☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
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☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech
The best Samsung phones have long been the best Android phones, because Samsung pushes its phones to extreme capabilities with the most features, and every Samsung phone gets a little bit of this magic. With the Galaxy S25 launch, Samsung took the lead making the fastest Android phone you can buy, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra packs the most impressive camera array we've ever seen.
But 2025 is only getting started for Samsung. At the end of Galaxy Unpacked in January, Samsung teased a Galaxy S25 Edge, a super-thin phone coming later this year. We'd heard rumors that Apple was working on an iPhone 17 Air, so it looks like Samsung may beat its rival to market with the latest slim phone fad. Will it be worth buying, or just a technical accomplishment? We'll know soon enough.
We're also expecting big news from Samsung's foldable team this year, because the foldable phone market is hotter than ever, and once again we have rumors suggesting Apple may make a splash. Will Samsung launch the thinnest tablet foldable to compete with the Oppo Find N5, the thinnest phone you can buy? We'll find out later this year.
I've tested all of the best Samsung phones, from the mighty (and mighty expensive) Galaxy Z Fold 6 to the brand new Galaxy 25, 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 Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the best camera phones you can buy, with the most versatile lenses and shooting modes, and now an improved sensor on the ultrawide lens to help with detail and macro photography.
Read more below
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.
Read more below
The Galaxy S25 Plus has the best battery life of any Samsung phone we've tested, even better than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which makes it the best pick if you need a phone that lasts longer.
Read more below
The Galaxy S25 isn't a cheap phone to buy your teenager, but it is very durable, with enough software updates on the way to last until they're independent adults, and it's powerful enough to do everything they want a phone to do.
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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.
Read more below
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 overall
✅ You want more than any other smartphone: There is no phone you can buy that matches everything the Galaxy S25 Ultra can do, except possibly the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
✅ 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 S25 Ultra will be the first phone to take that step into the next generation.
❌ You don't need everything this phone can do: The Galaxy S25 Plus can do almost as much as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but it doesn't cost nearly as much, so maybe you don't need the S Pen.
❌ You prefer something easier to use: Samsung keeps adding apps, features, and bloat, and the menus get harder to use every generation. If you want a big phone that makes things easy, look at the iPhone 16 Pro Max instead.
📱 The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra pushes the bounds of smartphone performance, offering top tier features and class-leading power. It comes at a premium price, but if you want the absolute best in performance, camera quality, and features, the Galaxy S25 Ultra stands in a class all its own. ★★★★½
The Galaxy S25 Ultra from Samsung elevates smartphone expectations. It exceeds the iPhone in both battery life and processing performance, and features a more adaptable set of cameras than any competing Android handset.
Design: This Galaxy S25 Ultra now countenances a curvier shape, making it somewhat more attractive, although it bears a stronger resemblance to the less expensive Galaxy S25. The display has expanded marginally compared to the previous year's S24 Ultra, yet the phone's overall weight has decreased.
Display: The brilliant AMOLED display of the Galaxy S25 Ultra delivers an unmatched smartphone viewing experience. Although slightly brighter or faster displays might be available on competing phones, the anti-reflective coating seals the deal, enhancing visibility in outdoor settings.
Camera: With its 3X and 5X zoom lenses, in addition to standard wide and an improved ultra-wide cameras, the Galaxy S25 Ultra provides the most adaptable camera setup of any smartphone. The zoom lenses utilize considerably smaller sensors, limiting image quality to sharing rather than printing, but the output remains the most remarkable of any phone you'll encounter.
Performance: The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the definitive option for users who require world-beating speed. It turned in the quickest performance of any phone evaluated in our benchmarks and real world testing, including gaming and productivity work, even surpassing the iPhone 16 Pro. This achievement represents a new milestone for Android phones, which fell behind Apple's iPhone for years, but not any more.
Battery: The Galaxy S25 Ultra comfortably delivers two days of regular usage and effortlessly manages a full day of intensive operation. Without a boost in battery size, that Snapdragon 8 Elite platform appears to consume power more efficiently, leading to notably enhanced battery life.
