Nov 25, 2025 8:30 AM
The Best Samsung Phones
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There’s the iPhone, and then there are Samsung Galaxy phones—those are the two most popular phone brands in the US. But whereas Apple is the sole company behind the iOS mobile operating system, even the best Samsung phones face stiff competition in the Android world. (And yes, Galaxy phones are Android phones, though Samsung calls its layer over Android “One UI.”)
Google’s Pixel phones are my favorite Android devices, but Samsung’s offerings are just as great and often have better hardware. Alongside Google, Samsung promises the longest software support for its cheap and high-end devices. That means you don’t have to upgrade your phone as often, as it will stay up-to-date, secure, and free of bugs for longer. But the Korean giant has many, many models at varying prices. What’s the best Samsung phone? I sort it out here, starting with the Galaxy S25. I also have tips and tricks to get the most out of your shiny new hardware.
Check out our mobile guides, including the Best Samsung Galaxy S25 Cases, Best Galaxy S24 Cases, Best Android Phones, Best Cheap Phones, Best Pixel Phones, and Best Folding Phones.
Updated November 2025: We’ve added the Galaxy S25 FE.
Why Buy Samsung?
The best part of being in the world of Android is choice of hardware. Want a phone with a headphone jack? Sure! Want a gaming phone with two USB-C ports? Why not. Want a phone that fast-charges in around 30 minutes? It exists. So why stick with the stalwart Samsung?
In my experience and research, Samsung’s smartphones have a track record of reliability, and because it’s a major player, it has a wider network of authorized repair centers than competing Android manufacturers. Yes, I remember the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco and even the issues with the first-gen Galaxy Fold, but Samsung now has a customer satisfaction score equal to Apple, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index. That said, I haven’t read great things about the company’s US customer support team.
With its flagship phones, you’re getting top-of-the-line specs and exceptional build quality with long software support. I primarily pick Pixel phones over Samsung because I prefer Google’s software experience, but there are plenty of people who like Samsung’s take on Android. As always, keep an open mind and consider all the other options available to you.
Is Now the Best Time to Buy?
Sort of. If you want a really good Samsung phone, the company has updated every single model in its lineup for 2025. However, if you want the latest and greatest, the Galaxy S26 series is expected to arrive in January. That means you can score a great deal on the S25 right now, but a successor is right around the corner. It’s worth keeping the company’s launch time frames in mind if you only want the latest and greatest.
- The flagship Galaxy S series launches at the start of the year during Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event. The Galaxy S25 series, for example, was announced on January 22 and launched on February 7.
- The budget Galaxy A series typically arrives in the spring (April or May). There are several A series phones so, they usually dribble out during the first few months of the year. In 2025, there are the Galaxy A16, A26, A36, and A56.
- The folding Galaxy Z series has always launched in the summer, and 2025’s event was on July 9, where the company unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7, and Z Flip7 FE.
- The midrange Galaxy FE series is the “Fan Edition,” but this is more or less a slightly cheaper variant of the Galaxy S series. The Galaxy S25 FE was announced in September 2025.
Consider these dates as you shop, because you may want to hold off and wait for the new model, or it can help inform you on when to expect the best discounts.
How Long Are Samsung Phones Supported?
Android phones used to have disastrously poor software support. Two years after you bought your $1,000 phone, it would no longer receive software updates. Thankfully, Google began promising longer software update cycles to its Pixel phones, which ended up pushing Samsung to match it.
The following Samsung phones will receive seven years of software updates from their release date, which includes Android operating system updates and monthly security patches. The latter keep your phone secure, and new OS versions can bring new features to your phone.
- Galaxy S25 FE, Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, Galaxy S25 Edge, and Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7, Galaxy Z Flip7 FE, Galaxy Z Fold6, and Galaxy Z Flip6
Samsung’s latest Galaxy A-series phones, from the A16 and up, will receive six years of updates. Most other older Samsung devices, like some in the Galaxy A series or older flagships, will receive four years of OS updates and five years of security patches starting from the date of release. Some of this varies, as Samsung has kept changing its policy year over year, but there’s a little more helpful information here.
