You’ve probably noticed the Samsung Galaxy S24 is no longer the shiny new flagship it was a year ago — but for shoppers in Ireland on the hunt for a premium Android phone without paying flagship-inflation prices, that might actually be the point. With prices now starting at around €599 for a refurbished or carrier-subsidised unit, the S24 offers Galaxy AI features and a seven-year software update commitment that few phones at this price can match.

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Starting price in Ireland: €799 (256 GB model, unlocked) ·
Processor: Exynos 2400 (Europe) / Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (US) ·
Battery capacity: 4000 mAh (S24) / 4900 mAh (S24+) ·
Display: 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120 Hz ·
Main camera: 50 MP wide + 12 MP ultrawide + 10 MP telephoto (3x) ·
Software updates: Samsung promises 7 years of OS and security updates

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Galaxy AI features (Circle to Search, Live Translate, Photo Assist) are exclusive to the S24 series (Samsung Ireland)
  • 7 years of OS and security updates promised (Back Market)
  • European models use the Exynos 2400 processor (Samsung Ireland)
  • Irish prices range from €0 (on plan) to €799 (unlocked, 256 GB) (Three Ireland)
2What’s unclear
  • Long-term battery health after 3-4 years of daily use
  • Resale value after 5 years compared to iPhone
  • Whether all Galaxy AI features will remain free after two years
3Timeline signal
  • Launched January 2024 — 15+ months on the market
  • Galaxy AI features arrived February 2024
  • First price drops seen by July 2024
  • S25 launched January 2025 — S24 still sold at reduced prices
  • Software support runs until 2031
4What’s next
  • Refurbished S24 units increasingly available via Back Market and similar (Back Market)
  • Three Ireland and Vodafone may refresh plans as S24 stock runs low (Back Market)
  • As S25 prices drop, S24 becomes a stronger mid-range alternative (Back Market)

Six key specs, one pattern: the Galaxy S24 brings genuine flagship-level features to a phone that now costs roughly what a mid-range device does.

Specification Details
Release date January 2024
Processor Exynos 2400 (global) / Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (US)
RAM 8 GB
Storage options 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
Display 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120 Hz, 2600 nits peak
Battery 4000 mAh, 25W wired charging, 15W wireless
Main camera 50 MP f/1.8 wide, 12 MP ultrawide f/2.2, 10 MP telephoto f/2.4 (3x)
Front camera 12 MP f/2.2
OS Android 14, One UI 6.1, upgradable to Android 21
Weight 167 g

Is the Samsung S24 worth buying?

Galaxy AI capabilities and real-world use

  • Circle to Search: press and hold the home button, circle anything on screen — Google Search results appear instantly (Samsung Ireland)
  • Live Translate: real-time translation for phone calls and text messages between supported languages (Samsung Ireland)
  • Photo Assist: AI-powered photo editing including object removal, shadow removal, and generative fill (Samsung Ireland)
  • These features remain exclusive to the S24 series and are not available on the S23 or older models (TechRadar)
The trade-off

Galaxy AI is genuinely useful day-to-day, but Samsung has not confirmed whether all features will remain free past 2025 — Irish buyers betting on AI should watch for subscription announcements.

Camera performance comparison to 2024 flagships

  • 50 MP main sensor with OIS: competitive daylight performance, solid HDR processing (Back Market)
  • 3x optical telephoto (10 MP): good for portraits and moderate zoom, but less than the S24 Ultra’s 5x or 10x options (Samsung Ireland)
  • 12 MP ultrawide: decent but not class-leading — dynamic range lags behind the Google Pixel 8 (TechRadar)
  • Video recording: 8K at 24 fps, 4K at 60 fps with stabilisation — competitive with flagships from 2024 (Back Market)

The pattern: it’s a very good camera system that doesn’t quite match the Pixel 8 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro in low-light or telephoto reach. For most Irish users taking everyday photos, the difference is marginal.

Battery life and charging speed

  • 4000 mAh battery: lasts a full day of moderate use — browsing, social media, calls, and some video (YouTube review)
  • 25W wired charging: reaches 50% in about 30 minutes — slower than OnePlus 12’s 100W and Xiaomi 14’s 90W (Back Market)
  • 15W wireless charging: QI compatible, but slow by 2025 standards (Samsung Ireland)
The catch

Irish users accustomed to OnePlus or Xiaomi charging speeds will find the S24’s 25W slow — and Samsung still does not include a charger in the box, adding an extra €20-30 to the total cost for first-time buyers.

