Hi all,
Feeling Let Down by Samsung This Year
As a longtime Samsung power user who’s upgraded nearly every year, I have to say the last couple of years have been disappointing.
I decided to keep my S23 Ultra after hearing negative reviews about the S24 Ultra’s camera and only minor visual changes.
I was really excited about the new Watch Ultra, but I canceled my order when I realized they had removed the rotating bezel. So, I guess I’ll be sticking with my Watch 6 Classic.
The Galaxy Ring was the only hit for me this year – it’s been great!
I didn’t want AirPod knockoffs, so I’m holding onto my Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and skipping the upgrade.
I was ready to buy the Tab S10 Ultra as soon as it launched, but after seeing the specs, I’m disappointed again. A matte screen isn’t worth the $600 after trade-in, especially with the $350 keyboard. I guess I’ll stick with my Tab S8+.
Overall, every launch felt either too similar to previous models or too influenced by Apple’s design. I didn’t even complain when we transitioned from the S8+ to the S9+ with minimal changes, so this year really stands out as a letdown.
Anyone else feeling the same, or am I overreacting?
I think phone manufacturers don’t primarily target people who upgrade their devices every year. Instead, they focus on those who upgrade occasionally or move from lower-tier models to higher-end ones. For example, I went from an iPhone Xs Max to a Samsung A53, then upgraded to the S24 Ultra a year later. I’ve never switched from one flagship phone to another within a year.
I upgraded from my original Galaxy Watch to the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro because it was the first Galaxy watch with decent battery life, comparable to the original. I’m not willing to spend over $600 on a watch that needs replacing every few years due to battery issues.
I do upgrade my phone a bit more often, but that’s only because my carrier allows free upgrades every two years.
In the early days of smartphones, frequent upgrades made sense because the technology was advancing rapidly. But now that progress has slowed, there’s no need to keep up with constant upgrades. The same goes for gaming PCs.
The days of phone tech making huge jumps every year are over. I’m just glad Samsung learned their lesson after the s22 series. The s23 and s24 have been excellent for me personally.