Samsung revealed its new Galaxy S24 Series of smartphones today at a Galaxy Unveiled event in California. Following along with Samsung’s usual three-option line strategy, you’ll find the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24. Not surprisingly, AI plays a big role in all three phones, affording the ability to do things like engage in intelligent text and call translations. The second big upgrade is something called a Galaxy ProVisual Engine.
What is Galaxy AI All About?
Before getting into the features of the phones, what’s Galaxy AI all about? Samsung is integrating AI technology into many products across all categories this year and beyond, as Samsung Canada’s Jeff Ingram discussed with us during a booth tour at CES 2024, which took place last week. Phones are indeed a part of this mix.
Galaxy AI is designed to enhance the phone’s ability to help you communicate more effectively. This is through using features like Live Translate where you can chat seamlessly with someone speaking a different language while you speak your native language or book a reservation in a foreign country where you don’t speak the native language. Live Translate natively offers two-way, real-time voice and text translations of phone calls without the need for a third-party app. For some, that will be a game-changer.
Kicking things up a notch is Interpreter, which instantly translates live conversations on a split screen so you can chat with someone opposite you and read a text transcription of what they’re saying in your language while they see what you’re saying in yours. This feature works even without cellular data or Wi-Fi. AI also works with text messages using the Chat Assist feature, even understanding tone: choose professional, fun, or simply polite, for example. AI is built into the Samsung Keyboard as well, and can be used to translate messages, e-mails, and more in real-time in 13 languages.
While driving in a vehicle with Android Auto, incoming messages can be automatically summarized and relevant replies and actions suggested. This might include sending someone your ETA, for example, or affirming that you’re on the way home.
AI is also found in the Samsung Notes app through Note Assist, which features AI-generated summaries, templates with pre-made formats, and cover creation that shows a brief preview. For voice recordings, even when there are multiple speakers, Transcript Assist[1] uses AI and Speech-to-Text technology to transcribe, summarize, and even translate recordings.
What about search? The Galaxy S24 Series phones now include gesture-driven Circle to Search with Google, which adds a new way to search the ‘net. Long press the home button, circle, highlight, scribble on, or tap anything on the phone’s screen to see relevant search results. This could include everything from a landmark in the background of a social media post to fun facts about a YouTube Short. It’s all done without ever leaving the app you’re in. With some searches, you’ll see generative AI-powered overviews with helpful information and context pulled from the web. From there, you can continue with even more complex and nuanced questions.
What is the ProVisual Engine?
Another big update to these devices compared to the previous generation, which also leverages AI, is a feature called ProVisual Engine. This is, once again, an AI-powered tool designed to transform image capturing, from the way you capture a photo to how you share it on social media. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, the top-end device in the line, includes an Ultra Quad Tele System with 5x optical zoom lens and 50MP sensor. This affords the ability to magnify up to 10x using the Adaptive Pixel Sensor, while images are clear even with the 100x enhanced digital zoom.
AI While Taking the Photo
All the phones have upgraded Nightography features that works alongside photos taken with the Space Zoom feature to ensure crisp images, even in low light conditions, and even when zoomed in. The Galaxy S24 Ultra in particular has a larger 1.4 um pixel size, wider optical image stabilizer (OIS) angles, and enhanced hand-shake compensation. The front and rear cameras, meanwhile, have Dedicated ISP Block for noise reduction when recording videos. All phones in the series analyze gyro information to distinguish between movements of the person filming and the subject and more effectively remove noise, even in dark settings and from far away. Super HDR, meanwhile, reveals life-like previews before the shutter is pressed.
AI In Photo Editing
The AI integration continues once the photos are taken. There are new Galaxy AI editing tools that make it easy to erase, recompose, and remaster photos. A feature called Edit Suggestion uses Galaxy AI to suggest the best tweaks to your photos. Generative Edit can even fill in parts of an image background with generative AI to complete it, like the remainder of a bench in the background or a missing piece of icing on a cupcake. If you have a picture that’s crooked, AI can fill in the borders. People can also be repositioned, a blended background generated in the original spot so it looks seamless.
