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    Samsung Galaxy S24 series leans heavily on AI, Circle to Search lets you identify products in almost any photo

    Samsung has just held their Galaxy Unpacked event for 2024 where they unveiled their latest flagship device, the S24 series of smartphones. This year, it should be a surprise to nobody, that this year its focused on Artificial Intelligence with Galaxy AI.

    The Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra feature all the regular updates of a faster processor, better displays, and better cameras, but the real stars of the show were the AI-powered features:

    Galaxy AI introduces meaningful intelligence aimed at enhancing every part of life, especially the phone’s most fundamental role: communication. When you need to communicate defying language barriers, Galaxy S24 makes it easier than ever. Chat with a student or colleague from abroad. Book a reservation while on vacation in another country. It’s all possible with Live Translate, two-way, real-time voice and text translations of phone calls within the native Phone app.

    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. It even works without cellular data or Wi-Fi.

    Chat Assist
    For messages and other compatible apps, Chat Assist can help perfect conversational tones to ensure communication sounds as it was intended: like a polite message to a co-worker or a short and catchy phrase for a social media captionv. AI built into Samsung Keyboard can also translate messages, emails and more in real-time in 13 languages.

    Note Assist
    Organisation also gets a big boost with Note Assist in Samsung Notes, featuring AI-generated summaries, template creation that streamlines notes with pre-made formats, and cover creation to make notes easy to spot with a brief preview. For voice recordings, even when there are multiple speakers, Transcript Assist uses AI and Speech-to-Text technology to help transcribe, summarise and even translate recordings into select languages.

    Circle to Search
    Communication isn’t the only way Galaxy S24 takes the fundamental benefits of the phone into the future. Online search has transformed nearly every aspect of life. Galaxy S24 marks a milestone as the first Galaxy phone to debut intuitive, gesture-driven Circle to Search with Google. To give Galaxy users an incredible new tool, Galaxy turned to the worldwide leader of search, Google, and opened up new forms of discovery with a simple gesture.

    With a long press on the home button, you can circle, highlight, scribble on, or tap virtually anything on Galaxy S24’s screen to see helpful, high-quality search results. If you see a beautiful landmark in the background of your friend’s social media post, or a surprising fun fact on YouTube Shorts, you can quickly learn more – without having to leave the app that you’re in.

    “The Galaxy S24 series transforms our connection with the world and ignites the next decade of mobile innovation. We are excited to bring these latest innovations to Australia and see how our users around the world empower their everyday lives with Galaxy AI to open up new possibilities.

    Samsung has always been a leader in the mobile category. We have redefined the expectations of what mobile devices can do and how people use their smartphones. From innovating how Australians use a smartphone camera, to developing new ways of communication, the Galaxy S24 Series will continue to push the boundary of what is possible from a mobile device.

    We are seeing a shift in the mobile tech market. While there has been a reduction in discretionary spending, there is a clear demand for premium devices. We know that Australians are seeking out premium, personalised experiences, and want mobile devices that will complement their busy lifestyles, offering the latest in camera technology, productivity, connectivity.

    The Galaxy S24 series directly addresses our customers’ need for premium devices that are powered by Samsung’s cutting-edge technology and provide features that make productivity and ev
    eryday tasks easier. We can’t wait to get these devices in the hands of Australians for a connected experience that inspires them to be creative and express themselves.

    Eric Chou, Director Mobile eXperience, Samsung Electronics Australia

    Display

    • All three models come with gorgeous AMOLED displays with super smooth 120Hz refresh rates. These can change dynamically from between 1 and 120Hz based on your requirements.
    • The S24 Ultra boasts the most impressive display, with a massive 6.8-inch QHD+ panel that reaches an incredible 2600 nits of peak brightness.
    • The S24+ also has a large 6.7-inch QHD+ display, while the S24 has a slightly smaller 6.2-inch FHD+ display.

    Cameras

    • Samsung has put a lot of focus on cameras this year, and the S24 series with the the S24 Ultra being the flagship, it offers a 200MP main sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
    • The S24+ and S24 also have impressive camera systems, with 50MP main sensors12MP ultrawide sensors, and 10MP telephoto lenses with 3x optical zoom.

    The full set of camera specs for the S24 Ultra are:

    • 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera – F2.2, FOV 120 ̊
    • 200 MP Wide Camera – OIS F1.7, FOV 85 ̊
    • 50MP Telephoto Camera – 5x Optical Zoom, OIS F3.4, FOV 22 ̊
    • 10MP Telephoto Camera – 3x Optical Zoom, OIS F2.4, FOV 36 ̊
    • 12MP Front Camera – Dual Pixel AF, F2.2, FOV 80 ̊

    Performance

    • All three models are powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, ensuring the best performance we’ve seen from the galaxy series.
    • The S24 Ultra and S24+ also come with 12GB of RAM, while the S24 has 8GB of RAM.
    • Regardless of which model you choose, you can be sure of a smooth and responsive experience.

