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      Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Galaxy S23: What's In, What's Out, & What's Wow

      23268fd5-aa51-4eef-a638-2a4f578db286 / 14-02-2024 / Tech

      The smallest, most affordable phones in the Galaxy S series line up are always packed with big features that give them a unique edge over their pricier siblings. But the big question is; Is it worth upgrading to the brand new Samsung Galaxy S24 from the Galaxy S23?

      Sit tight, because we're spilling the details on all the new features of the Galaxy S24 while keeping you in the loop on the features that are sticking around.

      To switch or not to switch? Let’s help you decide!

      A display that won’t ghost you

      The Galaxy S24 stepped up its display game from its older sibling, rocking a larger screen at 6.2 inches and a peak brightness that skyrocketed from 1750 nits to 2600 nits. And it's not just the entry-level Galaxy S24 getting the VIP treatment – the entire range enjoys a peak brightness boost, making these new flagship smartphones the brightest Samsung has ever released. Now, what does this mean for your viewing experience? Well, let's just say your display won't ghost you under the scorching sun; it's visible under any lighting condition, even on the sunniest days.

      Now, don't go thinking the Galaxy S23 is ancient history. Samsung is carrying over a few fan-favourite features, including the FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display for crystal clear viewing, the Adaptive Vision Booster that ensures your screen brightness adapts seamlessly to the environment, and let's not forget the adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1 to 120Hz, giving you both buttery smooth scrolling and smart battery-saving measures. Some things are just too good to let go!

      Cameras: A winning formula with an iconic twist

      Camera enthusiasts, listen up – if you have a soft spot for the Galaxy S23's snapping power, you're in for a treat. Samsung has brought back the winning team: the 50MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide camera, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom and 12MP selfie snapper. And now, for the big reveal – upgrades! The entire Galaxy S24 series is diving headfirst into the AI world with the new AI ProVisual engine.

      This means that although the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24 share the same camera hardware, the new generation levels up your photos using ground-breaking AI technology. The results are better zoom capabilities, enhanced Super HDR and innovative photo-editing features.

      Remember the legendary 30X Space Zoom on the Galaxy S23? Well, the Galaxy S24 decided to shake things up and ditch the Space Zoom feature. Why, you ask? Because it's armed with advanced AI that brings you even better zoomed-in shots. Whether you're capturing the moon or just zooming in on the pizza across the room, the Galaxy S24 has the magic touch for detailed shots, no matter the distance.

      Shifting gears to the Super HDR upgrade – it's not just about elevating your snapshots; it's aiming to turn your social media presence into something downright iconic. That’s because when you post your HDR photos or videos on Instagram, it holds onto the same quality. In fact, the entire Galaxy S24 range is the first to offer this feature. At the launch event for the new Galaxy smartphones, Samsung's VP of Intelligent Imaging, Dr. Hamid Sheikh, introduced the upgrade saying, “Every photo and video you take, or view, will be shown in its full range of colour and contrast, from the moment you snap the content, to the moment you post.”

      Photo editing has also received the AI touch with Generative Edit to fill in backgrounds, remove unwanted objects and rearrange elements to create shots that steal the spotlight.

      Circle to Search: A fun way to find info

      Guess what's making Google searches easier than before? Enter One UI 6.1 and Android AI, teaming up to bring you the game-changing Circle to Search feature on the Samsung Galaxy S24. Now, you can find info about the world around you by circling objects that pique your interest, be it on social media platforms, messages, or even the real world.

      Spotted a mysterious landmark? Simply long-press the home button, circle the mystery and Google Search results will pop up automatically without opening another app. You can even use Circle to Search to ask complex questions about images or text. This feature plays nice with other gestures too. Whether you're scribbling, tapping, or highlighting, searching for answers just got a whole lot more fun. 

      Breaking the language barrier

      Smarter AI is the central factor that differentiates the Samsung Galaxy S24 from the Galaxy S23 and the upgrades just keep coming. Enter Live Translate – a new feature making communication a breeze, whether you're talking on the phone or texting. During a call, Live Translate instantly interprets the conversation, offering audible or text translations. It supports up to 13 languages. Plus, the Samsung keyboard is getting in on the action, translating words and phrases as you type.

      All this AI needs a powerhouse chipset

      Stepping away from the Galaxy S23's uniformity, where every model boasts the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, the Galaxy S24 line-up is taking a nostalgic detour, reviving the multi-chip approach reminiscent of older generations. In the entry-level Galaxy S24, some regions get the shiny new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while others, including South Africa, get Samsung's latest Exynos 2400.

      The Exynos 2400 is not just quick on its feet but makes powerful AI capabilities possible, from snappy photo editing and real-time translations to enhanced gaming with lifelike graphics and improved battery life that gives you an extra 4 hours of video playback time compared to the Galaxy S23. Because who needs a low battery warning when you're engrossed in your favourite series?

      Verdict: Fresh, innovative, exciting

      So, should you ditch the Galaxy S23 for the Galaxy S24? No hard feelings for the predecessor, but when it comes to AI capabilities alone, it’s a big yes from us! From the display, cameras and powerhouse performance to reimagining online searches and breaking language barriers, the Galaxy S24 is upgraded in so many ways. It’s perfect for those looking for a smartphone experience that feels fresh, innovative and exciting without spending top dollar. 

      TECH NEWS

      Samsung’s 100 Megapixel Camera is Coming!

