Here, I won’t upgrade yet

There is no denying that the Galaxy S23 is one of them best android phones when it debuted. Not only is it the first Galaxy to offer Snapdragon chips globally in years, but it also finally addresses many of the battery life issues that have historically plagued flagship Galaxy models.

At this time Galaxy S25 impressive device, if you’re still using a two-year-old flagship series, is it worth upgrading? I think not.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s new with the Galaxy S25 and why many of you might be better off using your current phone a little longer. Note that while I own a Galaxy S24 and am very familiar with the brand, I have yet to personally use the Galaxy S25.

Let’s start with the aesthetics. The Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus are available in Green, Phantom Black, Cream and Lavender. In contrast, the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus come in Ice Blue, Sky Blue, Mint and Silver Shades, as well as a few Samsung exclusive colors shown above. Color choice is a personal decision and while I like the new options, I miss Green and Lavender.

The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus also have a few subtle design changes compared to the Galaxy S23, including the bezel around the rear camera lenses. Additionally, the Galaxy S25 has a slightly larger 6.2-inch AMOLED display compared to the 6.1-inch display on the S23. Similarly, the Galaxy S25 Plus is slightly larger than the S23 Plus, measuring 6.7 inches by 6.6 inches.

Performance-wise, while the Galaxy S24 reverted to Exynos chips for select regions, the good news is that the Galaxy S25 continues the S23’s trend of only offering Snapdragon chips. In particular, it is equipped with the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxya significant improvement over the aging Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

CPU and GPU improvements it’s dramatically better on paperbut in practice, most games and apps still run smoothly on the older Snapdragon chip. One caveat with the new chip is its tendency to heat up, though the S25 compensates with a larger vapor chamber to aid thermal management.

The Galaxy S25 series also matches the lineup by offering 12GB of RAM globally. For storage, there’s now a base Galaxy S25 model with 512GB of storage, though that option is limited to select markets outside the US.

Other features see minor upgrades, such as Wi-Fi 7 replacing Wi-Fi 6E. Battery capacities are slightly larger, with the Galaxy S25 having a 3,900 mAh battery (100 mAh more than the S23) and the S25 Plus having a 4,900 mAh battery (200 mAh more than the S23 Plus). Unfortunately, charging speeds remain the same.

The camera system has also not evolved much. The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus retain the same resolution and focus lenses as the previous models, although there are some improvements in image processing and shutter speed. The Galaxy S23’s camera remains a great performer, so this isn’t a knock against the S25, but it would be nice to see more meaningful improvements until the Galaxy S26 arrives. After all, the core camera hardware has remained the same with only minor upgrades under the hood for over three years.

Along with the hardware improvements mentioned above, the Galaxy S23 series has also seen a few notable software improvements since its debut. Ships with Galaxy S25 Android 15 and One UI 7. The Galaxy S23 series is currently running Android 14it is expected to receive the Android 15 update later this year.

Samsung Galaxy S23 has introduced a solid software support policy promising Android 17 as the last OS update. However, the Galaxy S25 raises the bar with a full seven years of operating system and software updates, ensuring longer-term support.

The Galaxy S23 is already in the early days of the AI ​​era, but if you’re looking for the most advanced AI features, the Galaxy S25 series is a better choice. However, the S23 series also supports Galaxy AI through updates and can perform many of the same tasks. However, some functions on the S23 may require cloud processing in-device functionality available with certain Galaxy S25 features.

Despite the improvements, it’s hard to recommend the Galaxy S25 at a high price, especially when the Galaxy S23 family still offers plenty of life and value. Aside from a slightly larger screen and an improved processor, there’s not much to differentiate the S25 from its predecessor. Many aspects remain unchanged, such as the slow 25W charging speed for the base Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus.

Like the Galaxy S23 series before it, the Galaxy S25 starts at $799.99. The Galaxy S25 Plus comes in at a slightly higher price of $999.99. While these prices are relatively standard for flagship phones these days, they’re still significant investments, especially if the upgrades don’t offer you significant value.

For most users, I’d recommend sticking with the Galaxy S23 for a little longer, maybe for the Galaxy S26 or even the Galaxy S27. But everyone’s needs are different. Brief information to help you decide:

• If you want the latest features and minor camera upgrades, upgrade to the Galaxy S25.
• If you find a trade-in deal that gives you the device for free, upgrade to the Galaxy S25. Remember that you will be stuck with the carrier for a while with this method.
• If you don’t see a huge need for the latest Snapdragon processor and you’re happy with your performance, keep the Galaxy S23, as updates will continue for another two years or so.
• If you don’t find the Galaxy S23 to offer a very compelling upgrade, hold off, because it’s better to wait for bigger upgrades from the Galaxy lineup in the years to come.