To find out if your Samsung phone has a pending update, go to Settings > Software update > Download and install. It should check for any updates and download them, then you’ll see an option to install it. Make sure you back up your phone before installing any update. We have a guide here.
Why I Recommend Buying Unlocked
Most people buy phones directly from their carrier, but if you’re reading this guide, I suggest you buy an unlocked smartphone. When you buy a carrier phone, it’s “locked” to that network. That means if you want to switch carriers, like move from Verizon to T-Mobile, you’ll have to ask your carrier to unlock the device, and this can be a huge headache. (Especially if you’re traveling and want to use an international SIM card.) Asking a carrier to unlock a phone usually has a few requirements, like making sure your device is paid off or waiting for a set period of time. Unlocked phones, on the other hand, don’t have this problem. You’re free to use whatever carrier you want, whenever.
Carriers also mask the true cost of a smartphone. AT&T may entice you with a $36 per month payment for a shiny new Samsung flagship, when in reality, that means you’re paying $1,300 on a smartphone over 36 months. Did you really want to spend that much? Or will a cheaper phone suffice? Also, you’re more likely to get software updates faster as they come directly from Samsung, and there’s often far less preinstalled bloatware to deal with.
All to say, buy unlocked! You can buy unlocked Galaxy phones directly from Samsung and most third-party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.
The Settings to Change on Your New Samsung Phone
Samsung has an annoying habit of announcing a bunch of cool new features with its smartphones, then leaving them turned off by default. If you’ve never fiddled around with your phone’s settings, there’s a good chance there are a lot of fun and helpful features you’re not using.
This can include things like changing the navigation from onscreen buttons to gesture navigation, adding the battery percentage icon next to the battery bar, or keeping the always-on display turned on instead of requiring a tap on the screen. Good news for you! As I routinely switch phones, I drummed up a list of the most important settings to change when you get a Samsung phone. Read it here. Pro tip: I personally can’t stand using Samsung’s default keyboard, so I almost always change it to Google’s Gboard instead.
Explaining the Galaxy S25 and Qi2
Qi2 is the new wireless charging standard—it takes a page from Apple’s MagSafe technology and embeds magnets directly into the smartphone, allowing it to connect to accessories and chargers magnetically, even the same ones available for iPhones. That has the potential to increase the compatibility of accessories across devices, which is a good thing. The magnets ensure precise charging, so you never worry about a misaligned phone that won’t charge, it offers better efficiency, and can potentially charge faster. We have more details in our Qi2 explainer here.
Confusingly, Samsung’s newest flagship phones are “Qi2 Ready” and technically not true Qi2 smartphones. This means that they have the capability to support Qi2 if paired with a magnetic case, but alone, the S25 series do not have built-in magnets. It’s disappointing and creates more confusion, and already I’ve encountered some cases with varying degrees of magnetic strength, and some cases don’t quite work with basic Qi wireless charging stands.
Which Samsung phones are Qi2 Ready?
- Galaxy S25
- Galaxy S25+
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Galaxy S25 Edge
- Galaxy S25 FE
- Galaxy Z Fold7
- Galaxy Z Flip7
Read our deep dive into “Qi2 Ready” for more. And check out our Best Galaxy S25 Cases guide too.
Qualcomm Snapdragon vs. Exynos Chipsets
A Samsung phone sold in the US may not be the same as a Samsung phone sold in the UK. That’s because Samsung’s Galaxy S series flagship phones have long relied on two different processors. Devices sold in the US and select markets are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors, whereas other regions have Samsung’s homegrown Exynos chipsets. Recently, Samsung has opted to use Qualcomm chips globally, though even in the US, some cheaper Samsung phones employ Exynos.
