GoKawiilRita El Khoury / Android Authority
The RAM crisis has led many new Android phones to skyrocket in price in 2026. However, we’ve also seen some companies take a different approach, offering minimal upgrades over the previous generation. And even in those cases, prices can still go up.
Either way, I’d argue that this is one year when it’s often better to buy last year’s phone rather than the latest model. Don’t believe me? Here are five older phones worth buying over the current generation.
Which older phone would you buy in 2026? 4 votes Samsung Galaxy S25 50 % Motorola Moto G Stylus 2025 0 % Google Pixel 9a 0 % Samsung Galaxy A56 5G 0 % Motorola Razr 2025 25 % Other (leave a comment) 25 %
Samsung Galaxy S25
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
The Galaxy S25 is one of the better older phones you can buy in 2026, and you only need to look at the Galaxy S26 price to understand why. The new phone finally ditches 128GB of base storage in favor of 256GB, but it now costs $900. By contrast, the 128GB Galaxy S25 launched at $800 while the 256GB model retailed for $850. In other words, you’re paying $50 more than last year’s phone for the same amount of storage.
You aren’t missing out on much by opting for the old flagship, either. The Galaxy S25 still comes with a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, the same triple rear camera system from the Galaxy S22, and the same glacial 25W wired charging. People who appreciate pocket-friendly phones will also be glad to know that the S25 is a little smaller than the S26.
You can definitely find the Galaxy S25 at a reasonable price these days. Samsung’s website still lists the original $800 price tag, but the global model is listed at ~$700 on Amazon. So you’re basically getting 95% of the Galaxy S26 for $200 less.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Samsung Galaxy S25 12GB RAM • Vastly improved software • 7 years of support MSRP: $799.99 Refined software, AI smarts, and next-gen hardware With an emphasis on AI features, and a move to Gemini, the Samsung Galaxy S25 is an exciting update to the Galaxy S line. Equipped with a 6.2-inch FHD+ display, Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, 12GB of RAM, a powerful 50MP camera, and updated hardware materials, we expect big things from the base model of Samsung's 2025 flagship phone. See price at Amazon
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