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The best Samsung phone has the performance, camera quality, and features you want at a price within your budget.
It would be too easy to say the top overall Samsung phone is the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the $1,300 model in a league of its own in terms of price and features. It's a stellar phone, but recommending the most expensive of anything is too obvious and doesn't consider value.
Ahead of the release of the company's 2025 flagship series, the best Samsung phone for most people in our testing remains the Galaxy S24, which starts at $800. It includes most of Samsung's high-end features for the best value. For more conservative spending habits, the Galaxy A35 5G is the budget Samsung phone of choice. It's not as powerful as the company's flagship series, but its camera is capable, and its battery life is very impressive for a phone that costs $400.
Our top picks for the best Samsung phone
Best overall: Samsung Galaxy S24 - See at Amazon
Best budget: Samsung Galaxy A35 5G - See at Amazon
Best camera: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra - See at Amazon
Best battery life: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra - See at Amazon
Best small phone: Samsung Galaxy S24 - See at Amazon
Best foldable phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 - See at Amazon
Best overall
The Galaxy S24 runs on the most powerful processor for Android phones released in 2024. It includes three excellent cameras, a super-smooth 120Hz display, Samsung's effective AI features, and stellar battery life, especially for a smaller phone.
- Gorgeous design
- Supreme performance
- 120Hz display
- Dedicated zoom lens
- Excellent battery life
- Useful AI features
- Slower 25W charging than other S24 models
- Photo quality can be inconsistent
- Includes unwanted bloatware
Samsung's Galaxy S24 contains the vast majority of Samsung's premium features, including the company's latest AI software features, and offers the biggest bang for your buck. Unless you specifically value a larger display and faster charging speeds, there's little reason to spend $200 more on the Galaxy S24 Plus.
In the same vein, unless you specifically value a larger display, longer battery life, faster charging, and Samsung's S Pen stylus, there's little reason to upgrade to the Galaxy S24 Ultra for $500 more.
The $800 Galaxy S24 basically has the same performance as the $1,000 Galaxy S24 Plus and $1,300 Galaxy S24 Ultra, as all three models run on the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Optimized for Galaxy processor. Where the Galaxy S24 differs is with its 8GB RAM compared to the 12GB you get standard on the larger models. It resulted in slightly lower benchmark numbers in our testing, but we couldn't tell the difference in normal daily use.
The Galaxy S24 also features the same triple-lens camera system and takes photos in identical quality as the Galaxy S24 Plus, so there's no upgrade by spending $1,000 here.
You'll also find the Galaxy S24 has a similar display with an adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate, but it's limited to 1080p resolution compared to the 1440p resolution of the Galaxy S24 Plus. While technically an upgrade, we found the Galaxy S24's 1080p resolution to be more than sharp enough, and we'd even use the same resolution on the larger Galaxy S24 models, too.
The Galaxy S24 scored surprisingly well in our battery test, ending with a 58% result compared to the Galaxy S24 Plus' 60%. The only disappointing thing about the Galaxy S24 is its comparatively slow 25W charging speed compared to the 45W charging speed on the larger models. Still, it's not a reason to ignore the Galaxy S24.
Realizing that some prefer larger displays regardless of the higher price tag, the Galaxy S24 Plus comes in at a close second, with the added benefit of slightly longer battery life and faster 45W charging.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 review, and see our guide to the best Samsung Galaxy S24 cases to protect the phone.
Best budget
Samsung's Galaxy A35 offers a large 6.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, three cameras (but you're only likely to use two), and a premium-like design. Performance is on par with a mid-range device in the $400 price range, but its battery life beats almost every Android phone we've tested, even the most expensive ones.
- Premium-feeling design
- Large 120Hz AMOLED display
- Surprisingly quick and smooth performance
- Exceptional battery life
- 25W charging speeds
- Poor macro camera quality
- Photos can be overexposed and inconsistent
- Brimming with bloatware
In the sub-$500 price range, Samsung's Galaxy A35 5G stands out with its 120Hz 6.6-inch display and superb battery life for its list price of $400, placing it easily among the best budget Android phones.
The Galaxy A35 obtained one of the best scores of any phone in our intensive battery test, with 65% remaining. That's Galaxy S24 Ultra territory, as the high-end phone scored 66% after our battery test. To top it off, the Galaxy A35 supports 25W charging, which is on the fast side in the budget realm, and the same charging speed as the base Galaxy S24.
The Galaxy A35's excellent battery life pairs nicely with the mid-range Samsung Exynos 1380 processor, which is fairly snappy when running apps. This processor also featured in the Galaxy A35's predecessor, the Galaxy A54, where performance was equally snappy but delivered stuttery animations when swiping around the phone. It seems Samsung has optimized its One UI phone software to run more smoothly on the Exynos 1380 processor.
