Why I am breaking apart with Samsung telephones (for now)

After utilizing nearly all of the greatest Samsung flagships launched since 2010, from the unique Galaxy S to the Galaxy S23 Extremely, I made a decision to step away from its units in 2023. Whereas I recognize One UI and Samsung’s beautiful shows — the anti-reflective coating on the Galaxy S24 and S25 Extremely’s shows being particularly helpful for on a regular basis use — I will not purchase a Samsung flagship once more till the corporate resolves some persistent points that have an effect on its units.

4

Poor help expertise

No worldwide guarantee for $1,000+ flagships is disappointing

If you spend upwards of $1,000 on a flagship smartphone, you anticipate top-notch service high quality. Extra so if it’s a firm like Samsung, the world’s largest smartphone maker, with an in depth distribution community. But, the Korean agency has constantly did not ship on this space. In over a decade of utilizing Galaxy telephones, I’ve needed to go to their service facilities in numerous nations just a few instances. Each time, the expertise was sub-par, with shoddy restore work.

Your expertise could fluctuate relying on the place you reside, however there is a motive Samsung’s after-sales help does not obtain the identical degree of reward as Apple’s.

Worse, Samsung doesn’t supply worldwide guarantee protection on its units. This is able to make sense for its mid-range and price range units, however promoting $1,000+ telephones with out a global guarantee these days appears mistaken. Different main manufacturers, together with Apple and Xiaomi, supply worldwide guarantee protection for his or her units.

This may not seem to be an enormous deal to most. Nonetheless, in the event you’re continuously on the transfer, having worldwide guarantee protection generally is a lifesaver. That is particularly essential for smartphones, contemplating how a lot we depend on them for the whole lot, from making funds to storing IDs and journey info.

3

Sluggish charging speeds

And being reluctant to undertake new expertise

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely packs a 5,000mAh battery, the identical capability cell the corporate first used with the Galaxy S20 Extremely in 2020. 5 years later, whereas the competitors now packs 5,500mAh or 6,000mAh batteries on their flagship telephones, Samsung continues to be sticking to the identical battery capability.

Samsung has accomplished little to enhance the charging speeds on units. Its flagship fashions max out at 45W, with different premium units restricted to 25W. Compared, the OnePlus 13 helps 100W quick charging, whereas the Xiaomi 15 Extremely maxes out at 90W. Wi-fi charging speeds stay unchanged, with Samsung’s flagship Galaxy units topping out at a modest 15W.

In every day use, these charging speeds are high quality, as I nearly at all times have entry to a charger. However when on the highway or touring, super-fast charging speeds make a distinction.

I might have been high quality with the sluggish charging speeds if Samsung have been the primary to undertake new expertise. Regardless of launching a 12 months after the Qi2 customary was finalized, the Galaxy S25 collection is simply Qi2 Prepared. It solely works with magnetic equipment in the event you use a appropriate case.

Equally, I might have been high quality with the Galaxy S25 Extremely’s 45W charging pace if Samsung had compensated with a bigger silicon-carbon battery or made its flagship slimmer. Nonetheless, that is not the case.

With its flagship gross sales enhancing with each new technology, Samsung seems content material with making minimal upgrades to nudge progress ahead as an alternative of radically enhancing its units.

2

Digicam shutter lag persists in spite of everything these years

Take note of consumer suggestions

The Galaxy S23 Extremely was the ultimate straw that broke the camel’s again, main me to surrender on Samsung’s flagship telephones. It was not a foul telephone, however it suffered from the identical main challenge I confronted on the Galaxy S10, S20, S21, and S22 Extremely.

On paper, Samsung telephones pack comparatively spectacular digicam specs: a 200MP major shooter with a large aperture, a 10MP 3x telephoto shooter, a 5x or 10x periscope digicam, and a 12MP ultrawide. Nonetheless, way back to I can bear in mind, Samsung telephones have struggled to seize movement, particularly in low-light situations. That is regardless of newer Galaxy telephones packing bigger digicam sensors than their predecessors.

This makes it nearly unimaginable to make use of the telephone to seize footage of children and pets indoors and in low-light circumstances. There have been numerous moments over the previous few years when the Galaxy’s lack of ability to seize movement ruined a terrific candid shot. The sluggish shutter pace exacerbates the issue, making the expertise worse.

With every new Galaxy flagship, I saved anticipating Samsung to repair the problem, however it by no means occurred. I had excessive hopes for the 2024 Galaxy S24 Extremely, however nothing modified. As soon as once more, I hoped Samsung’s executives would come to their senses and deal with this long-standing downside with the Galaxy S25 this 12 months. However nope, nonetheless no luck.

This makes it clear that Samsung is not taking note of consumer suggestions. If it have been, there is no motive this challenge ought to persist after so a few years, particularly when it has been repeatedly flagged in critiques of its latest flagship telephones.

1

No compelling non-Extremely flagship

Do not rely solely in your Extremely telephone

I offered the Galaxy S22 Extremely inside per week of getting it as a result of its giant and unwieldy dimension. Its sharp corners made issues worse, digging into my palm and making it troublesome to slide the telephone out and in of my pocket. Whereas I used the Galaxy S23 Extremely for an extended time, I encountered the identical points. Its 6.8-inch show, mixed with sharp corners, made it cumbersome to deal with in on a regular basis use. This was one more reason I made a decision to not purchase the Galaxy S24 Extremely final 12 months.

This 12 months, Samsung switched to rounded edges on the Galaxy S25 Extremely, making it extra pocketable. Whereas a welcome enchancment, Samsung’s design adjustments do not go far sufficient. I’ve additionally realized I am not a fan of telephones with 6.8-inch+ shows until they arrive with rounded corners, just like the Google Pixel 9 collection or the OnePlus 13. Their smoother edges make them simpler to slide into your pocket and extra snug to carry with out digging into your palm.

I discover the Galaxy S25+‘s dimension excellent, with a 6.7-inch QHD+ panel and rounded corners serving to to make it pocket-friendly. Nonetheless, Samsung treats its Plus flagship like a stepchild by equipping it with an inferior digicam setup.

In contrast to the Pixel 9 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional, the S25+ will get a 10MP 3x optical shooter, which is nowhere pretty much as good because the 5x cameras on the opposite two telephones. I will not get into the first and ultrawide cameras, with the $1,000+ S25+ missing a devoted macro mode.

The telephone additionally misses out on the anti-reflective show coating discovered on its Extremely sibling. These compromises on a $1,000+ flagship telephone make little sense, particularly given the competitors.

Samsung must dwell as much as expectations

Just a few years in the past, I used to excitedly watch for the launch of a brand new Samsung flagship to see what revolutionary options it needed to supply. Nonetheless, that is now not the case, with Samsung solely making minor iterative adjustments to its newest telephones. What’s worse is the corporate’s reluctance to resolve most of the long-standing points with them.

As a long-time Galaxy consumer, I really feel that Samsung isn’t taking note of consumer suggestions. Till then, I’ll vote with my pockets and spend cash on different, extra compelling Android flagships.