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The best Samsung phones you can buy: Expert tested
It's not far-fetched to say that Samsung is the most prevalent phone maker in the world with a presence in almost every major market, including North America, Europe, and Asia. Over the past decade, the South Korean company has introduced several lines of handsets, including the S series of flagships, the A series of value-driven phones, and the Z series of innovative foldables, all of which I've had the fortune of testing and using as my daily driver at some point in time.
Also: The best Android phones you can buy right now
So, if you're in the market for a new phone -- and Samsung happens to be your brand of choice -- here's a curated list of the best models available right now.
What is the best Samsung phone right now?
After thoroughly testing the latest phones on the market, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out as the best Samsung phone right now, with the company's top-of-the-line features and specifications including an S Pen stylus for precision inputs, a 200MP camera system, and the most durable display on any Galaxy phone yet. The size and abundance of features of the S24 Ultra may almost be overwhelming for some users, but if you want the best Samsung phone available now, look no further than this.
The best Samsung phones in 2024
- Best display available in any smartphone
- Reliable quad-camera setup
- Battery life remains among best in class
- AI features deliver new value
- Costs more than some premium laptops
- No Qi2 magnetic charging
- Can be unwieldy for some, especially with a case
Samsung's latest Galaxy S24 line is the first to go all-in on AI, and the S24 Ultra, the most premium of the three, impressed us the most. The new Galaxy AI model embedded in the device brings a host of generative capabilities, including real-time phone call translations, the ability to circle an object on screen to perform an image-based Google search, AI-assisted photo editing and transcriptions, and even a Chat Assist feature for figuring out how to phrase a message in different tones.
Like its predecessor, the S23 Ultra, the S24 Ultra is built with a large 6.8-inch AMOLED display and a reliable 5,000mAh battery. Though the price has gone up to $1,299 ($100 more than the S23 Ultra), the phone's upgrades make it well worth it: The S24 Ultra is made of a lightweight yet durable titanium frame, compared to last year's aluminum, and features Corning's new Gorilla Armor.
Review: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The difference in display protection means the S24 Ultra is more glare-free than ever, which ZDNET reviewer Jason Hiner suggested: "makes its screen more enjoyable to use than the iPhone 15 Pro Max and other flagship phones." Reddit users seem to agree with Hiner, including one who said he believes "the anti-reflective glass really makes a difference."
Under the hood, the S24 Ultra includes an upgraded Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset for improved graphics and AI features, 12GB RAM (an increase from last year's 8GB), and 2,600 nits of brightness -- a big improvement over last year's 1,750. As for the new camera system, the big upgrade comes in the form of a 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. The results, as Hiner discovered, were sharper and less noisy images and an overall camera system that can pull in more light than ever before.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Display size: 6.8 inches | Storage options: Up to 1TB | Rear cameras: 200MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto (5x), 10MP telephoto (3x) | Front camera: 12MP | Battery: 5,000mAh
- Polished and sleek designs feel better than ever
- Snappy performance with an Ultra-level processor and display
- Excellent battery life
- 7 years of OS updates
- Samsung's software can be overbearing
- No Qi2/faster charging speeds
- Uncertainties with Galaxy AI features
The Galaxy S24 Plus may not be as flashy as its Ultra sibling, but at $300 less, it remains a formidable option for shoppers eyeing a meaningful upgrade. In fact, the core experience of the Ultra model is present in the Plus, as I found during my month-long testing of the mid-sized S24 model.
For example, Samsung's new Galaxy AI model and all of the useful features it brings (like real-time phone call translations and the ability to circle an object on screen to perform an image-based Google search), the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, 256GB of base storage, and a quad-camera system are present on both the Ultra and the Plus.
Review: Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
For most people, the Plus-sized Galaxy S24 is also less intimidating to use. Its 6.7-inch display is the ideal size for both casual consumers and power users, and compared to last year's S23 Plus, fields a sharper QHD, 1440 x 3088 resolution. As I noted in my full review, that's a major upgrade if you watch movies and videos on your phone, dabble with graphics editing, or read pages of text because everything looks sharper.
Another big factor is the price: The Galaxy S24 Plus starts at $999, the same as its predecessor -- even with all the hardware and software upgrades. On top of that, Samsung is now promising up to seven years of operating system updates for all Galaxy S24 models. One Amazon customer remarked, "I got a terrific phone that looks phenomenal and will last me for at least seven more years."
