which smartphone at the falling price to choose?

As usual, Rakuten is sending very big promotions on smartphones, particularly the Samsung Galaxy. This time, it’s the Galaxy S21+ and S22 which each benefit from a nice discount. Not the latest generation therefore, but still two devices which remain relevant, almost 3 and 4 years after their release. The technical sheets, if you are not looking for the latest technologies on the market, still hold up well. They will suit the majority of users very well. The question that interests us here remains: which one to choose? If you are unsure between the two, here is a comparison to help you decide.

In addition, you can also consult our guide to the best premium smartphones or that of the best inexpensive mobiles if you are looking for your next device.

As a reminder, the two offers evaluated here:

You can lower the bill by 15 euros

Galaxy S21+ or S22: what is the best deal?

Rakuten goes a bit overboard with the crossed out prices by displaying the launch price of the two smartphones. It is obvious that they are no longer trading at the same price today as when they were released. The promotions displayed, -77% and -63% are therefore exaggerated. The S21+ is currently 399.99 euros new, the Galaxy S22 is 499.99 euros excluding promotion. The actual discounts are therefore 40% for S21+ and 37% for S22. This is not negligible, but not up to the bargain prices announced.

The promotions are almost equivalent, you save around 150 euros in both cases. The price criterion is therefore not decisive, unless your budget is limited to less than 250 euros.

Marketplace purchase on Rakuten for one, as for the other

A large portion of the products sold on Rakuten are sold by third-party sellers, as is the case here. Clearly, it is not the platform that manages shipping and delivery, but the professional seller whose store it hosts. Before buying, you must therefore pay attention to the rating, comments and number of sales of the said merchant.

The two Samsung smartphones are offered by French professional sellers rated 4.7 and 4.8 stars out of 5, with several hundred sales to their credit. On paper, they are therefore trustworthy and you can buy from them without problem. This even if, and we fully recognize this, going through a third-party seller inspires less confidence than through the platform itself.

Perfect equality here too, the conditions are the same.

American version: does that change anything?

Rakuten sellers also very often display international versions of smartphones, which also explains the lower prices than the competition. The S21+ and S22 are no exception, since they are American versions. The frequency bands are compatible, so you will not have network problems or any problems receiving 5G. On the other hand, there is no dual sim. Also, it is still better to find out about the warranty before: does it also apply to repairs in France or only in the country of origin of the mobile?

The Chinese versions are more uncertain than the American versions, particularly in terms of network compatibility. Here, there should be no problem for the 2 smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy S21+ vs Galaxy S22: the technical characteristics match

The real question is: which is the better choice between the two? Featuring a large 6.7-inch screen, the S21+ is not made for those who want a compact smartphone. Lighter, the S22 is only 6.1 inches. A format that finds more thanks to our eyes. It is more pleasant to hold and practical to handle. Its finishes are also a little more premium.

As is very often the case with Samsung, a Dynamic AMOLED screen equips both machines. The difference in quality between S21+ and S22 is really far from obvious. In both cases, you can count on a very beautiful slab. The X factor will perhaps once again be the size of the screen.

Under the hood, the S22 features the Exynos 2200, successor to the Exynos 2100 of the S21+. Unsurprisingly, the first mentioned is a little more efficient and fluid, whether for games or multitasking.

On the photo side, the Galaxy S21+ can count on a triple rear sensor with a 12 MP main lens, a 12 MP ultra wide-angle and a 64 MP telephoto lens. The S22 has a 50 Mpx main sensor, a 12 Mpx ultra-wide-angle and a 10 Mpx telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. Even if the S21 does not deserve it, its rival does better with more detailed shots and especially better in low light conditions.

On the other hand, the autonomy of the Samsung Galaxy S21+ is above its successor, even if the latter is far from unworthy.

Result: rather Samsung Galaxy S21+ or Galaxy S22?

If your budget is not expandable, prefer the S21+ which also has better autonomy. If you are not close to 80 euros, and you want a fairly compact smartphone with very good performance and a great screen, the Samsung Galaxy S22 is the best choice. Its competitor also makes a very good impression, but it is the next generation that wins in this comparison.