Lets see why Old Flagship Phones Still Better Choice in 2025.
Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23 Ultra Deals
Samsung Galaxy S23 can be found at a price of Rs. 43,000 today. It has last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.
You get to see a great display with it. Even Samsung provides updates quickly. And Samsung’s Galaxy AI is also included in it. If we talk about it, it’s nothing.
Here you can see S23 Ultra for less than Rs. 70,000. And Ultra is an ultra-level phone. Many people have bought it. In which you get to see S Pen. It also has 120 Hz AMOLED, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.
What to talk about the cameras. Even today, S23 Ultra’s cameras are very good.
OnePlus Flagships at Lower Prices
It’s not just about Samsung. Now look at OnePlus.
What was the price of OnePlus 11R in the sale?
It was Rs. 27,000 here. A phone like OnePlus 11 was available for Rs. 50,000. And this is the brand which we consider as premium category. There are phones below this category. Which we don’t give much value to.
Vivo and Apple
Last year, Vivo’s X90 Pro was launched for Rs. 80,000–90,000. People have purchased it for Rs. 50,000. And if we talk about a brand like Apple. The story is going on a different level. Apple’s iPhone 15 for Rs. 55,000 was also on the Flipkart sale. And when the next Flipkart sale comes, they will get it at this price.
Even this iPhone 15 Pro. The premium phone for Rs. 1,00,000 was also available for under Rs. 1,00,000. And in the next Diwali sale, it will again be available for under Rs. 1,00,000.
Older iPhones Still in Demand
People are buying iPhone 14, iPhone 13 and even iPhone 12. This is a very big thing in the market. First of all, there are many flagship models in the Indian smartphone market. Which are one year old. But still, they make a good value. And sometimes, they make a better deal than mid-range phones.
Comparing Last Year’s Flagships to Year 2025’s Models
If you compare a flagship model of last year with this year’s flagship model. So many times, you don’t see much difference. There is a little better camera, a little better performance and a little better battery. These are the big changes. There are no major changes other than this.
Reason Why Older Flagships Are Cheaper
If we compare it with this car, then last year’s flagship models make a very good choice. One of the core reasons for their low price is that the company is launching a new model. And the old models have been discontinued.
Because of which the production is stopped. And they already have a stock. We have made so many phones. So let’s sell it at a low price.
Warranty
At the moment, Apple has officially finished the production of the iPhone 15 Pro. And all the pieces in the market are a little old. And you are also getting old models that are not being produced. You can still buy it.
But this does not mean that the company is not making a new phone. It will not give you a warranty. Many parts are such that the company keeps making them. And keep some of them in reserve. If there is a problem with this phone in the future, we can repair it.
Do We Get Software Updates
So the reparability thing goes away. Along with this, I have seen that the flagship phones of last year can also make a very good choice this year. Like they do a good job in the case of cameras. In the case of display, even in the case of processors. Many people even ask that if we are buying an old phone, then what about software updates?
Well, obviously most of the phones that I am talking about were released on Android 13. And they have got an update of Android 14.
But even after this, they will definitely take an update of 15–16. And the future can still take 3–4 years. Because the special thing about the flagship phone is that even if the phone is a little old, it is a little above the company’s priority list. With which they also provide updates early.
Mid-Range vs Flagship Mobile
That is, the later flagship phone will come first. But after that, the update they will provide will be their older flagship phones. The mid-range phones have a slightly behind number and take a few months. Due to which things are sorted a lot in the case of updates.
Along with this, I have seen an interesting thing with the last year’s flagship phones. They are very reliable. They mean that the quality has already been tested in the market. So you know that you have got to see a good product.
There is no major issue or problem in it. Even multiple software updates have been taken. Due to which many features that the company promised at the launch event are available in it. And the small problems and bugs that were on the initial level are solved. And the camera is also a little better in many cases.
Old Flagships vs New Mid-Range Phones Feature
Overall, if I compare them with today’s mid-range phones, then the old flagship phones of last year look very good. I mean, in comparison to hardware, in terms of software, or see the performance, they go very well here. In the case of every technology, the current mid-range phones provide a superior here.
Premium flagship phones have premium build and premium quality. Which is not available in budget or mid-range phones. Along with this, you get a reliable product and a little future-proof. In every matter, which is a little missing in the mid-range.
Strong Processors in Older Flagships
If we talk about the processor, many people have a question that you get a very good phone in an expensive one. In which the processor is very strong. But in the mid-range, the processor becomes weak. But if you look at the flagship processor in the old house, you can take the name of 8th Gen 2.
Or last year, the processor used in the iPhone, Apple’s A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro, or Apple’s A16 chip was also used. It is still a superior chip in comparison to Apple.
Why Price Falls Later
Along with this, I have seen an interesting thing that the price of expensive flagship phones at the initial level is really high. Many people cannot afford so much. But looking at a big brand name, a tag, many people’s requirements change here. And I myself am saying that if you are buying an old flagship phone, then there is no problem in buying it.
Stock Availability & Sales Timing
Although there are many problems here, which are associated with the old flagship phones. As soon as their price goes down, many people come to buy them.
Because of this, these phones quickly go out of stock. One or two problems are that they are not easily available in the market. That is, you have to wait for the sale. And there is no guarantee in the sale that when will its price fall.
Big Billion Days and Diwali Sales
Many people see here that if the price of the old phones is high, then they also buy it here. Whereas, you should also wait for some discounts here. So that you can get better value here.
Especially, the big million days are left here. But after this, the other sales that will come, the same offers are continued here on the old flagship phones. Because of which, those who have not purchased a phone yet, they have one more chance. There is a sale till Diwali. Where the same offers will continue. So here you can purchase a product for yourself.
Final Thoughts: Should You Buy an Old Flagship?
If your priority is not to buy the latest, then you can sort everything here. And you can see what you are getting in your budget here.
Because many times the old phones, when their rates fall, they literally create a lot of value for money here. In which you get to see a good experience too. You get to see a better product. And in the right things, it is a value for money product. See this one thing here.
So if you are thinking of buying an old flagship phone, then yes, you can definitely take it. One good thing is that you don’t have to compromise here.
Flagship phone is flagship. And if you are getting the same flagship experience at a discounted rate, then don’t ever think that if you buy a new flagship phone, you will get a better phone next year. Let me tell you a simple thing.
There is not much improvement in mobile phones every year. And the improvements of the next year, you can see them in the old phones as well. Like Samsung brought its Galaxy AI, so it took the AI feature in its old mobile phones. Even in the iPhone 15 Pro, Apple has taken its Apple Intelligence. All these things keep running.
Phone Evolution Is Slow
But with this, the consecutive iPhones, the consecutive smartphones that launch, there are refinements. You don’t get to see any major, any big drastic changes.
Or you don’t feel that the phone that is coming after a year has come with crazy innovation. All these things are not happening. Old phones are slightly improved and new phones are made. And when the company’s money moves away from the old phone and its stock is about to clear here, then it is a very good opportunity to purchase a new phone for most people.
Final Words
This was the story here of old flagship phones. Because it is still valid. And if you want to buy an old Android phone, then yes, you can buy it. But never buy a phone that is more than 1.5 years old. This would be a final suggestion.
