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Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Z Fold 6 Special Edition in South Korea, and the W25 Fold, based on the same foldable phone, is expected to launch soon in China alongside the W25 Flip. A new leak has now revealed the design of both smartphones.
Samsung Galaxy W25 Flip and W25 Fold will have gold accents like their predecessors (Image source: Evan Blass on X – edited)
Initially launched in July, the Samsung Z Fold 6 now has a refreshed Special Edition in South Korea. It’s the same phone but with some noticeable upgrades. Among the improvements is an upgraded 200 MP primary camera on the rear and a slightly thinner and lighter form factor.
Samsung is expected to launch the same phone in China as the W25 Fold, and a new leak has revealed the Chinese variant alongside the W25 Flip, which will reportedly debut at the same time. In the leak, the new W25 Fold is shown to feature a black and gold design similar to its predecessor.
As the W25 Fold is said to be based on the Z Fold 6 Special Edition, its specs will be slightly better than the regular edition. Besides the better form factor and camera, the foldable phone will have larger internal and cover displays, measuring 8.0-inch and 6.5-inch, respectively. However, it won’t reportedly have S Pen support, which is something that the normal version has.
Moving to the W25 Flip, it’s not expected to see any major changes compared to the Z Flip 6 as Samsung hasn’t refreshed it as a new fancy Special Edition yet. However, just like the W25 Fold, it will launch in China with a sleek black and gold design.
The leaked images show that the packaging of both the foldable phones will include a charger and a protective case, which is another difference from the regular versions. However, it’s worth noting that a W-series foldable tends to be more expensive than its regular Z-series counterpart in China .
More support for Samsung’s “Flex Window,” after it was clear that it needed to be more flexible.
What you need to know
A discovery in the YouTube Music app’s code suggests the company is working on bringing “Flex Window” support to Samsung’s clamshell foldable, the Flip.
The widget will likely give users quick playback controls like play/pause and skip forward/back buttons.
When Samsung debuted “Flex Window” in 2023, it was clear that it needed some work as users were limited through this “curated, optimized experience.”
YouTube Music could be working on support for clamshell foldable phones to refine its user experience.
According to Android Authority, the YouTube Music mobile app’s latest version (v7.24.51) holds clues that point toward a “FlipWidgetProvider.” The publication conducted an APK teardown of the app and found a string that directly mentions a widget for a “flip” device, which is reportedly confirmed to be Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip series.
The post states the app’s code shows that the “music player” widget can be enabled via Settings > Cover Screen > Widgets once YouTube rolls it out. Users may find this useful as such a widget isn’t supported on the Flip series. However, it is on your standard slab phone like the Galaxy S24 series for the home screen. The widget gives options like play/pause, skip forward/back, and thumbs up/down options. With its expected arrival on the Flip series’ cover display, users can have enhanced access to their music without opening the phone. Considering the size of the Galaxy Z Flip cover display, this widget will give users more mileage. Speaking of, it’s unclear which devices will grab YouTube Music’s widget support.
The widget will likely debut on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Flip 5; however, it’s unclear how far back Samsung is willing to go.
Samsung dubbed the larger screen of its Flip series the “Flex Window” when the Flip 5 launched in 2023. It was clear from the beginning that the “window” needed to be more flexible. Users couldn’t open any app they wanted on the cover display. Samsung implemented a “curated, optimized experience,” limiting your options. Originally, the Flip 5’s cover screen supported the following apps: Google Messages, Samsung Messages, WhatsApp, YouTube, Netflix, and Google Maps.
The ability to open more apps was tucked behind Samsung’s Good Lock app launcher. The launcher gave users control over almost every app they had. This YouTube Music widget with Flex Window support will likely give users a more refined music control experience. In other news, YouTube Music was busy rolling out a Gemini Extension for desktop and Android users. Users will find a series of suggested commands for the AI for music lookup, album discovery, or specific radio genre. After Gemini locates the song, users are thrown into YouTube Music for the playback or continuous radio stream.
Samsung is gearing up to expand its foldable lineup with a new tri-fold smartphone, potentially launching in 2025. The device, featuring a screen that folds twice, has already seen its components developed, indicating readiness for commercialization. However, the final decision rests with Samsung’s Mobile eXperience division led by TM Roh.
Samsung’s tri-fold could be the first tri-fold for global market
Currently, Huawei’s Mate XT is the only tri-fold on the market, currently limited to China. If Samsung releases this model globally, it could be the first tri-fold available worldwide. The new form factor would transform from a tablet-sized display to a compact phone, providing versatile usage for various scenarios.
There’s no word yet on specifications, but industry patents suggest innovative hinge mechanisms and sensor integration, hinting at a device designed for flexible use cases.
