I have been fascinated about Samsung Galaxy telephones so much not too long ago.
The announcement of the Galaxy Z TriFold caught my eye, not as a result of I wish to purchase it (I would not pay $1,500 for a telephone with two hinges, not to mention $3,000), however as a result of Samsung has dedicated to constructing the very best quality telephones available on the market.
Design is not every part, however our evaluations of the previous few generations of Samsung Galaxy telephones have agreed on one issue: the construct high quality is all the time stellar.
However when a brand new acquaintance requested me what new telephone they need to get, I instantly responded that they should not get a Samsung Galaxy.
I have been a loyal Google Pixel person (with a two-month exception) for the reason that Pixel 2, and that is what would make me change to a Galaxy.
I caved and broke my very own four-year rule
I like boring telephones, however Galaxy gadgets attempt too laborious to be attention-grabbing
I wish to choose in to options, not choose out
The fanatic in me loves tinkering with new apps and options.
I stack utility apps designed to make my telephone extra helpful till the software program is unrecognizable, and I eagerly trawl by means of the brand new software program options accompanying each telephone launch.
However on the finish of the day, what I really need is a telephone that does the fundamentals and nothing extra.
I have to textual content associates throughout numerous social media apps, make calls, browse the web, and hearken to music.
These 4 duties take up most of my display screen time. My telephone ought to make it as simple as doable to do these 4 duties and never get in the best way.
Sadly, Samsung crams its telephones with bloatware and pointless software program options that may’t be disabled.
Certain, my Pixel telephone comes with a bunch of AI options, however they’re neatly tucked away. Galaxy options are opt-out, whereas Pixel options are opt-in.
If Samsung let me select which options I needed to allow throughout setup, I might be extra inclined to select up a Galaxy telephone.
I do not wish to wait months for the most recent Android options
A brief delay is suitable, however Samsung has examined our persistence with latest updates
The most effective modifications throughout the Android ecosystem lately is producers’ dedication to offering seven years of software program help for his or her flagship telephones.
Due to enhancements in cell {hardware}, you should purchase a brand new telephone and reliably use it for that size of time.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 sequence (the primary to function seven years of software program help) didn’t obtain One UI 7 (Android 15) for over six months after the most important Android replace was launched.
Whereas Pixel telephones acquired the replace on day one, Galaxy telephones skilled a delayed launch, then a botched rollout that delayed the launch additional.
Delayed software program updates with main bugs run opposite to Samsung’s dedication to longer and higher software program help.
Then again, I really feel spoiled by Google’s immediate and feature-packed updates that guarantee I am all the time experiencing the most recent Android options.
To modify to Samsung, I would like faster and extra dependable software program updates. One UI 8 was a return to type for Samsung, however I do not belief it to repeat this success.
Samsung must suppose twice earlier than implementing ineffective options
Both make AI options work for us, or take away them
Pixel telephones aren’t constructed for efficiency, however when Google’s Tensor chips aren’t capable of sustain with on-device AI processing, I’ve to surprise what their goal is.
I take advantage of my Pixel’s AI options sparingly, and general, I am happy with how I’ve built-in its AI options into my life.
Nevertheless it’s made me query why I take advantage of a telephone designed for the perfect AI expertise after I barely use these options that the telephone cannot wholly help within the first place?
Galaxy gadgets are constructed for efficiency, and I’ve lengthy scoffed on the capabilities of every era of Snapdragon chipsets. I do not want that energy, so why ought to I pay for it?
Then again, absolutely it is higher to pay for higher processing energy than machine-learning options that hardly work?
The issue is that Samsung, like each different tech producer, is shoving AI wherever it may possibly.
Worse, Samsung’s sloppy implementation of AI makes Gemini on the Pixel appear like a flawless software program expertise.
So not solely am I paying for efficiency I do not want, however I am additionally paying for probably the worst cell AI expertise available on the market.
If Samsung focuses on a “much less is extra” technique for its AI options, I might really feel extra assured about switching.
In the mean time, investing in a flagship Samsung telephone is investing in options you will not use.
May 2026 mark a turning level for Samsung?
It is simple to dismiss the Galaxy Z TriFold as a advertising gimmick designed to show Samsung can nonetheless innovate on {hardware}.
Nevertheless, if it takes an overpriced telephone to make Samsung suppose, I am advantageous with it. The issue is that Samsung is not specializing in the person expertise.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold press launch made it clear what the corporate’s mission goes into 2026: “…increasing Samsung’s management in new type components for the cell AI period.”
Sadly, I do not need “new type components” for the “cell AI period.”
I am not the one one who thinks Samsung has misplaced its manner, so till Samsung addresses complaints which were ongoing for years, I will stick to my Google Pixel for the foreseeable future.