If you’re thinking about buying a new Samsung phone, you must have done quite a bit of research. However, for the average buyer who wants a comprehensive smartphone experience, Samsung’s mid-range Galaxy A series offers better value than its flagship Galaxy S series.
So why is that? Let’s take a look:
1. Same software
Whether you choose the Galaxy S Series or the Galaxy A Series, you get the same software experience – Samsung’s One UI skin. Of course, the flagship does receive software updates faster, but the delay between the two is not long and does not bother people.
In fact, just like the Galaxy S22 Ultra and other Samsung flagships, the company now also offers major Android updates and 5-year security updates for mid-range phones, including the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33, as well as mid-range phones.
2. Similar battery life
The battery life of Galaxy S and Galaxy A phones is also about the same. In fact, even today’s cheap Samsung phones come with a battery of up to 5000mAh, which is enough to keep you going for two full days with light to moderate use.
Although, Samsung’s flagship does have faster-charging speeds, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging capabilities. But they’re not essential features, but they can be quite handy for enthusiasts and advanced users. However, they are not as important to the average user.
3. Both Have Similar Displays
Ever since punch-hole camera cutouts became more common, it has become more difficult than ever to tell flagship phones from cheaper alternatives when looking at the display alone.
For instance, put the Galaxy S22+ and the A53 side by side, and you’ll see just how similar they look. The former starts at $999 while the latter starts at $449. Flagships do have thinner bottom bezels, but you’re not getting any major improvement in the display by spending more money on a new phone.
4. MicroSD Card Slot
MicroSD cards are very economical. On average, it costs an extra $100 for a phone to add 128GB of internal storage; but if you buy a microSD card, you can get the same amount of storage for less than $20. In addition, with the SD card, you don’t need to wait for the data transfer; just pop out of your old phone and plug it into your new phone.
What’s more, mid-range Samsung phones are still equipped with microSD card slots, and expandable storage support is up to 1TB. Micro SD card support is one of the many features that modern flagships no longer have, and it’s reasonable to believe that it will soon be removed from all mid-range and economy phones as well.
5. You may not need the flagship feature
Unless you’re a superuser, gamer, or techie, it doesn’t make sense to pay a premium price for those premium features you won’t use often.
Features like wireless charging, 8K video recording, or a 108MP camera may sound exciting on paper, but given the current state of technology, these features are overrated and may not be necessary to have it on your phone at all.
6. Older A-Series Phones Come With a Charger and Audio Jack
As we feared, Samsung has finally removed the headphone jack from its mid-range phones—just as it did with its flagships. And if that wasn’t hurtful enough, you’re also not getting a charger inside the box anymore.
However, if you’re okay with buying older models, the Galaxy A32, A52, and A72 still come with both of those features, which is a huge selling point for value-focused buyers and audiophiles.
7. You Use a Back Cover and Screen Protector
A big reason why flagship phones are so expensive is that their hardware is simply of better quality. They’re more durable and can handle a lot of abuse.
Take the Galaxy S22 series, for example. The devices come with Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on the front and back, making them so tough that you practically don’t need a back cover or screen protector anymore.
Despite knowing that, many people wouldn’t risk carrying their phones without these accessories no matter how strong the glass might be. And that’s understandable, because whether your screen cracks depends heavily on the angle at which it falls.
The point here is that if you’re going to buy additional protection anyway, why pay a premium price for the stronger hardware? Even if you’re really clumsy, back covers and screen protectors are often pretty cheap, so you can keep replacing them over the lifespan of the phone without breaking the bank.
8. Ordinary people change their mobile phones every three years
When it comes to longevity, the average lifespan of flagships is also longer than that of cheaper alternatives. As far as the former goes, you get a better camera system, a more powerful processor, louder speakers, AN 68 rating, more memory, more storage, and faster charging. All of this combined, you can easily use the Samsung flagship for more than five years.
However, the battery of a smartphone is made of lithium ions, and it is not a friend of time; in just two to three years, the battery will accelerate degradation. By then, most people will still buy a new phone.
This means that even if all the other parts work perfectly, the degradation of the battery will force you to buy a new phone. This problem will remain until graphene batteries become mainstream.
Who will be your choice?
There is no doubt that when you want to buy a Galaxy S series phone, you have to calm down and think a little more because it is not too different from the Galaxy A series.
While the Galaxy A series is weakened by some features to make the Galaxy S series look more attractive, unless your day-to-day use involves heavy multitasking, gaming, or content creation, the Galaxy A should be your best bet.
