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Samsung's best phones are among the best Android phones you can buy, and Samsung fans know that a Galaxy phone offers more features and the most cutting edge technology you'll find on any mobile phone. Samsung is uncompromising when it comes to making superlative handsets, and we see many fancy new features first when Samsung adds them to the latest Galaxy phone.
If you're looking for a Samsung phone, now may not be the best time to buy unless you really need a phone right now. That's because Samsung historically launches its new Galaxy S phones right after the new year, and we've heard hints that late January, 2025 will see the introduction of the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the whole Galaxy S25 family.
If these phones use the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chips, they could make a huge leap forward in performance, based on benchmarks I've seen of Qualcomm's stunning new processor.
I've tested all of the best Samsung phones, from the mighty (and mighty expensive) Galaxy Z Fold 6 to the Galaxy S24 Ultra along with most competing Android and iPhone models, so you can trust this list to rank and explain what makes these Samsung phones the best choice.
Once you're done marveling over Samsung's phones, check out our list of the best Android tablets, because Samsung makes most of them.
Quick list
Here are the best Samsung phones you can buy, whether you want the absolute top phones or the most affordable options with all of Samsung's best features.
The best Samsung phone does everything, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a phone, a tablet, a desktop computer, a drawing slate, and everything else you can imagine a phone could be.
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For
- It folds flat
- Lighter and thinner
- A better mobile chipset means even snappier performance
Against
- The cover screen now feels too narrow
- The cameras are good but unchanged from the last model
- It's expensive and should include the S Pen in the price
The Galaxy S24 Ultra remains the best camera phone you can buy, even better than the latest Google Pixel 9 phones, with the best photos and most versatile lenses and shooting modes.
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The Galaxy S24 Plus has the best battery life of any Samsung phone we've tested, even better than the Ultra, which makes it the best pick if you need a phone that lasts longer.
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The Galaxy S24 isn't a cheap phone to buy your teenager, but it is very durable, gets enough software updates to get them into college, and does everything they want a phone to do.
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For
- Compact design with Ultra powerful processor
- Sharp and bright display
- Seven years of Android updates and security patches
Against
- Samsung’s software is too complicated
- Not as many cool social features as the iPhone 15
- Galaxy AI is a mix of cool and useless new tools
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is my favorite flip phone overall, thanks to its fast performance and improved durable design. It's stylish but professional, a flip for the ages.
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For
- Most powerful clamshell foldable on the market
- Superb long-term software support
- Finally usable battery life
- Versatile cover display
Against
- Colorways are a little lackluster
- Design is playing catch-up to rivals
- Even better battery life would be great
- UK and Australian pricing far higher than US
The Galaxy S24 FE offers Samsung's full AI suite, a triple camera system with 3x optical zoom, and solid performance for well below the asking price of its flagship counterpart.
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Phil Berne is a preeminent voice in consumer electronics reviews. He has been writing about phones since before the Samsung BlackJack. Phil was the internal reviewer for Samsung Mobile until 2017, writing opinions and review predictions about top secret new devices months before launch. He has reviewed hundreds of smartphones, tablets, and mobile devices.
The best Samsung phones in 2024
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I've reviewed all of the phones on this list and we have tested every Samsung phone in Future Labs, so you can be sure that we are recommending the best Samsung phone you can buy.
The best Samsung phone
✅ You want two devices in one: There's a powerful, if narrow smartphone on the outside and a Galaxy tablet with S Pen within. It's flexible and versatile.
✅ You need a Pro folding phone: The Pixel Pro Fold has Pro in the name, but Samsung has Pro in the software, with many more multi-tasking features
✅ You want quality photography: Forget about foldable phones having bad cameras. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 took remarkable pics, up close and far away.
❌ You're on a budget: At $1,619 / £1,799 / AU $2,749, this is one of the most expensive phones on the market. At the very least, look for deals before you buy.
❌ You a normal cover display: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is oddly narrow. It still looks great, but other foldable phones have a cover display that looks like a normal phone.
❌ You demand the best in camera optics: For the best in phone photography, look elsewhere, like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which has bigger sensors and 5X telephoto zoom.
📱The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a do-everything device with few compromises. It's great for multi-tasking, drawing and doodles, and watching Netflix, and it outperforms the competition. It costs a lot, but you get it all. ★★★★½
What you need to know
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is Samsung's no holds barred super-phone. Samsung took a phone that could already do everything and bent it in half, making it a phone and mini tablet in one. It has the best cameras of any foldable, bucking the trend, and it's powerful enough to replace a laptop. Seriously.
Design: The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a sturdy, polished foldable phone that looks compact and clean. It is durable and water resistant, and it folds nice and flat. It isn't the thinnest foldable phone you can buy, but the difference is minimal, and the Z Fold 6 is still easy to carry and hold. I just wish the front display were wider.