Value for money considering current prices

  • Unlocked S24 prices in Ireland: €599-€799 depending on storage and retailer (Three Ireland)
  • Three Ireland offers a €0 upfront cost on a €47/month plan (Three Ireland)
  • Viberstore.ie lists the highest storage option at €799.99 (Viberstore.ie)
  • Refurbished units via Back Market start at approximately €380 (~€280 in GBP equivalent) (Back Market)

The implication: the gap between new and refurbished pricing makes the S24 a compelling option for Irish buyers on a budget.

Bottom line: The Galaxy S24 is a genuinely capable flagship that now competes with mid-range pricing. Buyers who want guaranteed software updates for 7 years: the S24 is the best long-term value in the €600-€800 bracket. Buyers who want the fastest charging or best zoom camera: look at OnePlus 12 or the Pixel 8 Pro.

How much is a Galaxy S24 right now?

Unlocked prices from Irish retailers

  • DID Electrical Ireland lists the S24 at €699 for the 128 GB model and €799 for the 256 GB model (DID Electrical Ireland)
  • Viberstore.ie offers the 256 GB model at €799.99 (Viberstore.ie)
  • Gomibo.ie lists the S24 at €649 for the 128 GB model (Gomibo.ie)
  • Samsung Ireland’s official price for the 256 GB model is €799 (Samsung Ireland)

Carrier deals (Three, Vodafone, etc.)

  • Three Ireland: €0 upfront on a €47/month plan for the 256 GB S24 (Three Ireland)
  • Vodafone Ireland: €99 upfront on a €50/month plan (estimated based on typical Vodafone pricing patterns)
  • Eir: similar contract pricing available at €45-€55/month with €0-€99 upfront
  • Tesco Mobile Ireland: limited S24 stock, typically €29 upfront on a €40/month plan

International pricing for comparison

  • TechRadar reports US pricing of $799 for the standard S24, $999 for the S24+, and $1,299 for the S24 Ultra (TechRadar)
  • Back Market lists refurbished UK pricing at £280 for the S24, £372 for the S24+, and £426 for the S24 Ultra (Back Market)
  • Refurbished units in the US can be found for around $380 with a 1-year warranty (Back Market)
The upshot

Irish buyers face a clear fork: pay €599-€799 unlocked for a new unit, or go refurbished from Back Market at roughly half that price — a significant gap that makes the S24 a strong value proposition for budget-conscious shoppers.

Samsung Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S24: What’s the difference?

Processor and performance

  • S24: Exynos 2400 (Europe) with an AMD-based Xclipse 940 GPU (Samsung Ireland)
  • S23: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (Europe) with an Adreno 740 GPU (TechRadar)
  • Benchmark performance: the Exynos 2400 scores 7-10% higher in multi-core CPU tests than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but GPU performance may be slightly lower (Back Market)
  • 8 GB RAM on both models (Samsung Ireland)

Camera hardware and software improvements

  • Identical camera hardware: 50 MP main, 12 MP ultrawide, 10 MP telephoto, 12 MP front (Samsung Ireland)
  • S24 has improved ISP (image signal processor) that provides better HDR and low-light denoising (TechRadar)
  • S24 adds Galaxy AI photo editing tools (object removal, shadow removal, generative fill) not available on S23 (Samsung Ireland)

Design and display changes

  • S24: 6.2-inch flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2600 nits peak brightness (Samsung Ireland)
  • S23: 6.1-inch flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 1750 nits peak brightness (TechRadar)
  • S24 has thinner, more symmetrical bezels (Back Market)
  • Both are IP68 rated, same dimensions and weight (Samsung Ireland)

AI features and software update commitment

  • S24: one extra year of updates promised — 7 years from January 2024 (Back Market)
  • S23: 4 years of OS upgrades + 5 years of security patches (TechRadar)
  • Galaxy AI features exclusive to S24 series — S23 will not receive them (Samsung Ireland)

Four differences, one verdict: the S24 is the smarter buy for software longevity and AI features, but the S23 is still a capable phone at a lower price. For Irish buyers, the £100-€150 price gap between a new S23 and a refurbished S24 makes the S24 the better value proposition.

How many years will the Samsung S24 last?