Recommended：EB-BF741ABE Battery for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Based on Samsung’s track record of foldable phones, the premium tri-fold will also likely use the latest Qualcomm flagship, the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
For those curious about the multitasking capabilities, key advancements in the Snapdragon 8 Elite include a 40% boost in GPU performance and a 35% enhancement in ray tracing capabilities as compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 of the existing Galaxy Z Fold 6. These improvements, coupled with a 44% increase in power efficiency, make the chipset ideal for demanding tasks like gaming and multitasking, ensuring a reasonable performance upgrade for the upcoming Samsung tri-fold.
The chipset features an upgraded NPU (45% improvement in AI capabilities), ensuring more complex Galaxy AI features for the tri-fold phone.
However, the tri-fold will also likely need to be slimmer than the existing Galaxy Z Fold 6, so no larger camera sensors are expected inside as well. Readers should expect a camera setup similar to the company’s existing book-style foldable. For reference, the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s camera setup is noted below:
Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition for South Korea today. It’s the company’s more premium version of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the thinnest fully foldable Galaxy device yet, featuring wider displays and a bigger 200 MP primary camera.
The Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition has the same boxy shape in an armor aluminum chassis as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (review) but is significantly thinner and only measures 4.9 mm on its side when unfolded or 10.6 mm when closed. That’s a few hairlines thinner than the new Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold but is still thicker than the new Honor Magic V3.
It’s also slightly taller and wider to accommodate the wider displays of a 6.5-inch OLED at the front surrounded by a nearly non-existent bezel and an 8-inch main OLED panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 2,600 nits peak brightness. However, the foldable Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition ditches S Pen support, which is a tradeoff by going for a thinner build and new displays.
Thinnest dust and waterproof Samsung foldable Despite sporting larger displays, Samsung shaved the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition’s weight down to 236 grams from 239 grams. The device is still IP48 certified for dust and water resistance, which makes it more impressive given the foldable devices from the competition from other brands that lack complete ingress protection.
Powering the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Edition is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset, offering a few extra horsepower on the CPU and GPU compared to the vanilla version of the flagship SoC. The single memory configuration consists of 512 GB storage and 16 GB RAM. A 4,400 mAh battery supports 25 watts of wired charging, but we’ve yet to confirm if wireless charging is included.
The Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition boots on Android 14 with a One UI 6 skin. As with current Samsung foldable phones, you will get a suite of AI features through Galaxy AI such as Live Interpreter, Photo Assist, and Circle to Search, among others.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition price and availability Samsung’s South Korean website currently lists the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition to be available for preorder for KRW 2,789,600 (Nz $3,341), but it didn’t specifiy when shipping will begin. There’s no word on whether the company will release it to global markets, though we’ve recently seen leaks tof the same device certified in China.
Each phone has its strengths, depending on what you’re looking for.
It’s always an interesting challenge to see how the two best smartphone cameras fit together. I spent a week shooting photos with an iPhone 16 Pro Max and a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, comparing everything from sharpness and color contrast to zoom ability. Both phones come into their own, but both have their moments when they steal the spotlight.
Let’s start off with some specs. The iPhone 16 Pro Max features a 48-megapixel main camera with a wide-angle lens, a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. It also has a 12-megapixel front-facing camera. The iPhone 16 Pro Max can shoot up to 4K video at 120fps.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra, meanwhile, sports a 200-megapixel wide camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, 10-megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom and 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. It also has a 12-megapixel front-facing camera, and can shoot up to 8K video.
It’s important to note that more megapixels doesn’t automatically mean better photos, as a phone’s software plays an important role, too. The best way to get the full picture is to test out the cameras in the real world. Also, while I’m comparing photos taken at the default setting on each phone, customization is becoming a bigger focus through tools like the new Photographic Styles feature and tone mapping on the iPhone. That way, you can bump up saturation or contrast however you’d like.
Price-wise, the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at NZ$2,399 for 256GB of internal storage, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra will cost you 100 more for the same storage amount.
What’s new on this year’s iPhone lineup is the Camera Control button, which sits on the right side of the phone and lets you trigger the camera, snap photos and swipe to change settings like exposure, aperture and zoom. I’ve enjoyed using it as a shortcut to summon the camera, but don’t yet see the appeal of doing much else with it, especially when using the touchscreen (the old fashioned way) works just fine. Thankfully, iPhone case makers like Speck and Otterbox have quickly developed cases to make that new button easily accessible, if, like me, you’re trying to warm up to the concept while keeping your phone protected.
The photos showed slightly higher overall brightness in iPhone 16 Pro Max photos, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra photos showed higher shades of each color. But both are very beautiful and striking, and I’m impressed by how little difference there is between them.
My favorite way to test portrait mode is by photographing a plant to see whether the camera picks up on any stray leaves of flowers and keeps them focused in the foreground. In this comparison, each phone does a comparable job in that regard, but I like how the S24 Ultra brightens the overall image and reduces a lot of those harsh shadows.
