Samsung phones outperform other Android phones by a wide margin, and it’s not even close – but Samsung’s lead has started to erode so much that I’d argue the company doesn’t make the best Android phones anymore.
Other brands last longer on a single charge
Samsung phones drain faster and charge slower
I can be more demanding on my phone than anyone else. I spent most of the last few years using the first a Galaxy Z Fold 5and then a Z layer 6not just like phones but as PC replacements. This heavy usage meant that I charged my phone all day. I even started I keep portable power banks in every room of my house.
I recently switched to Motorola’s Razr Fold. In the process, I switched from a 4400 mAh battery to a 6000 mAh silicon carbon battery. I was blown away by the all-day battery life I’ve had on the phone, even with over six hours of screen-on time (I’m using it for work, after all).
This relatively small battery didn’t just affect Samsung’s foldables. When I Google reviewed the Pixel 10a Earlier this year, I noted that this mid-range phone with a 5,100 mAh battery has a slightly larger battery than the 5,000 mAh battery in Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra.
At the same time, the S26 Ultra achieves maximum results with 60W fast charging. While this is a marked improvement over Samsung’s previous phones, it’s slower than the 68W fast charging I experienced on the Moto Edge+ 2023. My new Razr Fold maxes out at 80W when using Motorola’s charger. The OnePlus 15 It lasts up to 120W.
A 200 megapixel camera is no longer enough
It takes more time to deliver an impressive camera
When Samsung introduced a 200MP primary camera on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, it was an impressive feat. Three years later, that number is still four times what most manufacturers put into their phones, but we don’t get four times better pictures. Of course, whether you get better shots from the Samsung Galaxy, iPhone, or Google Pixel is still up for debate.
The best camera hardware is not available in China on US phones, for example the Oppo Find X8 Ultra has larger sensors that can bring in more light and capture more detail. However, even in the US, you can find better equipment elsewhere.
Back to my favorite foldable devices, the Z Fold 7 combines a 200MP primary camera with a 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto. The Razr Fold in my hand has a 50MP telephoto and a 50MP ultra-wide camera in addition to its 50MP main camera. This means I can zoom in and out without a noticeable loss in quality (at least a little). This results in a more versatile camera that is more fun to shoot with.
If you had told me two years ago that I would trade my Samsung phone for a Motorola in part because of the camera, I would have been skeptical. However, here we are.
Samsung apps disappear and become stagnant
An unfortunate event for those who prefer Samsung apps over Google
When I got the Galaxy Z Fold 5, I was surprised at how much I liked the Samsung software. I preferred Samsung Gallery over Google Photos. I liked Samsung Music better than apps like YouTube Music. I even preferred Samsung My Files, a file manager, to Google Files. Samsung Internet is one of the best web browsers you can install on AndroidWith many features that Chrome lacks.
Unfortunately, Samsung is reducing its software more and more. As I started to embrace the Galaxy ecosystem, Samsung stopped pre-installing its own Samsung Messages app and started sending Google Messages instead. Opted out of RCS in the US, Leave Google Messages to become an exclusive walled garden. I’m not a huge fan of Google Messages on any phone, but especially not on Samsung phones where such a solid alternative exists. Samsung Messages now joins Samsung Email and Samsung Music as apps that are being replaced by out-of-the-box Google alternatives.
Even apps that haven’t reached obscurity in the Galaxy Store have started to stagnate. Most of the new features coming to apps like Samsung Gallery and Samsung Notes in recent years have been AI-related rather than practical improvements, such as the much-needed ability to resize photos to exact dimensions in Samsung Gallery or change fonts in Samsung Notes. Personally, I find several app designs in One UI 8.5 particularly appealing, both stylistically and because of the emphasis on further integration of Galaxy AI.
Samsung’s design is getting old
The Galaxy S26 is not that different from the Galaxy S23. None of Samsung’s flagship phones are that different from their mid-range phones. I appreciate the consistent design language, but there’s more Samsung could do to make these phones look and feel more attractive.
The final nail in the coffin for the Z Fold 6 was how comfortable I found other phones to be. Holding the Razr Fold in my hands today, I can’t help but appreciate how Motorola rounded off the corners, bezel, and front display. There’s even a subtle slope leading up to the camera bump. Every aspect of the device feels better in my hand and pocket. Plus, Motorola doesn’t hesitate to put something other than glass on the back of the phone. Samsung still makes great hardware, but is it the best? Not anymore, me either He’s the only one who feels Samsung has lost its way.
