The best Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus alternatives: Google, Apple, and more

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is the middle child of the Galaxy S24 series. It’s not quite as feature-packed as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it still brings a larger display and more additions than the base S24. Are you considering buying this phone, but wondering what else is out there? Or maybe the phone isn’t quite up your alley, and you’re looking for a more suitable purchase. Either way, we’ve got you covered with our rundown of the best Galaxy S24 Plus alternatives.

If you’re looking for the best Galaxy S24 or Galaxy S24 Ultra alternatives, check out our dedicated lists for those.

Buying the right Galaxy S24 Plus alternative for your needs

The Galaxy S24 Plus isn’t quite the top dog in the S24 family, but it’s still a cut above the base model. It has a large battery, a QHD+ screen, the latest flagship silicon, 45W fast wired charging, and premium extras (i.e., wireless charging and an IP68 rating). Otherwise, you’re getting the same camera system as the S24, some slick AI features, and an impressive seven-year update commitment. Samsung’s phones are also available virtually everywhere.

A good Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus should meet all, or most, of these characteristics.

Google Pixel 8 Pro: The best Galaxy S24 Plus alternative

The Pixel 8 Pro is the best Galaxy S24 Plus alternative in our books, featuring the same $1,000 price tag for starters. Google’s phone also matches Samsung’s phone by virtue of its seven-year update pledge. Throw in compelling AI features, and it’s clear that both phones are hitting the same notes.

Google’s phone also brings the acclaimed Pixel software, a more versatile camera experience, and features like an IP68 rating and wireless charging. So it’s a premium device through and through.

However, it must be said that the Tensor G3 isn’t quite a match for the Exynos 2400 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in theory. We also thought the temperature sensor was a gimmick.

What makes it stand out

• Loads of AI features: The Tensor G3 and Google AI optimizations make this a very smart phone. There is a variety of AI tools at your disposal, which you can learn more about in our guide to the best Pixel-only features.
• Great cameras: Google is known for its cameras, and these capabilities continue with the Pixel 8 series, and especially with the Pixel 8 Pro.
• Seven years of updates: Google offers among the industry’s best update promises. The Pixel 8 Pro will be supported until 2030, including both software and security updates.

The best Galaxy S24 Plus alternatives

• Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus: Last year’s Plus phone is still worth considering if you want a great Galaxy flagship. It doesn’t have the same horsepower or update pledge as the S24 Plus, but you’re getting the same camera system and that familiar One UI experience with plenty of updates.
• Apple iPhone 15 Plus: The iPhone 15 Plus is effectively the S24 Plus of the Apple world. Expect access to the Apple ecosystem, a powerful processor, and a reputation for years of updates.
• OnePlus 12: The OnePlus 12 brings the latest and greatest Snapdragon silicon, blazing-fast wired/wireless charging speeds, and a top-shelf QHD+ display. It also brings a more modern camera system than the S24 Plus, although this entire package comes at the expense of water resistance.
• Samsung Galaxy S24: Looking to save a little cash? Then, the base S24 is worth a look, bringing flagship performance, the same AI features as the S24 Plus, the same cameras, and the same commitment to updates. The phone does cut back on several quality-of-life features, though.
• Motorola Edge Plus 2023: Last year’s Edge Plus phone is still a respectable Galaxy S24 Plus alternative. Motorola’s handset brings a versatile camera system, a big battery with brisk wired charging speeds, and the expected premium extras.
• REDMAGIC 9 Pro: This is an excellent Galaxy S24 Plus alternative if you’re a gamer and are on a tighter budget, but still want performance.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus: The best alternative from last year

2023’s Plus device is still worth a look if you can find it cheaper today. Sure, the phone doesn’t have the latest processor, a QHD+ screen, or seven years of updates. But you’re still getting speedy performance, a solid display, and a very respectable update pledge (five years).

The Galaxy S23 Plus also brings the same camera hardware as the S24 Plus, a similar design with an IP68 rating, and wireless charging support. So you’re getting 90% of the S24 Plus by opting for the older phone.

In our Galaxy S24 vs Galaxy S23 comparison (which also covers the Plus versions), we mention the real-world differences between these two devices are pretty unnoticeable. The design is nearly identical, the performance bump can’t really be noticed in day-to-day usage, and everything else is also very similar. The only main difference is that the already-mentioned difference in software support, and the included AI enhancements. However, the latter will eventually make it to the S23 Plus via a software update.

What makes it stand out

• Same cameras as S24 Plus
• Plenty of software features
• Premium extras

Apple iPhone 15 Plus: The best alternative if you like iPhones

The iPhone 15 Plus is really the middle child of the iPhone 15 series (ignoring the fact that there are four models). Essentially, the iPhone 15 Plus is a bigger, slightly better version of the iPhone 15. The same applies to the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus. It also helps the iPhone 15 Plus is a little cheaper at $900, so it’s an ideal Galaxy S24 Plus alternative if you’re an iOS fan.

Apple’s latest iPhones bring USB-C for the first time, so your Android phone chargers and many USB-C accessories will work fine with it. The addition of iOS and access to Apple’s ecosystem are also two big reasons to buy the iPhone 15 Plus.