Value: The Galaxy S25 Ultra carries a premium price tag, and the upgrades might not appear revolutionary. Nevertheless, Samsung's pledge of seven years of software support, including yearly major Android OS upgrades, considerably boosts the phone's long-term value, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is expected to be capable of supporting future AI updates for years to come.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review
Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Value | Samsung held fast on the Galaxy S25 Ultra price. it's not a cheap phone, but design updates, integrated AI and inclusion of the S Pen make it good value. | 4.5/5 |
Design | The Galaxy S25 Ultra is now fully part of the Galaxy S-series design family and that generally improves it. We have a bigger screen, thinner and lighter body, and we still have all the things that make an Ultra special, including the titanium, the S-Pen and a big-enough battery. | 4/5 |
Display | The biggest Ultra screen ever. It doesn't break any new ground on technology, but is still an excellent screen for all kinds of content and uses. | 5/5 |
Cameras | There are a lot of lenses here and they're backed by high-pixel counts that will result in extremely detailed photos. Samsung only updated one lens since the last Ultra, but choosing the ultra-wide was the right move, as it improves both ultra-wide and macro images. | 4.5 |
Software and AI | Samsung's and its partners' commitment to deep AI integration is laudable, and it makes for the most frictionless AI experience I've found on any smartphone. It's also backed by a solid and even more useful One UI update. And the AI experience will likely get richer over time | 4.5/5 |
Performance | The S25 Ultra's Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite for Galaxy is one impressive chip. It's a near-perfect mix of performance and efficiency. | 5/5 |
Battery | Best battery life I've seen on a smartphone. Days of use is within reach. | 5/5 |
The best foldable
✅ 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 battery life
✅ You want top notch performance: The Galaxy S25 Plus has all the power of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with the same high-resolution display and faster charging, for much less.
✅ You want a bigger, sharper screen: The Galaxy S25 Plus gives you more than a bigger screen, it also gives you Samsung's ProScaler technology and the highest pixel density.
✅ You want more battery life: I got amazing battery life from the Galaxy S25 Plus, and the Plus outperformed even the Galaxy S25 Ultra in our battery lab tests.
❌ You want the long zoom cameras: The 5X zoom camera and the high-resolution ultra-wide sensor are the best advantages that the Galaxy S25 Ultra has over the Galaxy S25 Plus.
❌ You need easy software: Samsung's OneUI interface is bloated and complicated; more difficult than Apple's iOS by far. Even Google's Pixel 9 is easier to use.
📱 The Galaxy S25 Plus has great battery life and a big, sharp display, with fantastic performance to boot. It gives you all the Samsung features you need and nothing you don't. ★★★★
The Galaxy S25 Plus is incredibly impressive. It might seem surprising that Samsung's middle-tier model is our favorite Samsung model, but it provides identical performance, the same crisp and vibrant display, and the same excellent battery life as the Galaxy S25 Ultra. It's hard to justify spending significantly more for features that even premium users won't utilize.
Design: While it lacks the titanium frame of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus is available in a variety of more attractive colors and maintains a premium and contemporary aesthetic.
Display: The Galaxy S25 Plus features a display that is not only larger than the Galaxy S25 but also packs more pixels, resulting in a higher resolution than the Galaxy S25, and it even offers slightly more sharpness than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Camera: You could spend considerably more for 5X zoom on the Ultra, but the Galaxy S25 Plus features a 3X optical zoom camera, in addition to a fantastic main camera and an ultra-wide lens. Samsung's shooting modes and AI photography also help the phone take great pics.
Performance: The Galaxy S25 Plus delivers top-tier performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset. In our benchmark tests, the Snapdragon often outperformed the Apple A18 Pro chipset found in the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The Galaxy S25 Plus will effortlessly handle your gaming and productivity demands.
Battery life: The Galaxy S25 Plus lasted longer than nearly every other smartphone I've tested, lasting just a bit longer than the larger Galaxy S25 Ultra. It also charges quickly and offers reverse charging, should you need to power up your earbuds while on the go.
Value: The Galaxy S25 Plus launched at a price point similar to the iPhone 16 Pro, but Samsung phones are consistently available at a discount, so check Amazon, your preferred mobile carrier, or Samsung's own online store before you make that final click.
Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
Value | Worth the premium over the Galaxy S25, with a display and battery life that beat the more expensive Ultra. Still expensive, but worth the high price. | 4/5 |
Design | A solid, refined look that hasn’t changed much over the years, and strongly resembles its biggest rival. I’m ready for something new, but this design is a classic, with good color options this year. | 3/5 |
Display | A fantastic display that’s bright and colorful, making it easy to use in any situation, even taking photos in bright sunshine. I only wish the fingerprint scanner were more responsive, but it’s still a great screen with minimal bezels. | 5/5 |
Software | Samsung has improved One UI with a refreshed look and brighter colors. The bloatware problem is growing, though, and many of the Galaxy AI features mentioned at launch don’t show up on the phone. | 3/5 |
Cameras | Takes good photos, but you can find much better cameras on competing phones, with bigger sensors and more pixels. It’s time for an Ultra-fied camera upgrade for the rest of the Galaxy S25 lineup. | 4/5 |
Performance | You won’t find a faster phone than the Galaxy S25 Plus, but what will you do with all that power? This Snapdragon wins benchmark tests, but in real-world performance it’s less apparent. Still, it’s the fastest phone around, even if you can’t see it. | 5/5 |
Battery | Excellent battery life, topping even the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but the OnePlus 13 is far more impressive, with longer battery life and much faster charging. It’s time for Samsung to catch up if it wants to remain at the top. | 4/5 |
The best for teens
✅ You're want power on a budget: The Galaxy S25 isn't cheap, but it packs as much power as the Galaxy S25 Ultra for much less.
