Which Samsung phone?

July 12, 2022 10:29 AM

Hi guys, I’m thinking of upgrading from a Samsung Galaxy S7 to the Galaxy SA13, S20, S22, S22+ or S22 Ultra. Are there significant differences between them?

I want whatever is closest to the Galaxy S7 but I’ve had a lot of problems with S7s overheating. I don’t care about the camera and the only reason I’m considering more expensive models is because reviews of the A13 say it’s glitchy. Does anyone have experience with these? Thanks?

posted by dianeF to Technology (11 answers total)

Response by poster: *Thanks!
posted by dianeF at 10:30 AM on July 12, 2022

I’m looking for an upgrade for my mom too, from an S9 (which has lost all its buttons somehow). I’m thinking about the A53 which is on sale right now for around $350 (assuming you’re in the US - apologies if not).

There’s also the S21 FE which is like a mid-tier version of the S21 I think? It’s closer to $500-600 as far as I can tell, though.

That being said, I think you might find a difference in performance between the A13 and the S series but probably not much difference between the three S series phones. And even then it will likely be in terms of camera, how many apps you can have going etc. If you can afford it I’d probably go for newer as hopefully they last longer in terms of performance and security/OS updates down the line
posted by bxvr at 10:33 AM on July 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

I have one of the S21s (forget which model) and it's great, with a fantastic camera. The only annoying thing is that it has no space for an SD card, only a second SIM, so at some point I'll start to run out of space for pictures.
posted by essexjan at 10:36 AM on July 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

I just got an S22 Ultra that I love. It is different than the others in that it has a stylus, which I particularly like.
posted by branca at 10:53 AM on July 12, 2022 [2 favorites]

That's a lot of varieties of phone to compare. This kind of site is kinda spammy but Android Police does a good job getting the basic comparison facts out there. They have links for the other models too.
posted by Nelson at 11:01 AM on July 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

I started out looking for basic-workhorse phone to replace a very crappy Pixel 4 (and I had Galaxy S5 and S3 in my past). I .... upsold my own damn self to the S22 Ultra because of the stylus, which has ended up being useful for me. It's really worth what I paid for it, honestly. Solid phone, and works like a horse.

If you get it, def. get the samsung-produced silicone cases for it; they are much better (fit especially, and feel) than anything off of Amazon.
posted by Dashy at 11:03 AM on July 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

I've owned ever Note since Note 2 and am now on a Note20 Ultra. It is an extraordinary phone in every regard. Though its now two years old, there are many more years ahead of it, I'm sure. I'll no doubt upgrade when the 24 Ultra comes out.

I use the stylus several times a day and is the only reason I have never switched to Apple even though I would love an Apple Watch and use an Apple computer.
posted by dobbs at 12:21 PM on July 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

I've been changing to whatever the newest flagship S is and it hasn't steered me wrong yet - I'm coming up on the third anniversary of my S10 and from the S20 and S21 I've played with, Samsung has nailed the "more of the same but better" experience, not to mention the Smart Switch thing that actually works to clone your apps and data. Get whatever highest S number you can afford, the newer it is, the longer it'll have updates and the better the camera.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:28 PM on July 12, 2022 [3 favorites]

For what it's worth, if you're on AT&T with a recent unlimited plan and plan to keep the service for a long while, you can do a 36 month payment plan and get the S22 for "free" (or $800 off an S22+ or S22 Ultra) by trading in the S7. Doesn't matter if the screen is cracked, it just has to turn on and work well enough to get the IMEI. If you happen to have an even older Galaxy S series, you can use that instead and sell your S7 on Swappa or whatever.

The downside, of course, is that if you only keep getting the credits if you keep the service. The pricing is kinda shit if you only have one line, but it's pretty reasonable with more than one.
posted by wierdo at 1:41 PM on July 12, 2022 [2 favorites]

Nthing wierdo. The last 6 months or so of the payments are brutal because I start itching for a new phone, but it's worth it to not spend $1000 or more on a phone. :)
posted by getawaysticks at 9:04 PM on July 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I guess I’ll stick with the S series and figure out what I can afford. Thanks for your help!
posted by dianeF at 7:36 AM on July 13, 2022