The iPhone 16 Pro lineup introduces 4K slow-motion recording at 120fps, while the S24 Ultra has a UHD slow-motion setting at 120fps. That 4K setting on the iPhone brings a crispness and higher level of detail that makes these videos pop — even if you don’t really find yourself recording in slow motion all that often.
In other, more everyday instances, I still prefer video on the iPhone 16 Pro Max, as footage looks sharper and colors are more true-to-life. But you’ll get smooth shots, especially when set to 60fps, on both devices.
Final thoughts Given the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra are some of the best camera phones you can get your hands on today, which images are “better” often comes down to personal preference.
I’ve always admired the vibrancy of photos captured on Galaxy phones; the higher saturation and brightness can offer richer-looking images, especially out in nature and with photos of people. But I also admire the sharpness of photos and videos on the iPhone, and how images tend to appear more true to real-life colors.
Night mode used to be something that clearly set the Galaxy apart from the iPhone, but Apple has upped its game in recent years, and images shot at night on both devices are almost indistinguishable in terms of quality. Portrait mode is also matching up more on both devices, as the iPhone used to be leagues ahead of its competitors in that regard. Both devices offer impressive zoom capabilities, though the S24 Ultra still takes the cake with that 10x optical zoom. And selfies are equally flattering, despite minor color differences, on both devices.
All this to say, no matter which phone you choose to spend your hard-earned money on, you hopefully won’t be let down.
Samsung came out swinging for the fence with the launch of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, largely propelled by the slew of Galaxy AI features included on the device. It’s been the top contender in our best Android phones list since then, but Apple’s new flagship is the matchup we’ve been waiting for. That’s why an iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra face-off is necessary to once and for all have a definitive winner as our best phone.
Given how things turned out in our Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max comparison, it inherently gives the newer iPhone 16 Pro Max an edge edge heading into this matchup. That’s because there’s an 8-month gap between the arrival of these two devices, giving Apple the advantage of having the newer handset.
We’ll look at all aspects surrounding the two phones, including their battery life, software, displays, AL features and much more to tell you exactly which one offers more value. These phones don’t come cheap and they’re the epitome of the ultra premium segment that come with extra features you don’t find in other phones.
In this iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra showdown, there can only be one that comes out on top. Let’s get started!
For now, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is enjoying the time it has left before sailing into the sunset at the start of 2025. Despite offering the richer software, its age is beginning to show and this comparison proves that. Unless you can find Samsung’s phone at a good discount somewhere, you might hold off and save your money on the Galaxy S25 Ultra next year. It’ll be a decent wait for it, but we anticipate bigger upgrades that will make it a more formidable challenger.
(Image credit: Future) To be fair, both phones make slight alterations with their designs, but they mostly follow the same design language as previous phones. While both phones have flat edges that let them stay upright on their own, that’s about where their similarities end.
Samsung’s design is boxier looking, evident in the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s hard angled corner. You could argue that Samsung’s design looks like the more boring of the two, but it’s much harder to comfortably use one-handed because it’s larger and heavier. While the S24’s titanium frame gives it a premium look, the overall look can’t compare to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
(Image credit: Future) But to be fair, Apple’s design is mostly recycled too. Still, its rounded corners, lighter weight, and slimmer frame make it feel much more manageable. It’s still massive in size, but it helps that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is accompanied by a more solid construction that makes its design feel polished.
Another difference worth pointing out is that the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with the S Pen, which discreetly tucks into the lower left corner of the phone when it’s not being used. Not only does it help in giving off that paper meets pen experience, but it’s also a handy tool for other functions — such as acting as a remote control for the camera.
Meanwhile, Apple introduces the Camera Control button to give users better access to the most popular settings and tools to take better photos. It’s unique in the sense that it can sense swiping gestures in addition to pressure sensitivity, which frees up the Action Button to do other things.
(Image credit: Future) In the past, Samsung has historically featured the bigger display, but that changes with the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This is a shakeup because the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a larger 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra packs a 6.8-inch Super AMOLED panel.
There’s a lot to like about both OLED displays because they’re perfect for just about everything, from reading an ebook with ease thanks to their high resolutions, all the way to catching up on your favorite streaming shows because of their exceptional viewing angles and rich colors. Believe us when we say you’ll be enchanted by just looking at them. They’re that good!
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Delta-E color accuracy (lower is better)
0.24
0.25
DCI-P3 color gamut coverage (%)
80.4
98.5
Peak brightness
1,553
1,363
However, today’s phones are mainly judged by how bright they get — and in our testing, it’s the iPhone 16 Pro Max that’s brighter. It reaches a peak brightness of 1,553 nits, which makes it more visible to the eyes with direct sunlight. Even though the Galaxy S24 Ultra earns a respectable mark of 1,363 nits, it doesn’t get as bright when compared to the iPhone. For this reason, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is our choice here.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy Ultra S24: Cameras
(Image credit: Future) Without spilling the beans on which has the better cameras, it’s worth noting that these two phones have everything for shooting photos and video with unprecedented quality. Apple fashions a familiar triple camera setup as before that consists of a 48MP main shooter, refreshed 48MP ultrawide, and a 12MP telephoto with 5x zoom. On paper it matches the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s setup, which includes a 200MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom, and a 50MP telephoto with 5x zoom.
