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Samsung has the strongest phone lineup of any phone maker, including most of the best Android phones, but that can make it tough to choose the right model. Do you need a 200MP camera, or is 50MP enough? Are the foldable phones worth the premium, or is the Galaxy S25 Ultra the phone to buy? We've tested every Samsung phone and we can recommend the best Galaxy model for every buyer.
The base model Galaxy S25 is hardly basic. With a powerful, battery-saving Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor inside, overclocked just for Galaxy phones, it's one of the fastest phones you can buy.
Every Galaxy S25 device uses the same platform, so they are all powerhouse pocket computers packed with features, especially Samsung's DeX desktop environment that lets you plug your phone into a monitor and keyboard for a PC-like experience.
You can find just about every Samsung phone on sale at your preferred wireless carrier, and carriers often offer huge discounts on Samsung phones, especially around a new phone launch. We're also expecting deals around the holiday season. As phone editors often say, nobody pays full price for a Samsung, so make sure to keep checking back for the best deals.
We've got a couple more Samsung phone finishing their tour of Future Labs for in-depth reviews, including the latest Galaxy FE models: the Galaxy S25 FE and Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. Those devices might be contenders for this list, but every phone you find here is a top choice if you want the most cutting edge handset with all of the best Android features.
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.
This isn't just the best Samsung phone, it was one of our top contenders for the best phone of 2025, and it's an engineering marvel. It feels like a normal phone when closed and a mini tablet when open. This is what foldable phones aspire to become.
Read more below
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.
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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.
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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 7 is the most refined and most powerful flip phone you can buy, with features that will satisfy professionals and creative types alike. This is the flip phone that will last for years.
Read more below
The Galaxy S25 Edge preceded the iPhone Air, and it one-ups Apple's thin phone in many ways. It has a much better camera, and it even weighs less, though it's not as thin. It's less, well..., weird than the iPhone Air, to Samsung's credit.
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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 overall
✅ You want a true two-in-one device: This isn't just a phone; it's a flagship phone and 8-inch tablet in one. It's lighter than the S25 Ultra, nearly as thin as a regular phone when closed, and the 8-inch main screen is as big as an iPad mini.
✅ You want a foldable and you care about photography: The 200MP sensor is a showstopper, but the 12MP wide-angle lens's macro capabilities are also impressive. This is the best foldable camera phone you can buy, by far.
❌ You are an S Pen power user: This is a major change from previous Galaxy Z Fold devices. Samsung dropped the digitizing layer, which leaves the Galaxy Z Fold 7 unable to work with the S Pen.
❌ You want a perfect, uninterrupted media-viewing experience: The better 10MP inner camera means there is a noticeably larger camera punch hole that is no longer hidden, and the new 5:6 aspect ratio means some videos and games may have larger black borders.
📱The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 feels like a true inflection point for foldables. While its eye-watering price and the sacrifice of S Pen support are significant drawbacks, it’s by far the best large-screen foldable ever made and the new standard for all others to follow. ★★★★½
What you need to know
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 feels like a true revolution, setting a new standard for what a large-screen foldable can be. It's exquisitely thin and light, and by finally adding a 200MP camera, it delivers an all-around experience that is almost perfect.
Value: This is the most expensive Z Fold to date, with a price that flirts with $2,000, making it one of the priciest foldables you can buy. While that's a lot for any phone, you're essentially getting two devices in one—a flagship phone and an 8-inch tablet—which may help justify the high cost for those who want something truly special.
Design: The design is the phone's most remarkable upgrade, resulting in a device that is super-thin, surprisingly light, and almost as compact as a standard flagship when folded. This exquisite engineering, combined with premium materials, a reengineered stiff hinge, and a nearly imperceptible crease, makes it feel like you're carrying a secret.
Display: Both screens are larger and better this year, with the 6.5-inch cover display finally feeling like a standard flagship and the main 8-inch screen offering a fantastic multitasking canvas. The trade-off for this new thinness is the loss of S Pen support and a more noticeable, uncovered 10MP punch-hole camera on the inner display.
Camera: The camera system is finally a true flagship experience, headlined by a versatile 200MP main sensor that lets you crop without losing detail and even take "horrifyingly" clear selfies. While the macro photography from the wide-angle lens is surprisingly impressive, the system is held back slightly by the decision to include a 3x telephoto lens instead of a more powerful 5x optical zoom.
Performance: Powered by a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, this is the first Android phone in memory to beat the iPhone's multicore performance in our tests. This power translates to a device that is incredibly fast and responsive, handling intense multitasking and gaming without ever skipping a beat.
