Here is why you should not improve

One other January means one other set of Samsung flagship smartphones. The Galaxy S25 collection lays down the marker of what we will anticipate from 2025, and naturally, the dialog instantly turns as to whether these telephones are price getting. I don’t assume an annual improve cycle for flagships needs to be a factor anymore, particularly for on a regular basis patrons. Except you need to at all times rock the newest and biggest, upgrading your cellphone yearly, and even each two or three years, isn’t obligatory anymore.

I’ve used the Galaxy S22 Plus and different Samsung flagships for work through the years, so whereas I haven’t gotten my arms on the Galaxy S25 but, I consider I could make an knowledgeable determination now except our hands-on testing exhibits one thing drastically totally different. In fact, I like to recommend ready for our full assessment. However as you might need guessed from the title and the intro, I feel you possibly can safely maintain on to your Galaxy S22 for no less than one other yr, if not longer. Right here’s why.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 will get the newest and biggest processing package deal within the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, so a three-year-old cellphone is understandably not going to be a match by way of pure pace. The S25 goes one step additional and bumps the RAM as much as 12GB from the 8GB on the Galaxy S22. However the latter’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor remains to be greater than succesful. And whereas the numerous efficiency improve is nice, it might not be as noticeable with on a regular basis use, relying on how you employ your cellphone, after all.

Every part else roughly stays the identical. On the subject of dimensions, there’s lower than a millimeter of distinction throughout the board, and the S22 is simply a contact heavier. Nonetheless, the Galaxy S25 has a barely bigger show at 6.2 inches in comparison with the S22’s 6.1-inch display screen. The digicam {hardware} has, sadly, not seen an improve for the reason that Galaxy S22. Samsung is counting on AI smarts and processing to make the S25’s digicam shine, however a number of these options ought to make it again to the older cellphone. The show decision and refresh price, built-in storage, and IP ranking additionally keep the identical.

When it comes to design, the Galaxy S22 was simply earlier than Samsung settled into the now acquainted useful look that you simply get with the Galaxy S25. It’s not an enormous distinction, however I truly want the digicam bump-style housing on the again of the S22. It’s no less than a definite look in comparison with every part else that has adopted, together with the S25, that you simply’d discover troublesome to pick of a lineup of current Galaxy S and even some Galaxy A smartphones.

The battery will get a 300mAh improve, however charging stays as sluggish as ever. We’ll must run the S25 by way of our battery exams, however it’s unlikely to supply considerably higher battery life than the Galaxy S22, even when taking battery degradation on the older cellphone under consideration.

One more reason why I feel it’s okay to carry on to the Galaxy S22 is Samsung’s software program promise. It’s not as spectacular because the vaunted seven years of main OS upgrades you’ll get with the Galaxy S25. However the S22 will get no less than Android 17 two years from now and one other yr of safety updates after. Admittedly, the supply of the newest variations might begin to take some time as Samsung prioritizes newer releases, however shedding software program assist isn’t but a motive to go away the Galaxy S22 behind.

One issue to contemplate is that the Galaxy S22 might not have sufficient processing energy to supply all of the Galaxy AI options coming to the Galaxy S25. I don’t use them a lot, although, so it’s as much as you whether or not the newest AI smarts are one thing you actually need.

Whereas I’ve coated the bottom fashions, the story is a bit totally different with the Galaxy S25 Plus. Most of it’s the identical – a barely bigger show however comparable dimensions, a bigger battery, and equivalent cameras, however, after all, a much more highly effective processor. Nonetheless, the large distinction comes with the show decision. Because the Galaxy S24 Plus final yr, Samsung bumped the decision to QHD+, whereas the S22 Plus has an FHD+ display screen.

The bottom storage of the Plus telephones has additionally elevated from 128GB to 256GB. I’m at all times searching for extra storage and far want a better decision display screen, particularly with its bigger dimension. If I had the Galaxy S22 Plus, I’d contemplate upgrading to the Galaxy S25 Plus for these causes. However that’s actually it. In case you’re comfortable along with your cellphone now, it is perhaps higher to carry out for the S26 and past.

Given no constraints, who wouldn’t need to continually improve their cellphone to the newest and biggest accessible? The S25 has its benefits, after all. It’s a lot sooner, has a much bigger battery, and can get extra AI options. And the S25 Plus’ greater decision show is tempting for me. However the truth that it’s basically simply these factors of distinction between telephones which are three years aside is why I feel it’s completely okay to carry on to the Galaxy S22 for one more yr or so — except Samsung affords a wonderful trade-in deal, which they’re identified to do.