Samsung makes budget phones, high-end handsets and almost everything in between – including foldables. Here’s how to decide which is right for you
If you’re looking for a new smartphone but don’t want an iPhone, Samsung is probably the first company that comes to mind.
Its Galaxy handsets are established as the main alternative to Apple in many key markets, including the UK and US. While there are plenty of great Android smartphones out there, it’s easy to see why you might side with Samsung.
The Korean firm has a proven track record for solid smartphones at almost every price point. Whether you’re looking for a budget, mid-range, flagship or even folding phone, there’s a Samsung device to suit you.
In this article, we’ll help you decide between them. Each of the 10 devices below has been reviewed and ranked, though you might find something towards the bottom which suits you better. And at the bottom of the page, you’ll find general buying advice regarding what to look out for.
Why you should trust us: Smartphones are our bread and butter here at Tech Advisor, and Samsung is one of the companies we’ve covered most often. We’ve reviewed every handset worth shouting about since the original Samsung Galaxy arrived in 2009, and that won’t be changing anytime soon. We perform in-depth, real-world testing on every smartphone that we review, moving our main SIM card to it for at least a week for the most authentic experience possible.
Updated 5 April 2024: We’ve added all three Samsung Galaxy S24 phones – the S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra – plus the more affordable Galaxy A15 5G and A25 5G.
Best Samsung Galaxy phones 2024
Pros
Top-tier performance
Excellent, versatile cameras
Very good battery life
Stunning large display
Cons
Expensive
Big and bulky
Charging still only 45W
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the most complete smartphone you can buy right now, Samsung or not.
It’s a flagship in pretty much every sense of the word, combining stellar performance with a brilliant display and superb battery life. A total of five cameras (main, ultrawide, 2x telephoto, selfie) are all strong in their own right, but combine to deliver an excellent photography experience.
Throw in genuinely impressive AI features, a useful built-in S Pen stylus and an unrivalled seven years of software updates, and it doesn’t get any better than the S24 Ultra.
Perhaps the only thing that’s not ultra-flagship level is the 45W charging. But if you don’t mind a huge phone with a price tag to match, this is the phone to get.
Pros
Excellent display
Top-tier performance
Incredible battery life
Impressive software
Cons
No S Pen
No expandable storage support
Expensive
When evaluating the S24+, it’s easy to focus on what you’re missing out on compared to the S24 Ultra.
Yes, there’s no secondary telephoto lens, S Pen stylus support, titanium build or 1TB storage option. And while the US still gets the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the Exynos 2400 in the UK is a slight step down.
However, none of those things will be dealbreakers for most people. The cameras are superb, build quality excellent and performance very strong, regardless of where you’re based.
With a gorgeous display, stellar battery life and slick software – including AI features and that seven-year update commitment – most people can save some money and still get this excellent phone.
Pros
Compact and lightweight
Very good performance
Solid cameras
Decent battery life
Cons
Limited storage options
Relatively slow charging
Big phones appear to be the norm these days, with the 6.7-inch S24+ and 6.8-inch S24+ key examples of this. What if you want something a bit smaller?
Enter the regular S24.
