Samsung has produced a large number of Galaxy handsets. The $1,200 Galaxy S23 Ultra is the better option if you want a large screen and the most flexible camera setup. With a price tag of about $200, the Galaxy A14 is a good choice if you’re on a tight budget. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5, which are Samsung’s most recent smartphones, are the two foldables available. When we test additional Samsung phones, we’ll make sure to update this list.
Samsung Galaxy phones compared
| Model | US starting price (at launch) | Screen size |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy A14 5G | $200 | 6.6 inches |
| Galaxy A54 5G | $450 | 6.4 inches |
| Galaxy S23 | $800 | 6.1 inches |
| Galaxy S23 Plus | $1,000 | 6.6 inches |
| Galaxy Z Flip 5 | $1,000 | 3.4 inches (cover); 6.7 inches (main) |
| Galaxy S23 Ultra | $1,200 | 6.8 inches |
| Galaxy Z Fold 5 | $1,800 | 6.2 inches (cover); 7.6 inches (main) |
What is the best Samsung phone?
Although the $1,200 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has an abundance of features, most people find it to be excessive. The $800 Galaxy S23 is superior to its Galaxy siblings in our opinion. It is $400 less expensive, runs the same version of Android, and has the same Snapdragon-customized chip as the S23 Ultra. The triple camera setup on the Galaxy S23 is incredibly strong and adaptable, making it perfect for capturing candid moments indoors in a variety of lighting conditions as well as bright outdoor settings. All things considered, Android enthusiasts who value quick performance, good cameras, and a large, bright screen in a small package will find the Galaxy S23 to be perfect.
How to pick the right Samsung phone for you
Choosing the best Samsung phone for you ultimately boils down to your needs and budget, much like with other purchases. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best option if you like taking notes with a stylus, require a camera with a noticeably closer zoom, and want the largest screen that a standard Samsung phone has to offer. However, you’ll also need to budget more than $1,000, unless you manage to get a good trade-in.
The Galaxy S23 or Galaxy S23 Plus are good choices for those who want a top-notch camera but don’t need a stylus and prefer smaller devices. And think about the Galaxy A54 5G if all you really want is a big screen, 5G, and a respectable camera. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 or Galaxy Z Flip 5 should be taken into consideration by those with large budgets who are searching for the newest technology available.
It’s also crucial to think about if upgrading is appropriate at this time. You can probably wait if your phone is two to three years old, relatively new, and still works well. Additionally, Samsung has promised to support four generations of Android operating system updates, which extends the lifespan of devices like the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy A54 5G.
In the end, personal preference will determine which Samsung phone is best. Making the right choice among so many options can be challenging, so read on to find the Samsung phone that’s right for you. See our phone buying guide for additional guidance on selecting the ideal gadget. Uncertain if switching to the Galaxy S23 is worthwhile? For that as well, we have a guide.
Best Samsung phones in 2023
Best premium Android phone
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
In a good way, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a lot. Even though it’s more than the majority of people require in a phone, it’s still quite amazing. Samsung kept the camera’s aggressive design and sizable 6.8-inch screen while enhancing its resolution (200 megapixels versus 108 megapixels), color tones, and dynamic range. A new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor has also been added, which has been tailored especially for Samsung phones and offers faster performance when compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
To say that this phone is pricey would be an understatement given its $1,200 starting price. However, those prepared to shell out extra cash for a large screen and a superior, multipurpose camera won’t be let down.
Pros:
- Fast performance
- Excellent main camera, especially in low light
- Bright screen
- Included stylus
- Double the storage in the base model
- Four years of Android OS updates
Cons:
- High price
- Photos don’t always look natural, especially selfies
- No improvements to fast charging
Best screen size
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
The Goldilocks of smartphones is the Galaxy S23 Plus. It’s just right—not too big, not too small. The 6.8-inch Galaxy S23 Ultra feels more massive than the 6.6-inch screen on the S23 Plus, but it is still large enough to please those who like bigger phones. While the camera is essentially the same, the Galaxy S23 Plus boasts a new processor, a larger battery, and more storage in the base model when compared to the S22 Plus. The Galaxy S23 Plus is the phone to choose if you want a large screen that doesn’t feel enormous, a top-notch camera, and a stylish appearance.
Pros:
- Attractive design
- 4 generations of Android OS updates
- Longer battery life than the Galaxy S22
- Fast performance
- More storage in the base model
Cons:
- Cameras are basically the same as last year
- Expensive
- No improvements to fast charging
Samsung Galaxy S23 ![]()
There aren’t many options available to Android enthusiasts searching for a small phone. However, for those looking for a phone that feels small but still has enough screen real estate, the 6.1-inch Galaxy S23 offers a compelling alternative. The Galaxy S23 boasts standard upgrades such as a slightly redesigned design, a higher-resolution selfie camera, and a new processor (a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 customized for Samsung phones). However, the Galaxy S23 is worth recommending because of its larger battery.