These cameras are no doubt versatile in covering all the ranges, but each has their own charm with the experience. Take the new Camera Control button with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is a button on the phone’s side that allows you to quickly take photos much like an ordinary shutter button on a mirrorless camera. One unique way Apple makes Camera Control stand out is how it can also sense how hard your pressing; it recognizes swiping gestures, too. That makes it easier to zoom and go through all of the iPhones modes and settings.
But the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s camera app is more suitable to handle the needs of power users and enthusiasts. That’s because it features proper manual controls for photos and video recording, while also throwing in several others like dual recording. And while it lacks a similar shutter button, the S Pen can be leveraged to take photos as well by pressing down its button.
We’ll briefly touch up on the most important areas with their cameras, but our 2 photos with the iPhone 16 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S24 Ultra better dives into the differences.
iPhone 16 Pro Max shooting
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra shooting
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Performance
It came out to a draw between the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max with their performance when we put those two phones to the test, but this time there’s a clear winner. Based on a new 3nm manufacturing process, the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s A18 Pro chip proves it has the muscle power to handle whatever we dish out to it.
In Geekbench 6, the iPhone 16 Pro Max widens the divide by posting single and multi-core scores of 3,400 and 8,341 respectively. That’s a much bigger increase from the iPhone 15 Pro Max and it certainly shows when you’re using Apple’s phone and notice the instant response and zippy feel.
(Image credit: Future)
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Galaxy S24 Ultra
Geekbench 6 (single-core/multicore)
3,400 / 8,341
2,300 / 7,249
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited (fps)
107.53
121.81
Adobe Premiere Rush time to transcode (mins:secs)
0:21
0:42
Despite its newer hardware, the iPhone 16 Pro Max still can’t eclipse the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powered Galaxy S24 Ultra when it comes to graphics processing. In 3DMark’s Wild Life Unlimited test, the Galaxy posts an impressive average frame rate of 121.81 fps, which is smoother than the 107.53 fps rate that the iPhone averages.
And finally, there’s our Adobe Rush Premiere test that times how long it takes a phone to transcode a video. Between them, the iPhone posts a faster time of 0:21, which is nearly half the time it takes the Galaxy S24 Ultra to complete the same task.
Synthetic benchmark tests are great to objectively compare both phones, but the iPhone by and large exhibits smoother responses with normal, everyday tasks such as opening apps and scrolling.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Battery
(Image credit: Future) Even though Apple doesn’t list the battery capacity in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the company does say that it’s bigger than the power pack inside the iPhone 15 Pro Max. But honestly, it really doesn’t matter because the iPhone 16 Pro Max posts an unbelievable time with our battery benchmark test.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s time of 15 hours and 41 minutes was one of the best when it launched, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max exceeds that with a better 18 hours and 6 minutes time. In our best phone battery life list, it places the iPhone in the third position only bested by the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro and OnePlus 12R, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra finds itself in the sixth position.
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Galaxy S24 Ultra
Battery Life (hours:minutes)
18:06
15:41
Recharge Level in 15 mins
29%
39%
Recharge Level in 30 mins
55%
79%
Over on the recharging side, the Galaxy S24 Ultra easily edges out the iPhone 16 Pro Max thanks to its faster 45W wired charging speed. The S24 Ultra is able to get up to 39% in 15 minutes, then to 79% in 30 minutes. In contrast, the iPhone gets to 29% and 55%, respectively.
Sure, the faster charging speeds of the Ultra are great, but there’s a bigger disparity between their battery life that gives this one to Apple.
Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Software and AI
Apple’s software has always been intuitive to use, and that’s no different with iOS 18 running on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. On the surface, the latest software update doesn’t shake up the experience as much as previous releases, but it’s nice to see that Apple pays more attention than ever before in giving more customization, personalization, and privacy with its software. We detail everything new and exciting about it in our iOS 18 review.
But the greatest part about the software has nothing to do with iOS 18 at all; instead, the focus is on the features that are unlocked with Apple Intelligence. We’ve been using Apple Intelligence with the iOS 18.1 beta to fully get a grip of what it’s able to do, and for the most part, it elevates the experience to the same level as Samsung’s Galaxy AI. There are handy summarizing tools that gives us oversight to our most important notifications, a new Siri that’s much more conversational, and magic of the Photo Clean Up tool — all of which exists to some degree with the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Samsung’s One UI 6.1 goes deeper by offering a slew of features that cater to power users. Not only can we access useful AI-assisted features such as Circle to Search and Google Gemini, but Galaxy AI features enhance the overall experience. Generative AI is clearly well represented in stuff like Generative Edit for removing reflections and unwanted subjects in photos, as well as how Instant Slow-Mo turns any video recording into a slow motion clip.
