Samsung Galaxy S24 was launched last year for ₹75,000, but now in 2025 it is available for just ₹42,000! And its price is going to fall even more in Flipkart’s BBD or Amazon’s Great Indian Festival Sale. You will be shocked to hear its price in the second-hand market! The question is how does this phone perform after a year? I updated it to One UI 7 (Android 15) and did a full test – performance, gaming, camera, everything. Let’s see whether this phone is still good or should be skipped.
Performance: Extremely Smooth, No Tension
It has Exynos 2400 chip, which scores ~17 lakh on AnTuTu. Apps open quickly, multitasking is extremely fluid, and there is no lag or glitch in the UI. With One UI 7, this phone runs as smooth as butter. Heavy apps, fast switching, or camera use – everything is handled with ease. The 120Hz LTPO AMOLED panel (1-120Hz adaptive) makes scrolling extremely silky. There is a side bar, split view, and PIP mode for multitasking – two apps run smoothly together.
There is 8GB LPDDR5X RAM, and there are storage options of 128GB (UFS 3.1) or 256GB/512GB (UFS 4.0). A tip – if you are buying the UFS 4.0 variant, keep the phone on full charge during the update or take it to the service center, because my S23 Ultra got damaged during the UFS 4.0 update, and I had to change the motherboard! Even with 8GB RAM, 8-10 apps run comfortably in the background, and app switching is extremely fast.
Software: Future-Proof
This phone launched with Android 14, now it is on One UI 7 (Android 15), and will get 6 years of major updates (up to One UI 13). This is definitely future-proof! The UI is super stable and responsive – no ads, no bloatware (the apps get uninstalled). Unlimited customization is available with Good Lock – you can change everything from volume toggles to UI design.
You can assign specific apps with fingerprint, and hide or lock apps with Secure Folder. Samsung’s dialer offers call recording (without announcement). Galaxy AI features like Circle to Search, photo editing, and sketch-to-image are also there.
Gaming: Solid, but a little lacking
In gaming, this phone now supports 120fps (earlier it was only 90fps). In games like BGMI, COD, the reaction time, camera movement, and graphics are top-notch. Runs smoothly at 120fps, but with gyro on, there are glitches. Play at 90fps and there is no problem. One issue – the 4000mAh battery is small for gaming.
In normal use, it lasts comfortably for a day (6-7 hours screen-on time), but drains quickly in heavy gaming. 25W charging is also slow, and charger is not provided in the box. If gaming and battery are priorities, Poco F7 or iQOO Neo 10 are better.
Camera: Extremely Amazing Shots
Camera is the biggest plus point of this phone. There is a 50MP main, 10MP 3x telephoto, and 12MP ultra-wide lens at the back. In 50MP mode, details, colours, and HDR are excellent. Zoom shots (1x to 30x) are clean – 3x optical and 5x shots are sharp. Portrait mode gives perfect edge detection, skin tones, and blur.
Ultra-wide has a wide field of view and excellent colours. Night photography is also top-class – details, colours, and balance are on point. Videos can be recorded in 8K@30fps or 4K@60fps. Stabilisation and autofocus are excellent. Portrait videos (1080p, 1x/2x) have great blur and edge detection. The 12MP front camera is improved with better selfies and 4K@60fps videos.
Display: Small but amazing
6.1-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, thin bezels, and vibrant colours. The 120Hz LTPO panel makes content smooth. With 1200 nits indoors and 1750 nits HDR brightness, visibility is strong even in sunlight. 4K HDR videos on YouTube and Netflix look sharp and crisp. Dual stereo speakers are loud and clear.
Build and Extras: Solid and Reliable
Compact size, perfect for one-handed use. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on front and back, and Armor Aluminium 2 frame. IP68 water and dust resistant. Supports dual 5G SIMs (18 bands). Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is fast and secure. Vibration motor is flagship level. No headphone jack or SD card slot.
Pricing: New or Second-Hand?
Available for ₹42,000 new, but can drop to ₹35,000-38,000 in BBD or Great Indian Festival Sale. In the second-hand market, price is ₹32,000-33,000 with warranty. Don’t pay more than this, because new is better in the sale.
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Processor | Exynos 2400 |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 128GB (UFS 3.1) / 256GB / 512GB (UFS 4.0) |
| Display | 6.1-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 1750 nits |
| Camera | 50MP Main + 10MP 3x Telephoto + 12MP Ultra-wide, 12MP Selfie |
| Battery | 4000mAh, 25W Charging |
| Operating System | One UI 7 (Android 15) |
| Build | Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Armour Aluminium 2, 167g, IP68 |
| Connectivity | 5G (18 bands), Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC |
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Extremely smooth One UI 7 and 6 years of updates.
- 50MP camera – amazing in portraits, night shots, and videos.
- 6.1-inch AMOLED display – vibrant and bright.
- Compact size, premium build, and IP68 rating.
- Galaxy AI features and Good Lock customization.
Cons:
- 4000mAh battery not enough for heavy gaming.
- 25W charging slow, and charger not in the box.
- Risk of update issues with UFS 4.0.
- No headphone jack or SD card slot.
Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy S24 is an absolutely solid phone even in 2025 – smooth UI, great camera, and compact design. This is a good deal for ₹42,000, but better to buy in BBD/Great Indian Festival Sale for ₹35,000-38,000, or second-hand for ₹32,000. If gaming and battery are priorities, check Poco F7 or iQOO Neo 10. But if you want professional photos, reels, or premium UI, this phone is a perfect fit. The video quality is a little less than iPhone, but it delivers great value at this price.