    Battery and Charging

    • The S24 Ultra has the largest battery of the three models, with a 5000mAh capacity.
    • The S24+ has a 4900mAh battery, while the S24 has a 4000mAh battery.
    • All three models support 45W fast wired charging and 15W wireless charging.

    Storage

    • The S24 Ultra and S24+ come in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options.
    • The S24 only comes in 128GB and 256GB storage options.
    • All models use the latest UFS 4.0 storage technology for super-fast data transfer speeds.

    Colours

    • The S24 comes in Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, and Amber Yellow.
    • The S24+ comes in Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow.
    • The S24 Ultra comes in Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Yellow.

    Pricing and Availability

    The S24 is available for pre-order today and Telstra is reporting they’ll deliver from January 29th. General availability (walk into the shop and buy one) will be available from February 7th, 2024.

    The full pricing, storage and colours available are listed below.

    DevicePrice (RRP)ColoursSamsung.com Online
    Exclusive Colours
    S24A$1,399 (256GB)

    A$1,599 (512GB)
    Onyx Black
    Marble Grey
    Cobalt Violet
    Amber Yellow
    Sapphire Blue
    Jade Green
    Sandstone Orange
    S24+A$1,699 (256GB)

    A$1,899 (512GB)

    A$2,199 (256GB)
    Onyx Black
    Marble Grey
    Cobalt Violet
    Amber Yellow
    Sapphire Blue
    Jade Green
    Sandstone Orange
    S24 Ultra

    A$2,399 (512GB)

    A$2,799 (1TB)
    Titanium Grey
    Titanium Black
    Titanium Violet
    Titanium Yellow
    Titanium Blue
    Titanium Green
    Titanium Orange

    More information at https://www.samsung.com/au/smartphones/galaxy-s24-ultra/

    There’s a range of discounts from different suppliers represented in the table below.

    ChannelPre-order offers (January 18 to February 6, 2024)
    SamsungFree memory upgrade (up to $400)
    Bonus trade-in (up to $350)
    Up to $150 eVoucher to spend on Galaxy Watches, Tablets, Buds & Accessories ($150 for Ultra, $100
    Base/+)
    Bonus Samsung Care+ (1 year)
    50% off Samsung Care+ (2nd year)
    Plus, receive a further 5% discount off your first Samsung Shop App purchase
    Google Play Store Download URL
    TelstraBonus Tab S9 FE with the purchase of any Galaxy S24 series device (Valued at $949)
    $20 off Premium Plan for 12 months
    OptusBonus Galaxy Watch 6 (RRP $699) AND Buds2 Pro (RRP $349) with the purchase of any Galaxy S24 series device. (Valued at $1,048)
    VodafoneTrade-in Bonus: $400 across three device models
    Galaxy S24 (all storage variants): $200 off
    Galaxy S24+ (all storage variants): $250 off
    Galaxy S24 Ultra (all storage variants): $300 off
    Open (Market wide)Galaxy S24 Ultra: $150 Gift Card & storage upgrade (buy the 512GB for the price of the 256GB or buy the 1TB
    for the price of 512GB)
    Galaxy S24+: $100 Gift Card & storage upgrade (buy the 512GB for the price of the 256GB)
    Galaxy S24: $100 Gift Card & storage upgrade (buy the 512GB for the price of the 256GB)
    JB Hi-FiGalaxy S24: Trade-In $350 or BYO $0 upfront on the $99 plan
    Galaxy S24+ Trade-In $350 or BYO $300 upfront on the $99 plan
    Galaxy S24 Ultra: Trade-In $350 or BYO $800 upfront on $99 plan
    Harvey NormanGalaxy S24: BYO $0 upfront on the $69 planGalaxy S24: BYO $0 upfront on the $69 plan
    Galaxy S24+: BYO $299 upfront on the $69 plan
    Galaxy S24 Ultra: BYO $799 upfront on the $69 plan
    Please note: the market wide offer is available to outright customers onlyYO $0 upfront on the $69 plan

    Is it worth upgrading?

    Samsung is leaning heavily into AI this year and even brought Google on stage at their unpacked event to showcase deep integration like circle to search which is available just by pressing and holding the home button. You then circle a product or item in a photo to get more information. This is not a gimmick, this is actually useful and should help save you time.

    While the exterior isn’t a massive revolution with the S24 series, the internals offer new capabilities when combined with AI.

    If you’re looking for the ultimate smartphone experience, with the best possible camera, display, and performance, then the S24 Ultra is the clear choice.

    If you’re on a budget, you can get many of the features with the S24 or S24+ if you’re happy with a smaller screen and slightly less camera hardware.

    Jason Cartwright
    Jason Cartwrighthttps://techau.com.au/author/jason/
    Creator of techAU, Jason has spent the dozen+ years covering technology in Australia and around the world. Bringing a background in multimedia and passion for technology to the job, Cartwright delivers detailed product reviews, event coverage and industry news on a daily basis. Disclaimer: Tesla Shareholder from 20/01/2021

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