the software program, as OxygenOS 14 nonetheless had just a few too many quirks.

However each of these are the apparent selection, in my eyes, for the perfect telephone of 2024. The system that I undoubtedly wouldn’t choose is the Galaxy S24 Extremely, and for just a few key causes.

The Galaxy S24 Extremely is, by all means, not a dangerous smartphone. It’s simply not a aggressive system.

Samsung’s 2024 flagship lags behind on the digital camera greater than the rest. In our evaluation, we known as it “lackluster” digital camera as a result of it isn’t very dependable, and struggles greater than another high-end smartphone in the case of photographs that contain any form of movement. Past that, Samsung’s One UI software program has continued to really feel extra cluttered over time (although it’s getting a bit higher subsequent 12 months), and also you’re additionally not getting something significantly distinctive. Compelling, standout options simply aren’t simple to seek out on the Galaxy S24 Extremely. You’ll purchase it if you’d like an S Pen, after all. Gorilla Armor is nice too. And this is without doubt one of the solely choices for getting a smartphone that will get 7 years of Android updates. However it’s very clear that Samsung is comfy simply leaving most issues on cruise management, and focusing in on the AI options that are nonetheless held again by the apps they’re hooked up to. Even in our later long-term Galaxy S24 Extremely evaluation, we known as the system an “undeniably complete flagship smartphone” however nonetheless needed to query if it’s nonetheless the front-runner.

You’re not “dropping” in most locations on the Galaxy S24 Extremely. The battery life is sweet. The software program coverage is nice. The efficiency and stability of Qualcomm’s chip is a compelling promoting level over a Pixel. The one place the place this system actually “loses” is the digital camera, because it actually simply can’t match up with the competitors. I don’t assume that deserves any awards, as I defined in our evaluation:

Samsung deserves some commendation for throwing a ton of {hardware} at [the camera] state of affairs and delivering what is actually a versatile and sometimes-stellar digital camera setup. However, it hardly ever sticks the touchdown. As has been the case for the previous a number of years, I don’t belief Samsung’s digital camera, and that’s getting increasingly ridiculous because the years go by and the costs go up.

After which the value has to return into the dialog.

At $1,299, the Galaxy S24 Extremely is the most costly non-foldable flagship in most markets. It’s arduous to argue the Galaxy S24 Extremely is price $200 greater than a Pixel 9 Professional XL. It’s mainly unattainable to say, at the least with a straight face, that it’s price $400 greater than the OnePlus 12. It’s actually not price $100 greater than an iPhone 16 Professional Max both. Samsung’s trade-in offers are at all times compelling, however these are starting to really feel like a bribe simply because nobody needs to pay the retail value – and I’d argue nobody ought to pay that value both.

For me, the Galaxy S24 Extremely is the “secure” smartphone. It’s removed from dangerous, it’s good in plenty of methods, but it surely’s not the perfect. I can form of see why Marques Brownlee picked it for the perfect telephone award, however I don’t assume Samsung deserves it.

This Week’s Prime Tales

Android 16 Developer Preview 2

Google rolled out the second developer preview for Android 16 this week, delivering some fixes, some tweaks, and one new function for the Pixel 9 within the skill to make use of the fingerprint sensor whereas the display screen is totally turned off.

Android 15 QPR2 Beta additionally rolled out earlier this week.

Android Auto will get Materials You

In a shock, Android Auto 13.4 landed this week with assist for Materials You colour theming. This appears restricted in our testing to date, but it surely’s a welcome addition.

Extra Prime Tales

From the remainder of 9to5

9to5Mac: AirTag simply received a brand new function in iOS 18.2, right here’s find out how to use it

9to5Toys: Sony formally pronounces completely large 2024 Vacation PlayStation Retailer sale

Electrek: Tesla finds ‘cell-dent’ points in Cybertrucks, begins changing battery packs

Observe Ben: Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram