The madness lies in buying a Galaxy S25 right now – I say wait for the Samsung Galaxy S26

It’s that time of year again where I wonder whether it’s better to buy one of Samsung’s flagship phones now or wait for the next one.

Simple answer: wait. Ok, we’re done here…

So unless you’re desperate for a new Galaxy phone, I wholeheartedly suggest you wait and see what the Galaxy S26 series brings.

Now, I’ve written before that the next generation of Galaxy phones looks rather iterative, with few changes in terms of camera, design, or display. Performance will surely be improved with a new chipset, but it’s unlikely to be revolutionary.

The biggest changes will probably come on the software side and with the new Galaxy AI features, but I’m not sure it will prompt a wave of upgrades from all but the most die-hard Samsung fans.

However, a new Galaxy S series will undoubtedly cause the models that preceded it to be discontinued or lower in price. This means that even if the Galaxy S26 doesn’t appeal to you, waiting for its launch and then release will likely give you the chance to get a Galaxy S25 phone at a great price.

One caveat here is that we’re approaching Presidents Day in the US on February 16, where we’ll see seasonal sales, and there’s a good chance the Galaxy S25 family could benefit from a price drop as retailers look to clear inventory off their shelves. If you see an S25 phone with a significant price reduction – say $200 off – then that’s the exception to the hold missive I’m sending you.

Otherwise, wait to buy a Galaxy S25, or even any other Galaxy phone, until we see the S26. And if you desperately need a new phone to tide you over, say you broke your current phone, check out our list of the best cheap phones, because one of these will fill the gap until the S26 arrives, and also give you a replacement phone that won’t break the bank.

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Roland Moore-Colyer is an editor at TechRadar and focuses on phones and tablets, but is generally interested in anything tech-related, especially those with a good story behind them. He can also be found writing about games, computers and cars when the opportunity arises, and supporting the day-to-day running of TechRadar. When not at his desk, Roland wanders around London, often with an air of curiosity and a nose for food markets.