✅ You want a compact phone: The 6.2-inch Galaxy S25 offers plenty of power for a phone this small, and you can't find a more powerful phone this size.
✅ You need serious power: Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset is plenty powerful for any task, even running an external display or using the latest AI models.
❌ You want a big screen: A 6.2-inch display used to be huge, but these days it's feeling a bit cramped, especially if you're used to a big phone like an iPhone Pro Max or a Galaxy Ultra.
❌ Your budget can stretch: For a lot more cash you can have a much better camera system, a magical S Pen accessories, and a huge screen with a big battery inside, if you get the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
❌ All of your friends use the iPhone: Samsung's software is a big weakness, and it's lagging behind Apple's iOS in social features that make it fun to share with other iPhone users. If your crowd is all Apple, all the time, check out the iPhone 16.
📱 The Samsung Galaxy S25 packs a serious punch for its small size, with a Snapdragon 8 Elite inside that can handle any task you'd imagine, and thanks to Galaxy AI, even some tasks you never thought possible. There is a lot of software bloat, and of course you can get a lot more from Samsung if you spend more, but the Galaxy S25 is the best compact phone if you need a strong mobile champion for a bit less. ★★★★
The Samsung Galaxy S25, the smallest of the Galaxy S25 family, is a remarkably powerful Android. Its compact size makes it the most pocket-friendly option among today's flagship phones.
Design: The Galaxy S25 offers a wider range of colors compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. However, it forgoes the titanium frame found in the Ultra. Despite this, the S25 remains a robust device with IP68 water resistance and a design reminiscent of its predecessor.
Display: The 6.1-inch display on the Galaxy S25 provides a sharp viewing experience. You don't get the ProScaler tech from Samsung TVs, but I couldn't spot the difference compared to the Galaxy S25 Plus.
Cameras: While the Galaxy S25's camera hardware remains unchanged, Samsung's improved image processing results in better photos. The camera system includes a 50MP main lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom—a feature absent in the iPhone 16.
Performance: The Galaxy S25 family is powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, which delivers exceptional performance. It rivals even the Apple iPhone 16 Pro in speed and efficiency, making it ideal for demanding tasks and gaming.
Battery life: The Galaxy S25 uses the same battery capacity as the Galaxy S24. Nevertheless, battery life has improved, and most users can expect a full day of typical use.
Value for money: The Galaxy S25 provides an accessible entry point to the Samsung Galaxy S experience. While it doesn't offer all the features of the S25 Ultra, it comes at a significantly lower price.
Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy S25
Value | The fastest phone in this price range by a small margin, but the design and specs are getting a bit stale. | 4/5 |
Design | The Galaxy S is starting to feel like the same great song stuck on repeat. The phone looks refined with great color options this year, but it also looks just like last year’s model, and the model before that. | 4/5 |
Display | A fantastic-looking display that’s plenty bright, even on a sunny day. It’s smooth and responsive (except for the fingerprint reader), with a very slim bezel. | 4/5 |
Software | Samsung’s One UI 7 looks great, but many of the AI features have failed to materialize, for better and for worse. It does a lot, though it’s bloated with software, but Samsung keeps improving, and this phone will get seven years of software updates. | 3/5 |
Cameras | Very nice cameras that always deliver a great photo, no matter the lighting or subject. I wish there was more zoom and more megapixels available, since the Galaxy S hasn’t seen a camera boost in years, but the AI editing helps smooth rough edges. | 4/5 |
Performance | Superlative smartphone performance, really the best you’ll find at any price, though I’m not sure where all of that power is going. Probably the AI? If so, it’s going to get even better over the next few years as the AI develops, but for now it’s just great for playing games with the settings cranked to maximum. | 5/5 |
Battery | Excellent battery life, the best you’ll find on a phone this size. It lasted a full day in my review testing, and hours longer than the iPhone 16 in our lab tests. I wish it charged faster, but it’s quite capable, with great wireless charging features. | 4/5 |
The best flip phone
✅ You want a flip phone to keep a while: The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is more durable than the competition, and it will get seven years of software updates.
