Samsung can only make one good Galaxy S variant every year

Put down the pitchforks. I do know that Samsung Galaxy S telephones are good Android telephones, wonderful even, however hear me out for a second. Yearly, as Samsung rolls out the pink carpet for its three new flagship telephones, there’s at all times that one mannequin that jumps out to me as “most improved” or “the largest standout.” The opposite two? Simply high-quality, however nothing to speak about in comparison with their predecessors and their siblings in the identical collection.

It’s nearly as if Samsung has a finite analysis and growth useful resource for its telephones (which is probably going the case), and yearly, it takes an enormous spinning wheel, writes the identify of the three telephones, spins it, and decides which one is getting the largest love and focus (which is my exaggerated view of what occurs within the R&D backroom). Clearly, the Extremely would at all times command some consideration, however it’s not the clear standout yearly. The common S and the Plus have had a flip, too, in sharing the highlight.

Enable me to again up this whacky idea.

First, let’s rewind the clock again to the Galaxy S20, the primary collection that launched the S lineup as we now understand it: common, Plus, and Extremely. This was the primary time we noticed an Extremely Galaxy S, however as with every first-generation product, it wasn’t an actual winner. The spectacular specs on paper didn’t translate nicely in actual life, and the brand new 108MP digicam had autofocus points and aggressive picture processing.

As a substitute, the common Galaxy S20 stole a number of hearts due to how a lot it improved over the Galaxy S10 with its 120Hz show, 12MP digicam, 5G help, and greater 3,880mAh battery. I keep in mind wanting on the specs of that S20 in comparison with my Pixel 4 XL and envying that higher show, microSD slot, and higher zoom digicam. My colleague Robert echoed my emotions by asking, “What extra might you need?” in his Galaxy S20 overview. The S20 Plus was good, too, however it was mainly only a bigger S20 with an underutilized DepthVision digicam.

One yr later, the Galaxy S21 Extremely fastened the sins of its predecessor whereas including help for the S Pen for the primary time. Be aware lovers had a correct cellphone to show to after the collection’ loss of life, and the S21 Extremely had a pleasant 120Hz show, an improved 108MP digicam sensor, two telephoto lenses, and a really premium construct. This was an actual standout and the primary time the Extremely was worthy of its identify and promise, a lot in order that we summed it up as Extremely-refined in our S21 Extremely overview. I nearly purchased one, despite the fact that I used to be firmly within the Pixel camp, however I actually wished that digicam and people zoom lenses! My Pixel 5 was the overall reverse of all the pieces that Extremely stood for.

On the identical time, the S21 and S21 Plus obtained a refreshed design, too, however their specs remained kind of the identical. Samsung even switched the S21 again to a plastic again as an alternative of the premium steel on the S20. With no important enchancment there, all eyes have been on the Extremely, and deservedly so.

With the Galaxy S22 collection, the bigger Plus, which had been essentially the most uncared for cellphone of the bunch to this point, was due a neat bump. And a bump it obtained. A brighter show, a brand new 50MP essential digicam, a refreshed design with flatter sides, and 45W charging meant that this was now not only a bigger Galaxy S cellphone; it was a extra highly effective one, too. The Galaxy S22 Plus stood by itself, lastly, regardless of the worth enhance. On the time, we stated the S22 Plus was the all-rounder Android cellphone to beat.

The smaller Galaxy S22 obtained comparable upgrades (digicam, show, glass again), however the battery life was so pathetic that it negated all the pieces good about that cellphone. We have been craving for an excellent, small cellphone then, and the S22 delivered on nearly all of it, however nobody might actually suggest it until you walked round with an influence financial institution. A disgrace, actually.

As for the Extremely, this was the primary time we obtained the built-in S Pen. Galaxy Be aware followers additionally had fewer issues to complain about, however for everybody else, this was the start of the Extremely being unwieldy and probably not for the plenty. It felt such as you needed to compromise to get the very best options, which is why I feel the Plus was the true standout right here, even when Samsung wished it will’ve been the Extremely.

Additionally, can we speak about that Darkish Inexperienced shade? Convey it again, Samsung, please!

Issues aren’t that easy in my thoughts with the Galaxy S23 collection. I do know the Plus simply wasn’t “it” right here. It had had its time within the highlight with the S22 Plus; the S23 Plus simply felt prefer it obtained a number of nips and tucks however nothing excellent.

