Samsung Galaxy S S24+ Onyx Black 512GB

The Galaxy S24+ has one of the best displays we've ever tested, landing in the 98th percentile with 2600 nits of peak brightness. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers 89th percentile performance, and the 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage is fast and spacious. At $470 refurbished, this is one of the best value flagships on the market right now.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a beast, and it shows. In our testing, this phone lands in the 89th percentile for overall performance, which puts it ahead of most flagships from the previous generation. The 8-core chip clocks up to 3.40GHz, and paired with 8GB of RAM, app switching feels instant. Gaming scores hit 92.4 out of 100 in our database, so if you're into Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile, this thing handles max settings without breaking a sweat. The UFS 4.0 storage is also a big deal. Read and write speeds are roughly twice as fast as UFS 3.1, which means apps load faster and large file transfers don't feel like watching paint dry.

The display deserves its own shoutout. At 2600 nits peak brightness, this is one of the brightest screens we've tested. Outdoor visibility is a non-issue, even in direct sunlight. The LTPO panel dynamically adjusts from 1Hz to 120Hz, which helps battery life without sacrificing smoothness. Color accuracy is excellent out of the box, and the 92.2% screen-to-body ratio means you're getting a lot of screen for the footprint. If you watch a lot of HDR content, the HDR10+ support makes a noticeable difference.

Against the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the S24+ holds its own on display and performance but loses on camera consistency and software polish. Google's computational photography is still the best in the business, and the Pixel's cleaner Android experience is a real advantage. The iPhone 16 Pro Max beats the S24+ on ecosystem integration and video recording, but Samsung's display is brighter and the S24+ is lighter. The OnePlus 13 undercuts the S24+ on price while offering similar specs, but Samsung's build quality and software support are better. The Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is a different beast entirely with its foldable form factor, but it can't match the S24+ on battery or raw performance. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is a budget option that doesn't really compete here. If you want the best overall Android flagship, the S24+ is a strong contender, but the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the one to beat for camera lovers.

Here's where things get interesting. The price spread across vendors is massive, ranging from $470 to $1080. That's a $610 gap for the same phone. If you can snag this refurbished unit at the lower end of that range, you're getting a flagship that competes with phones costing twice as much. The 512GB storage option alone is worth the premium over the base model, especially since there's no microSD slot. Newegg's refurbished listing is the one to watch here. At $470, this is arguably the best price-to-performance ratio in the entire smartphone market right now. At $1080, you're better off looking at the Pixel 9 Pro XL or waiting for a sale.

The Galaxy S24+ lands in the 98th percentile for display quality in our database, and honestly, that's the headline here. You're getting a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel pushing 1440 x 3120 at 120Hz with a peak brightness of 2600 nits. That's brighter than most laptops we test. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside puts performance in the 89th percentile, which means this thing flies through multitasking, gaming, and pretty much anything you throw at it. With 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, you won't be playing the delete-old-photos game anytime soon.

But the real story is the balance. Battery life sits in the 91st percentile with a 4900mAh cell, and the camera system lands in the 88th percentile. That's not class-leading, but it's close enough that most people won't notice the difference. The build quality is also in the 91st percentile, with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides and an aluminum frame. At 197g, it's lighter than you'd expect for a phone this size. The weak spot? The feature set only hits the 74th percentile, which is solid but not exciting. And social proof is middling at 54th percentile, likely because this is a refurbished unit with limited review volume.

If you're a heavy mobile gamer who plays for hours on end, the battery life might leave you wanting more. The 4900mAh cell is good but not class-leading, and some users report average endurance under heavy load. If you use a screen protector, the in-display fingerprint sensor can be frustratingly inconsistent. And if you're someone who values having the absolute latest features, the 74th percentile feature set means you're not getting anything revolutionary here. The compact score of 71.4 also means this isn't the phone for people who want something that fits easily in one hand. If any of those describe you, the Pixel 9 Pro XL or OnePlus 13 might be a better fit.

The Galaxy S24+ is a top-tier flagship that nails the fundamentals. The display is genuinely best-in-class, the performance is excellent, and the build quality feels premium. The 512GB storage option is a huge plus for anyone who takes a lot of photos or downloads a lot of media. The battery life is solid but not spectacular, and the fingerprint sensor can be annoying with a screen protector. But these are minor gripes on an otherwise excellent phone. If you can find this refurbished unit at the lower end of the price range, it's a no-brainer. Even at mid-range prices, it's a strong buy.