With the Samsung Galaxy S 4 getting ready for launch day mere days from now, I thought this would be a good opportunity to share my opinions about who should and who shouldn’t (have to) upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy S 4. When it comes to upgrading we sometimes wonder if our device is really that outdated or if devices just get pumped out far too quickly for us to keep up. After all, most of us only get one upgrade every 20-24 months, and unless you have a lot of money to shell out it’s nearly impossible to stay on top of these things all the time. However, since the Galaxy S 4 is one of the better phones coming out this year, let’s discuss whether you should give in and get the phone or wait it out.

For those of you carrying somewhat recently released Samsung devices, such as the Galaxy S III or the Galaxy Note II, I’m going to go ahead and give you the short answer from my point of view: stick with the device you have. While the Galaxy S 4 certainly tops specs from both phones, it’s not so much of a change that would warrant an upgrade. I look at the upgrade from the Galaxy S III to the Galaxy S 4 a lot like I did from the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S – there are differences, but the differences aren’t so big that your device is necessarily considered outdated. With one you get more features than the other, but that’s pretty much all it amounts to; a camera that’s a bit better (depending on how important megapixels are to you), a little faster processor, and a little bigger screen; it's not a huge deal. It’s also worth noting that many people agree that the Galaxy S 4 is catered more towards Galaxy S II users who are ready for upgrades more so than Galaxy S III users.

As for Note II owners, you probably got the Note II and not the Galaxy S III for a reason – it has a bigger screen and the S Pen. If you switch to the Galaxy S 4 from the Note II you would lose .5 inches of screen and you would be lacking the all-important stylus. Unless you really despise the Note II, I think sticking around until the next Note comes around would be a wiser option.

Now, for people that are in the same boat as me where the Samsung Galaxy S 4 is worlds better than whatever clunker you’re carrying now, and you’re simply wondering whether you should upgrade now or “keep waiting” for that perfect device: Here’s where you have to think whether you want to go with the latest and greatest or something that’s relatively close and more wallet-friendly. You may be thinking that if you’re going to upgrade, you want to be as up-to-date as possible. After all, more likely than not it is going to be another two years or so before you get the chance to upgrade again. However, for some people top notch isn’t always an option financially, and if you’re looking to stretch your dollar and get your hands on a Galaxy then the release of the Galaxy S 4 might actually be a good thing in regards to the fact that its predecessor, the Galaxy S III, gets a hefty discount. So even if you’re in need of an upgrade but don’t want to fork over so much money then now might actually be a prime time to discover the Galaxy S III.

Whether you choose to go out and purchase the Galaxy S 4 because it’s upgrade time or because you’re just that excited for the device, I’m sure you won’t end up disappointed as it truly is a fantastic device – but don’t let that device deter you from understanding that there’s other fantastic devices on the market as well. Hype is a wonderfully evil thing in the fact that it can get you utterly pumped for a product just to see that it’s not that different from something you’ve already seen.

Despite what phone you want to upgrade to, it’s always best to think before purchasing a device regardless. Not only will it save you time and money, but it also saves you some frustration and gives you peace of mind about the product you’re about to take home. It’s tempting to run out and buy every device that comes out as soon as it comes out - being one of the first to experience something is an experience in itself. With the highly anticipated Galaxy S 4 coming out very soon, along with other competitive devices, it’s a good time to remember to do your homework beforehand to decide if you truly want to upgrade your device or wait until the next “big thing” comes out. We all know that Samsung will probably release another one relatively shortly.

Images via Samsung