Why I'm Recommending Last Year's Phones Over 2026 Models - With One Exception

4 hours ago

Prakhar Khanna holding nan Oppo Find X8 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The smartphone marketplace is facing unit owed to nan proviso constraints of representation chips
Phones launched successful 2026 person been underwhelming, and galore person seen value hikes.
The apical phones from 2025 are discounted now, making them a amended acquisition than newer devices.

If you're successful nan marketplace for a caller smartphone, you mightiness beryllium amended disconnected buying 1 from 2025 correct now. Recent phones, particularly mid-rangers, person delivered underwhelming upgrades, while besides seeing value hikes.

Also: Why you'll salary much for phones and computers successful 2026

As businesses scoop much and much representation for their AI information centers and hardware, less representation chips are disposable for user products. This is creating a shortage and consequent value increases. The phones launched successful 2026 are facing tougher title from their predecessors than from their rivals.

The dilemma pinch caller phones successful 2026

According to a December study from IDC, nan shortage of DRAM and NAND chips utilized successful PCs, smartphones, and different user electronics is putting unit connected nan wide market. IDC expects nan smartphone marketplace to proceed facing unit this year.

"The costs building of a smartphone is heavy limited connected nan representation used," IDC analysts explained. "For a mid-range device, representation tin correspond 15-20% of nan full measure of materials (BOM), while for a high-end flagship device, it is astir 10-15%. As representation prices proceed to surge, OEMs will apt person to raise prices significantly, trim specifications, aliases both."

A Counterpoint Research report from February states that RAM prices are spiking, reaching 3 times past year's levels. The harshest after-effects will beryllium connected nan cheapest phones, which run connected already-thin margins and are much apt to spot their profits evaporate without a value increase.

Also: AI isn't getting smarter, it's getting much powerfulness quiet - and expensive

We person been noticing these shifts successful Google's Pixel 10a and Samsung's Galaxy A57, which are mostly unchanged this year. While nan Google telephone is now down to $450 connected Amazon compared to its $500 motorboat price, nan Galaxy A57 is $50 much expensive at $550 (versus nan $500 Galaxy A56 astatine launch).

On nan different hand, lower-end Motorola G-series phones are now up to $100 much costly connected nan official website, arsenic first spotted by PhoneArena. While Amazon is still trading them at aged prices, immoderate value hike successful nan fund conception stings much than a $100 aliases moreover a $200 raise connected a flagship phone.

That's why, if you're connected a budget, you should look astatine 2025 phones alternatively of buying a newer model. Here's wherever nan bully news comes in.

Your champion alternatives already beryllium (and for little money)

When caller phones don't connection meaningful upgrades, older ones go much appealing, particularly astatine discounted prices. Here's a breakdown of immoderate worthwhile options, based connected our testing.

Google

The latest Google Pixel 10a, pinch an outdated Tensor G4 chipset from 2024 and older cameras, launched astatine $500 a fewer months ago. While it's still $300 little than past year's Pixel 10 astatine unit price, nan Pixel 10, which offers much RAM (12GB versus 8GB), a dedicated telephoto camera, and moreover PixelSnap magnetic wireless charging, tin beryllium had coming for arsenic debased arsenic $550 -- pending discounts.

In immoderate cases, you whitethorn moreover beryllium capable to bargain a second-hand Pixel 10 instrumentality for little than that, pinch nan biggest caveat being that you void immoderate retailer's insurance. Objectively speaking, it's still a overmuch better-value telephone option.

Samsung

For Samsung, I'd urge past year's Galaxy S25 series, which includes models spec'ed likewise to this year's Galaxy S26 series, from nan guidelines exemplary to nan Plus to nan Ultra.

Also: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. S25 Ultra: I compared nan flagship phones to determine nan amended buy

Considering nan humble upgrades we saw successful nan latest phones, including nary awesome camera aliases artillery changes, nan S25 bid is still highly recommended successful 2026. Just don't expect Samsung to connection nan astir fierce trade-in offers if you determine to bargain 1 straight from nan store.

Apple

Apple's trajectory looks different -- astatine slightest for now. Following nan precocious value-for-money debut of nan MacBook Neo, nan iPhone 17 bid maintains that momentum. By holding nan statement connected pricing comparative to nan iPhone 16 while introducing a elastic 18MP selfie camera, a faster processor, and 120Hz displays connected guidelines models, Apple has importantly raised nan level for shoppers.

While nan $600 iPhone 17e is simply a tougher waste connected worth alone, its year-over-year upgrades still outpace midrange offerings from Samsung and Google, making it, too, a viable action this year.

Bottom line

But arsenic it stands, 2026 is shaping up to beryllium a "skip" twelvemonth for consumers. With proviso constraints driving prices up and invention plateaus diminishing returns, older models presently connection acold superior value.

While we tin dream for a marketplace correction, nan era of "more for less" is little predominant by nan time -- and this stagnation is nan caller normal, making it each nan much important for consumers for illustration you to shop smarter, not harder.