      It’s no secret that the camera has always been the smartphone’s strongest selling point. With the growing popularity of social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, users have become photo-centric, constantly chasing after the best cameras to produce the best pictures to share with their followers. In fact, digital camera sales have taken a dip since the rise of the camera phone, which allows users to carry one device that performs many functions rather than purchasing a specific device for each of their needs. The first phone with a built-in camera was manufactured by Samsung in the year 2000. This digital camera could take up 20 photos at 350 000-pixels, or 0.35-megapixels, but you could only access your photos by connecting to a computer. By the year 2003, camera phones were becoming more popular with better specs and lower prices. In 2004, Sprint released a phone with a 1.3-megapixel camera that could capture images, share them wirelessly and even allowed you to print them. Finnish manufacturer Nokia jumped on the bandwagon in 2005 and released a 2 megapixel camera on their N90 model. Shortly after, the world was introduced to Sony Ericsson, whose aim was to steal the crown from Nokia. They adopted Sony’s Cybershot digital camera branding, which earned them first place in the camera phone market. The Sony Ericsson K800i was released in 2006 with a 3.2-megapixel camera that had auto focus, image stability and a Xenon flash. The baton was passed back to Samsung when they released the first ever 5-megapixel camera and then the 8 megapixel camera in 2008. The smartphone camera race continued, with Samsung appearing to be the winner with their release of the M8910 Pixon 12, which had a 12MP camera, in 2009. However, they were soon bested by Nokia’s N8 in 2010 and then the 16MP Sony Ericsson S006 that came at the end of 2010. Fast forward a few years and Samsung are at it again! To maintain their position in the market, the technology giant has decided to partner up with Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi to create the world’s first 108-megapixel camera. Current high-end smartphones typically host cameras with between 12 and 16-megapixel resolutions, so a 108 megapixel camera would be a massive improvement to the conventional smartphone camera. The Isocell Bright HMX is designed to shoot incredibly detailed photos and is said to be comparable to a top DSLR camera. You can expect to capture better low-lit images as this camera will merge pixels to absorb more light. In terms of video recording, no smartphone camera will have better capabilities than this one. It will be capable of shooting up to 6K resolution at 30 frames per second which is very impressive compared to the 4K resolution at 60 frames per second limit of other smartphones. It’s been predicted that Xiaomi will release a smartphone with a similar camera before Samsung does, and even though Samsung has announced that production on these camera lenses begun at the end of August, they’ve remained tight-lipped about when we’ll be seeing a device with the 108-megapixel camera on the shelves.

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      Samsung Galaxy A Series: Flagship Experiences on a Budget

      South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung has blazed a trail in the local smartphone market with the launch of their mid-tier A series cell phones that give their more expensive flagship counterparts a run for their money. Most likely, this range was created in response to stiff competition in the mid-tier smartphone category from the likes of Chinese rivals Huawei and Xiaomi. The company launched the Galaxy A2 Core, A10, A20, A30, A50, A70 and the A80 in South Africa this year, with the A90 expected soon. The A Series is a welcome change in pace for the company’s mid-tier devices, as the range now offers you a premium look and feel at a lower cost, as well as upgrades to the internals to give these devices more power and features, such as triple-lens camera systems on selected models. Let’s take a quick look at each model in the Galaxy A range: Galaxy A2 Core A simple but powerful entry-level device, the Galaxy A2 Core features the Android Go operating system, which is designed to optimise performance through the device’s hardware. Android Go is a lite version of the OS but allows devices like the A2 Core to offer a smooth user experience at an affordable cost. The A2 Core also features 5 MP cameras on the rear and face of the device and can support an SD card of up to 512GB, complementing its 8GB or 16GB of onboard storage. This will allow the user to cram more music and pictures into the device. The A2 Core also comes fitted with a 5-inch display. Galaxy A10 & A20 The Galaxy A10 and Galaxy A20 smartphones have many similarities. While both come with the Android 9.0 operating system, one of the most distinct differences is the screen size, as the A10 features a 6.2-inch display, while the A20 features a slightly larger 6.4-inch AMOLED display. Both devices feature the same processor, with the A10 featuring 2GB of RAM and the A20 fitted with 3GB of RAM. Another major difference between the devices is that the A20 features a dual 13MP and 5MP rear camera, while the A10 offers a 13MP rear camera. The A20 offers an 8MP front camera versus the A10’s 5MP shooter. Both smartphones pack 32GB of internal storage. Galaxy A30 & A50 The A30 and A50 smartphones set a new benchmark for affordable smartphones in the mid-tier category. The A30 comes with 64GB of onboard storage, while the A50 offers a massive 128GB of storage. Both devices feature a gorgeous 6.4-inch AMOLED display, the Android 9.0 operating system, 4GB of RAM and all-day battery-life thanks to a colossal 4000 mAh battery, usually found in premium smartphones. The A50 smartphone features a triple rear camera setup with a 25MP, 8MP and 5MP cameras offering great wide screen shots, while the A30 features a dual 16MP and 5MP rear camera configuration. The A50 sports a powerful 25MP selfie camera and the A30 a 16MP front camera. Galaxy A70 & A80 Essentially competing in the premium smartphone segment, the A80 is set to become one of the most unique smartphones available on the South African market. The A80 will feature one of the first pop-up rotating camera modules, consisting of a powerful 48MP wide lens, 8MP ultra-wide lens and a Time of Flight (TOF) 3D camera to capture not only images from the rear but also for selfies. The device sports a 3700mAh battery and 128GB of onboard storage, with a 6.7-inch display. The Galaxy A70 features a slightly larger 4500mAh battery compared to the A80 but will run off the same processor and operating system – Android 9.0. The A70 smartphone features a triple camera module consisting of a 32MP lens, 8MP wide-angle lens and 5MP depth sensing lens with a 32MP selfie camera. Read the reviews: Galaxy A2 Core Galaxy A10 Galaxy A20

      Read More...