Samsung has courted a ton of flak in the past for copying Apple, but in 2023, that penchant for imitating its archrival just might prove to be helpful for smartphone shoppers. Soon after revealing the asking price of the Galaxy S23 trio, Samsung announced that its previous flagship is officially getting a price cut — rather than getting axed from retail shelves.
Apple has been doing the same for years, and it has actually proved to be a wise move for everyone. With a lowered asking price worth a hundred dollars or more, buyers can digest the premium of spending on an iPhone with a lighter hit on their wallets. Of course, it also helps that buying a previous-generation iPhone doesn’t come with any serious FOMO, because Apple is usually quite modest with generation-over-generation upgrades.
This year, Samsung is serving Apple’s formula to Android phone enthusiasts. The Galaxy S22, which originally hit the shelves carrying a price tag of $799, will now be sold for $699 in the U.S. Assuming the track record of third-party sellers and retailers, you can expect the price to further go down. Should the average smartphone buyer care about the
A surprisingly good value
Almost every single time I am asked, “Which iPhone should I buy?,” I suggest splurging on a previous-gen iPhone instead of the pricier current-gen model. That’s because the differences aren’t huge in terms of hardware prowess. Plus, Apple keeps its phone running in tip-top shape with regular software updates for at least five to six years. Just over a week ago, Apple issued a software update for the decade-old iPhone 5S.
Of course, Samsung hasn’t ever done that, and it’s unlikely that Samsung will ever be able to match Apple in this department. But things have definitely improved. Actually, things have improved to an extent that you can put your trust in Samsung to keep your phone running smoothly for half a decade, at least for its flagships. For example, the
The
As for the phone itself, I had a love-hate relationship with it when I initially reviewed it. The compact build is a refreshingly joyous experience, especially in a sea of
My only gripe with the
However, if your
Plus, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip inside this phone is seriously fast. If you are interested in the
Samsung enters the pit roaring
By slashing the Galaxy S22’s price down to $699, Samsung is matching the iPhone 13 right on Apple’s turf. If one were to compare the two yesteryear phones, Samsung’s device is a more compelling option, and it faces legitimate value heat only from Google’s excellent Pixel 7.
But let’s stick with Apple here. The pricier non-Pro iPhones don’t offer the convenience of a telephoto zoom camera. Over at Samsung’s side, the
So, is the
Where does this leave Samsung’s budget-centric Fan Edition? We don’t know yet, but buyers won’t mind if it goes away this year. Take, for example, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G, which also arrived carrying a $699 price tag, but still served a watered-down flagship experience.
With the
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