[Experience] Tried Galaxy A24... 'Cost-effectiveness' Passes the Test

Affordable LTE Device Around 300,000 KRW
'Katukttwi' Disappears, Design Resembling S Series
Recommended for Kids Phones, Senior Phones, and Work Phones

There is a saying, "You get what you pay for." However, this does not apply to the Galaxy A24. At an affordable price in the 300,000 KRW range, it offers great value, earning a passing grade as a so-called "cost-effective (performance-to-price ratio)" phone.

Samsung Electronics released the LTE smartphone Galaxy A24 on the 18th, and I used it for a week.

The first impression is satisfying. The design rivals that of flagship devices. Samsung typically uses glass for flagship models and plastic for mid-range and budget devices. The previous model felt lightweight but cheap and toy-like. However, the A24 in Dark Red, made of plastic (glass-like plastic), has a smooth, glass-like texture with subtle pearl accents, giving it a premium feel despite being an entry-level device.

The rear camera has also changed from the so-called "camera bump" contour cut to a waterdrop camera design with three lenses aligned side by side. The waterdrop camera design was adopted in the S22 Ultra and S23 series, giving a neat appearance. With the premium rear material feel and waterdrop camera, it can be mistaken for an S series device at a glance.

The cameras include a 50MP main rear camera, a 5MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP macro lens. The depth camera present in the previous model has been removed. The depth camera measures depth to create background blur effects (bokeh). Since it does not significantly affect shooting, it appears to have been removed to reduce costs. Instead, the front camera is 13MP, an improvement of 5MP over the previous model. Considering it is an entry-level device, it performed satisfactorily for basic everyday photography.

The display is a large 6.5-inch (164.2mm) Super AMOLED screen. The refresh rate is 90Hz, lower than the 120Hz of the higher-end A34 model. A higher refresh rate makes screen transitions smoother. However, it was not uncomfortable when watching OTT or YouTube content. The bezel (border) is somewhat thick, which is a minor drawback.

The application processor (AP), the brain of the smartphone, is the MediaTek MT6789V. It comes with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage.

The battery capacity is a generous 5000mAh. Wireless charging is not supported. While the trend is to remove headphone jacks, the A24 includes one, which was appreciated. Samsung Pay is also supported.

The biggest question about the A24’s release was whether a device in the 300,000 KRW range could handle high-spec games. I ran "Genshin Impact," and by lowering the settings to the minimum, it operated without stuttering or severe overheating. However, it was not as smooth as high-performance flagship smartphones. There were differences in graphics quality and a somewhat sluggish feel. As an entry-level device, it seems unsuitable for gaming.

The price is 396,000 KRW. Although it is 22,000 KRW higher than the previous model (374,000 KRW), it still offers excellent value. For those who use their smartphones mainly for watching videos, social networking services (SNS), and other basic functions rather than high-spec gaming, it will be satisfactory. It is recommended as a kids’ phone, a phone for elders, or a secondary work device.