Display: The main screen is a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 2176 x 1812 resolution, and it's really a big, beautiful screen. Samsung is the only foldable phone maker I've used that supports a real precision stylus, just make sure you get the right S Pen for the Fold line. The cover screen is wider this year than last year, but it still doesn't quite look normal. It offers plenty of room, though, and it makes a bright viewfinder when I'm taking photos.
Camera: I compared the best foldable phones, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 took the best photos in almost every situation. It also shot the best video footage I got from a foldable phone. It isn't quite as good as a Galaxy S24, but the photos still looked clean and exciting, thanks to Samsung's dramatic saturation.
Performance: With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy inside, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is one of the fastest phones I've tested ... and that includes the latest iPhones. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 makes an excellent high-performance phones since it was so fun for gaming on the big screen, or for getting work done.
Battery life: I got more than a day of battery life on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 with balanced use, but using that tempting inner display will drain the battery more quickly.
Value for money: It's incredibly expensive, but you might find a great deal if you're willing to sign a contract or trade another incredibly expensive phone to get one.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review
Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Design | The best foldabe design Samsung has ever produced. Sharp and pro-looking at every level | 4.5 / 5 |
| Display | A wider cover display and noticeably improved Main screen prove a formidable combo | 4.5 / 5 |
| Performance | The best Qualcomm has to offer with a ittle bit more that shows in benchmarks and day-to-day performance | 4.5 / 5 |
| Camera | Still good camera array but Samsung could've done more for its flagship foldable | 4 / 5 |
| Software | A good blend of Android 14, foldable-friendly utility and Samsung's OneUI | 4.5 / 5 |
| Value | More expensive than ever but there's no denying it's a two-for-one mobile device that's stuffed with power, fun, utility, and AI | 3.5 / 5 |
The best cameras
✅ You want more than any other smartphone: There is no other phone that matches everything the Galaxy S24 Ultra can do, not even close.
✅ You want a phone that is future proof: The Galaxy AI features are just warming up, and with seven years of major Android OS updates, and plenty of new AI features to come, the Galaxy S24 Ultra will be the first phone to take that step into the next generation.
❌ You don't need everything this phone can do: There are plenty of Samsung phones that do almost as much as the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but won't cost nearly as much if you don't need the S Pen.
❌ You prefer something easier to use: Samsung keeps adding features, and the software and menus get harder to use every time. If you want a phone that makes things easy, check out an iPhone instead.
📱 The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra pushes the bounds of smartphone technology, offering top-of-the-line features and capabilities. It excels in versatility and intelligent functionality, although it comes at a premium price. if you want the absolute best in performance, camera quality, and power, the Galaxy S24 Ultra stands as the undisputed leader. ★★★★½
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra takes smartphone features further than any other phone. It's a top-performer, and in so many ways you won't find better. It has longer battery life and faster performance than the iPhone, more camera options than any other Android, and features we don't often see, like the S Pen stylus.
Design: The Galaxy S24 Ultra is a big, heavy phone, even with the new titanium frame. Samsung still manages to pack so much inside, and the design improvements are welcome. The display is easier to read this year, and the titanium finish and colors are very nice, though it's too bad the phone couldn't shave some weight.
Display: The bright, OLED display on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is one of the best you'll find, especially with the new coating that reduces glare and makes it easier to read in bright light. Samsung's display is colorful, sharp, and bright enough for every task.
Camera: There have been plenty of changes to Samsung's cameras, even if the spec sheet looks the same as last year. The Galaxy S24 Ultra produced better images in every setting. Portrait and landscape photos look a lot better, and even zoom photos have more color and better lighting, though we do miss the 10X zoom from the last generation.
Performance: This is the fastest phone you can buy right now. In our tests playing games and editing photos, the Galaxy S24 Ultra was the fastest we've used, beating even Apple's iPhone 15 Pro,. That's a first for Samsung phones ever since Apple starting designing its own chipsets.
Battery life: I had no trouble using the Galaxy S24 Ultra for two days when I used it normally, and it lasted through a full day of camera usage and gaming with no trouble. The battery hasn't gotten bigger, Samsung manages power on this phone better than ever before.
Value for money: The Galaxy S24 Ultra is expensive, even more than last year, but the upgrades are a big deal. Samsung now offers seven years of software updates, including Android updates, and that makes the Galaxy S24 Ultra a better value than any Galaxy Ultra to come before.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review
Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Even more than before, but you get the best when you pay for it. | ★★★☆☆ |
| Design | It looks very familiar, but the screen is less reflective, and also sharper. It's still as heavy, even with titanium. | ★★★★☆ |
| Display | There isn't a better display, and the new anti-glare finish really helps outdoors. | ★★★★★ |
| Camera | The cameras are better all around, even if the spec sheet looks a bit suspicious. Still the best, most versatile camera system. | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Performance that beats an iPhone 15 Pro, for the first time we can remember, putting Android ahead of Apple. | ★★★★★ |
| Battery life | Better battery life this year means the Galaxy S24 Ultra can last a very long time. | ★★★★★ |