Here's a comparison nobody saw coming—but one that absolutely needs to happen. The freshly launched Realme 16 Pro Plus is going head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, and both are hovering around the same ₹36,000 price point after discounts.
But here's the twist: one is a brand-new 2026 flagship killer, while the other is an 18-month-old Samsung device that's still getting software updates until 2031. Intrigued? You should be.
Why Compare a "Old" Phone with a Brand New One?
I know what you're thinking: "Why are we comparing a year-and-a-half-old phone to something that just launched?" Fair question. Here's the reality check you need.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE launched in 2024 with Android 14, but Samsung promised 7 years of major OS updates. It's already running Android 16 (same as the Realme), and will continue receiving updates until 2031. Meanwhile, the Realme 16 Pro Plus offers 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security patches.
Do the math: When the Realme stops getting updates, the Samsung will still have 2 years of support remaining. In terms of longevity, the S24 FE is absolutely still relevant—perhaps even more future-proof than the newcomer.
Camera Showdown: Megapixels vs Real-World Performance
Hardware Specs Sound Impressive... For One
On paper, Realme brings out the big guns:
- 200MP primary sensor
- 50MP periscope telephoto lens
- Ultra-wide camera
- 50MP front camera
Samsung's setup looks humble by comparison:
- Standard triple camera array
- More conservative megapixel counts
But anyone who's been around smartphones knows megapixels aren't everything.
Daylight Photography: Both Deliver
In good lighting conditions, both phones genuinely impressed me. Exposure is well-balanced, technical aspects are handled competently, and colors—while different—are pleasing from both devices.
The key differences:
Realme's approach: Aggressive contrast. Blacks are DEEP blacks. Colors pop. It's the Instagram-ready aesthetic that many users love. When I photographed my sweater in artificial light, Realme made it look intensely black—even though the actual sweater is faded and more of a dull gray (which Samsung captured accurately).
Samsung's philosophy: Natural representation. What you see is what you get. Some might find this "boring," but it's honest photography.
Neither is objectively "better"—it depends on your preference. Do you want social media-ready shots with punch, or accurate color reproduction?
Selfie Showdown: Width and Detail
Realme's selfies come out noticeably wider, even at the widest settings on both phones. Detail retention is excellent, with individual hair strands visible even in artificial lighting.
Samsung tends to smooth things slightly in artificial light, losing some fine detail. However, in one crucial daylight HDR test, Realme handled the sun in the background significantly better, preventing blown-out highlights.
Portrait Mode: Telephoto Makes the Difference
Both phones include telephoto lenses, enabling portrait shots at different focal lengths. Edge detection is solid on both devices—no complaints there. The portrait shots look natural with good bokeh separation.
Video: The Tables Turn
Here's where things get interesting. Both support HDR video recording, and quality is genuinely impressive from both devices. Realme has genuinely caught up to Samsung's traditionally strong video game—the competition is razor-close.
BUT there's one dealbreaker difference:
- Samsung S24 FE: 4K back camera video recording
- Realme 16 Pro Plus: Limited to 1080p back camera video
If you're serious about video content creation and want maximum quality, Samsung wins by default here. The 1080p footage from Realme looks good, but when you can have 4K, why settle?
AI Features: Samsung's Deep Integration Wins
Remember when AI photo editing felt like Samsung's exclusive playground? Features like AI Eraser, Sketch to Image, and Portrait Studio seemed years ahead of competitors.
Today, most brands have caught up with basic AI erasure—removing people from photos works well on most flagships. But Samsung still has an edge in complex scenarios.
The teddy bear test: I held a soft toy in a photo and asked both phones to remove it. Samsung completely regenerated the scene behind it—you'd never know I was holding anything. Realme did a decent job but couldn't quite match Samsung's scene reconstruction.
Realme's AI tricks: The standout feature is AI Edit Genie. You can prompt it with text commands or use pre-written prompts to generate AI-edited photos. The results are genuinely impressive—sometimes unbelievably good. Features like AI Perfect Shot and AI Recompose work well too.
Both have strong AI game, but Samsung's system-wide integration (grammar correction in chats, instant translation, interpretation tools) feels more mature and useful in daily life.
Performance: The Chipset Controversy
This is where things get spicy.
Realme 16 Pro Plus: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 Samsung S24 FE: Exynos 2400E
The Elephant in the Room
Here's the controversy: Realme launched the P4 Pro at ₹25,000 with the exact same Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor. Now they're asking ₹36,000 for the same chipset in the 16 Pro Plus. That's an ₹11,000 premium for essentially the same processing power.
Does the chipset fail? No. For casual users, it's perfectly fine. But it's hard to justify that pricing gap when the core performance is identical to a much cheaper Realme phone.
Gaming: Frame Rate Reality
- Samsung S24 FE: 120fps support in compatible games
- Realme 16 Pro Plus: 90fps maximum
The S24 FE delivered a noticeably better gaming experience in my testing. The higher frame rate ceiling and better thermal management make a real difference for mobile gamers.
Real-World Experience: 18 Months Later
I've used the S24 FE on and off for 18 months now. Zero thermal issues. Zero battery drain problems. AnTuTu scores remain strong. Many people distrust Exynos processors, but Samsung has really dialed this one in—it performs consistently well.
Software: Polish vs Features
Realme UI: Smooth animations (especially after recent updates). Plenty of features. But... bloatware exists. Get Apps sends push notifications. Third-party app store alerts pop up. You can mute them, but out-of-the-box, the experience feels cluttered.