Photo quality from the main 50MP camera and 8MP ultrawide lens can be surprisingly good and easily mistaken for photos taken with a more expensive premium device. At the same time, the Galaxy A35 can excessively brighten photos and bright details, especially. Still, it doesn't detract from the memories you're trying to capture, and it's an excusable facet of many of the best cheap phones.
Best camera
The Galaxy S24 Ultra was Samsung's top-end phone released in 2024, set apart from its Galaxy S24 siblings and most of the premium phone competition with its four cameras, giant 6.8-inch display, stunning battery life, and included S Pen stylus.
- Gorgeous design with titanium frame
- Supreme performance and battery life
- Stunning 120Hz display
- Versatile four-camera system
- Built-in S Pen
- Effective AI features
- Expensive starting price
- Includes unwanted bloatware
- Photos can suffer from overexposure
With its four camera lenses, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has the best and most versatile camera system among Samsung's latest phone lineup.
Photos taken with the Galaxy S24 Ultra's 200MP main camera don't actually look much better than the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus' photos taken with their 50MP main cameras. Samsung uses the same 10MP 3x zoom camera for all three models, so photos are identical here.
However, the Galaxy S24 Ultra's fourth camera — a 50MP 5x zoom lens — sets it apart. It takes significantly sharper photos of objects and subjects further away at 5x magnification than the 3x lenses common to all the Galaxy S24 models. The 5x lens can also take shots up to 10x in full optical quality without employing digital zoom that degrades quality, thanks to cropping the 50MP sensor's center pixels.
In this regard, the Galaxy S24 Ultra's 5x zoom lens is actually an upgrade from the Galaxy S23 Ultra's 10x zoom lens. According to Samsung, the latest model takes sharper photos between the 3x and 10x zoom ranges, where most people tend to zoom.
It's worth noting that the Galaxy S24 Ultra and all Samsung phones continue to suffer from an issue with overexposing elements of photos and videos in our testing. While this has improved slightly since the Galaxy S23 series, it continues to place them behind any of the best iPhones and best Google Pixel phones in overall camera quality and consistency.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review, and see our guide to the best Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra cases to protect the phone.
Best battery life
As with most phone lineups, the largest model has the best battery life. The Galaxy S24 Ultra ended our battery test with 66% remaining, while the Galaxy S24 Plus ended with 60% and the base Galaxy S24 with 58%. That's a significant difference that has the potential to change your daily charging habit, especially if you're used to smaller phones.
Our battery test puts phones through four tests designed to simulate a mix of heavy and light use. Five runs of the Geekbench 6 CPU test and two runs of the 3D Mark Wild Life Stress Test mimic heavy use, while two hours of video streaming and one hour of music streaming when connected to a Bluetooth speaker mimic light use. At the end of the test, we record the remaining battery percentage, with higher scores suggesting a phone has better battery life.
At the very least, it should impart more confidence that your phone will comfortably last your entire day, even if you have a lot of screen time.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra's score is surprisingly good, considering its 5,000mAh battery is only 100mAh larger than the Galaxy S24 Plus. In addition, the Galaxy S24 Ultra's display is only 0.1 inch larger than the Galaxy S24 Plus. With that in mind, we'd expect better battery life from the Galaxy S24 Plus, but 60% is still an excellent result.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review, and see our guide to the best Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra cases to protect the phone.
Best small phone
Those who prefer phones with smaller displays will be pleased to know that the best small Samsung phone is also our top pick for Samsung phones: the Galaxy S24.
The Galaxy S24 has a 6.2-inch display, which makes it easier to reach everything on the display with one-handed use than most Samsung phones with larger displays. Being the smallest, the Galaxy S24 is also one of the lightest Samsung phones at 5.9 ounces.
The Galaxy S24's overall size is also compact, thanks to the narrow borders around the display that waste as little space as possible.
The Galaxy S24's battery life doesn't suffer as much from being a small phone. It scored 58% in our battery test, which is incredibly close to the Galaxy S24 Plus' 60% score with its large 6.7-inch display. That's an amazing feat considering its 4,000mAh battery compared to the Galaxy S24 Plus' 4,900mAh battery.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 review, and see our guide to the best Samsung Galaxy S24 cases to protect the phone.
Best foldable phone
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 6 features a slightly larger cover screen than previous generations, exclusive Galaxy AI features, and a more powerful processor than its predecessors.
- Wider cover screen is more practical
- Opens into a lightweight tablet
- Smooth 120Hz refresh rate on both displays
- Cost prohibitive
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is one of two foldable phones Samsung currently offers, along with the Galaxy Z Flip 6.
We recommend the Z Fold 6 before the Z Flip 6 if you're looking for a foldable phone from Samsung. Though it starts at $1,900, the Z Fold 6 has a tablet-hybrid design that is substantially more versatile and offers better relative value than the Z Flip 6's compact design.
