One of the biggest questions in the build-up to the Galaxy S24 line release was whether it would have an SD card slot. Unfortunately for some, they were left disappointed as yet again, Samsung had decided to omit the feature that makes expanding storage that bit easier.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 do not have SD card slots, following the trend of the previous S23 range, S22 range, and S21 range.
So what are you options for storage? And why is it that Samsung hasn’t included it? Further…will they ever?
What storage options does that Galaxy S24 have?
There are four possible storage variants across the Galaxy S24 lineup. The base Galaxy S24 comes with either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage and 8GB RAM, just like its predecessor, the Galaxy S23. The next model up, the Galaxy S24+, is available with 256GB or 512GB and 12GB RAM, and the premium Galaxy S24 Ultra has 512GB and an impressive 1TB variant also with 12GB RAM. Because the storage is not expandable, Samsung has made sure to provide a range of storage options to cater to those users who need the bare minimum or the utmost storage available on their smartphones.
How can you expand your Galaxy S24 storage?
While the absence of an SD card slot may be disappointing to some, there are alternative options to expand the storage capacity of the Galaxy S24. One option is to utilize cloud storage services, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, to store files remotely. Another option is to invest in a USB OTG (On-The-Go) adapter, which allows users to connect external storage devices to their smartphones. They’re also super affordable – like this one from Amazon.
Why is there no SD card slot on the Galaxy S24?
Samsung ommited the SD card slot from their S21 line back in 2021, and previous to that they did not include SD card slots in their Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Flip models either. This trend seems to have continued all the way to the S24 too.
There’s a few reasons why this could be, but according to statement from Samsung reported on CNET, it may have been due to SD card notable decrease in usage in the market.
That being said, it’s generally agreed that removing the SD card slot allows for a more streamlined design and thinner profile – both appealing for obvious reasons. Of course, there is likely the money factor here. Of course, it makes financial sense to follow Apple’s lead and have people spend more for more storage. In fact, in 2021 Samsung even started removing fast-chargers and headphones jacks too.
We would expect Samsung to change this anytime soon, and while SD cards are certainly useful and easy ways of transfering data – thanks to Cloud support, bigger storage on phones, and more, it may be time to move on.