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Display size: 6.7 inches | Storage options: Up to 512GB | Rear cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto (3x) | Front camera: 12MP | Battery: 4,900mAh
- Price is very reasonable
- A 'jack of all trades, master of none' smartphone
- Reliable 5,000mAh battery
- Up to five years of software and security updates
- Low-band 5G support
- UI can be sluggish at times
- Cameras are not as capable as flagships
If bang for your buck is what you're after, I'd say skip the S and Z series of devices and look to the Galaxy A35 5G. There are really three key reasons why you should buy the Galaxy A35 5G over any other sub-$400 phone: For the price you get a fantastic 6.6-inch AMOLED display that ramps up to 120Hz refresh rate, a triple-camera setup that includes a 50MP main sensor, and a beefy 5,000mAh battery.
Clearly, Samsung knows what features users value the most, and even if you have preferences beyond that list, my time testing the Galaxy A35 5G has left me with enough confidence that it will meet your mobile needs. Coming from the older A34 5G, the latest model features a glass backing, a more performant Exynos chipset, and an improved camera system. Reddit users seem to agree that the battery life on the A35 5G has been one of its bright spots too.
Also: Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
The A-series of smartphones also fall under Samsung's five-year commitment to software and security updates, which is a major advantage compared to competing phones by Motorola and OnePlus.
Samsung Galaxy A35 5G tech specs: Processor: Samsung Exynos 1380 | Display: 6.6 inches| RAM/Storage: 6GB/128GB | Cameras: 50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and 32MP front-facing camera | Battery: 5,000mAh
- High-quality materials, fit, and finish
- IPX8 water resistance
- Larger external display is game-changing
- The most pocketable Galaxy phone yet
- No telephoto camera
- Battery is reasonably underwhelming compared to larger phones
While the Z Fold 5 is the best Samsung foldable, it's the Z Flip 5 that will likely sell the most and appeal to the masses. Not only is the clamshell handset less expensive than the Z Fold but it's more compact and portable and has a more user-friendly learning curve.
Shape-shifting displays aside, the Z Flip 5 is very similar to the standard Samsung Galaxy S-series flagship, with a large 6.7-inch AMOLED panel that's crisp and bright, up to 512GB of RAM for those high-resolution pictures and videos, and a healthy 3,700mAh cell powering it all.
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
I tested the flip phone for weeks and was left impressed by how many refinements Samsung had made when compared to the last-gen Z Flip 4. Thanks to the new 3.4-inch outer display, the gapless hinge design that one Reddit user says is "very sturdy," and improved durability, I noted in my full review that unless Samsung unveiled some form of XR headset by the end of last year (which it never did), the Z Flip 5 would unquestionably be the company's most ambitious product of 2023.
Folks who thrive in social media and content creation especially will love the Z Flip 5's ability to switch between shooting styles like camcorder mode and flex mode, much like its predecessor, the Z Flip 4. The camera system on this may not be on par with Samsung's latest S24 Ultra and Plus models, but it's reliable enough for everyday captures.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 tech specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Main display: 6.7 inches | Cover display: 3.4 inches | RAM/Storage: 8GB RAM with 256GB/512GB internal options | Cameras: Two rear 12MP, 10MP selfie | Battery: 3,700mAh
- An innovative gapless folding design
- Armor Aluminum material for a lighter and sleeker phone
- High IPX8 water resistance
- S Pen support
- Improved processor and software optimized for foldables
- Still expensive, but generous trade-in offers abound
- S Pen purchase and store separately
The 2020 Galaxy Z Fold 2 set the bar for foldable devices that also serve as mini tablets. The Z Fold 3 improved on that phone with two of the most highly requested features from Fold users (S Pen support and IPX8 water resistance), while the Z Fold 4 improved the rear cameras and form factor of the phone.
And now, with the Z Fold 5, you'll get an upgraded processor in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which improves the phone's overall performance, from battery efficiency to low-light photography. This latest model is also notably thinner than the last, and thanks to the no-gap hinge mechanism, ZDNET's Jason Hiner said in his review that "the Fold 5 feels like the way foldables always should have been."
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
The Android 13 software found in the Z Fold 5 gives the phone some serious productivity upgrades, especially in terms of multi-app usage thanks to the improved Taskbar and wider support for gesture navigations that ease the transition from multiple active windows.
Like the Z Fold 4, the Fold 5's cameras are not quite as good as the S24 Ultra's suite, but the hardware is clearly superior to any foldable predecessor, and Samsung's biggest competitor, the Pixel Fold. It certainly helps that the Z Fold 5, five generations in, is not as heavy and bulky as Google's first large format foldable. As for that $1,799 sale price, one Best Buy customer justifies it by thinking about "the value it (Z Fold 5) brings in intellectual growth from the fact that I've gone from a scroller to a deeper reader."
