Now at $699, has there ever been been a better time to buy a Galaxy S22?

The all-new Samsung Galaxy S23 series may be holding the spotlight, but Samsung also just revealed a pretty good deal on its previous generation model. 2022’s Galaxy S22 is now permanently discounted to $699. That’s $100 cheaper than its launch price or the cost of a new Galaxy S23.

Saving a Benjamin is always appreciated, but Samsung also throws in 4 free months of YouTube Premium and SiriusXM streaming, along with 6 months of 100GB OneDrive cloud storage, for buying new directly. Not bad at all. It’s just a shame that Samsung isn’t applying similar savings to the Galaxy S22 Plus and S22 Ultra models. These appear to be staying at current prices until stock is depleted.

Of course, the Galaxy S22 isn’t the only affordable Samsung flagship. Early 2022’s Galaxy S21 FE is cheaper still at $599. However, that model is considerably more dated in the camera and processor departments. It’s running on early 2021 hardware, making the S22 absolutely the better deal given the price difference.

But before you jump at the discount, remember Samsung has Galaxy S23 freebies too. This includes the same services as above, as well as three months of Spotify for free. Not forgetting that Samsung will double your storage during the pre-order window, netting you 256GB for just $799 rather than just 128GB. That’s also a pretty solid deal.

This leads us nicely to the trade-offs worth considering. Bigger storage is one (if you jump on the S23 early), but the newer model also sports a marginally larger battery — 3,900mAh vs 3,700mAh. Battery life didn’t impress during our Galaxy S22 review, so this little boost is certainly worth considering if you’re looking to maximize screen-on time.

Other improvements are less eye-catching. Yes, you’re also looking at fractionally enhanced drop protection, a marginally faster and more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, and a new selfie camera with the Galaxy S23. Is that worth that extra $100? That’s tough to judge, but those changes are unlikely to make a noticeable difference to your experience. Unless you’re after maximum performance or are an avid selfie snapper.

Apart from the above and the phone’s revamped look, the Galaxy S22 still offers the bulk of the Galaxy S23’s experience. It’s already upgraded to Android 13 and will see the latest OneUI 5.1 tweaks in the not-too-distant future. The S22 has the same rear cameras too, so it remains a photography powerhouse. Though Samsung has brought its best Nightography capabilities to the newer model.

Be sure to check our full Galaxy S23 vs Galaxy S22 showdown for a closer look at the fine differences between the two. But it suffices to say; the Galaxy S22 was great last year and is even better at $699. You should really consider this deal before jumping at the new face in town, especially as Samsung seems reluctant to launch another Galaxy FE model.