7 reasons we love the Samsung Galaxy series

More than 13 years on from the original release, the latest Galaxy S phones are unrecognisable from their humble beginnings. But they still contain the same focus on features, camera quality and performance that make them some of the most exciting Android phones every year.

Here are seven reasons we love this series of smartphones ahead of the expected release of the Galaxy S24 later this month.

7. Galaxy phones come early (and often)

Samsung normally unveils its Galaxy smartphones near the beginning of the year, versus the September to October launch dates most other mobile brands stick to. That means Samsung is often the first to ship with new mobile chipsets, whether it’s their own Exynos designs or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon series.

Because of this, Samsung’s mainline Galaxy S smartphones often have a headstart in terms of performance. This also means that Samsung has a leg up against the iPhone that arrives in September, as Galaxy S smartphones are often discounted by the time Apple’s latest release hits the shelves.

However, Samsung also releases a variety of Galaxy smartphones throughout the year, from the ultra-large Note series to their funky Fold and Flip phones, which seem destined to open the doors for more foldable tech.

6. Samsung’s colour palette continues to expand

Samsung’s S-series phones often come in multiple colours. It’s been a long time since the days of ‘any colour you like, as long as it’s black’.

Each year seems to unveil new colour options too, with Samsung now offering everything from neutrals and pastels to warm and cool options. Of course, you can always pop a case on to change up the look of your phone, but I’m always happy to see new colour options for fans of that caseless or clear-case lifestyle.

5. Prices drop quickly after release

Here’s a double-edged sword: Galaxy phones tend to drop quickly in price over the year. That means you’ll get a little less for reselling your phone when you upgrade to the next one, but you can also wait a little bit beyond the initial launch period to grab a bargain.

I normally pounce when a phone has around half-off its launch price, which happens around mid-way through the year if you know where to look. ‘Like new’ refurbished models here at giffgaff tend to be a good bet.

Luckily for us in the UK, the pound is slightly stronger against the dollar than it was this time last year (around 1.28 GBP per USD versus 1.20 GBP per USD). This means that UK prices for future Galaxy phones are likely to be much lower in 2024.

4. Galaxy S smartphones are powerful every year

Samsung’s Galaxy S smartphones are often the fastest options available among Android models, thanks to Samsung’s insistence on sourcing some of the latest and greatest chipsets available.

Often we see models equipped with Samsung Exynos or Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets depending on region, but both processor families continue to improve in terms of speed, battery life and features.

With many players, like Google, preferring more mid-range processors, it’s nice to see that Samsung stays on top in this area. It also unlocks things like better connectivity and camera processing, as well as faster app start times or higher frame rates in games.

3. Storage, RAM and batteries tend to be oversized

Apple is famous for charging a premium for extra storage space while keeping battery capacity and RAM allocation relatively modest. This is slightly countered by their tight integration of hardware and software, getting the most from what their phones have. But Android manufacturers like Samsung take a very different tack.

Here, especially on flagship-grade models like the Galaxy S, storage, RAM and battery allocations tend to be generous, with more reasonably priced upgraded models available for users that need the extra space or performance. The removal of Micro SD support on recent models is still disappointing, but with up to 1TB Galaxy S23 models and the possibility for 2TB in the future, we’re quickly outstripping the space that a regular user is likely to need.

2. There’s something for everyone with flagship, foldable and mid-range models

Samsung normally produces three Galaxy S smartphones each year, with more expensive models offering bigger screens and extra cameras. This allows for more flexibility than with rivals like Google or Nothing Phone. You can go for a slightly more compact design with a great primary shooter or spend a bit more on a model that offers more photographic possibilities and is more pleasant to use thanks to that larger display.

Beyond the Galaxy S-series, Samsung also makes great value Galaxy A-series smartphones and extremely high-end foldable Galaxy Flip and Galaxy Fold models. I think it’s fair to say that no other manufacturer has the breadth of Samsung’s offerings!

Samsung also gets bonus points for naming its phones in a logical way. It’s hard to guess whether an iPhone Pro or an iPhone Plus is the better model, but Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra make for a more obvious progression in my mind.

1. Samsung’s cameras are always top-tier

With phone performance reaching ‘good enough’ levels for most people, while base Androids pack in pretty much all of the features you could want, it’s become harder and harder to differentiate one Android smartphone from another.

The biggest difference these days is often in camera performance, and here Samsung is a step beyond almost all of its rivals. I’d say only really Google and Apple are challenging for that ‘best smartphone camera’ title each year.

This starts with extremely good hardware, including high-megapixel-count sensors (up to 200MP!) and a wide range of sensors, which number four on the S23 Ultra and include a periscope telephoto lens that remains a rarity on modern smartphones. Add on Samsung’s excellent (if sometimes over-strong) image processing and best-in-Android video capabilities, and you’ve got a series of phones that can outperform many older DLSR and mirrorless cameras while taking up a mere fraction of the physical space.

Wrapping up

Thanks for reading through our impromptu love letter to Samsung’s Galaxy series of smartphones. We’re looking forward to seeing what’s next from the Korean giant in 2024, which we’ll cover in a full review when the time comes! But until then, we’ll leave things there! When the next big phone you’re interested in does come out, remember that you can buy your next phone through giffgaff.

If you’ve got questions, comments or general feelings to share about Samsung Galaxy smartphones and how they compare to their rivals, feel free to join us in the giffgaff community forums. You can also tweet me @wsjudd.