We also can’t neglect to mention how the S Pen adds to the S24 Ultra experience. It’s a valuable tool with many purposes with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, including the ability to instantly take notes without unlocking the phone, signing PDFs, and using it as a remote shutter for the camera. If that’s not enough to convince you how the Galaxy S24 Ultra is meant for power users, the phone also packs one of the most underrated phone features you’ll find — Samsung DeX. This allows the Galaxy S24 Ultra to mimic the experience of a traditional desktop PC, which is still something you won’t get with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
All of these are reasons why the Galaxy S24 Ultra continues to have the more compelling software.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Galaxy S24 Ultra: Verdict
After putting the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra through the seven categories we’re grading them in, the final tally gives a clear win to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This shouldn’t be too much of a shock given how their releases are spaced significantly apart from one another, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max getting the upper hand in many areas. Most notable, it has a brighter display, better cameras, and longer battery life.
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Price (15 points)
13
11
Design (10 points)
9
9
Display (15 points)
14
12
Cameras (20 points)
20
18
Performance (15 points)
15
14
Battery and charging (10 points)
9
8
Software and special features (15 points)
14
15
Total (out of 100)
94
87
For now, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is enjoying the time it has left before sailing into the sunset at the start of 2025. Despite offering the richer software, its age is beginning to show and this comparison proves that. Unless you can find Samsung’s phone at a good discount somewhere, you might hold off and save your money on the Galaxy S25 Ultra next year. It’ll be a decent wait for it, but we anticipate bigger upgrades that will make it a more formidable challenger.
Samsung’s promising six years of Android OS and security updates
(Image credit: Samsung) While it’s still yet to be officially announced, Samsung has lifted the curtain on the Galaxy A16 5G, confirming it’ll be the company’s first budget smartphone guaranteed to get six generations of Android updates alongside six years of security patches. So if you snag a Galaxy A16 5G, that means you can expect it to run the latest Android OS until 2030 — a level of software support virtually unheard of at this price point. Not only is it a best cheap phones contender, but it also has a good chance at dethroning the Moto G 5G (2024) as the top pick in our best cheap phones under $300 guide.
Samsung seems to have jumped the gun a bit with a listing for the Galaxy A16 5G on its Dutch website (via AndroidPlanet), which reveals several notable upgrades over its predecessor, the $200 Galaxy A15 5G. This time around, Samsung’s bumping the screen size up from 6.5 inches to a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, slimming down the design to a width of 7.9mm (from 8.4mm on the A15 5G), and unfortunately following the trend of ditching the 3.5mm headphone jack. The latter did earn the A16 5G an improved IP54 rating for basic dust and water resistance, another first for a budget Samsung phone.
Under the hood, the A16 5G packs the same 4GB of RAM and 5,000 mAh battery that charges at 25W as its predecessor. However, it does sport a new octa-core processor that’s believed to be the Exynos 1330 chip (Samsung doesn’t mention processor names in its official specs list). It comes out of the box with 128GB of storage, which you can bump up to 1.5 TB with a microSD card.
In terms of the camera setup, you can expect more of the same. Like the A15 5G, the A16 5G packs a set of 50MP main, 5MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro lenses on the back along with a 13MP selfie camera on the front. You’ll have your choice of color options between Blue Black, Light Gray, Gold, and Light Green, though availability could vary by market.
And as we mentioned before, for the first time in Samsung’s budget smartphone series, the A16 5G is promised six years of Android OS and security upgrades. Given that Samsung’s flagship Galaxy phones like the Galaxy S24 are eligible for seven years of updates — just one year more — it definitely gives the A16 5G a leg up.
How much it’ll cost is a bit more up in the air. Samsung’s Dutch website doesn’t list a price, but its French website has it listed as €249, the same as the A15 5G. We expect the A16 5G’s price to remain in the same ballpark as its predecessor, so our guess would be somewhere between $200 and $250. Shipments are expected to start soon, so stay tuned.
Samsung also just recently announced the Galaxy S24 FE, which appears to have a slight advantage in offering Galaxy AI features and support for Samsung DeX. Otherwise, you’re getting a substantial amount of savings with the A16 5G.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is here, and it’s full of AI
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Samsung’s FE line has sometimes struggled to stand out from the main Galaxy S series, but the new Samsung Galaxy S24 FE has a clearer selling point, bringing Samsung’s AI features to a lower price point, and with a bigger screen than the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE.
For an idea of how successful it is, check out our hands-on Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review. But for a look at all the key specs and features, read on.
You’ll also find full details of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE’s price and release date below.