✅ You want to carry your flip phone to work: Peach Fuzz may be a fun Razr color, but the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is more professional than cool, and it's better for getting work done.
✅ You want to try all the AI features: Samsung's AI features are actually useful and cool to try, if you want to see what the future is all about.
❌ You want two phones in one: The cover screen on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a big let down, especially compared to the Razr 2024, which gives you a versatile device on the outside.
❌ You need the best cameras: There's no zoom lens and the image quality is fine, but not great. If you care about photos, get a flat phone for the same price.
❌ You don't find a deal: The Galaxy Z Flip 6 might be more expensive than last year's model, depending on where you live, and that's a bit too much. Find a deal or get a bundle to soften the impact.
📱 The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is the best flip phone you can buy today. It tops the competition, especially the Motorola Razr Plus 2024, with more power, durability, and class, though the Razr does look like it's having a lot of fun. This is the flip phone to get if you want a phone that will last a long time, for work and for play. ★★★★
What you need to know
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is Samsung's most refined Flip phone yet, and the improvements are clear when you feel the more durable build quality and amazing power. It doesn't do enough with the cover display, but hopefully future software updates will improve things.
Design: The Galaxy Z Flip 6 looks like every other flat phone until you bend it in half, and that's a compliment. It feels solid and durable, like I could crease it a hundred times a day for years and it wouldn't break. I also like the classy color options and the cool textured black design.
Display: The inner display on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is incredibly large for such a compact phone. It beats any iPhone you can buy and gives you a bright, colorful display for games and reading. The cover display can't do much, but it works well as a viewfinder or to check your calendar. You can type a message on it, but it can't run most apps.
Cameras: The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is made for selfies and group photos, so you won't find a zoom lens or high-performance cameras. It's still a lot of fun to find unique angles to place the folded phone, and using the video camera in old-school camcorder mode is a blast.
Performance: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy processor inside is one of the most powerful mobile platforms you'll find on any phone. Too bad Samsung limited what the Galaxy Z Flip 6 can do, like removing DeX desktop environment software, because it feels like this phone is capable of more.
Battery life: The Galaxy Z Flip 6 had no trouble lasting through a full day of use, though battery life could have been a bit better. Less powerful flip phones also last a bit longer, but that's the trade-off for speed.
Value for money: The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is expensive, and without more utility on its cover display it feels like you're not getting everything you pay for. I'd wait to find this phone at a discount or part of a great bundle offer.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 review
Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Value | The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a good value compared to other Galaxy phones and the competition, but is it worth as much as Apple’s best iPhone 15 Pro? That’s the question a foldable flip phone this expensive needs to answer. | 4 / 5 |
Design | The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is more durable and refined than ever, with a frame that looks more like an iPhone in a business meeting than a Motorola Razr trying to find the party. | 4 / 5 |
Display | A front-pocket phone that hides a very nice, big inner display and a competent cover screen. Too bad the cover is being wasted by a lack of features, but having a huge phone that you can fold in half is still very appealing | 4 / 5 |
Software | First time I ever wanted more software from Samsung, but I wish the Galaxy Z Flip 6 took more advantage of its cover screen and its flippy-ness. It does most of what Samsung’s Galaxy S24 can do, but it should do everything and more. | 3 / 5 |
Camera | Flip-phone cameras will always need to compromise, and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is no exception. The lack of zoom hurts worse than the lack of quality, though. Fun and advanced AI photo-editing tools help soothe the pain. | 3 / 5 |
Performance | Wow, simply astounding performance that beats almost everything else I’ve tested, including many iPhone Pro models. Too bad this phone doesn’t get Samsung DeX or cover-screen superpowers; it can definitely handle harder tasks. | 5 / 5 |
Battery | Disappointing battery life means this phone can’t last as long as the competition. The Moto Razr can still party after work, but the Galaxy Z Flip 6 will need a long nap to recharge. | 3 / 5 |
The best Samsung bargain
✅ You want a reasonably priced Galaxy: The Galaxy S24 FE finds the sweet spot between price and power.
✅ You're looking for AI on a budget: Many of the best AI phones come with a high price tag, but the Galaxy S24 FE offers a full suite of AI features.
✅ You're a true Samsung fan: Whether FE stands for Fan Edition remains a hot debate, but with Galaxy AI, DeX, and OneUI, you'll be getting all the features Samsung is famed for.
❌ You need the very best performance: At this price point, there's no way the Galaxy S24 FE can keep up with high-end and super-premium flagships.