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 tech specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Main display: 7.6 inches | Cover display: 6.2 inches | RAM/Storage: 12GB RAM with 256GB/512GB/1TB internal options | Cameras: 12MP ultrawide, 50MP wide angle, 10MP 3x telephoto, 10MP cover screen, 4MP under main display | Battery: 4,400mAh
- Affordably priced and available unlocked
- Large 6.5-inch display with all-day battery life
- Extensive software support
- Plastic build is not for all
- Limited to 128GB storage size
- MediaTek processor is just decent for performance
The flashiest of smartphone features tend to exist only on flagships, but many will find appeal in Samsung's humble Galaxy A15 5G, which boasts 5G connectivity, a massive 5,000mAh battery, and a budget-friendly $200 price tag. That's a compelling package at a time when consumers are cutting down on spending.
Also: The best cheap 5G phones ZDNET's tested
And don't let the lower cost fool you; the Galaxy A15 5G has all the specs you'd want for a feasible mobile companion, from the relatively sizable 6.5-inch 90Hz AMOLED display -- a rarity in this price range -- to the expandable storage (up to 1TB) to Samsung's four-year commitment to security patches. Oh, and this year's model gets a notable 5MP ultra-wide camera, an upgrade from last year's 2MP macro lens.
I've been testing the Galaxy A15 5G model for a little more than a week, and while the phone won't feel like a million dollars, it's surprisingly sturdy to hold, and the 90Hz display looked great for app browsing and navigating around. One Best Buy customer review puts it best, "(Galaxy A15 5G) is a 200 dollar phone... It's not gonna blow you away, but for the price, it packs a punch."
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G tech specs: Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 6400+ | Display: 6.6 inches| RAM/Storage: 4GB/128GB | Cameras: 50MP wide, 5MP wide, 2MP macro, and 13MP front-facing camera | Battery: 5,000mAh
What is the best Samsung phone?
While the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sits at the top of this year's ranking list, here's a wider scope of ZDNET's best picks and their respective feature sets.
| Samsung phone | Price | Display | Cameras | Battery |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | $1,299 | 6.8 inches | 200MP wide, 50MP with 5x optical, 10MP with 3x optical, and 12MP ultrawide, 12MP front-facing camera | 5,000mAh |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus | $999 | 6.7 inches | 50MP wide, 10MP with 3x optical, and 12MP ultrawide, 12MP front-facing camera | 4,900mAh |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 | $1,799 | 7.6 inches and 6.2 inches | 50MP wide, 10MP with 3x optical, and 12MP ultrawide, 10MP cover screen, 4MP under main display | 4,400mAh |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 | $999 | 6.7 inches and 3.4 inches | 12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP front-facing camera | 3,700mAh |
| Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | $399 | 6.6 inches | 50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and 32MP front-facing camera | 5,000mAh |
| Samsung Galaxy A15 5G | $199 | 6.5 inches | 50MP wide, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, and 13MP front-facing camera | 5,000mAh |
Why choose a Samsung as your smartphone of choice?
While previous comparisons have placed Apple ahead of Samsung regarding the overall phone experience, Samsung is arguably the best option in 2024. One reason is the variety of models across different price points, from the A-series that encapsulates the sub-$500 market to the S-series for premium shoppers. Having tested the latest handsets from both brands (and others), the Samsung Galaxy continues to offer the most features and capabilities, at relatively competitive prices.
Considering its brand popularity, aftersales support is much more robust for Samsung, including a greater variety of cases and accessories and more certified repair technicians.
Which Samsung phone is right for you?
Choose this Samsung phone... | If you want... |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | The top-of-the-line flagship Samsung phone with all the bells and whistles in a traditional form factor. It's pricier than most but is worth the money if you want a no-frills handset that can do just about everything. |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus | A Galaxy phone capable of accomplishing 80% of what the Ultra model can do and costs less. The Galaxy S24 Plus is also slightly smaller, making it easier to manage. |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 | A tablet/smartphone hybrid foldable and one of the most innovative Samsung devices available. It's arguably the best foldable phone on the market, too. |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 | A stylish and pocket-friendly smartphone that doesn't compromise performance. If you're shopping for your first foldable phone, this is the best place to start. |
Samsung Galaxy A35 5G | You're shopping on a $400 budget. Even then, you'll receive a generous suite of premium features like the 120Hz OLED display, triple-camera setup, and long-lasting battery. |
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G | You're shopping on a $200 budget, but still want a good handset. It's difficult to impress in this price range, but the A15 5G gets the job done. |
Factors to consider when choosing a Samsung phone:
ZDNET writers like myself spent months testing every phone in this best list, while also sourcing opinions and recommendations from industry experts and analysts who have also tested the devices. Here are the key factors that we look for when curating the top picks.