What is it?A cheaper alternative to the Galaxy S24
When is it out?Launched on September 26, ships on October 4
How much does it cost?Starts at $649 / £649 / AU$1,099 New Zealand has yet to release official prices.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: release date and price
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Announced on September 26 and ships on October 4
Pre-orders are open now
Starts at $649.99 / £649 / AU$1,099
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE was unveiled on September 26, alongside the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. Pre-orders for the phone are open now, and it ships from October 4.
As for the price, it starts at $649.99 / £649 / AU$1,099, for which you’ll get 128GB of storage, and it rises to $709.99 / £699 / AU$1,199 for 256GB.
That makes the starting price $50 / £50 / AU$200 more than the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, but $150 / £150 / AU$300 less than the Samsung Galaxy S24.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE looks a lot like the Samsung Galaxy S24, as you might expect. It has a glass back with three cameras running vertically down it, and a flat screen with a punch-hole camera in the top center.
It has an aluminum frame, and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back. It also has an IP68 rating, meaning it’s dust and water resistant.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE’s dimensions are 162 x 77.3 x 8mm, it weighs 213g, and it comes in a choice of Blue, Graphite, Gray, Mint, and Yellow shades, though not all colors are available in all regions.
As for the screen, it has a 6.7-inch 1080 x 2340 Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a peak brightness of 1,900 nits, and around 385 pixels per inch.
That’s quite an upgrade on the Galaxy S23 FE, which has a smaller 6.4-inch screen and a lower peak brightness of 1,450 nits. It’s also bigger than the Galaxy S24’s 6.2-inch display, though not as bright.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: cameras
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, and 8MP telephoto cameras
Similar hardware to the Galaxy S23 FE
New AI tools
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE has a 50MP f/1.8 main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide with a 123-degree field of view, and an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and this lens also benefits from OIS. Then there’s a 10MP f/2.4 camera on the front. The phone can also shoot video in up to 8K quality at 30fps.
In any case, those camera specs are the same as the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, but the S24 FE has some upgrades, as it uses Samsung’s ProVisual Engine, which is a suite of AI-powered tools designed to enhance photos and videos, as well as improving performance in low light.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE also has a wealth of AI editing tools, such as the ability to move, resize, and remove elements of photos.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: specs and features
(Image credit: Samsung)
Exynos 2400e chipset
8GB of RAM
4,700mAh battery
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE has an Exynos 2400e chipset, which marks it out from the rest of the Galaxy S24 line.
The other models all use a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the US, and either that or an Exynos 2400 elsewhere, but not the ‘e’ version. Still, this should provide plenty of power for most tasks, and it’s paired with 8GB of RAM.
The phone also has loads of AI features. We mentioned some in the camera section, but outside of photos there are also things like Circle to Search, Live Translate, Interpreter, and Browser Assist, giving you the ability to identify things in pictures and videos, translate text and speech, and get AI summaries of websites.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE also has a 4,700mAh battery, which is an upgrade on the 4,500mAh one of its predecessor. It supports 25W wired charging, 15W wireless, and Samsung claims it can last for up to 28 hours of video playback.
Here’s everything you need to know about Samsung’s budget-friendly midrange phone
(Image credit: Samsung)
The FE version of Samsung’s Galaxy S phones sit in a nebulous middle area of the phone giant’s lineup — not quite fully featured enough to compare to the standard Galaxy S models, but a bit more powerful than the more budget-friendly Galaxy A midrange handsets. And the pricing of Galaxy S FE phones typically reflects that middle ground.
That certainly seems true of the latest model, the Galaxy S24 FE, which Samsung has just unveiled nearly nine months after the rest of the Galaxy S24 phones went on sale, but a few months ahead of the likely 2025 launch of the Galaxy S25.
Galaxy S24 FE rumors had predicted a fall launch for this phone, so here are we, wondering if the new model will appeal to people who don’t want to upgrade to the S24 or wait around for the S25 but want something more than what the current Galaxy A35 has to offer.
You’ll have to wait for our Galaxy S24 FE hands-on for that kind of assessment, but here’s a rundown of what the new phone has to offer in terms of pricing, availability and other changes from the Galaxy S24 lineup.
(Image credit: Samsung) The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED 2X display. It offers FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Because of that larger display, the S24 FE is about the same size as the Galaxy S24 Plus with similar dimensions and the same size display, though the FE weighs a bit more — 7.51 ounces compared 6.95 ounces.
At 6.4 x 3 x 0.31 inches, the new Galaxy S24 FE is slightly bigger than last year’s Galaxy S23 FE. Otherwise, the exterior design is basically the same as the main S24 line, so if you like Samsung’s aesthetic, this won’t disappoint.
The Galaxy S24 FE will be available in blue, graphite, gray, mint, yellow. As of this writing, the yellow version isn’t available in the Samsung store for order, so it’s not clear when that colorway will actually be available.
(Image credit: Future) The Galaxy S24 FE’s rear camera array features three vertically stacked lenses — a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide and an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The only real difference between the S24 and the S24 FE is the telephoto lens, which has a higher resolution on the main flagship.
