This is why Samsung does not provide massive upgrades for its telephones

Samsung is the most well-liked Android smartphone maker globally, however my largest downside with the corporate is that its flagship telephones obtain few {hardware} upgrades in comparison with rivals. Don’t imagine me? The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus have new processors, however provide the identical charging and digital camera specs because the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus. Even the Galaxy S25 Extremely merely gives a brand new processor, ultrawide digital camera, and Gorilla Glass, however sticks with the identical battery and charging tech as its predecessors.

This may be irritating for Samsung followers and normal smartphone shoppers, particularly as producers like Xiaomi, OPPO,  vivo, and OnePlus routinely provide thrilling upgrades. However with all of this in thoughts, we are able to assume of some the explanation why Samsung seldom gives massive upgrades for its telephones.

Samsung ships extra smartphones than another Android OEM, and its flagship telephones steadily seem in listings of the highest ten best-selling smartphones. This creates an fascinating problem, because it wants an enormous provide of components from companions to truly construct all of these telephones.

This problem means Samsung can’t undertake a cutting-edge half in a telephone if its suppliers can solely produce a small variety of them. Subsequently, the Galaxy maker could be pressured to depend on tried-and-tested components that suppliers can readily produce in huge numbers. This may very well be why we don’t see {hardware} upgrades like one-inch digital camera sensors, variable telephoto digital camera modules, and extra.

Another excuse why Samsung may maintain off on main upgrades is that it’s apprehensive about security or long-term reliability. You solely want to take a look at 2016’s Galaxy Observe 7 for proof of what can go flawed, as faulty batteries resulted within the telephones catching fireplace. Airways even banned the telephone from their planes.

This saga is probably going why Samsung nonetheless performs it protected in relation to battery upgrades, because it makes use of the identical battery capability throughout a number of telephone generations. In reality, the Galaxy S25 Extremely has the identical 5,000mAh battery because the Galaxy S21 Extremely. In the meantime, the bottom Galaxy S mannequin has solely seen modest upgrades over time, going from the S22’s 3,700mAh battery to the S25’s 4,000mAh pack.

Against this, rival Chinese language producers typically use silicon-carbon batteries of their telephones, enabling extra juice for a similar bodily measurement or the identical capability at a smaller bodily measurement. For instance, the OnePlus 15 has a 7,300mAh battery whereas the OPPO Discover X9 Professional has a 7,500mAh battery. These batteries are likely to degrade sooner than Samsung’s lithium-ion batteries, however they’re corresponding to, or higher than, Apple and Google’s conventional batteries.

This could be the primary motive why Samsung typically doesn’t provide massive upgrades for its telephones. Newer components merely price greater than older components, so Samsung doubtless sticks with older, cheaper parts purely as a result of it nonetheless must make a wholesome revenue. That’s not a shock, as the corporate is a enterprise in any case.

Nonetheless, it’s arduous to argue that Samsung hasn’t taken profit-chasing to new extremes in the previous few years. For instance, rival producers provide flagship telephones with 3x 50MP periscope cameras, however the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus follow an ageing 3x 10MP digital camera.

This deal with revenue additionally manifests in one other method, as Samsung’s base Galaxy S mannequin lacks Extremely options like 45W wired charging and Gorilla Armor safety. That is doubtless for product differentiation functions, as individuals are pressured to purchase the dearer Extremely mannequin in the event that they actually need these perks. The agency additionally skips telephoto cameras on its Galaxy A telephones, ostensibly so customers should pay somewhat additional for the Galaxy S fashions.

Trade watchers like leaker Ice Universe lay the blame on the toes of cellular chief TM Roh. That is comprehensible, as Samsung’s Galaxy S telephones began to stagnate after he assumed the place. Nonetheless, Roh’s tenure additionally coincided with Covid, whereas the trade has additionally endured part value will increase in the previous few years. However regardless of the underlying trigger, revenue issues are undoubtedly a giant motive why we don’t see main upgrades fairly often.

One understated motive Samsung won’t provide massive upgrades for its telephones fairly often is that it doesn’t have a lot direct competitors on this area. In reality, colleague Megan Ellis rightfully identified that Samsung doesn’t have to fret about HUAWEI anymore owing to US sanctions.

Folks neglect that HUAWEI was making up main floor on Samsung up till 2020, and it even handed Apple for the quantity two spot globally. Units just like the P20 Professional and P20 Lite had been massive sellers within the agency’s strongholds of Europe, the Center East, and Africa. Moreover, the corporate additionally popularized AI chips and periscope cameras. I’d strongly argue that HUAWEI saved Samsung on its toes and compelled it to undertake new applied sciences and large upgrades sooner.

Samsung not has stiff Android competitors within the US, both. Motorola, OnePlus, and TCL are the one Chinese language producers within the nation, however one of the best OnePlus telephones aren’t obtainable through carriers, TCL doesn’t provide actually high-end telephones, and Motorola isn’t a constant flagship participant within the area. So Samsung may assume it doesn’t must spend cash on massive upgrades when its largest market doesn’t have a lot selection within the first place. It’s a far cry from the remainder of the world, the place OPPO, vivo, Xiaomi, and different Chinese language telephones are available.

Samsung isn’t only a telephone maker. It additionally makes many components that go into telephones within the first place. This contains processors, RAM, storage, the show, and digital camera sensors.

Samsung could be obligated to make use of internally sourced parts in lieu of components from different manufacturers. The corporate tends to make use of in-house shows for its high-end telephones, moderately than probably cheaper or higher screens from Chinese language firm BOE. The agency additionally sticks with the identical ageing Samsung ISOCELL digital camera sensors, regardless of the supply of extra superior sensors each in-house and through different suppliers.

One outstanding instance of those inner obligations is the in-house Exynos processors, that are apparently cheaper than comparable Snapdragon chips however typically much less highly effective. The agency routinely launches Exynos variants of telephones in some markets (e.g. EMEA) however doesn’t provide the Snapdragon model in these territories, depriving these prospects of one of the best efficiency. What’s notably troubling concerning the Exynos chips is that they’re nearly at all times made by Samsung Foundry, regardless of TSMC’s status for superior manufacturing prowess. This choice to present Samsung Foundry some work nearly definitely leads to inferior efficiency and battery life at occasions.

There are evidently many potential the explanation why Samsung doesn’t provide massive upgrades fairly often on its high-end smartphones. This doesn’t appear to be hurting the corporate, although, because the Galaxy S24 and S25 telephones each delivered unbelievable gross sales. So there’s clearly extra to constructing a telephone that folks need than a spec sheet alone.

Nonetheless, Samsung is clearly coasting proper now with its Galaxy S telephones. Over 55% of our polled readers thought the corporate was taking part in it too protected, whereas simply ~13% mentioned it was nonetheless churning out nice flagship telephones. So whereas normal shoppers could be shopping for these telephones in droves, it could be a matter of time till they smart as much as the shortage of upgrades. This complacency definitely opens the door for an additional main Android model to steal a few of the agency’s market share, however who will or not it’s?