Don't buy a Galaxy S25 — trust me, you should wait for the Samsung Galaxy S26

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2. Samsung Galaxy Phones

Don't buy a Galaxy S25 — trust me, you should wait for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Opinion By Roland Moore-Colyer published 4 February 2026

I urge you to play the waiting game

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It’s that time of the year again when I ponder if 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…

Oh, you want more? Well, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series is surely only a few weeks away from an official reveal, with February 25 tipped to be the date of the next Galaxy Unpacked.

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

Now I’ve already written that the next generation of Galaxy phones are looking set to be rather iterative, with not much in the way of camera, design, or display changes tipped. Performance will surely get a boost with a new chipset, but it’s unlikely to be groundbreaking.

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

However, a new Galaxy S-series will undoubtedly mean the discontinuation or price cut for the models that preceded it. This means that even if you’re not enticed by the Galaxy S26, waiting for its launch and then release will likely give you the chance to get a Galaxy S25 phone at a solid discount.

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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 get a price cut as retailers look to clear stock from their shelves. If you happen to see an S25 phone for a significant price cut – say $200 off – then that’s the exception to the wait missive I’m spouting.

Otherwise, hold fire on getting a Galaxy S25, or indeed any other Galaxy phone, until we see the S26. And if you’re desperate for a new phone to tide you over, say you’ve broken your current phone, then check out our list of the best cheap phones, as one of those will fill the gap until the S26 arrives, and also give you a spare phone that won’t break the bank.

Any questions on buying or waiting, let me know in the comments below.

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TOPICS Samsung Roland Moore-ColyerSocial Links NavigationManaging Editor, Mobile Computing

Roland Moore-Colyer is Managing Editor at TechRadar with a focus on phones and tablets, but a general interest in all things tech, especially those with a good story behind them. He can also be found writing about games, computers, and cars when the occasion arrives, and supports with the day-to-day running of TechRadar. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face and a nose for food markets.

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