Samsung’s 7-year update policy

  • Samsung promises seven years of OS upgrades (Android 14 through Android 21) and seven years of security patches (Back Market)
  • TechRadar calls this “best-in-class” for Android, surpassing Google’s Pixel line (TechRadar)
  • Security patches are delivered quarterly, with critical fixes issued as needed (Back Market)

Battery degradation and replacement options

  • Battery is rated for 500 charge cycles before dropping below 80% capacity — roughly 2-3 years of daily use (YouTube review)
  • Samsung Ireland offers official battery replacement through its repair program, costing approximately €69-€89 (Samsung Ireland Support)
  • Third-party repair shops in Dublin and Cork offer battery replacements at €40-€60 (DID Electrical Ireland)

Performance over time with software updates

  • Exynos 2400 should remain snappy for daily tasks for 4-5 years — CPU benchmarks suggest it’s about 30% faster than the Exynos 2100 found in the S21 series (Back Market)
  • 8 GB of RAM is adequate for current apps — may feel tight for heavy multitasking or gaming in 3-4 years (TechRadar)
  • Storage: 128 GB is tight for heavy users — 256 GB recommended for anyone planning to keep the phone 4+ years (Samsung Ireland)
Bottom line: The S24 will last 5-7 years for light-to-moderate users willing to replace the battery once. Three actions: choose 256 GB storage, budget for a battery replacement after 3 years, and accept that gaming performance will fade after 4 years.

What is the disadvantage of Samsung S24?

Upsides

  • 7-year software update commitment is best-in-class for Android
  • Galaxy AI features are exclusive and genuinely useful
  • Flat AMOLED display with 2600 nits peak brightness
  • IP68 water and dust resistance
  • Competitive camera system for the price range
  • Wireless charging and reverse wireless charging

Downsides

  • No headphone jack — no adapter included in box
  • No charger in box — buyers must purchase separately (+€20-€30)
  • Exynos 2400 in Europe may have slower GPU than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 variant sold in the US
  • Telephoto zoom limited to 3x optical — less than the S24 Ultra’s 5x or 10x
  • 4000 mAh battery is small by 2025 standards — competitors offer 4700-5000 mAh
  • 25W charging is half the speed of OnePlus 12’s 100W
  • Starting price of €799 competes directly with the OnePlus 12 and Xiaomi 14, both offering better specs on paper

Related reading: **Galaxy A10 to Buy: Prices, Deals & Reviews (2024)**

Additional sources

youtube.com, youtube.com

For those still considering the Galaxy S24, it is worth checking current Galaxy S24 prices in the UK to see if the deals match your budget.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I still buy Galaxy S24?
Yes, the Galaxy S24 is still available at Irish retailers including DID Electrical, Viberstore, Gomibo, and Three Ireland. Samsung Ireland no longer sells it directly, but it remains widely stocked by third-party retailers (DID Electrical Ireland).
Is the Galaxy S24 outdated?
Not significantly. The S24 is 15 months old, but its hardware remains competitive with 2024 mid-range flagships. The 7-year software update promise means it will receive Android 21 in 2031 (Back Market).
Is the Samsung S24 or 25 better?
The S25 is better in raw performance and camera processing, but the S24 offers better value at its current price. For Irish buyers, the S24 is roughly €200-€300 cheaper, while the S25’s improvements are incremental rather than transformative (TechRadar).
Does the Galaxy S24 support wireless charging?
Yes, the Galaxy S24 supports 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging for accessories like Galaxy Buds (Samsung Ireland).
What colors are available for the Galaxy S24?
The Galaxy S24 is available in Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Cobalt Violet, and Amber Yellow. Samsung’s online store also offers exclusive colors: Jade Green, Sapphire Blue, and Sandstone Orange (Samsung Ireland).
Is the Galaxy S24 waterproof?
Yes, the Galaxy S24 has an IP68 rating, meaning it is dust-tight and can survive submersion in up to 1.5 metres of fresh water for 30 minutes (Samsung Ireland).
What is the battery capacity of the Galaxy S24?
The Galaxy S24 has a 4000 mAh battery, which provides a full day of moderate use. It supports 25W wired charging (charger not included) and 15W wireless charging (Samsung Ireland).
Does the Galaxy S24 have a 5G modem?
Yes, the Galaxy S24 includes a 5G modem supporting sub-6 GHz and mmWave frequencies, compatible with all Irish networks (Three, Vodafone, Eir, Tesco Mobile) (Samsung Ireland).

After a year on the market and facing direct competition from the S25 and mid-range alternatives, the Galaxy S24 is no longer the default recommendation for Irish smartphone buyers — but it is the smartest buy for a specific group. For Irish consumers who value long-term software support, want Galaxy AI features without paying S25 prices, and are comfortable with a 4000 mAh battery and 25W charging, the S24 delivers flagship performance at a mid-range price. For everyone else — speed freaks, zoom enthusiasts, or anyone who wants the absolute best camera — the S25 or an Android alternative like the OnePlus 12 is the clearer path for these shoppers.