The camera setup on the Galaxy S24 FE should give you enough versatility to capture great photos and video. It will also be boosted by AI-assisted features like Photo Assist that uses generative AI to edit photos and Instant Slo-Mo to transform any video into slow motion.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Performance and battery life
(Image credit: Samsung) Prior to the Galaxy S24 FE’s release, there had been rumors Samsung might turn to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset — the same one in the Galaxy S24 for this phone. That didn’t pan out though, which isn’t surprising, since Samsung had to find some way to keep costs down on the FE.
Instead, Samsung is going with its own Exynos 2400 silicon. That should mean performance will lag the main Galaxy S24.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE should have more battery life than last year’s S23 FE as well as the standard S24. Samsung equipped the S24 FE with a 4,700 mAh battery, topping the 4,000 mAh power pack in the standard S24 and A55.
The S23 FE wasn’t great on battery life, running an inefficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. The Exynos 2400e inside the Galaxy S24 FE should be more efficient and combined with the 4,700 mAh battery should last longer on a charge
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: AI features
(Image credit: Samsung) Samsung has made a point of extending AI features to older phones and midrange models, with the Galaxy A35 supporting the Circle to Search feature introduced earlier this year with the S24.
Samsung is bringing a number of Galaxy AI features to the Galaxy S24 FE that you won’t see on A35, though. The new phone will include the Live Translate feature that works with third party apps, Interpreter Mode for two-way conversation with AI-assisted translation, Note Assist, Sketch to Edit, and already mentioned features like Circle to Search, Instant Slow-Mo and Photo Assist.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Sustainability
(Image credit: Samsung) As with the rest of the S24 lineup, the Galaxy S24 FE will come with 7 years of software support, including Android OS upgrades and security updates. That means you can keep hold of your phone for longer. Hopefully it’ll also mean 7 years of spare parts availability, just in case something breaks before 2031.
Samsung says that the S24 FE is made of wide variety of recycled materials including plastics, aluminum, glass and rare earth elements and the packaging is made from 100% recycled paper.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Outlook
While the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE does have a slight price increase, it still offers many of the same features as the Galaxy S4.AI continues to be a major focus of Samsung, which means that the S24 FE is also getting a number of Galaxy AI features, though not all are unique to Samsung devices.
With a larger battery and a potentially more efficient Exynos 2400 chipset, the Galaxy S24 FE could see some big improvements over its predecessor. We’ll find out more once we complete testing on this model.
Whether you’re looking buy an affordable phone or you want a one that folds in half, here are our recommendations for the best Samsung Galaxy smartphones of 2024. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 bring a number of welcomed upgrades like a better main camera on the Flip and some unwanted ones like a higher starting price. The new foldable phones follow on the heels of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series, which arrived earlier this year. The Galaxy S24, S24 Plus and S24 Ultra got new AI features in addition to the regular slew of performance, camera and battery upgrades. With so many different phone models at a variety of prices, you might have a difficult time making a decision on which phone to buy. But don’t worry, we’ve tested and reviewed every phone on this list and are here to help you find the best Samsung phone. >>>>EB-BS928ABY Battery for Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Best premium Android phone Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra With a sharper 5x optical zoom, a faster new processor and that familiar giant display and 100x digital zoom, the Samsung’s “Ultra” phone remains a top choice for mobile photographers that want plenty of screen space. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is also one of the first phones with Samsung’s new Galaxy AI features, which include tools for translating text messages and phone calls instantly and Circle to Search, a new gesture that lets you launch a Google search for almost anything simply by drawing a circle around it. Like the previous two generations, the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with an embedded S Pen for those who like jotting down notes or doodling. But perhaps best of all, Samsung has committed to updating these devices with new versions of Android for seven years, meaning it shouldn’t feel out of date anytime soon. Still, there are still some important downsides to consider. This phone is expensive, so be sure to look for trade-in discounts if you plan to upgrade. And for that high price, I had hoped Samsung would’ve added extra Galaxy AI features that are specific to the Ultra — perhaps some that take advantage of the S Pen. But Galaxy AI is the same on all Galaxy S24 devices, and it’ll be coming to the Galaxy S23 lineup soon too, so you don’t have to splurge on Samsung’s top-of-the-line phone if you just care about those features. >>>>EB-BF742ABE Battery for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 Best flip phone Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 For better or worse, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 foldable is packed with AI. It can take a rough sketch and turn it into artwork or help me have a conversation in French or Korean despite my only knowing a few words of either language. The new autofocus/auto zoom feature lets you prop the phone in a half-open position, the Z Flip 6 will automatically zoom in or out (switching between the main and ultrawide cameras) to get a photo that best suits the moment. Samsung’s latest clamshell style foldable has a new 50-megapixel main camera, a smaller hinge and crease, a larger battery and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The best