I’ve been vocal about my displeasure with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely. It wasn’t the very best smartphone Samsung might have launched, and I’m not prepared to simply accept that for $1,300. This has compelled me to search for options, and simply because Samsung would possibly presently be out of favor with me doesn’t imply I’m trying to bounce ship completely. Many Samsung followers are disillusioned by the Galaxy S25 Extremely, however they nonetheless wouldn’t contemplate a Google Pixel and most positively not an iPhone.
In the event you’re searching for a flagship expertise however can’t get enthusiastic about spending massive cash on a Galaxy S25 Extremely, there may be a substitute for preserve you within the Samsung fold. Listed below are 5 causes I’d decide up a Galaxy S24 Extremely proper now.
Learn our evaluation
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely continues to be the very best, except you are taking photographs
Samsung’s newest phablet seems like a do-over
5
Premium specs for much less
The Galaxy S24 Extremely nonetheless will get the job executed
I’ve seen all of the benchmarks exhibiting considerably improved efficiency from the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset within the Galaxy S25 Extremely, however I nonetheless don’t care. I’ve used the Galaxy S25 Extremely and Galaxy S24 Extremely side-by-side. Except you’re enhancing video all day or engrossed in ray-tracing-intensive cellular video games (if you could find any), you gained’t discover a distinction in your day-to-day utilization. I by no means felt I had tapped into the complete potential of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset powering my Galaxy S24 Extremely, and I gained’t really feel the necessity to improve for extra energy anytime quickly.
I additionally don’t decide up far more in different areas. The Galaxy S25 Extremely has the identical 12GB of RAM because the Galaxy S24 Extremely, with loads of different specs left unchanged by Samsung. I’ll point out battery life later, however don’t purchase a Galaxy S25 Extremely anticipating a noticeably totally different expertise out of your Galaxy S24 Extremely — it’s not there.
4
I want the outdated design
Loads of creature comforts, too
It’s price noting that many Samsung followers like the brand new curved corners on the Galaxy S25 Extremely. Nevertheless, I by no means discovered the Galaxy S24 Extremely design uncomfortable, as I don’t grip my smartphone like I’m attempting to win an arm wrestling competitors. In the event you’re bothered by it, you may at all times purchase a case, however I want the rounded body of the Galaxy S24 Extremely. Regardless of being thicker, it makes the system really feel thinner than the Galaxy S25 Extremely, and it’s a design aspect utilized by telephones just like the OnePlus 13 for a similar goal.
I additionally recognize creature comforts, just like the anti-reflective layer on the Galaxy S24 Extremely’s show. It makes outside and indoor viewing far more pleasurable, and also you discover the glare whenever you transfer to a cellphone with out it. The Galaxy S24 Extremely doesn’t really feel dated — you’re shopping for a smartphone with the appear and feel of a 2025 flagship system.
3
One UI 7 is coming
Put together for a change
Whereas I don’t worth the Galaxy AI additions to One UI 7, the modifications to Samsung’s Android taste work effectively. One UI 7 is clean and fluid, with long-awaited added options like a correct app drawer. The aesthetic overhaul is enjoyable, and I nonetheless rank One UI as probably the most dependable Android software program from any producer. No software program is ideal, and bugs often creep in, however Samsung has a greater monitor report than most for acknowledging issues and getting fixes out shortly. If there’s a cause to remain loyal to Samsung, it’s software program, and also you gained’t be disillusioned with One UI 7.
One UI 7 can also be a cause to be assured about shopping for a Galaxy S24 Extremely in 2025. Samsung lastly introduced a agency date (nearly) to roll out One UI 7 to older {hardware}. The corporate plans to make it accessible to customers within the US in April. I’m working the One UI 7 beta on my Galaxy S24 Extremely, and I’m impressed. When you begin utilizing it on older {hardware}, the attract of the Galaxy S25 Extremely will fade. I’m additionally not apprehensive about which Galaxy AI options like Now Temporary will seem on the S24 Extremely. Now Temporary doesn’t add something significant to the consumer expertise, and I’m assured if it ever does, there’ll be a approach to make it work on the Galaxy S24 Extremely.
2
It nonetheless has wonderful battery life
Battery measurement hasn’t modified
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely has wonderful battery life. I hardly ever finish my day and not using a 40-50% cost remaining. The Galaxy S25 Extremely will get me many of the method via a second day on a single cost, because of the extra environment friendly Snadrapdgon 8 Elite, however I’ve by no means wished extra from the Galaxy S24 Extremely. Samsung left the battery measurement unchanged this yr, that means the Galaxy S24 Extremely has the identical 5,000mAh battery cell because the newer mannequin. All instructed, I gained’t get considerably worse battery efficiency selecting to purchase a Galaxy S24 Extremely over an S25 Extremely.
It’s not like Samsung has upgraded charging speeds, both. The 45W charging on my Galaxy S24 Extremely continues to be the corporate’s quickest pace on its flagship telephones. If Samsung upgraded charging speeds or battery tech, I is perhaps tempted to go for a Galaxy S25 Extremely, however I don’t really feel I’m getting sufficient to justify the worth distinction.
1
Saving a whole bunch suggestions the size
It’s arduous to disregard a reduction
Relying in your consolation stage, there are a number of methods to save lots of on a Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely. The deepest reductions are on Amazon-renewed gadgets, the place you may decide up an S24 Extremely for as little as $790. Shopping for a used smartphone isn’t for everybody, particularly because you don’t know the way the earlier proprietor handled the system. Nevertheless, Amazon has a number of protections if you happen to don’t just like the situation or the battery life isn’t as much as par.
You will nonetheless get monetary savings if you would like a brand new Galaxy S24 Extremely as an alternative. Costs consistently change, however a brand new Galaxy S24 Extremely can sometimes be bought for $900 to $1,000, a number of hundred {dollars} lower than a brand new Galaxy S25 Extremely. I like saving cash, particularly since I get a lot of the Galaxy S25 Extremely expertise on the only-year-old Galaxy S24 Extremely.
Shopping for a barely older Galaxy S24 Extremely has different advantages. You aren’t locked right into a long-term service finance settlement and don’t should commerce something in to economize. In the event you like extra management over your cellular expertise, shopping for a year-old flagship is perhaps for you.
I don’t really feel the necessity to spend greater than I have to
Smartphones are hardly ever price upgrading yearly, however Samsung’s lackluster Galaxy S25 Extremely made shopping for certainly one of its older flagships extra engaging this yr. This makes the comparability tougher when the Galaxy S24 Extremely is as succesful as it’s. It’s a incredible approach to get flagship energy with a premium construct whereas saving a whole bunch. Given how disappointing Galaxy AI is in its present kind, Samsung is perhaps doing us a favor by withholding a few of its options from the Galaxy S24 Extremely.
$1200 $1300 Save
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It is not an overhaul by any means, however even small modifications like (lastly) swapping again to a flat touchscreen and 7 years of system updates assist the Galaxy S24 Extremely stand aside from its predecessors. Galaxy AI’s suite of options are entrance and middle, in addition to Google’s newest utilities like Circle to Search, and this AI craze even brings its magic to the Extremely’s cameras for after-the-fact tremendous slo-mo.