After years as a Samsung user, starting with an iPhone switch in 2024, my enthusiasm has waned. What began as a positive experience has, in just two years, completely reversed. The cracks in Samsung’s ecosystem are becoming increasingly apparent, leading me to believe it’s time to explore other manufacturers.
Samsung is busy playing it too safe
Rinse and repeat
The core issue isn’t a lack of quality, but a frustrating stagnation. Looking back to the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the subsequent generations feel remarkably similar. Battery capacity remains unchanged, charging speeds haven’t improved and even the design language has converged into a homogenized look. An A-series phone and a Galaxy S25 are now difficult to distinguish at a glance. This lack of meaningful innovation extends beyond the flagship line, impacting the entire product portfolio.
This isn’t to say Samsung hasn’t excelled in certain areas. The foldable phone segment is a clear success story, demonstrating a willingness to push boundaries. However, even amidst this innovation, basic features are being overlooked. The continued absence of native Qi2 support, forcing users to purchase cases for proper magnetic alignment on an expensive flagship, is a prime example. Similarly, the lack of adoption of silicon carbide battery technology, while battery capacity and charging speeds remain stagnant, feels like a missed opportunity.
Samsung keeps mocking Apple, and then does the same thing
The worst parts of Apple, now in Samsung
Samsung has a history of criticizing Apple for perceived shortcomings, only to later implement similar changes themselves. This pattern is becoming increasingly prevalent. The Galaxy Watch Ultra, with its design cues and orange accent, bears a striking resemblance to the Apple Watch Ultra. The attempt to appeal to the same audience is transparent.
The Galaxy Buds 3 exemplify this trend. Samsung abandoned its own successful in-house design in favor of a form factor reminiscent of countless cheap AirPods clones. The reasoning behind this decision is unclear. More concerning is the removal of features that once differentiated Samsung products. The rotating bezel, a beloved feature on Samsung watches, has been discontinued. The Bluetooth functionality on the S Pen has also been removed, eliminating its use as a convenient shutter button without requiring a separate Samsung watch.
Over the years, Samsung has quietly removed other power-user features, including variable aperture, the microSD slot, and the iris scanner. These omissions, while perhaps not deal-breakers for all users, contribute to a sense of diminishing value and a lack of forward-thinking design.
OneUI has too many minor annoyances
Back to the TouchWiz days
My experience with Samsung software dates back to the Galaxy Note 2 running TouchWiz in 2012. While initially lagging behind competitors, One UI represented a significant improvement. However, recent iterations, particularly One UI 8.0, have introduced a new set of frustrations.
The introduction of the Now Bar, Samsung’s attempt at a Dynamic Island competitor, feels poorly implemented. Placing the lock-screen media player at the bottom of the screen makes the buttons difficult to locate. The Quick Settings panel is cluttered with persistent, unused options like Smart View and Home settings, which cannot be removed, wasting valuable screen real estate. Ironically, iOS now offers greater customization in this regard.
The recent issues with Samsung Wallet are particularly concerning. The unreliability of tap-to-pay, requiring repeated attempts to complete a transaction, is unacceptable for a core functionality. This single issue is a significant factor in my decision to consider switching manufacturers.
It’s time to switch manufacturers
I’m not returning to iOS, and I’m not immediately drawn to Pixel devices. This leaves me exploring options from Chinese OEMs like Vivo and Xiaomi. My previous experience with a OnePlus 7 was positive, and it may be time to revisit that side of the market. The stagnation within Samsung’s ecosystem, coupled with the increasing number of minor annoyances, has led me to conclude that a change is necessary.