ultra-cheap phone for long term use Samsung Galaxy A15 5G For those looking to buy a phone that will last for years, Samsung’s Galaxy A15 5G is an easy choice. Samsung gave it four years of software updates and five years of security support, which is unmatched in this price range. In addition, the phone supports 25W wired charging, and in my tests, it was able to half charge its large 5,000mah battery in 30 minutes. I also like bold light blue. The Galaxy A15 5G feels sluggish compared to competing phones such as Motorola’s Moto G 5G, and as an entertainment device, the Galaxy A15’s single-audio speaker falls short of accidentally jamming when you hold the phone sideways to play games and watch videos. Photography is a typical shortcoming of a phone in this price range, which can take good pictures in outdoor environments, but it is difficult to take pictures in low-light Spaces. This makes the Galaxy A15 5G an easy choice when you just need a phone that can handle the basics, but if you’re looking for the best pocket YouTube player in this price range, you may want to consider other options. Perfect for Samsung fans Samsung Galaxy S23 FE This year, Samsung reinvigorated its FE lineup with the launch of the Galaxy S23 FE. The new phone largely takes the best of Samsung’s Galaxy S22, including a fast (albeit two-year-old) Qualcomm Snapdragon 8gen 1 processor and a 50-megapixel main camera, and puts it inside a colorful aluminum body that highlights a 6.4-inch 1080p display. The phone is priced at the entry-level but boasts Samsung’s high-end features, including desktop-optimized DeX mode and reverse wireless charging. In researching my review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, I found it to be a big improvement over Samsung’s A-Series phones in terms of features and photography. Like the Galaxy S22, though, I did find that the battery life of the Galaxy S23 FE was shorter than I’d hoped during testing, but its 25W wired charge can help you charge quickly in the middle of the day if needed. Best S24 Ultra alternative Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus After testing the 6.7-inch Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus by playing games, texting and calling in multiple languages, taking photos, recording videos and trying out all that Galaxy AI has to offer, I’m happy to say it’s outstanding. Samsung didn’t reinvent the phone, but it did take a great phone and make it better. The challenge for the S24 Plus is that Google’s Pixel 8 Pro has the same price and slightly better cameras. I do think the S24 Plus is an overall better phone in nearly every other respect, even software, which has been rock solid in my testing. Best for productivity and entertainment Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 With the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung is getting closer to its goal of making a device that doubles as a phone and a tablet without compromising too much in either direction. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has an improved design with a sleeker look that’s easier to grip, a less noticeable crease, a new processor and an upgraded ultrawide camera. But it’s really the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s big, bright and crisp internal screen that makes it the best choice for those who want a foldable phone for entertainment. Samsung phone FAQs Why buy a Samsung phone instead of other Android phones? The right phone for you depends on a variety of factors, such as your budget, your current phone and whether you own other mobile accessories from the same company, such as earbuds or smartwatches. Many people prefer to stick with phones from the same company because the experience is more consistent and there’s less of a learning curve when switching to a new device. The same holds true for Samsung; the company’s One UI software (its customized version of Android) can be found across its phone lineup. Samsung’s One UI 6 introduced a more customizable lock screen and the ability to answer a phone call through a text message instead of speaking. Consistency aside, there are some benefits to choosing a Samsung phone over devices from other Android phone makers. Samsung usually excels when it comes to display quality and brightness, and it typically offers a lot of choices in terms of size and pricing. Samsung phones usually offer decent battery life — especially midsize and large phones — and the cameras are usually among the best, especially on the Galaxy S24 lineup. Samsung also offers seven years of Android version updates for most of its new smartphones, which is longer support than even Google provides for its Pixel phones. Google’s Pixel devices also have stellar cameras along with specific software features you can’t get elsewhere. The OnePlus 12 is also cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra at regular prices without a trade-in and offers faster charging speeds. It could be a better choice for those who want to pay a little less but still want a giant 6.82-inch screen and triple rear camera. Which Samsung phone series is best, Galaxy A or Galaxy S? Samsung’s Galaxy A and S series have different uses, so which one is right for you depends on your needs and budget. The Galaxy A series is Samsung’s mid-range and budget phone, which is the best option if you’re looking for a cheap phone and don’t need to trade it in. These phones often offer core features such as large screens, large batteries and multiple cameras at a cheaper price. You get what you pay for; Compared to expensive models, Samsung’s cheapest phones have very limited storage, poor cameras and sometimes struggle to multitask. More expensive phones like the Galaxy A35 5G offer almost all the features that most people want from a basic phone, although you still have to make some compromises on camera quality and overall performance. The Galaxy S series, on the other hand, is Samsung’s flagship smartphone series. Galaxy S phones typically include the best technology Samsung has to offer, along with features you’d expect from any high-end phone, such as high-end design, 5G support, a high refresh rate screen, and multiple high-end cameras. For example, the biggest updates introduced in the Galaxy S24 series include an increase in the Ultra’s main camera to 200 megapixels and a larger battery for the smaller models.
