In a simple game of word association, we would wager that if we ventured ‘Samsung’, the very first thing to pop into your head would be one of the brand’s handsets.
Samsung is perhaps most famous for its collection of high-spec, souped-up mobile phones, each loaded with so many features and tech wizardry that to call them the king of Androids wouldn’t be too far off the mark.
The Seoul-based brand is a regular contender against Silicon Valley’s Apple in comparison lists and roundups around the world, and rightly so. Samsung might be at the top of the heap, but that doesn’t mean its engineers and innovators rest on their laurels.
What are Samsung’s phone ranges?
Samsung offers dozens of handsets across capabilities and price brackets, so it can be tricky for both a novice and an expert to keep track.
There are three main series under Samsung Galaxy: A, S and Z.
Best for budget: A series
These phones are, according to the brand, both dependable and affordable while offering the sort of innovation that has customers lining up in droves. There are 19 Galaxy A options listed on Samsung’s website, with the cheapest, the A04s, coming in at just £139. Incredible. It’s perfect if you want to buy a handset outright and pair it with a low-cost SIM - generally cheaper than signing up for a contract.
Best for mid-range: S series
Samsung typically starts every year with a fresh S series launch - it has done since 2010. The most recent is S23, which comprises the standard S23, as well as Galaxy S23+, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The slim chassis has some seriously impressive tech under the shiny hood, from a new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset especially modified by Qualcomm for Samsung, to high-zoom cameras, long-life batteries and glorious dynamic displays. No wonder Galaxy S handsets are amongst the most coveted in the Android market.
Prices start at £549 for a refurbished S20+.
Best for tech addicts: Z series
With the launch of Z series, Samsung unveiled a look at the future of mobile phones. This collection is made up of its game-changing folding phones: the Flip, which, er flips, in half and the Fold, which opens and closes like a book, going from phone to tablet in one move.
The first foldable hit the market in 2019 with flexing hinges that took the public by storm. In 2024, the Fold and Flip are each in its sixth iteration, operating at its finest yet.
Which phone is the best?
So that’s the line-up, but we know that you’re here to figure out which phone is the best.
Well, that varies, as the best phone will depend on your unique set of circumstances and requirements.
If you’re after high tech at a price that won’t make your bank manager faint, the A series will be the best option, but if you want superior performance - and you’re prepared to pay for it, through an outright purchase or a contract - the S and Z series phones are the finest Samsung has to offer. While the most recent drops will undeniably be the best, if money is an issue, look to models that are a year or two years older. They may have slightly diminished specs but with hundreds wiped off the RRP, you probably won’t mind.
While the best Samsung phone will vary from person to person, here are the best models we think you need to know more about.
Shop now
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
This impressive new launch from Samsung only gets better the more time you spend with it.
From a sharp and bright display and a whip-fast processor to incredible zoom on the cameras and auto adjust that picks out the finest detail, this may be the most capable handset on the market today. The slightly larger main display and sharper corners make the most of every millimetre so you’re getting as much viewing and browsing space as possible (especially helpful when you’re using multiple apps at once).
The 120hz refresh rate is perfect for streaming shows, scrolling your newsfeed or catching up on the latest headlines, not to mention remote working, especially with the Multi View feature which allows you to see up to three apps at once.
Its range of developed AI features is what makes the Galaxy Z Fold6 soar above the competition, from Live Translate, Chat Assist, Browsing Assist and its much-celebrated Circle to Search innovation (in partnership with Google). This tech is reflected in the elevated RRP, but if you can afford it, it’s the best phone for your pocket. Oh and the folding mechanism? Well, that never gets old.
The phone is powered by a 4400mAh battery but there’s also super fast charging to get your handset back up to full power quicker.
Samsung has once again raised the bar for mobile technology with this device, leaving the competition quaking in its wake.
Buy now £1799.00, Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
Samsung’s other foldable is the Flip. This fun compact clamshell bears more of a resemblance to the flip phones of old, but with miles more polish.
For your money, you can expect superior power in the palm of your hand with many of the AI features and durability that you will find in the Fold.
The cover display gives you 8.6cm, while opened you’ll get 17cm of beautifully rich viewing space for your eyeballs. You can also take hands-free pics and use the cover display as your main screen, all without having to open your phone to full tilt. The battery has been given an upgrade, going from 3700mAh in the Fold5 to 4000mAh in the latest version.
It boasts durability with an IP48 rating (which means it can block out water but isn’t great at doing the same with dust), plus Gorilla Glass over the main and cover screens. Like its sister the Fold, this flip phone also benefits from an improved Flex Hinge, fitting nicely in your bag or pocket as well as your hands.