The opposite two telephones have been much more improved this time round. No extra Exynos, a much bigger battery, and an improved cooling system made the Galaxy S23 an actual standout. For the primary time because the Galaxy S20, the smaller S cellphone was a superb cellphone I might suggest to my associates who didn’t need a big cellphone with out mentioning any huge asterisks. In his Galaxy S23 overview, our personal Ryan known as it “an enormous amongst smaller telephones.”

As for the Extremely, it obtained a brand new 200MP digicam and a few low-light digicam enhancements, and the S Pen obtained many new options, making it an integral a part of the expertise. For my part, it wasn’t as a lot of a standout because the Galaxy S23, however at the very least it didn’t really feel like Samsung was phoning it in with this improve. Many people felt the identical at Android Authority, together with my colleague Dhruv who stated the S23 Extremely is king of the hill, however the S23 had his coronary heart.

Being the uncared for one the earlier yr, the Galaxy S24 Plus took a flip and was the true standout in 2024. Regardless of the great S22 Plus, it nonetheless felt just like the “Plus” was typically the forgotten little one of this collection, as if it was an afterthought for Samsung that simply wanted to shoehorn one thing between the smaller cellphone that everybody would purchase and the ultra-premium one which it might level to as its final flagship. With the S24 Plus, the center little one grew up, obtained out of its dad and mom’ home, and went into the world by itself. A superb show, a titanium body, and a thinner and lighter design versus the S23 Plus; all have been so good that my colleague C. Scott stated you can purchase the S24 Plus as an alternative of the Extremely.

Talking of the Extremely, this was the primary Galaxy S cellphone that I’ve personally owned in a number of years, however I feel I ought to’ve skipped a yr (extra on that later). Sure, Galaxy AI is enjoyable to mess around with, and the brand new 5x telephoto lens is healthier than the low-resolution 10x zoom, however the cellphone is so giant, the corners so sharp, and the remainder of the specs weren’t all that improved. Its child brother, the Galaxy S24 was an excellent cellphone, too, with most of the enhancements obtained by the Plus, however the Plus actually stood alone within the highlight due to that show.

And eventually, we come round to this yr’s Galaxy S25 collection. This time, there’s no debate about it: The common Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S25 Plus are close to copy-pastes of final yr’s telephones. We now have to dig in to seek out actually minor adjustments that make no influence in any respect. It looks like Samsung is phoning it in with these two fashions as if it put all of its efforts into refining the Extremely and including some AI options that the discharge deadline snuck up on them, and somebody remembered the opposite two telephones last-minute. “Uh, guys, what concerning the S25 and S25 Plus?” Then everybody checked out one another, shrugged, and scrambled to make two “new” telephones.

Look, if in case you have a Galaxy S24, don’t purchase a Galaxy S25. Identical for the Plus. As a matter of reality, if you wish to purchase a brand new Galaxy S25 or S25 Plus now, simply go discover a Galaxy S24 or S24 Plus on low cost someplace and get that as an alternative. They’re primarily the identical telephones.

The Extremely is the place the true enhancements are. They won’t appear to be a lot, however Samsung has lastly designed its Extremely to be held by human arms. Gone are the sharp corners that dig into my palm every time I maintain the Galaxy S24 Extremely. The cellphone nonetheless seems gargantuan, however it’s considerably lighter, and I now not really feel like I’m sacrificing consolation to get the very best Samsung cellphone round. The show is bigger, the bezels smaller, the ultrawide digicam is improved, and our early checks present the shutter lag might lastly be decreased! After all, I might’ve appreciated to see much more {hardware} enhancements (charging pace, battery measurement, higher cameras), however in comparison with the common S25 and S25 Plus, it’s not even a query: That is the standout in 2025.

Which brings me again to my whacky idea: Can Samsung simply not enhance all three of its telephones yearly? Why do we have to look forward to the subsequent cycle to see a greater Plus or common S? The cynic in me simply needs Samsung to be daring, for as soon as, and are available out saying, “We’re solely releasing a brand new Extremely this yr. For the Galaxy S and Plus, see final yr’s telephones. We’ll improve them subsequent yr.” That’d be the true inexperienced factor to do, proper? Proper?! Not a brand new recycled field and barely extra recycled supplies.