❌ You want the very best cameras: The Galaxy S24 FE comes with a solid camera system, but the snappers found on the flagship S24 range still outdo it.
❌ You like to keep things simple: Samsung loads its phones with options and settings, and, while it's nice to have choice, Apple and Google still lead the way in simplicity.
📱 The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE goes well beyond our expectations for a typical midrange flagship variant, offering users the full Galaxy AI suite, a brilliant display, premium build quality, and great battery life. That said, the performance, design, and cameras don't quite live up to the flagship S24 line. ★★★★
What you need to know
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE brings the staple midrange Galaxy S phone into the AI age, with a full suite of Galaxy AI features, pro-grade software including the DeX desktop mode, and a specs sheet that earnestly comes close to flagship-level. It's an impressive phone that makes sensible cutbacks to reach its mid-tier price.
Design: Heavier and thicker than the flagship S24, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE feels built to last, and the glass used in its construction can take a beating. It's not exactly svelte, but still feels premium.
Display: The Galaxy S24 FE comes equipped with a bright, sharp, and detailed display that gets bright and comes with a variety of display modes. It's hard to notice that this isn't a flagship display.
Cameras: While not as ludicrously powerful as the camera system on the S24 Ultra, and not quite matching the S24, the S24 FE offers a lot of flexibility. The 50MP main camera has more than enough detail for all kinds of shots, while the 3x optical telephoto camera is a rarity at this price.
Performance: Samsung holds its own with the proprietary Exynos 2400e chipset found within the Galaxy S24 FE. This is a powerful and versatile chipset that flies through day to day use and faces more challenging workflows with vigor, but it can take a while to load up AI features.
Battery life: The Galaxy S24 FE boasts even better battery life than its predecessor and even better longevity than the flagship S24, and proved somewhat difficult to run down all the way in a single day of normal use. It supports both wireless charging and power sharing, and charges at a reasonable 25W.
Value for money: Samsung makes a lot of mid-range phones, but none of them have as much ambition as the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. This is an impressive phone by any standards, and you'll be hard-pressed to find one that offers more for the same price.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 FE review
Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Value | It'll be hard to find another phone this capable at this price point | 5 / 5 |
Design | A minimalistic look and larger frame will appeal to some, and is at the least inoffensive. | 4 / 5 |
Display | A great display that pulls few punches, but could be a bit brighter. | 4.5 / 5 |
Software | Galaxy AI is here, but the overall experience could feel more cohesive. | 3.5 / 5 |
Camera | Solid performance from a versatile camera system, with a surprising level of optical zoom. | 4 / 5 |
Performance | Samsung's own Exynos 2400e chipset proves to be a worthy contender, with the only slowdown seen in AI tasks. | 4.5 / 5 |
Battery | Astoundingly good battery life makes it difficult to run the S24 FE down in a normal day. | 5 / 5 |
How to choose the best Samsung Galaxy phone
If you've decided to buy a Samsung phone, the next consideration is how much you want to spend. The best Samsung phones cost more than the Apple iPhone, making them the most expensive smartphones you can buy. Make sure you aren't paying more for features you don't need.
Do you need a pen? The S Pen is more than a stylus, it's also a Bluetooth remote control, but is it worth paying more? Do you need a foldable display? You can replace your tablet with a tablet foldable, but it will cost more than an average phone and tablet together.
Decide how much you want to spend, wait a moment, because Samsung phones go on sale often. We saw deals on Samsung phones over Black Friday, and Samsung offers trade-in bonuses, bundle offers with earbuds, and other discounts throughout the year.
What makes a Samsung better than other Android phones?
Samsung makes much of the technology used in mobile phones, even phones from other phone makers, and it is known for producing top tier components. Samsung displays, Samsung memory, and processors made on Samsung's foundries (including chips from other chipmakers), are often the highest quality available, and Samsung uses those components on its own phones.
Samsung also offers the most robust service and support among any Android phone maker. If you Samsung phone breaks (or if you break it) and you need help, Samsung has a proven track record and numerous options to get your phone fixed.
How we test
How we test the best Samsung Galaxy phones
We only include phones that we've fully reviewed in this guide, so every entry has been extensively tested. As such, we can be confident of how each model compares to other Samsung phones, and to the wider smartphone landscape.
As well as the review score, we consider the specs of a phone, how well it all comes together in practice, how much it costs, how good value it is, and how it compares to the competition.
To come to these conclusions we'll make use of every key feature of a phone, see how it performs under different circumstances, and see how the battery holds up under different use cases. We'll also run benchmarks.
With all that information combined, we're then able to see exactly how each Samsung phone stacks up.
- See our Samsung promo codes page for this month's best discounts