One UI (Samsung): Cleaner, more user-friendly. Deeply integrated AI features throughout the system that actually feel useful daily. No annoying promotional notifications.
The AI integration difference is stark. Samsung weaves AI into messaging, browser, notes—everywhere. Realme has AI features, but they're more isolated to specific apps rather than system-wide.
Display: Brightness Matters
Both have excellent displays with different strengths.
Realme 16 Pro Plus advantages:
- Noticeably brighter outdoors (crucial for sunny conditions)
- Quad-curved design with minimal bezels
- More aesthetically striking appearance
- Better speakers for multimedia
Samsung S24 FE traits:
- Great colors and HDR performance
- More noticeable bezels (especially after using Realme)
- 120Hz across the board
The 144Hz Controversy
Realme heavily markets 144Hz display support. The setting exists. But here's the reality: only apps like Compass and Calculator run at 144Hz. Instagram, YouTube, games—all max out at 120Hz.
Samsung doesn't promise more than 120Hz, and delivers 120Hz consistently. Realme promises 144Hz but doesn't deliver it where it matters (yet—future updates might change this).
Everything runs smoothly at 120Hz on both phones. No complaints. But don't buy the Realme expecting 144Hz gaming today.
Build Quality: Premium vs Practical
Samsung S24 FE:
- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Plus (front)
- Gorilla Glass 5A (back)
- Aluminum frame
- Launched at ₹60,000 (premium build justified)
Realme 16 Pro Plus:
- Gorilla Glass 7i (front)
- Plastic back panel
- Plastic frame
- Launched above ₹35,000
The build quality difference is noticeable. Samsung feels more premium, more durable, more confidence-inspiring. Realme feels lighter but less substantial.
However: Realme includes a protective layer pre-applied and a case in the box. Samsung includes nothing—you'll spend extra on screen protectors and cases.
Battery Life: Size Isn't Everything (But It Helps)
This is wild: The slimmer Realme packs a 7,000mAh battery (silicon-carbon technology), while the chunkier Samsung has just 4,700mAh.
Real-World Results
Samsung S24 FE: After 18 months of use, still delivers 6.5-7 hours screen-on-time with my usage pattern (screenshot taken at 5% remaining). That's impressive optimization for a 4,700mAh cell.
Realme 16 Pro Plus: Approximately 9 hours screen-on-time. Better than Samsung, but not dramatically so given the 50% larger battery capacity. I expected closer to 10-11 hours honestly.
Charging
- Realme: 80W charger included in box
- Samsung: No charger included (additional expense)
Factor in charger costs when comparing total ownership expenses with Samsung.
The Verdict: Safe Choice vs Bold Bet
After extensive testing, here's my honest assessment:
Choose Samsung Galaxy S24 FE if you want:
✅ Long-term software support (until 2031)
✅ Premium build quality with glass and aluminum
✅ Better gaming performance (120fps)
✅ 4K video recording
✅ Cleaner, bloat-free software experience
✅ Deeply integrated AI features
✅ The "safer" choice with proven reliability
Best for: Users who keep phones 3+ years, content creators who need 4K video, anyone who values software experience over raw specs
Choose Realme 16 Pro Plus if you want:
✅ Brighter display for outdoor use
✅ Significantly better battery life
✅ More striking design with minimal bezels
✅ Impressive AI photo editing tools
✅ 80W fast charging (with charger included)
✅ Better multimedia speakers
✅ Latest 2026 hardware
Best for: Heavy users who prioritize battery life, those who want the newest tech, users who prefer vivid, contrast-heavy photos
The Pricing Problem
Here's my honest take: The Realme 16 Pro Plus isn't a bad phone. The display is excellent, cameras are genuinely good, performance is adequate, and battery life is superb.
But the pricing positioning feels off. Using the same processor as their ₹25,000 phone in a ₹36,000 flagship creates a value perception problem. With better pricing (say ₹30,000-32,000), this phone would generate massive hype.
Component costs have increased—I understand that. But this will likely reflect in sales numbers.
My personal recommendation? The Samsung S24 FE feels like the safer choice. It's proven, reliable, has years of support remaining, and the build quality inspires confidence.
But I'm not you. Your priorities might differ entirely.
Final Advice: Touch Before You Buy
Look, every creator has biases. I've laid out the facts as I see them, but here's what you should actually do:
Visit an offline store. Handle both phones. Check if my observations align with your experience. If they do, then make your choice confidently.
Don't blindly trust any reviewer (including me). Your hands, your eyes, your usage patterns matter more than anyone else's opinion.
Both phones will be linked if you want to purchase, but make sure it's the right decision for YOUR needs.
Quick Comparison Chart:
| Feature | Realme 16 Pro Plus | Samsung S24 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ₹35,999 (with offers) | ~₹36,000 (current discount) |
| Processor | SD 7 Gen 4 | Exynos 2400E |
| Display | Brighter, 144Hz* | Good, 120Hz |
| Camera | 200MP, vivid colors | Natural, 4K video |
| Battery | 7,000mAh, 9hrs SOT | 4,700mAh, 7hrs SOT |
| Build | Plastic | Glass + Aluminum |
| Updates | 3+4 years | 7 years (until 2031) |
| Gaming | 90fps max | 120fps |
*144Hz limited to select apps currently
Which phone would you choose? Let me know in the comments—I'm genuinely curious about your priorities!