One concern about the use of AI in photography is the inability to be able to determine what’s real and what’s fake. Samsung addresses this with a watermark that appears on an image any time generative AI is used. This information also appears in the photo’s metadata.
These features extend to videos as well. You can slow down a video using the instant slow-mo feature, and the phone will even generate additional frames based on movements. This will result in a smooth effect for especially action-packed moments and provide a more detailed look.
AI in Photo Sharing
Third-party apps are designed to leverage the new features of the Galaxy AI-powered camera system, including Instagram. When you’re trying to find an image in Gallery or your favourite social app, they are shown in Super HDR as well to provide a more lifelike replication of brightness, colour, and contrast.
What Else to Know About the Phones?
Yes, AI is a big part of these new phones, powering everything from how you communicate with them to how you take photos. What else is there to know about the Galaxy S24 Series phones? The top end Galaxy S24 Ultra has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor that supports all the AI processing. All three models in the line offer adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rates along with a thermal control system with a maximum 1.9 times larger vapour chamber.
The screens, which range from 6.2 inches up to 6.8 inches for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, all reach 2,600 nit peak brightness and offer improved outdoor visibility with Vision Booster. The Galaxy S24 model has a screen made of Corning Gorilla Armor that offers vastly improved durability: it’s four times more scratch resistant than the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s glass material while also reducing glare by up to 75 percent.
All three phones have slimmer bezels while the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s screen is slightly flatter, which optimizes it for both viewing and productivity. The middle child Galaxy S24+ model now supports the same level of QHD+ as the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The Ultra is the first Galaxy phone to feature a titanium frame. The phones are all secured by Samsung Knox, Galaxy’s defense-grade, multi-layer security platform. You also have control over how much of your data can be used to enhance the AI experiences: adjust this by disabling Advanced Intelligence settings. Use passkeys, meanwhile, through Knox Matric for secure and simple access using your digital credentials.
Along with the use of recycled materials in the internal components of the phones, the Galaxy S24 Series models are also made with recycled steel and Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), and all come packed in recycled paper packaging. The phones have been UL ECOLOGO certified to confirm that the carbon footprint has been measured and verified by The Carbon Trust.
When & Where Can You Buy the Galaxy S24 Series Phones in Canada?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Series is available in earth mineral-inspired colour tones for pre-order starting on January 17, 2024, and for purchase starting on January 31, 2024 at samsung.ca, Samsung Experience Stores, and at major carrier and retail partner locations across Canada.
The Samsung Galaxy Ultra 24 is available in Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow, as well as Titanium Green, Titanium Blue, and Titanium Orange exclusively at samsung.com/ca, the Galaxy S24 Ultra starts at $1,800 for the 256GB model, $1,960 for the 512GB, and $2,280 for the 1TB.
The Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 come in Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, and Amber Yellow, as well as Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, and Sandstone Orange exclusively at samsung.com/ca, for $1,400 ($256GB) or $1,560 (512GB) for the Galaxy S24+ and $1,100 (128GB) and $1,180 (256GB) for the Galaxy S24.
Canadians can receive double the storage for the same price when they pre-order between January 17 to January 30, 2024 at 11:59pm EST. Canadians who pre-order and complete their purchase or purchase an eligible Galaxy S24 Series device between January 17 and February 12, 2024, can receive a trade-in promotional credit of up to $450, in addition to the trade-in value of their eligible old smartphone. The trade-in program is available for purchases made at samsung.com/ca, Samsung Experience Stores, and participating authorized Canadian retailers and carriers in Canada.
Additionally, Canadians who pre-order and complete their purchase or purchase an eligible Galaxy S24 Series device between January 17 and January 24, 2024, can receive a combined trade-in promotional credit and trade-in credit of up to $1,000 when they trade-in an eligible Galaxy smartphone in any condition. The trade-in program is being supported at samsung.com/ca and at Samsung Experience Stores.