Samsung Galaxy S22 – wait or buy the Galaxy S21 now?

For fans of Samsung’s flagship phones, one of the three Galaxy S21 models would be a worthwhile buy, especially at the end of the year when people are looking for freebies and potential goodies. Pick the best Samsung phone – right now it’s the Galaxy S21 Ultra – and you’re pretty much done.

Or you would be, if another Samsung phone launch wasn’t on the horizon.

The smartphone rumor mill is pretty convinced that we may be two months away from yet another major Samsung phone event, with the Galaxy S22 lurking behind the scenes. By the time this new handset arrives, all of Samsung’s current models – the affordable Galaxy S21, the big-screen Galaxy S21 Plus, and that much-thought-about Ultra model – will be yesterday’s news. And for that reason, buying Samsung’s latest flagship phone isn’t the catastrophic decision it normally would be.

Instead of asking yourself “Which model of Galaxy S21 should I buy?” the most appropriate question right now is “Should I buy the Galaxy S21 or wait for the Galaxy S22?” Our Samsung Galaxy S22 vs Galaxy S21 comparison can help you see what new features are expected and how they stack up against what’s out there. But the question of buy it now or wait really depends on a few essential characteristics and how important they are to you.

Here’s a closer look at why you might want to wait for the Galaxy S22 – and why getting the Galaxy S21 right now might still make sense to some people.

Galaxy S22 camera improvements

One of the most important features of any smartphone is the quality of the photo capture. Knowing what camera changes are planned will help you decide if the Galaxy S22 is worth the wait. The answer could ultimately depend on the model you are looking at.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra remains one of the best camera phones out there, which might explain why the rumors are that Samsung is making very few changes to the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera setup. In fact, the megapixel values ​​of the four rear cameras – 108MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP optical telephoto (with 3x zoom), and 10MP periscope telephoto (with 10x zoom) – all appear to be the same. Samsung might tweak some of the sensors, especially with the telephoto lens, and make improvements in computer photography, but that doesn’t sound like a drastic reinvention of the Ultra model’s camera.

More substantial changes are announced for the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus. These phones are expected to receive 50 MP main cameras, an upgrade to the 12 MP sensor used on the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus. The telephoto lens could also go from a 3x hybrid zoom to a 3x optical zoom on these phones.

Based on these rumors, the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus could be significant improvements over their current counterparts. The improvement from the S21 Ultra to the S22 Ultra may be more modest, so photo enthusiasts might get away with buying the current Ultra model now.

Galaxy S22 processor improvements

One of the less well-kept secrets surrounding the Galaxy S22 family is the chipset that will power the phone, at least for versions released in the United States. The likely candidate is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 that Qualcomm just previewed. And thanks to some early benchmarks, we have a good idea of ​​the speed improvements offered by the new silicon.

These Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 benchmarks suggest modest, if not impressive, gains over the Snapdragon 888 that powers the Galaxy S21 lineup. While we’ll have to wait and see how Samsung optimizes the Snapdragon 8 for its new flagships, you can expect a decent performance boost from the new chipset that should power the S22 (although it looks like the A15 Bionic silicon from Apple will remain Speed ​​King).

Performance is not limited to benchmarks. The changes Qualcomm touts for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 include improvements to the chipset image signal processor and a faster AI engine, as well as improvements for mobile games. The first benchmarks will not reflect the expected improvements. Still, it seems safe to say that the Galaxy S22 won’t be a drastically different phone than what you’d get with a Galaxy S21.

Galaxy S22 battery life improvements

The Galaxy S21 models haven’t exactly set a new standard for battery life, as Samsung has struggled to meet the demands of 5G and displays with adaptive refresh rates. The Galaxy S21 Ultra offers above-average battery life, but the S21 and S21 Plus fall short of that.

We don’t know if that will change with the Galaxy S22. Regulatory listings indicate that Samsung plans to use smaller batteries across the board for its Galaxy S22 models. This doesn’t necessarily translate to less battery life for newer phones, as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is said to be more power efficient than its predecessor.

Additionally, the screen sizes on the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus are said to be slightly smaller than what Samsung offers with comparable S21 models. This means less screen space to stay powered on, which could also improve battery life on newer models.

What about the S Pen?

If you’re a fan of Samsung’s S Pen, you might want to pay close attention to the rumors surrounding the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Like its predecessor, the S22 Ultra is likely to support Samsung’s stylus.

However, with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the S Pen was an optional accessory that required an additional case to hold the add-on. Supposed photos of the S22 Ultra suggest that the S Pen will be included with the phone – there might even be a built-in slot to house the S Pen like there was in the Galaxy Note line.

In other words, if you’ve been waiting for Samsung to come up with a successor to the 2020 Galaxy Note 20, it looks like the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the answer to your prayers. (And a rumor has it that Samsung is calling the new phone the Galaxy S22 Note, which makes it an even more practical choice for Note fans.)

Search for Galaxy S21 deals

One final factor when considering whether to buy the Galaxy S21 now or wait for the Galaxy S22 to arrive in a month or two depends on the price. At least one rumor claims the Galaxy S22 will have the same starting price of $ 799 as the Galaxy S21, although a dueling rumor suggests a slight price increase to $ 849 for the new phone. It seems possible that the Galaxy S22 Ultra will debut at a higher price point than the $ 1,199 Galaxy S21 Ultra, especially if there’s a built-in S Pen.

Of course, the Galaxy S21 models don’t cost what they used to cost. Thanks to the best Samsung Galaxy S21 deals, you can get all three phones for big discounts off their introductory price, although this usually requires a trade-in. Right now, you can save $ 550 on the Galaxy S21 with a qualifying trade-in at Samsung. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile also offer big discounts with exchanges, but you’ll also need to commit to an unlimited plan with any of these three carriers.

Galaxy S22 vs. Galaxy S21 outlook

The best time to buy a smartphone is when you need it. That said, if you can wait a month or two, the changes coming with the Galaxy S22 might prove too tempting to be left out.

Photo enthusiasts in particular might appreciate rumors of improvements to the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus’s camera, while the idea of ​​an included S Pen makes the Galaxy S22 Ultra a more compelling choice than the S21. Ultra. Again, if you’re in need of a phone right now, the Galaxy S21 models are great options, especially if you can get a discount on one of the many aggressive deals available for Samsung’s current phones.