Battery life: Although the 4,400mAh battery capacity hasn't changed, our testing confirmed it's more than capable of providing a full workday of battery life, with our reviewer seeing between 12 and 18 hours of mixed use. When you do need to top up, the phone supports fast charging that gets you to 50% in just 30 minutes.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review
Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Value | The most expensive foldable out there, but it might also be worth it | 4 / 5 |
Design | Excellent, slim and light design that still feels elegant and solid. | 5 / 5 |
Display | Two fantastic and now larger screens. The crease is almost gone, but so is support for an S Pen. | 4.5 / 5 |
Performance | Better than the best Qualcomm chip on other Androids, and the performance knocked our socks off. | 5 / 5 |
Software | Android 16! One UI 8! So much AI. It may sound like a lot, but it's a winning combination. | 4.5 / 5 |
Cameras | The 200MP sensor is a major upgrade, and overall photography is excellent. We would have liked a 5x optical zoom. | 4.5 / 5 |
Battery | Really good battery life | 4.5 / 5 |
The best Samsung camera phone
✅ 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 17 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 17 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 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 10 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.
Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus review
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 17.
📱 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.
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.
Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S25 review
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 the best cover screen: This phone's astounding 4.1-inch cover display takes up the entire front of the phone, featuring the thinnest bezels Samsung has ever used for a truly edge-to-edge experience.
✅ You're a power user who loves flip phones: This is an exceptional flip for serious smartphone users, packing tons of features you can't find on competitors, including the ability to run a full desktop experience with Samsung DeX.
❌ You value a simple, intuitive software experience. I found Samsung software to be a mess and a real drag, with crucial features, like running apps on the cover screen, hidden under multiple layers of confusing settings in a "Labs" menu.
❌ You demand top-tier performance and battery life. The Flip 7's Exynos processor lags behind the Snapdragon chips in other Galaxy phones, and this impacts battery life, which was 6.5 hours less than the Moto Razr Ultra in our lab tests.
📱 The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the best flip phone Samsung has ever made, finally delivering the stunning, edge-to-edge cover display and polished design I’ve been waiting for. It makes a perfect argument for the flip form factor, combining a huge 6.9-inch internal screen and powerful features like DeX into a compact, pocketable device. ★★★★½
What you need to know
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 finally delivers a stunning, truly edge-to-edge cover display and a beautiful 6.9-inch internal screen, all while packing in serious power-user features like Samsung DeX. The excellent hardware is held back a bit by confusing software and the new Exynos processor, but this is still one of the best flip phones we've ever tested.
Value: At $1,099, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 costs the same as last year's model, which feels like a fair price considering you get two advanced displays in one device. It's also priced competitively, costing less than its main rival, the Motorola Razr Ultra, and is often available for free with new carrier contracts.
Design: The phone's design is defined by its new 4.1-inch cover display, which is a showstopper that takes up every possible inch with the thinnest bezels Samsung has ever used. Durability remains a question, however, as our review unit's back glass panel accumulated noticeable scuffs and scratches after just one week of normal use.
Display: Both screens are spectacular, with the 6.9-inch inner display being exceptionally bright and clear, making it a joy to open even in bright sunlight. The real star, however, is the new 4.1-inch cover screen, which features the thinnest bezels ever and finally delivers the useful, edge-to-edge experience we've been asking for.
Cameras: The 50MP camera system is very good, producing photos with a more natural, realistic look that we loved, and Samsung's Portrait mode is arguably the best on any smartphone. The Flip 7's coolest trick is using the cover screen as a viewfinder for high-res selfies, but the setup is held back by the lack of a dedicated optical zoom lens.
Performance: This is the phone's biggest disappointment, as its Samsung Exynos 2500 processor lagged behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite in every benchmark test we ran. While it's powerful enough for daily tasks and finally supports the welcome return of Samsung DeX, it's a shame the phone runs on a platform that is clearly inferior to other Galaxy phones (and the competition).
