I’ve had my S21 since launch and it’s been through a lot with me. It’s one of my favorite phones, but now I’m having issues with the camera and battery life. So, I’m thinking about upgrading to an S24+ (not the S24, mostly for the bigger battery). The Exynos version is the only one available for my region, so I have a few questions before I make the decision.
How does the Exynos version handle mobile data usage? I use my phone for 2-4 hours a day.
How much better is the camera, especially when using social media apps?
If the Exynos version isn’t worth upgrading to, what sacrifices would I have to make if I buy the Snapdragon version from an online store like Wondamobile?
I used to have a Snapdragon S21, but the battery degraded and I couldn’t make it work anymore. When the S24 FE came out in the US, I grabbed that. It’s my first Exynos phone, but the chip is similar to the one in the S24+ (Exynos), just underclocked and undervolted a little.
My battery life is way better now. I can get 8+ hours with heavy use, while my S21 would only last about 2 hours.
The camera does better in low light compared to the S21, but both are good in bright light. For social media apps, Android has improved the camera API. Apps like Snapchat are much better now and deliver better quality pictures, like the native camera app.
I’m happy with it, but I will say it’s not the exact same model as the S24+.
@Skyler
My friend upgraded to an S24 Exynos, and he’s had the same positives as you, except for social media apps. He says he still struggles with videos on Snapchat, but pictures seem fine. Do you agree with that? Thanks for the reply!
1st question: I don’t use 5G much because it’s not well covered where I live. It does eat up more battery than 4G, so I turn it off. Doesn’t make a difference for me.
2nd: I always use the stock camera app to take photos or record videos, then upload to apps like Instagram. I haven’t noticed much of a difference between using Instagram directly or the stock app, but I feel like I get better results with the stock app. If you want to use filters or create Reels, no issues at all. It works smoothly.
3rd: If you buy the Snapdragon version, you’ll get about 10-15% better battery life thanks to better power efficiency. There’s a YouTube video comparing both versions. You probably won’t notice any performance differences in regular use, except maybe when gaming.
@Drew
Thanks for the answers! But for the 3rd question, what I really meant was if there are any restrictions when buying a phone from outside the region (sorry for not clarifying). I’ve heard that some features like Samsung Pay might not work. Is that true?
The Exynos chip should be better than the one in the S21, but how much better is still up for debate. If your budget allows, it probably makes sense to go with the Exynos S24+, but if you don’t like it, you could always consider the Snapdragon version later. I have the S24 Ultra, and the battery life is really good.