Samsung Electronics hosted the Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event and unveiled its new flagship S24 lineup. The South Korean tech company showcased the new Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 smartphones during the event, ushering in a new era of AI-enabled mobile experiences.
What was different during this event as compared to the previous iterations of Samsung events was Galaxy AI. The new Galaxy S series comes equipped with AI features that Samsung claims will change the way people use smartphones.
AI will play a key role in elevating user experiences in the consumer technology space and there is no doubt about it. If anything, Samsung only further fortified that belief by showcasing the use cases of its Galaxy AI. Starting from enabling barrier-free communication with artificial intelligence-powered text and call translations to maximize creative freedom with Galaxy’s ProVisual Engine to setting a new standard for search that will change how smartphone users will look for things on the internet, the South Korean tech giant put up an impressive presentation of the new features in the Galaxy S series devices.
“The Galaxy S24 series transforms our connection with the world and ignites the next decade of mobile innovation,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “Galaxy AI is built on our innovation heritage and deep understanding of how people use their phones. We’re excited to see how our users around the world empower their everyday lives with Galaxy AI to open up new possibilities,” added Roh.
Improved communication
Samsung introduces AI-powered communication with the launch of the new phones. Samsung claims that tasks like chatting with a person abroad, booking a reservation while on vacation in another country or talking to international clients can now be tackled head-on with the help of Live Translate which Google’s Gemini Nano AI powers. Two-way, real-time voice and text translations of phone calls within the native app is something that will empower smartphone usage at different levels. As per Samsung’s live presentation during the event, there is no need of a third-party app.
With Interpreter, live conversations can be instantly translated on a split-screen view so people standing opposite each other can read a text transcription of what the other person has said. Since the feature is on the device itself, it also works without cellular data or Wi-Fi.
For messages and other apps, the Chat Assist feature can help perfect conversational tones to ensure communication sounds as it was intended: like a polite message to a coworker or a short and catchy phrase for a social media caption. AI built into Samsung Keyboard can also translate messages in real-time in 13 languages. In the car, Android Auto5 will automatically summarize incoming messages and suggest relevant replies and actions, like sending someone your ETA, so you can stay connected while staying focused on the road.
The Galaxy S24 also introduces Circle to Search with Google. With a long press on the home button, users can circle, highlight, scribble on or tap anything on Galaxy S24’s screen to see search results. Something as simple as seeing a landmark in the background of a friend’s social media post or a clothing item on YouTube Shorts can now be tapped or scribbled to get search results on Google. The interesting part is that all of this happens without leaving the app.
Improved camera function
Galaxy S24 series’s ProVisual Engine is a comprehensive suite of AI-powered tools that improve the phones’ image-capturing abilities and maximize creative freedom every step of the way, from setting up a shot all the way to sharing it on social.
Galaxy S24 Ultra’s Quad Tele System, with a new 5x optical zoom lens, works with the 50MP sensor to enable optical-quality performance at zoom levels from 2x, 3x, 5x to 10×10 magnification thanks to Adaptive Pixel Sensor. Images also show crystal clear results at 100x with enhanced digital zoom.
Samsung claims that with upgraded Nightography capabilities, photos and videos shot on Galaxy S24 Space Zoom are brilliant in any conditions, even when zoomed in. Capturing more light in dim conditions with Galaxy S24 Ultra’s larger pixel size, now 1.4 μm, which is 60 per cent bigger compared to the previous model plays a key role. Blur is reduced on Galaxy S24 Ultra with wider optical image stabilizer (OIS) angles and enhanced hand-shake compensation. When recording videos, both front and rear cameras are equipped with Dedicated ISP Block for noise reduction, and Galaxy S24 analyzes gyro information to distinguish between the filmer’s movement and the subject’s. This allows more effective noise removal and clear videos in the dark even from far away.
Generative AI capabilities
JB Park, Preident and CEO, Samsung South-east Asia
After great shots are captured, innovative Galaxy AI editing tools enable simple edits like erase, re-compose and remaster. For easier and more efficient optimizations, Edit Suggestion uses Galaxy AI to suggest perfectly suitable tweaks for each photo. To give users even more creative control and freedom, Generative Edit can fill in parts of an image background with generative AI. When a picture is crooked, AI will fill in the borders. When an object needs to be slightly moved to be in the perfect position, AI lets users adjust the position of the subject and generates a perfectly blended background in its original spot.
Anytime Galaxy S24 deploys generative AI to amplify an image, a watermark will appear on the image and in metadata. And if an action-packed video needs to be slowed down, the new Instant Slow-mo can generate additional frames based on movements to smoothly slow down action-packed moments for a more detailed look.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor for Galaxy. Optimized especially for Galaxy users, this chipset delivers significant NPU improvement for AI processing. In all three Galaxy S24 models, 1-120 Hz adaptive refresh rates also improve performance efficiency.
Gaming
Galaxy gaming is more powerful thanks to hardware and software improvements. Galaxy S24 Ultra boast an optimal thermal control system with a 1.9 times larger vapour chamber, improving device surface temperature while also maximizing sustained performance power. Ray tracing enables lifelike visuals with superior shadow and reflection effects.
Display
Visuals are more vibrant and captivating on the brightest Galaxy display ever.18 Galaxy S24 reaches 2,600 nits of peak brightness.
The Corning Gorilla Armor on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is optically enhanced and demonstrates superior durability against damage caused by everyday scratches. It delivers dramatically reduced reflection by up to 75 per cent in a wide range of lighting conditions, ensuring a smooth, comfortable viewing experience.
Across the Galaxy S24 series, design enhancements with slimmer and even bezels make it easier to immerse in any viewing experience and enable larger screen sizes on Galaxy S24+’s 6.7-inch and Galaxy S24’s 6.2-inch displays within nearly the same size specifications.20 Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 6.8-inch flatter display, optimized not just for viewing but also for productivity. Plus, the Galaxy S24+ now supports the same level of QHD+ found on Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Build quality
Galaxy S24 Ultra is the first-ever Galaxy phone to feature a titanium frame,33 enhancing device durability and longevity. Galaxy S24 Ultra’s significantly thinner body enables a better on-the-go experience with a more comfortable grip. On Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24, a streamlined One-mass design satisfies a more aesthetic standard with a seamless connection between the device’s rear cover and side frame.
The Galaxy S24 series comes in Earth mineral-inspired colour tones. On Galaxy S24 Ultra, colors34 include Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet and Titanium Yellow. On Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 colours include Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet and Amber Yellow. All three models will come with additional colours available online only.