Battery life: Battery life is a major disappointment, as the inefficient Exynos chip is likely to blame for its poor showing in our lab tests. The Z Flip 7 lasted 6.5 hours less than its main competitor, the Moto Razr Ultra, though in our real-world testing, it did usually last a full day.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review
Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Value | Solid value considering you get two displays for the price of one, plus all of the technology Samsung packs inside. There are cheaper flip phones, but none that can do as much as the Flip 7. | 4 / 5 |
Design | A nice design that will be familiar to Samsung fans. I still wish it were more exciting, and some scuffs during my review time left me more concerned about durability than before. | 4 / 5 |
Display | Excellent displays inside and out. The inner display is bright and clear and a joy to use. The cover screen has the smallest bezels ever, and it's more useful than before. | 5 / 5 |
Performance | Disappointing performance all round thanks to the Exynos 2500. I’m being extra harsh so Samsung doesn’t make this mistake again and use an inferior Exynos chip when the Snapdragon is obviously superior. This phone should be faster. | 3 / 5 |
Software | The Flip 7 can do more than ever, but Samsung doesn’t make it easy. Expect hidden features, extra steps, and hacked-together solutions. Also, the AI features don’t seem fully baked. | 3 / 5 |
Cameras | Nice cameras that tone down the saturation for a more realistic look. The best camera modes in the biz, including great portraits and appetizing food shots. Solid AI editing tools remove artifacts flawlessly. I wish it had zoom. | 4 / 5 |
Battery | Battery life isn’t terrible, but it’s disappointing considering other phones have seen huge advancements thanks to new battery tech and more efficient (Snapdragon) platforms. It still lasts a full day, most of the time. | 3 / 5 |
The best Samsung thin phone
✅ You find the Galaxy S25 Plus too thick and heavy: The Edge "fits neatly in between" the Plus and Ultra, and it's so easier to hold thanks to its remarkably light weight that you have to hold it to appreciate it.
✅ You're a gamer who needs top-tier performance and cooling. The Edge delivers excellent performance (just as powerful as the Ultra) and has superior cooling that, in our testing, passed a stress test that breaks other phones.
❌ You need reliable, all-day battery life: This phone had trouble lasting past dinner time in my testing, and its charging speed is pretty slow, making the small battery a significant compromise for its thinness.
❌ You need a versatile camera system with optical zoom. I was disappointed with the cameras; the digital zoom doesn’t come close to the quality of the S25 Ultra, making it a poor choice if you take photos from far away.
📱 The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge successfully slims down the S25 Plus, offering a remarkably lightweight feel and top-notch performance that stays incredibly cool. This thin design makes significant compromises, but if you want a uniquely light phone that's a pleasure to use, check out the Edge. ★★★½
What you need to know
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is a remarkably lightweight phone that successfully slims down the S25 Plus, offering top-notch performance and superior cooling in a very thin package. However, this design comes at the cost of great battery life and a versatile camera system, as it lacks an optical zoom.
Value: The S25 Edge slots neatly between the S25 Plus and Ultra, costing $100 more than the Plus for its svelte design. Since there are no surprises, it's not a bad price for those who know what they’re getting and are willing to pay a premium for thinness.
Design: The real selling point of the Galaxy S25 Edge isn't just its thinness but its remarkable lightness, which you have to hold to appreciate.
Display: The 6.7-inch display is fantastic and one of the best you can find, offering plenty of brightness and a super sharp 120Hz refresh rate. My only complaint is the totally unreliable under-display fingerprint scanner, which failed more often than not during my testing.
Cameras: The camera system is fine, but not groundbreaking, with a 200MP main sensor that's good but fuzzier than the S25 Ultra's. If you need a zoom lens, this isn’t the phone for you, as its digital zoom doesn’t come close to the quality of an optical zoom.
Performance: Performance is excellent and delivered beyond my expectations, thanks to the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset. I was most impressed by the superior cooling, as I couldn’t get the Edge to overheat, even under stress tests that break other phones.
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.
Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review
Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Value | Not a bad price for the svelte design and pocketability. You know what you’re getting, there are no surprises, so it seems like a fair upgrade from the Galaxy S25 Plus (or is it a downgrade from the Ultra?) | 4/5 |
Design | A bit thinner and much lighter than any other flat phone you’ve tried. You can’t tell by looking; you have to pick it up to feel the difference. The finish is a bit shoddy, but the design might still satisfy buyers with a sore pinky. | 3/5 |
Display | The same great display I saw on the Galaxy S25 Plus (with the same lousy fingerprint scanner). It’s super sharp and very bright, though if you’ll often be in bright sunshine the Ultra has a better anti-glare coating that makes it worth a look. | 5/5 |
Software | Samsung’s One UI looks as good as ever, though the AI features are starting to wane in terms of their usefulness. Thankfully, this phone gets seven years of updates, so it will have no problem running your favorite apps and hopefully improving in the years to come. | 3/5 |
Cameras | You get fewer cameras on a thinner phone, but the main camera still takes fantastic shots, albeit ones that are a bit subdued by normal Samsung standards. They don’t pack the same detail as the Ultra, but food photos and portraits are especially gorgeous. | 3/5 |
Performance | Fantastic performance from the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is paired with some of the most impressive cooling I’ve experienced on a smartphone. I couldn’t get the Edge to fry itself, no matter how much I pushed past its performance limits. | 5/5 |
Battery | Battery life isn’t terrible considering the weight reduction, but I wish the smaller battery came with faster charging to make me forget how long I need to wait. I had to charge the phone most nights after dinner, unless I was careful. | 3/5 |
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.
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