Normally, those looking to buy a new Android device would be wise to opt for the latest Galaxy S flagship phone. However, with the earlier-than-usual Samsung Galaxy S24 about a month away, it is no longer so easy to decide. Even those who would normally consider the Galaxy S23 without hesitation may begin to wonder if they should wait for the next Samsung phone instead of buying it now.

This question is much more difficult than the usual "buy or wait" debate. On the one hand, the Galaxy S23 has proven to be a great phone - one of the best Samsung phones out there right now - and the year-end discounts make it an even more attractive proposition. And also, all signs point to Samsung moving up the launch of its new flagship phone family - instead of waiting until March, you may soon be able to get your hands on the Galaxy S24 next month.

If you find yourself facing that very dilemma, we can help you. I have reviewed the Galaxy S23, so I am familiar with both the pros and cons of that device. And while no one can know what the Galaxy S24 has to offer until Samsung announces the new handset, enough details have leaked out to give us a pretty good idea of what you'll miss out on should you upgrade now.

For the purposes of this article, we're going to focus on the entry-level Galaxy S phone - the $799 S23 and the device that will succeed it next year. For those of you who can't decide whether to get the Galaxy S23 or wait for the Galaxy S24 to arrive, here are some questions to ask yourself.

One of the changes you can definitely expect when Samsung unveils its new flagship is an upgrade to the system-on-chip that powers the phone. At least in the U.S., the Galaxy S24 will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. According to filings with the FCC, all S24 models released in the U.S. will use Qualcomm's latest silicon. [Qualcomm has stated that both the CPU and GPU in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 should provide improved performance and power efficiency over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Galaxy S23. news.

But the benefits of the new chipset don't stop there: the AI Engine in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 supports on-device generative AI, which should enable faster-responding onboard assistants and a more robust Qualcomm Sensing Hub should be a reality. (This is the part of the chipset that collects and analyzes data about your surroundings, such as location and fitness information.) The Spectra ISP (Image Signal Processor) has also been improved and should take better pictures.

That said, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Galaxy S23 had reasonably powerful image processing and gaming capabilities. If you choose a current Samsung phone, the difference between the performance of the S23 and the S24 will not be night and day.

(If you are outside the US, there is another potential complication because a Galaxy S24 released in your region may instead run on the Exynos 2400 chipset. Exynos silicon traditionally does not perform as well as Qualcomm chips so you may be better off choosing the S23 for now, since all of these phones have the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, regardless of where they ship).

We mentioned the AI improvements included in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but that is not the only example of artificial intelligence involved in the Galaxy S24. Samsung has confirmed that AI-powered features will be front and center in its upcoming phones, and the Galaxy S24 lineup is the first device to be part of that effort.

As such, the Galaxy S24 could feature generative AI and support the ability to compose emails, generate images on the fly based on input, translate languages, and summarize content. AI will also play a more important role in some of the photo features in the Galaxy S24.

Samsung has not gone into specifics about its plans, and probably won't until the Galaxy S24 is launched. Therefore, by holding off on the launch, you are betting that AI-based improvements will make the next Samsung phone more valuable to you than the Galaxy S23. Given Samsung's emphasis on AI, that could be a worthwhile bet.

Our Galaxy S24 vs Galaxy S23 comparison explains more about the potential differences between the two phones and is something worth considering if you're considering buying a Galaxy S23 now. what the Galaxy S24 has besides a new chipset It may help steer your decision in one direction or the other.

We expect the two phones to start out with the same basic design and to look very similar, and while titanium is expected to be used for the Galaxy S24 Ultra's frame, it is not certain if this lighter and more durable material will make it into the entry-level S24. It is not certain.

The S24 may use an LTPO display, similar to the Galaxy S23 Ultra. As a result, the display refresh rate could be reduced when the screen is stationary, saving more power and extending battery life. The new stacked battery design may also allow the Galaxy S24 to last longer on a charge.

Camera improvements between the S23 and S24 could be minimal, with the biggest change expected to be the 50MP telephoto lens for the Galaxy S24 Ultra. If you are a photography enthusiast but cannot afford the Ultra's high price, the Galaxy S23 may be a safe bet.

Rather than waiting for a new model, the biggest incentive to buy a Samsung phone now is the possibility of getting the Galaxy S23 for significantly less than the $799 starting price. A check of the best deals on the Galaxy S23 at the time of this writing suggests that this is a possibility.

In the U.S., Samsung is currently offering up to $600 in credit when you trade in your phone, which could get you an unlocked Galaxy S23 for $199. AT&T and Verizon are offering the Galaxy S23 free with trade-in. (The credit is spread over 36 months, and you are tied to one of the carriers for that length of time in order to get the free phone.)

The S23 is also available for free on both AT&T and Verizon.

While these deals sound attractive, there are two caveats. When the Galaxy S24 is announced, there will also be deals offering its new phone at a discount, especially when pre-orders begin. Second, Samsung is known for keeping current models at discounted prices; the Galaxy S22, for example, will remain in Samsung's lineup after the S23 launch, and the phone's price was reduced to $699.

This may be the biggest question. Do you really need the phone now, or can you wait until the Galaxy S24 comes out to decide whether to upgrade?

If it helps, it doesn't look like we'll have to wait that long. A flurry of regulatory filings for Samsung's new phone suggests that a launch is coming sooner rather than later. And rumors of a launch date for the latest Galaxy S24 suggest a January 17 date for Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked event. Assuming Samsung follows its usual pattern of pre-orders and releases, that means the Galaxy 24 could be in hand by the end of January.

If that timeframe works for you, it may be best to hold off on your phone purchase until the Galaxy S24 appears a few weeks before the New Year.