Pros:
- Attractive design
- 4 generations of Android OS updates
- Longer battery life than the Galaxy S22
- Fast performance
Cons:
- Cameras are basically the same as last year
- Expensive
- No improvements to fast charging
- Regular Galaxy S23 lacks base storage upgrade
Best foldable Samsung phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
The greatest advancement Samsug’s flip phone has seen in years is the Galaxy Z Flip 5. You can now take pictures, send messages, and look up directions without opening the phone thanks to Samsung’s significant increase in the size of the cover screen. This, along with the Z Flip’s strong build and long battery life, make it a great choice.
Even though the Z Flip 5 is our favorite flip phone, there are still a few issues to be mindful of. It’s still pricey for a phone without a telephoto camera at $1,000. Furthermore, not every app functions as seamlessly on the front screen as it does on the Motorola Razr Plus.
Pros:
- Big cover screen is fun to use
- New hinge eliminates the gap when closed
- Solid battery life
- More storage in base model
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not all apps work on the cover screen natively
- Apps don’t transition from main screen to cover screen
- Minimal camera updates
Best for productivity and entertainment
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
With the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung’s large-screened foldable gets even better, little by little. The Z Fold 5 is our top pick if you’re looking for a phone that can also function as a tablet to watch movies, run multiple apps at once, or view work-related documents. The Z Fold 5’s bright screen outperforms the Pixel Fold’s cameras for the primary function of the phone—that is, giving you a large display that fits in your pocket.
The $1,800 price tag of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is still difficult to accept and keeps it out of reach for the majority of people. However, the Z Fold 5 is the best version of Samsung’s phone-tablet hybrid to date, if you can afford it.
Pros:
- Better battery life
- New hinge
- Brighter screen
Cons:
- S Pen doesn’t work on cover screen
- Cameras are still just OK
- The $1,800 price tag
$1,919 at Samsung
A great, affordable Samsung Galaxy phone
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
Even though the Galaxy A54 is among the least expensive phones available from Samsung, it still has a ton of amazing features, including 5G connectivity, a respectable dual rear camera setup, a strong battery life, and enough power for your daily needs. It’s one of the last phones that allows you to use microSD cards to increase the internal storage in addition to its attractive appearance.
Although we generally found that the Pixel 6A offers better camera and processor performance and costs less than the Samsung, it’s still a great all-around budget phone.
Pros:
- Big, vibrant screen
- Expandable storage
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Processor and camera performance lags behind cheaper Pixel 6A
Best phone for under $200
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
One of the most capable phones under $200 that is currently on the market is the $200 Samsung Galaxy A14 5G. This Samsung phone is reasonably priced, but it has 5G support for faster data and NFC for contactless payments with Google Wallet. Samsung intends to provide the Galaxy A14 with two years of software updates and five years of security updates, making it a phone that will be secure to use for several years, even though those two inclusions are highlights for this price range.
You should nevertheless be aware that the phone has to make some compromises in order to come in at $200. Its processor is slower, its design is dull, and its photography performance is inconsistent.
Pros:
- NFC for contactless pay
- 90Hz refresh rate
- Good software and security update timeline
Cons:
- Sluggish performance
- Mixed photography
- Single audio speaker
How we test phones
Every phone is put through rigorous testing in real-world conditions, with an emphasis on features, performance, design, cameras, battery life, and overall value. We record our results in an initial review that is updated on a regular basis in response to new software releases or for comparison with newly released phones from rivals such as Apple, Samsung, Google, and OnePlus.
Photography
These days, most phones have a strong photography feature, so we take images and videos of different subjects in a range of environments and lighting conditions. We test out all of the new camera settings, like Action mode (which was introduced with the iPhone 14 series) and Unblur photo tool (which was introduced with the Google Pixel 7 series).
Battery life
Numerous methods are used to test batteries. We evaluate a phone’s endurance over the course of a regular day of use and observe its performance during concentrated periods of gaming, video calls, and media streaming. We also run a video playback test, which is added later in an update and isn’t always included in the first review.
Performance
In addition to our personal firsthand experiences using the phone for our review, we use benchmarking apps to gauge the performance. The way the graphics and animations appear is especially noteworthy. Do they flow well? Or do they falter or lag behind? We also examine how quickly the phone flips between portrait and landscape modes, as well as how quickly the camera app launches and prepares to snap a picture.
We engage in CPU-intensive activities such as photo editing, video exporting, and gaming. We assess whether the features of a given phone’s latest iteration are sufficient to justify switching from earlier models.
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