The cameras include a 10MP Selfie Camera on the front and 12MP Ultra Wide Camera and 50MP Wide-angle Camera on the rear with a 10x zoom as the cherry on top.
Now the good stuff: the AI features. The Flip boasts many of the same technologies housed in its bigger sister, the Fold6. We’re talking things like Live Translate which decodes foreign languages on screen and an interpreter feature for having real-time conversations with everyone from tour guides to waiting staff on the front and main screen via written text as well as audio (sparing you the shame of mispronunciation). There are 16 languages available right now, with plans to take it to 20 before the end of 2024.
There's also Circle to Search, transcribing, note taking and photo editing with sorcery-like AI extras.
The Flip also comes in a spectrum of colours, giving it appeal amongst the fashion-conscious crowd. Get it in - deep breath now - light grey, mint, blue, yellow, or black, white or orange exclusively at Samsung.
Also available at Amazon.
Buy now £1049.00, John Lewis
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Currently the newest and most souped-up S series phone in Samsung’s lineup, the S23 Ultra is the culmination of everything the tech giant has learnt since its first launch in 2010.
One of the things it has taken on board is the environment; this is Samsung’s most eco-friendly device using recycled glass and PET film to accent the phone’s exterior. It may feel like small moves but it’s a good start - especially for a brand this big.
Coming to the design itself, you’re looking at a beautifully bold and bright 6.8-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED screen with an ‘Infinity-O Display’ that is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. For gamers, readers and streamers, this thing is a delight with a 120Hz refresh rate, so that games and video content are smooth and sharp, allowing for full immersion into whatever you’re doing.
Camera-wise, you’re in for a treat. At the front is a 12GB selfie snapper, while the back of the device is home to a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, a 10-megapixel Telephoto camera and – this is the mind-blowing one – a 200MP Wide-angle camera. Take an idle photo at home, and you can zoom in to see the individual fibres of the living room carpet in a snap taken from the kitchen. It’s bordering on the ridiculous.
Mind you, that zoom may come in useful on your next snorkelling session: the S23 Ultra boasts an IP68 waterproof rating which means it can be submerged for up to half an hour to a depth of 1.5m. If you want to add ‘amateur underwater photographer’ to your CV, this phone will get you a lot closer.
All of this runs on a Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and options on storage run from 256GB up to 1TB and RAM from 8GB up to 12GB.
Buy now £1169.28, Amazon
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Proving that buying a slightly older phone pays off - for your bank balance at least - the S22 Ultra is nearly £500 cheaper than the latest S23 Ultra.
The two are remarkably similar with high-spec cameras, a hardworking 5000mAh battery and Nightography function which delivers crisp shots, even in the darkness. They both share a 6.8-inch screen size but they run on different processors. The S22 Ultra uses Exynos 2200 while the newer S23 is supported by Octa-Core Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 which offers a smoother experience on the Dynamic AMOLED 2x display, which both phones boast, along with a speedy 120Hz refresh rate.
The S22 even comes with an S Pen stylus that slots into the base of the phone, giving the ability to write and sketch as confidently as if you were using pen and paper.
Buy now £549.00, Amazon
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
Samsung has centred this phone around the word ‘awesome’, and while it may be on the budget end of the brand’s offering, it does live up to expectations.
It’s a handset that feels ideal for students, backpackers or anyone who doesn’t mind not having the latest tech in their pocket, with the ability to take great snaps - even in low light settings - supported with automatic reframing and refocus when you’re shooting video content. There are four cameras to play with: a 32MP one on the front, and on the back: 12MP Ultra Wide, 50MP Main Cam and 5MP Macro Cam.
With a refresh rate of 120Hz, streaming and shooting content promises to be a glitch-free experience.
Battery life is also a noteworthy feature (4860mAh), going for up to two days on a single charge, while a powerful octa-core processor offers excellent levels of performance and capacity.
It’s waterproof with an IP67 rating, so it will survive accidental as well as intentional submersion to one metre for up to 30 minutes.
Buy now £258.00, Amazon
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
Committed to Samsung but struggling to justify the price of the company’s flagship models? The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is a great halfway house between dependable specs and the quality you expect from this industry leader.
The 90Hz refresh rate on the 6.5-inch screen and MediaTek Dimensity 720 5G processor promise smooth performance and a slick experience, while the 48MP camera promises high-quality images, although you can expect the normal tendency for oversaturation that you find in most Samsung handsets. It turns on a 5000 mAh battery and an Android 11 operating system.
It also includes a MicroSD slot, headphone jack, fingerprint sensor and NFC, plus 5G connectivity, making it a well-rounded and easy-to-use smartphone that will work for those on a budget.
Buy now £174.99, Amazon
