Samsung can solely make one good Galaxy S variant yearly

Put down the pitchforks. I do know that Samsung Galaxy S telephones are good Android telephones, glorious even, however hear me out for a second. Yearly, as Samsung rolls out the pink carpet for its three new flagship telephones, there’s at all times that one mannequin that jumps out to me as “most improved” or “the largest standout.” The opposite two? Simply tremendous, however nothing to speak about in comparison with their predecessors and their siblings in the identical collection.

It’s nearly as if Samsung has a finite analysis and improvement useful resource for its telephones (which is probably going the case), and yearly, it takes an enormous spinning wheel, writes the title of the three telephones, spins it, and decides which one is getting the largest love and focus (which is my exaggerated view of what occurs within the R&D backroom). Clearly, the Extremely would at all times command some consideration, however it’s not the clear standout yearly. The common S and the Plus have had a flip, too, in sharing the highlight.

Enable me to again up this whacky idea.

First, let’s rewind the clock again to the Galaxy S20, the primary collection that launched the S lineup as we now realize it: common, Plus, and Extremely. This was the primary time we noticed an Extremely Galaxy S, however as with every first-generation product, it wasn’t an actual winner. The spectacular specs on paper didn’t translate properly in actual life, and the brand new 108MP digicam had autofocus points and aggressive picture processing.

As an alternative, the common Galaxy S20 stole a variety of hearts due to how a lot it improved over the Galaxy S10 with its 120Hz show, 12MP digicam, 5G assist, and larger 3,880mAh battery. I keep in mind trying on the specs of that S20 in comparison with my Pixel 4 XL and envying that higher show, microSD slot, and higher zoom digicam. My colleague Robert echoed my emotions by asking, “What extra might you need?” in his Galaxy S20 evaluate. The S20 Plus was good, too, however it was principally only a bigger S20 with an underutilized DepthVision digicam.

One yr later, the Galaxy S21 Extremely mounted the sins of its predecessor whereas including assist for the S Pen for the primary time. Notice lovers had a correct cellphone to show to after the collection’ demise, and the S21 Extremely had a pleasant 120Hz show, an improved 108MP digicam sensor, two telephoto lenses, and a really premium construct. This was an actual standout and the primary time the Extremely was worthy of its title and promise, a lot in order that we summed it up as Extremely-refined in our S21 Extremely evaluate. I nearly purchased one, though I used to be firmly within the Pixel camp, however I actually needed that digicam and people zoom lenses! My Pixel 5 was the whole reverse of every thing that Extremely stood for.

On the identical time, the S21 and S21 Plus obtained a refreshed design, too, however their specs remained kind of the identical. Samsung even switched the S21 again to a plastic again as an alternative of the premium steel on the S20. With no important enchancment there, all eyes have been on the Extremely, and deservedly so.

With the Galaxy S22 collection, the bigger Plus, which had been probably the most uncared for cellphone of the bunch to this point, was due a neat bump. And a bump it acquired. A brighter show, a brand new 50MP essential digicam, a refreshed design with flatter sides, and 45W charging meant that this was now not only a bigger Galaxy S cellphone; it was a extra highly effective one, too. The Galaxy S22 Plus stood by itself, lastly, regardless of the worth improve. On the time, we mentioned the S22 Plus was the all-rounder Android cellphone to beat.

The smaller Galaxy S22 obtained comparable upgrades (digicam, show, glass again), however the battery life was so pathetic that it negated every thing good about that cellphone. We have been craving for a great, small cellphone then, and the S22 delivered on nearly all of it, however nobody might actually advocate it except you walked round with an influence financial institution. A disgrace, actually.

As for the Extremely, this was the primary time we acquired the built-in S Pen. Galaxy Notice followers additionally had fewer issues to complain about, however for everybody else, this was the start of the Extremely being unwieldy and not likely for the plenty. It felt such as you needed to compromise to get the most effective options, which is why I believe the Plus was the actual standout right here, even when Samsung wished it might’ve been the Extremely.

Additionally, can we speak about that Darkish Inexperienced coloration? Carry it again, Samsung, please!

Issues aren’t that simple in my thoughts with the Galaxy S23 collection. I do know the Plus simply wasn’t “it” right here. It had had its time within the highlight with the S22 Plus; the S23 Plus simply felt prefer it obtained a number of nips and tucks however nothing excellent.