When folded, the Z Fold 6 has a 6.3-inch exterior screen that runs at a seamless 120Hz and offers the basic functionality of a traditional phone screen. The 0.11-inch, year-over-year widening of the phone's cover display is a subtle yet critical improvement over previous generations of the device, which had cover displays that were narrow to the point of being difficult to use. When unfolded, the phone becomes a lightweight tablet with a 7.6-inch display, which also runs effortlessly at 120Hz.
These factors separate the Z Fold 6 from the Z Flip 6 and justify the $700 difference in starting prices.
In contrast, the clamshell-style Z Flip 6, which starts at $1,100, has a 3.4-inch exterior display that offers comparatively limited use as a notification screen, a viewfinder for the main cameras, a means to control music, and a means to write messages. That said, it's the best foldable phone among competing clamshell devices, whereas the Z Fold 6 is not our first overall recommendation for a tablet-hybrid foldable.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 hands-on assessment, and see our guide to the best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 cases to protect the phone.
Best Samsung phones compared
| Specs | Galaxy S24 | Galaxy A35 5G | Galaxy S24 Ultra | Galaxy Z Fold 6 |
| Starting price | $799.99 | $399.99 | $1,299.99 | $1,899.99 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Optimized for Galaxy | Samsung Exynos 1380 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Optimized for Galaxy | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Optimized for Galaxy |
| Release date | January 2024 | March 2024 | January 2024 | July 2024 |
| Screen size | 6.2 inches | 6.6 inches | 6.8 inches | 6.3 inches (folded), 7.6 inches (unfolded) |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x zoom | 50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro | 200MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x zoom, 10MP 5x zoom | 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x zoom |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB | 128GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
How we test Samsung phones
As with any of the best phones, we thoroughly test Samsung phones by using them as daily drivers for as long as it takes to get a complete picture of their performance, battery life, features, and overall value. Considering our extensive experience with phones, this can take as little as a few days or longer if major new features are introduced.
During testing, we run popular and common apps and games and watch for signs of stuttering or slower-than-expected loading times. We also run the Geekbench 6 CPU and GPU benchmark tests and various benchmark tests in the 3D Mark app to get an idea of year-over-year performance improvements. For AI performance, we have begun benchmarking with the Geekbench AI app.
We test camera quality by taking photos of the same scenes with each lens and comparing them to the same images taken with different phones. When we test a new phone's camera, we bring its competitors to take the same photos at the same time of day and time of year to make accurate comparisons.
We also use Samsung phones to take hundreds of personal photos, which weigh heavily in our assessments. These photos reveal a camera's real-life strengths and shortcomings that a testing scenario often misses, like a photo's clarity where subjects are in motion and the everyday experience of using its camera apps. You may not see these key photos in our reviews, as they often include friends and family, and we respect their privacy.
Our battery life test aims to simulate a mix of light and heavy usage with three hours of screen-on time at a set brightness that's identical on every phone we test. The test includes five runs of the Geekbench 6 CPU test, two runs of the 3D Mark Wild Life Stress Test, one hour of music streaming while the phone is connected to a Bluetooth speaker, and two hours of video streaming. We then note the remaining battery percentage.
FAQs
Which is the best Samsung phone?
From our testing, the best Samsung phone available now is the Galaxy S24, which offers the best overall combination of performance and features for the price. It's also our top pick for the best small Samsung phone and among the best Android phones you can buy.
We're aware that many Android users prefer larger displays, and we wholeheartedly recommend the Galaxy S24 Plus, too, as it's essentially a larger version of the Galaxy S24. Just be aware that it's $200 more for the extra display size. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is technically the best Samsung phone you can buy from a specs standpoint, thanks to its quad-camera system, large display, and S Pen stylus (if you're into that kind of accessory). However, it's also an eye-watering $1,300.
We also recommend several other Samsung phones according to specific criteria.
The best Samsung phone for a more affordable price is the Galaxy A35 5G. It has a large 6.6-inch display that runs at 120Hz, just like a premium phone. Its cameras can take surprisingly good photos for the price, but they can also appear overly bright. Performance is speedy, and battery life is among the best we've tested.
Samsung's best camera phone is the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which offers a stellar four-camera system and is the company's lone phone with a 5x optical zoom lens.
Samsung's best foldable phone is the Galaxy Z Fold 6, a versatile device that can operate as a 6.3-inch phone or a 7.6-inch tablet.
Which is the newest Samsung phone?
Samsung's latest phone in the US is the mid-range Galaxy S24 FE, released in September 2024. It offers many features of the flagship Galaxy S24 series, including Galaxy AI, at a more affordable $650 starting price.
Before that, Samsung's latest releases were the sixth-generation Galaxy Z foldable devices, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6, released in July 2024.
The company's latest flagship Galaxy S-tier phones are the Galaxy S24 models, which include the base Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus, and Galaxy S24 Ultra. These phones were released in January 2024, and the company's new flagship line is expected to launch later this month.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
