From, India
Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale is starting with a curveball from last year—the Samsung Galaxy S24, but this time packing Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 under the hood instead of the Exynos 2400 that hit India and other spots outside the US, Canada, and China before. Weird move, right? But it’s happening, and it shakes up choices if you’re eyeing a Samsung phone right now.
The Snapdragon Switch-Up
Word was floating that Samsung might ditch Exynos for Snapdragon in more places, and here it is for India. The original S24 launch back in early 2024 stuck with Exynos for this market, but now they’re flipping to Qualcomm’s chip. Why? Folks often say Snapdragon runs cooler, handles games better, and squeezes out more battery without hiccups, especially in hot weather like India’s summers. Benchmarks show Snapdragon versions edging out Exynos on multi-core stuff by 10-15%, though day-to-day you might not notice unless you’re pushing heavy apps or editing videos. This new batch is the overclocked “for Galaxy” variant, same as the US models from before, so expect snappy performance without the Exynos heat complaints some users had.
Pre-orders kicked off on Flipkart, with the 8/128GB going for ₹75,000 and the 8/256GB at ₹80,000. That’s spot-on with the original Exynos model’s launch price for the 256GB one, so no hike there. Colors stick to the basics like Marble Gray, Sapphire Blue, Amber Yellow, and Onyx Black. If you’re grabbing one, check for bundle deals during the sale—maybe free buds or a case thrown in.
Does This Even Make Sense Next to the S25?
Here’s the head-scratcher: Flipkart’s got the newer Galaxy S25 (12/256GB) listed around ₹75,000 too, depending on sales. So why go back to last year’s model? Sure, if you’re team Snapdragon all the way and skip Exynos quirks, but the S25 packs the Snapdragon 8 Elite (that’s the Gen 4 basically), which smokes the Gen 3 on efficiency and AI tricks—think better photo processing and voice stuff. Plus, S25 bumps RAM to 12GB, helping with multitasking if you juggle apps. Both chips are tuned for Galaxy, but the newer one lasts longer on battery and runs cooler under load. If price is tight, the S24 Snapdragon might win for value, especially if software updates match—Samsung promises seven years for both lines.
The old Exynos S24 vanished from Flipkart, but you can still snag it on Samsung’s India site if you hunt. No word there on this Snapdragon version though, so Flipkart’s leading the charge. Maybe it’s a quiet refresh to clear stock or test waters before S26 drops.
Screen and Design That Still Hold Up
No changes here—the S24 keeps its 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with 1080×2340 resolution, 120Hz refresh, and up to 2600 nits brightness. It’s compact, easy one-hand use, and the flat edges feel modern without curves catching dust. Armor Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front/back mean it shrugs off drops better than older models. IP68 rating handles water and dust, so beach trips or rain won’t kill it. If you’re coming from an older phone, the always-on display and punch-hole camera blend right in without distracting.
Camera Setup for Everyday Wins
Cameras carry over: 50MP main with OIS for steady shots, 12MP ultrawide for group pics or landscapes, and 10MP telephoto with 3x zoom that pulls in details without blur. Front 12MP handles selfies and calls fine. Night mode improved a ton from S23, and AI edits like object removal work smooth thanks to the chip. Not Ultra-level, but for social posts or family snaps, it beats mid-rangers easy. Video hits 8K if you want, though 4K 60fps is more practical for storage.
Battery and Power That Lasts
4000mAh battery sounds small, but with Snapdragon efficiency, it pushes through a full day of calls, streaming, and browsing—maybe 6-7 hours screen time. 25W wired charging fills it in about an hour, plus 15W wireless and reverse for earbuds. No charger in box, so grab one separate. Compared to S25’s slight bump, it’s close, but the newer chip might edge it on standby.
Software and Extras
Android 14 out of box, but upgradable to 15 and beyond with Samsung’s long support. One UI is clean, lets you tweak themes and gestures without bloat. Galaxy AI features like live translate and circle-to-search stick around, powered better by Snapdragon. Stereo speakers boom loud, ultrasonic fingerprint unlocks quick, and 5G/Wi-Fi 6E keep connections fast. Storage non-expandable, so pick 256GB if you hoard photos.
Why Grab This Over Competitors?
At ₹75-80k, it undercuts the S25 slightly on some configs and beats iPhone 15 base (around ₹70k but smaller screen). Vs Pixel 8a or Nothing Phone 2, Samsung’s ecosystem—watch, tabs, buds—ties in seamless. Pros: Slim build, great haptics, wireless charging. Cons: No microSD, camera zoom limited vs Ultra. If you skipped S24 before over Exynos, this fixes that. Students or pros needing compact power, it’s solid. Sale might drop it further, so wait if you can. Samsung’s teasing more, but if questions on how it stacks to your current setup, spill details.