- Design: Unlike how we would compare the best Android phones, comparing Samsung phones across different price points mostly boils down to the hardware. How a phone is designed, what material choices the manufacturer makes, and whether or not the device can take a hit or two are considered when picking the very best.
- Cameras: The camera systems on Samsung phones have gotten really good over the past few years, so much so that you're well off even if you opt for a mid-ranger like the Galaxy A54.
- Special features: If there's one thing that differentiates most Samsung phones from other manufacturers, it's unique features. From the S24 Ultra with its built-in stylus and 200MP camera to the foldable screens of the Z Fold and Z Flip, you'll feel a sense of wonderment when using something that's built differently.
- Availability: Samsung has a reputation for bringing the wildest phones to the press, even if they're not readily available. That's why, every pick on this list can be purchased at the time of writing, whether that's on Samsung's website or at a local carrier store.
How did we test these Samsung phones?
ZDNET's review team spends upwards of a year testing the ins and outs of every Samsung model, evaluating the day-to-day performance, camera quality, battery life and endurance, and more. Here's a breakdown of every factor we consider before we make recommendations:
- Design and ergonomics: How good a phone looks and feels plays a big role in many users' buying journeys, so we consider these aspects heavily when testing.
- Performance: Several factors affect a phone's performance, including LTE/5G signal, battery life, and background tasks. Therefore, we typically begin our evaluations with a fully charged handset, with all background tasks closed, and with as stable of a mobile connection as possible.
- Camera quality: ZDNET tests phone cameras by capturing hundreds of photos and videos of various subjects and in various lighting conditions. We also compare the output to that of older models.
- Battery life and charging: It's also important for us to evaluate how long phones last under light, moderate, and heavy usage, how long they take to recharge, and how they do it (wired, wireless, or both).
- Special features: These features distinguish tested devices from a bustling smartphone market and hopefully bring added value to users, not the opposite.
- Pricing and availability: Beyond budget considerations, we also note if a phone is available in the US or only internationally.
For a more extensive breakdown, check out our comprehensive phone testing methodology page.
What is the newest Samsung phone?
The newest Samsung phone is the Galaxy A35 5G, which offers flagship-esque qualities at a relatively affordable price. For $399, you get a 120Hz AMOLED display, a 5,000mAh battery, and more recent Android 14 software features. At its price point, you'll miss out on some of the newer Galaxy AI features, but it's a trade-off that many customers will likely be willing to make.
Which Samsung phone has the best camera?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has the best camera of any Samsung phone and one of the best overall cameras on the phone market. It features a 200MP main camera along with four accompanying cameras, which allow it to take extremely high-quality shots including close-up images and ones that are ultrawide. The S24 Ultra can also video record in up to 8K UHD quality at 30fps, making it one of the most capable phone cameras money can buy.
Is Samsung S23 worth buying?
A year later, the Samsung Galaxy S23 is still worth buying. Compared to this year's S series phones, the previous generation mainly falls short on Galaxy AI features and camera performance. But even then, for a now depreciated selling price, the Galaxy S23 covers a good 80% of the S24 experience. That makes it the perfect alternative to the latest Samsung phones, even if they're a year older.
What's the next Samsung foldable to look forward to?
Next on the docket are the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, both expected to launch in the summer. The latest rumor mill suggests Samsung is planning to launch the devices a week before the Summer Olympics, as the company is a major sponsor for the sporting event. With the Z Fold 6 specifically, users can expect an improved form factor, an updated processor, and new software features tailored for the foldable design.
Also: 3 ways Samsung can turn the Galaxy Z Fold 6 into my dream foldable phone
Does Samsung have the best Android phone?
The ZDNET team has run extensive tests on the top Android phones in 2024 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra took the top spot, with one of the sharpest and most color-accurate displays on the market, ample amount of RAM and storage, and an exceptional camera system that's reliable even in dimmer environments.
Other Samsung phones we tested:
Be sure to check out ZDNET's comparisons of the best phones and Android phones available. For your further consideration, I've also listed the top Samsung picks that didn't make it on the list below.