We did, however, lament the phone’s long charging times and average battery life for power users. This version also doesn’t come with the Action Button, and opts for the traditional Silent Mode rocker instead. But this is still worth a look if you’re curious about the Apple ecosystem.

What makes it stand out

• USB-C (finally!): The fight between Lightning and USB-C has finally ended, and USB-C won! All iPhone 15 series handsets now use USB-C ports, making it easier to use the cables you already own.
• Access to Apple’s ecosystem: You get access to the better-curated Apple App Store. Additionally, if you own other Apple devices, this phone will integrate into your experience perfectly.
• Great experience: The iPhone 15 Plus comes with great performance, a gorgeous design, a simple UI, and amazing customer service.

OnePlus 12: The best alternative if you’re not a Samsung fan

What makes it stand out

• Blazing-fast wired/wireless charging: This phone can charge at insane speeds of 100W wired (80W in the USA) and 50W wirelessly.
• Flagship performance: The OnePlus 12 comes with premium hardware, including a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 12-24GB of RAM. It competes only with the best.
• Versatile, modern camera system: This phone has a 50MP primary camera, a 64MP periscope telephoto shooter, and a 48MP ultrawide.

Samsung Galaxy S24: The best alternative for Samsung fans

The vanilla S24 is a good purchase if you like the Galaxy S24 Plus but don’t want to pay $1,000. The phone is $200 cheaper, but it still retains Plus features like the camera hardware, flagship silicon, water resistance, and wireless charging.

Samsung’s base Galaxy S24 also brings a host of AI features seen on the Plus and Ultra variants, along with the same seven-year update promise as its stablemates. So, you should keep this phone in mind if you plan to hold onto your device for a long time.

The phone isn’t flawless, though. Expect a small, 4,000mAh battery, sluggish 25W wired charging, a lower resolution screen, and no UWB support. But you’re still getting the fundamental S24 experience here. We also have a Samsung Galaxy S24 vs Galaxy S24 Plus comparison, if you want to dig deeper into the difference between the two.

What makes it stand out

• Cool AI features: In terms of software, the whole Galaxy S24 series enjoys the same AI features and enhancements, save for the S Pen features on the Ultra.
• Seven years of updates: Samsung also has a seven-year upgrade promise, matched only by Google. This includes both software and security updates.
• Same camera system as S24 Plus: You’ll be glad to know there is no difference between the Galaxy S24 and the Plus version in terms of cameras. The only one that gets upgraded is the Ultra.

Motorola Edge Plus 2023: The best alternative by Motorola

We thought the Edge Plus 2023 was the best flagship Motorola phone in years, and it’s easy to see why. This phone ticked plenty of boxes for a high-end phone in 2023, such as a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a 5,100mAh battery with fast wired charging, wireless charging support, and an IP68 rating.

Motorola’s phone also brings a similarly flexible triple camera setup as the S24 Plus and a more premium design compared to previous years. There’s only one variant, featuring an impressive 512GB of storage. So there’s plenty to like here, especially now that the phone can be found at a discount very often.

In saying so, the Edge Plus 2023 doesn’t quite offer the same update promise as even Samsung’s older phones (three major OS updates/four years of security patches). You also miss out on the One UI skin and its variety of features. But some of you like the cleaner UI, and you do get a lightweight, performant take on Android with a few Moto additions.

What makes it stand out

• Big battery with fast charging: The Motorola Edge Plus (2023) comes with a 5,100mAh battery, which you can charge at 68W speeds.
• Higher refresh rate than S24 series: The Edge Plus features a 165Hz refresh rate screen, which is hard to find, even in industry flagships.
• Great value for the money: While it’s a very capable phone, it costs only $800, and you can usually find it for $600.

REDMAGIC 9 Pro: The best alternative for gamers

If you’re a gamer, you’re likely intrigued by some of the best gaming phones. One of the leaders in this space is the REDMAGIC 9 Pro, and it could be the best Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus alternative for gamers. And we know there are plenty of you!

For starters, it looks gorgeous. It has a slightly larger 6.8-inch display, too, which is one of the lures of the Galaxy S24 Plus. In terms of performance, you will find no sacrifices here, as it features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, as well as 8-16GB of RAM. This phone is also quite the battery beast, packing a massive 6,500mAh battery with 80W charging. And it is significantly cheaper at a starting price of $650!

Of course, some sacrifices were made. It has no IP rating, lacks wireless charging, and the camera system isn’t as good. If you can live with those downsides, you will enjoy gaming enhancements like shoulder triggers and built-in cooling.

What makes it stand out

• Amazing performance: This is a gaming phone, so you can only expect the best out of it. It has a top-tier processor, plenty of RAM, and built-in cooling.
• Insane battery life and charging speed: The 6,500mAh battery will last a long time, unless you are running high-end games non-stop. In this case, you can charge the phone very fast, as it has 80W charging.
• Gaming enhancements: Built-in cooling, shoulder triggers, built-in cooling, and a gaming design make this phone really special for gamers.
• Very affordable!: Despite it being such an amazing phone, it starts at just $650.

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