This year, the Samsung Galaxy S24 – normally priced at $690 – dropped to $590 during Black Friday. A discount of nearly $100 makes this model particularly attractive, even though it’s no longer the newest flagship.

Introduction

The Samsung Galaxy S24 series was officially announced on January 17, 2024, at the Galaxy Unpacked event. In Ukraine, the starting price for the base Galaxy S24 (8/128 GB) was $799, while the 8/256 GB version cost $899. Sales through local Ukrainian retailers began in late January 2024, and the S24 quickly gained popularity thanks to its compact size, flat design, and the new generation of Galaxy AI features.

Switching from the Samsung Galaxy S10e

I had been using the Samsung Galaxy S10e for quite a long time. I bought it in August 2022 in the US for $200. It was a used device from Amazon, but in excellent condition.

However, since Samsung officially requires certified devices for full functionality in Ukraine, I couldn’t properly use VoLTE, which allows simultaneous calling and internet use. This was the first reason for upgrading to a new smartphone – VoLTE is crucial for me when creating a mobile hotspot.

The second reason was battery degradation over the years, which became especially noticeable in cold weather.

I promised myself that my next smartphone would be a fully certified device with warranty and support for all local features. And so it happened – I purchased the Samsung Galaxy S24 (SM-S921BZVGEUC).

Financial Aspect

In recent years, a clear trend has emerged: flagships become more expensive each year, while last year’s models decrease in price only slightly. The overall rise in smartphone prices is influenced by several factors:

• rising component costs,
• expanding AI features,
• global inflation,
• longer software support periods.

Many base flagship models have already crossed the $1,000 threshold in various countries. Despite rising prices, manufacturer discounts typically stay within the 10–15% range and rarely exceed that. Therefore, a Black Friday price of $599 looks very attractive for the S24 toward the end of 2025.

Unboxing

The first impression when picking up the box is the minimalist yet premium presentation. The black designer cardboard with embossed letters and glossy Samsung branding adds a sense of value and exclusivity even before opening the package.

To avoid unnecessary plastic, Samsung no longer uses cellophane wrapping. Instead, there are two stickers on the top and bottom of the box – once removed, the box cannot be resealed, ensuring authenticity.

What surprised me was that the smartphone wasn’t placed on top inside the box. Instead, it was located at the bottom and additionally positioned face-down – a small but interesting design change.

Package Contents (standard for modern smartphones):

• Smartphone
• SIM ejector tool
• USB Type-C cable
• User manual & warranty card

Samsung clearly decided to save a bit on the cable – there is no Samsung logo on the connectors, which makes it look somewhat cheap.

The screen comes with a black opaque protective film. I remember when manufacturers printed key features and specifications on this film – this tradition is now gone.

On the back of the phone, the regulatory information, IMEI, and certification symbols are laser-engraved directly on the body. Interestingly, the model code is not printed there anymore.

During the initial setup, I was greeted with the familiar Samsung One UI splash screen.

After connecting to Wi-Fi and completing the basic setup, the phone downloaded an update and prompted me to upgrade to Android 16. I agreed — but the size of the update surprised me: 3.2 GB, which felt quite large.

These were my impressions of the unboxing. The photos might not look perfect, but they were taken under artificial lighting using my old Samsung Galaxy S10e 🙂

Conclusion

In 2025, the Samsung Galaxy S24 remains an excellent choice for anyone seeking a compact, modern smartphone with long-term software support, a great camera, and flagship-level performance. Thanks to seasonal discounts, the device becomes even more appealing.

For me, the switch from the S10e to the S24 is a leap across multiple generations – a better display, improved battery, stronger performance, superior camera quality, and outstanding update longevity. The SM-S921BZVGEUC model is fully adapted for Ukraine and works flawlessly.