With the Black Friday phone deals in full swing, should you wait for the Galaxy S25?
Just as we saw in the run-up to the launch of the iPhone 16, we’ve reached a time in the year where someone looking for a new high-end Android phone has to weigh up whether to buy a Galaxy phone from the current generation wants to buy or wait for the next generation.
Specifically, the dilemma this year is whether to get one of the Samsung Galaxy S24 handsets, or wait for the Galaxy S25 series, which we expect to launch in January or February next year.
However, unlike the choice facing iPhone fans, the Samsung Galaxy conundrum comes at a time when the Black Friday deals have already arrived (the actual Black Friday is on November 29 this year), which is stirring the waters somewhat clouded. That’s because there are Black Friday phone deals with bargain Galaxy S24 models, which can make it tempting to jump on it now rather than wait for more expensive next-generation phones.
So, what to do?
I don’t necessarily have a simple answer; my overall opinion would be that if you desperately need a new Android phone, buying a budget Galaxy S24 is a very smart move. I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra as a secondary phone alongside my iPhone 16 Pro Max, and I think it’s a brilliant, do-anything device, so I can definitely vouch for it. I also think the standard Galaxy S24 is brilliant, with its sleek design and range of generative AI features.
Samsung Galaxy S24 deals you can buy now in the US, UK and Australia
To buy or not to buy?
The problem comes with the fact that the Galaxy S25 series is certainly an upgrade across the board from the S24. It will most likely be evolution over revolution, but some tweaks to the camera, perhaps a bigger battery and more power for built-in AI tools, could deliver a significant upgrade.
Additionally, the Galaxy S24 series were the first phones to introduce Galaxy AI, and that came with some teething problems as it wasn’t always clear how to access or control the smart features. As such, I suspect the Galaxy S25 series will offer more integrated AI features that can be better baked into the hardware.
I hope Samsung’s overall Galaxy AI suite feels more intuitive and easier to access, with clear notes on what the AI technology does and what it isn’t, in the Galaxy S25 than on current generation Galaxy devices.
To me, this would be a good reason to consider an upgrade, especially since we’ve seen how the Google Pixel 9 series – which is arguably a second-generation ‘AI phone’ – offers quite an upgrade over of the Pixel 8 series.
So my instinct would be to tell you to wait, and if you’re not impressed with the upgrades that the Galaxy S25 certainly has to offer, you can probably still go for the Galaxy S24, which will almost certainly have a significant will receive a price reduction. -Galaxy S25 Launch; In the unlikely event that the Galaxy S24 is quickly discontinued by Samsung, retailers will most likely try to clear stock by offering units at reduced prices.
If you have any questions, please let me or the TechRadar phone team know. And if you’re looking for a great smartphone right now, check out our roundup of the best phones.