The opposite two telephones have been much more improved this time round. No extra Exynos, an even bigger battery, and an improved cooling system made the Galaxy S23 an actual standout. For the primary time for the reason that Galaxy S20, the smaller S cellphone was a wonderful cellphone I might advocate to my mates who didn’t need a big cellphone with out mentioning any huge asterisks. In his Galaxy S23 evaluate, our personal Ryan known as it “an enormous amongst smaller telephones.”

As for the Extremely, it acquired a brand new 200MP digicam and a few low-light digicam enhancements, and the S Pen obtained many new options, making it an integral a part of the expertise. In my view, it wasn’t as a lot of a standout because the Galaxy S23, however no less than it didn’t really feel like Samsung was phoning it in with this improve. Many people felt the identical at Android Authority, together with my colleague Dhruv who mentioned the S23 Extremely is king of the hill, however the S23 had his coronary heart.

Being the uncared for one the earlier yr, the Galaxy S24 Plus took a flip and was the actual standout in 2024. Regardless of the nice S22 Plus, it nonetheless felt just like the “Plus” was typically the forgotten youngster of this collection, as if it was an afterthought for Samsung that simply wanted to shoehorn one thing between the smaller cellphone that everybody would purchase and the ultra-premium one which it might level to as its final flagship. With the S24 Plus, the center youngster grew up, acquired out of its mother and father’ home, and went into the world by itself. A wonderful show, a titanium body, and a thinner and lighter design versus the S23 Plus; all have been so good that my colleague C. Scott mentioned you should purchase the S24 Plus as an alternative of the Extremely.

Talking of the Extremely, this was the primary Galaxy S cellphone that I’ve personally owned in a number of years, however I believe I ought to’ve skipped a yr (extra on that later). Sure, Galaxy AI is enjoyable to mess around with, and the brand new 5x telephoto lens is best than the low-resolution 10x zoom, however the cellphone is so giant, the corners so sharp, and the remainder of the specs weren’t all that improved. Its child brother, the Galaxy S24 was a great cellphone, too, with lots of the enhancements obtained by the Plus, however the Plus actually stood alone within the highlight because of that show.

And eventually, we come round to this yr’s Galaxy S25 collection. This time, there’s no debate about it: The common Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S25 Plus are close to copy-pastes of final yr’s telephones. We’ve to dig in to seek out actually minor modifications that make no impression by any means. It seems like Samsung is phoning it in with these two fashions as if it put all of its efforts into refining the Extremely and including some AI options that the discharge deadline snuck up on them, and somebody remembered the opposite two telephones last-minute. “Uh, guys, what in regards to the S25 and S25 Plus?” Then everybody checked out one another, shrugged, and scrambled to make two “new” telephones.

Look, if in case you have a Galaxy S24, don’t purchase a Galaxy S25. Identical for the Plus. As a matter of truth, if you wish to purchase a brand new Galaxy S25 or S25 Plus now, simply go discover a Galaxy S24 or S24 Plus on low cost someplace and get that as an alternative. They’re basically the identical telephones.

The Extremely is the place the actual enhancements are. They won’t seem like a lot, however Samsung has lastly designed its Extremely to be held by human fingers. Gone are the sharp corners that dig into my palm every time I maintain the Galaxy S24 Extremely. The cellphone nonetheless appears to be like gargantuan, however it’s considerably lighter, and I now not really feel like I’m sacrificing consolation to get the greatest Samsung cellphone round. The show is bigger, the bezels smaller, the ultrawide digicam is improved, and our early exams present the shutter lag might lastly be lowered! In fact, I’d’ve favored to see much more {hardware} enhancements (charging velocity, battery measurement, higher cameras), however in comparison with the common S25 and S25 Plus, it’s not even a query: That is the standout in 2025.

Which brings me again to my whacky idea: Can Samsung simply not enhance all three of its telephones yearly? Why do we have to look ahead to the following cycle to see a greater Plus or common S? The cynic in me simply desires Samsung to be daring, for as soon as, and are available out saying, “We’re solely releasing a brand new Extremely this yr. For the Galaxy S and Plus, see final yr’s telephones. We’ll improve them subsequent yr.” That’d be the actual inexperienced factor to do, proper? Proper?! Not a brand new recycled field and barely extra recycled supplies.