I’ve a rule the place I do not draft greater than two fantasy soccer groups a 12 months. I discover the gamers begin overlapping when I’ve greater than two. I am put able the place I’ve to root towards myself as a result of one other one in every of my groups wants factors. I can not assist however really feel Samsung is in an identical place. With many telephones in several worth ranges, it is difficult for the corporate to compete towards itself. There is not a simple answer to the issue.
Whereas Samsung may not be too huge for its personal good, I imagine it is too huge for us to get the most effective telephones we are able to. Listed here are two Samsung telephones I really feel weren’t nearly as good as they might have been and one telephone that Samsung held again from the US to guard the gross sales of others.
Samsung Galaxy A55
By no means made it to the US
I like Samsung’s Galaxy A-series gadgets. They’re competent and useful smartphones that do nearly the whole lot customers want. Over the past two years, I’ve additionally seen an enormous enchancment in A-series telephones. The Galaxy A54 was a strong enchancment over its predecessor, and I used to be glad to see Samsung carry Exynos chipsets in line. I did not expertise the overheating and lag that plagued earlier gadgets, and battery life was additionally improved, so I used to be excited to see what an A55 would possibly carry.
Samsung didn’t carry the Galaxy A55 to the US final 12 months. I used the abroad mannequin extensively, and I imagine I do know why. It is improbable. For $450, the Galaxy A55 options an improved Exynos 1480 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM. The ensuing efficiency is spectacular, and the battery life is superb. I recover from eight hours of display screen on time from my Galaxy A55. Samsung upped the construct high quality for the Galaxy A55, choosing an aluminum body. The Galaxy A55 was one in every of my favourite price range telephones of 2024, however more than likely, you may by no means have an opportunity to purchase it.
Samsung Galaxy A35
Not for that sort of cash
After I noticed the spec sheet and pricing data for the Galaxy A35, I started to grasp why Samsung did not carry the Galaxy A55 to the US. I used to be pissed off that Samsung would promote the Galaxy A35 at $400 with an Exynos 1380 and 6GB of RAM. The Exynos 1380 powered final 12 months’s Galaxy A54. Whereas it is succesful, the 1480 is considerably higher. If Samsung bought each telephones within the US with solely a $50 hole between them, there could be no purpose to purchase the Galaxy A35. Even if you wish to lower your expenses, the Galaxy A54 is often accessible for round $300. You will not get the identical quantity of software program assist, however the chipset is similar.
A extra enticing Galaxy A15 would eat into the Galaxy A25, and Samsung needs individuals to pay extra.
I’ve seen related discrepancies earlier than, with Samsung providing variants with higher specs abroad. I do know markets and economics are totally different worldwide, however not bringing the Galaxy A55 to the US seems like a blatant transfer to guard gross sales of the Galaxy A35. It limits our selections as customers and is a primary instance of Samsung going out of its manner to not compete towards itself. We’re already starved for smartphone competitors within the US, so any synthetic limitations are much more irritating.
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G
So near greatness
In my evaluate, I used to be favorable in direction of the Galaxy A15 5G. I really like that Samsung added an OLED show and first rate efficiency for $200. It handles each day duties and social media simply and does a lot of what most customers need and want. We overestimate the horsepower we’d like in a telephone, with most customers not scratching the floor of what as we speak’s chipsets can do, so I am at all times in favor of saving a number of {dollars} the place you’ll be able to. The Galaxy A15 is a improbable stability, and I just like the efficiency of its Dimensity 6100+ chipset.
Learn our evaluate
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G: Every thing you want for under $200
It is not flashy, however the A15 will get the job achieved for individuals who do not learn critiques or care about specs
I observed one factor holding the telephone again: a scarcity of RAM. Within the US, it ships with 4GB of RAM, which is ok for many makes use of, however I did discover the telephone aggressively closing apps. With price range chipsets, you need to depart as many issues cached in RAM as doable to assist easy the expertise. My frustration stems from Samsung providing a variant with extra RAM abroad. I might’ve beloved the choice to spend one other $40 for 6GB on the Galaxy A15, as it might’ve made a big distinction. I’ve used smartphones with 6GB and 8GB of RAM powered by the Dimensity 6100+ earlier than, and I may inform how a lot smoother the expertise was. Nevertheless, a extra enticing Galaxy A15 would eat into the Galaxy A25, and Samsung needs individuals to pay extra.
Samsung is not going to repair the issue
As annoying as Samsung’s overstocked lineup could also be, the corporate more than likely is not going to alter issues any time quickly. It succeeded with the A-series telephones, which is a big a part of why Samsung stays the high smartphone producer on the planet. Price range telephones are extra common than you assume, so the extra SKUs the corporate can have in that vary, the higher. I used to imagine extra selections have been higher in the long term for patrons, however with Samsung artificially tipping the scales, I am not so certain.