What's the best Samsung phone? That depends on what you're looking for. At the premium end of the market, the best Samsung phone right now is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, with fantastic cameras and top build quality.
The best budget option, meanwhile, is the more affordable Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, while the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is one of the best fold phones.
Whatever you're looking for, you'll find the best Samsung phones below at the very best prices. And we'll list the pros and cons of each, and share the facts and figures you need to make your decision.
Best Samsung phone in 2025
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Best Samsung phone overall
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the latest and greatest Samsung phone available today. Its flat 6.8-inch AMOLED display offers incredible brightness and clarity, now enhanced with an anti-reflective coating for better visibility. And the new 50MP telephoto lens at 5x zoom outshines its predecessor, offering better low-light shots and sharper extended zoom performance.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, the device ensures smooth multitasking and gaming, while AI tools like real-time translations and advanced photo editing add practicality and fun. Camera improvements also extend to video, supporting 8K at 30fps and 4K at 120fps, with excellent stabilization.
Battery life remains strong with a 5000mAh capacity, easily lasting a full day of heavy use. However, charging speeds remain capped at 45W, and no charger is included. Also, the Galaxy S24 Ultra isn't hugely different from its predecessor, the Samsung S23 Ultra owners, so it's arguable whether it's actually worth the higher price. To learn more, read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review.
Best Samsung phone for value
Even though it's no longer the newest Galaxy Ultra on the market, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra still holds its own. Its 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 3088 delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent brightness.
The quad-camera setup is a standout feature, with its 200MP main sensor capable of capturing incredible detail and 8K video recording. The 12MP ultrawide and dual telephoto lenses (3x and 10x zoom) provide flexibility for various shooting scenarios, while the 12MP front camera is perfect for sharp selfies and video calls.
The S23 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, ensuring smooth operation for multitasking and gaming. Its 5000mAh battery supports a full day of heavy use, and 45W charging ensures quick top-ups (though no charger is included). The S-Pen, tucked neatly into the body, enhances productivity with note-taking, drawing, and precise navigation. That said, the phone's size and weight may feel cumbersome compared to newer models.
While the Galaxy S23 Ultra has been surpassed by the S24 Ultra in terms of AI capabilities and refined design, it remains an excellent choice for those seeking premium features at a lower price point as retailers discount this former flagship. To learn more, read our full Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review.
Best budget Samsung phone
If you're looking for a more affordable Samsung smartphone, the Galaxy A54 5G is your best bet. It's considerably cheaper than the Ultra range, and while those phones are better overall (faster processor, better camera, stronger waterproofing, and support for wireless charging), the differences aren't so great that you'll feel hard done by.
In short, we think the A54 5G offers excellent value. After all, you're getting a 64MP camera with OIS, a lovely Full HD+ AMOLED screen with 800 nits of brightness, and a premium super-thin design, all for not that much money at all. For more details, read our Samsung Galaxy A54 5G review.
Best foldable Samsung phone
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a solid iteration of Samsung’s foldable flagship, bringing a squared-off design, improved AI features, and top-notch software optimization. While the 7.6-inch inner display and 6.3-inch cover screen deliver vibrant visuals, the narrow cover screen can feel cramped, and the visible crease on the main display may bother some users.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor ensures top-tier performance, handling multitasking and 4K video editing with ease. The AI capabilities, including real-time transcription, creative sketch-to-image tools, and advanced photo editing, make it a standout for productivity and creativity. The S Pen support further enhances its functionality, though writing over the crease can be challenging.
Camera performance is competent but falls short of the competition. The 50MP main sensor captures vibrant shots, but the telephoto camera lacks reach, and low-light performance struggles outside of the main lens. It’s not a phone for photography enthusiasts but works well enough for casual use.
With its 4400mAh battery, the Z Fold 6 offers reliable all-day performance, though charging speeds of 25W lag behind competitors. The durable design, now featuring IP48 dust and water resistance, inspires confidence, but its chunkier build may deter some users.
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 excels as a creative and productivity tool, combining Samsung’s best-in-class software with powerful hardware. However, its incremental upgrades and high price make it less compelling for those seeking cutting-edge cameras or more innovative hardware. If you’re prioritizing functionality and software over photography, this is the foldable to beat in 2024. For more, read our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review.
Best Samsung phone that flips
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the best Samsung flip phone today, building on its predecessor with modest improvements while retaining its clamshell design.
The most notable upgrade is the 50MP main camera, delivering sharper images and vibrant colors. However, the 12MP ultrawide camera lags behind competitors, especially in low-light scenarios. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy ensures smooth performance, while the new 4,000mAh battery offers slightly better longevity than the Z Flip 5. Despite its 25W charging speed being slower than rivals, the inclusion of wireless charging adds convenience.
The 6.7-inch AMOLED display is bright and immersive, though the crease is still prominent. The 3.4-in cover screen is useful for quick interactions, but its cutout and 60Hz refresh feel dated next to rivals like the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra.
With a refined matte aluminum frame and an IP48 rating, the Z Flip 6 is durable and stylish. Samsung's software optimizations, including FlexCam and AI tools, enhance the user experience, while seven years of software updates ensure longevity. For more details, see our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review.
How we test Android phones
As a photography website, we pay special attention to the photo and video quality of Android phones. Camera phones are all-around digital assistants too, of course, so we will also check general handling, usability, and practicality – such as battery life.
For Android camera phones we rate resolution, noise and color rendition in the context of what rival Android phones can do, and where there are any special features, such as ‘night modes’ or ‘portrait modes’, we check that these perform as the makers describe.