The gap isn’t as wide between these processors anymore, but there have been issues in the past. Exynos chips tended to overheat a few years ago, though they sometimes offer slightly better battery life than their Qualcomm counterparts. It even greatly impacted camera quality too as the chip handles the image processing. Again, none of this is as big of an issue as it used to be, but it’s worth keeping in mind as you shop.
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The Best Samsung Phone(s)
Note: Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series is expected to arrive in January 2026, so if you want the latest and greatest, try to wait.
The first place to start when considering a Samsung phone is the Galaxy S25 series (7/10, WIRED Recommends), the company’s current flagship lineup. Not much has changed from its predecessors (seriously, many of the specs are identical), but that doesn’t stop them from being excellent and reliable smartphones. The Galaxy S25 is the smallest of the lot with a 6.2-inch screen, and then there’s the Galaxy S25+ at 6.7 inches—choosing between them largely depends on whether you want a small, pocketable phone or a big display. There are minuscule differences in some specs, such as how the S25+ comes with 256 GB of storage, and the bigger size means a beefier battery, but they’re more alike than ever before.
You get every high-end feature you can think of, from UFS 4.0 storage speeds to brilliantly bright AMOLED displays with high 120-Hz refresh rates that ratchet down to 1 Hz to be more energy efficient. The batteries typically last a full day of average use with around 30 to 40 percent left, and there’s an excellent triple-camera system with 3x optical zoom, an ultrawide in addition to the main camera, and a strong selfie shooter. These phones also put out some of the best video footage out of the box, so they’re great for budding TikTokkers. Arguably, the most notable improvement over prior models is performance—the efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset paired with Samsung’s improved cooling technology means it can handle demanding games like Genshin Impact with fewer stutters and without getting warm too quickly. I’m not fond of the design—they’re a bit bland—but at least you can snag them in some unique colors exclusive to Samsung.com.
Samsung focused on several Galaxy AI features in this release, like making Google’s Gemini the default voice assistant when you press and hold the power button. Gemini can now integrate with multiple apps—native Samsung and Google apps—so you can ask it to find the games for your favorite basketball team and add them to your calendar. Some of these AI features, outlined here, are helpful, while others, like Now Brief, are not.
Specs: Galaxy S25 Galaxy S25+ Display: 6.2 inches, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED 6.7 inches, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Processor and RAM: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite with 12 GB of RAM Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite with 12 GB of RAM Storage: 128, 256, or 512 GB 256 or 512 GB Battery: 4,000 mAh 4,900 mAh Cameras: 50-MP main camera, 12-MP ultrawide, 10-MP telephoto (3X), and 12-MP selfie camera 50-MP main camera, 12-MP ultrawide, 10-MP telephoto (3X), and 12-MP selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): 7 years 7 years Extras: Non-magnetic Qi 2.1 wireless charging (Qi2 Ready with case). IP68, fingerprint unlock, NFC, aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 Non-magnetic Qi 2.1 wireless charging (Qi2 Ready with case). IP68, fingerprint unlock, NFC, aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks Works on all three major US networks -
Best Upgrade
Want the best Samsung has to offer? That’d be the Galaxy S25 Ultra (7/10, WIRED Recommends), though it doesn’t feel as “ultra” as its predecessors. This phone shares many specs and features with the standard Galaxy S25 series—even the design is unified—but it has more durable front glass for better drop protection and scratch resistance, as well as a titanium frame. However, this doesn’t mean it’s less prone to breakage (use a case!). It’s the biggest phone of the trio, meaning it has the largest battery, which can extend into the morning of a second day. Notably, the S25 Ultra has a built-in stylus—you pull it out from the bottom and start writing on the screen to jot down notes or doodle when bored on a Zoom call. Unfortunately, Samsung removed the ability to use it as a Bluetooth remote for the camera.
Speaking of, the cameras are where it goes the extra mile—not only is the main camera a 200-megapixel shooter that can preserve more details, but there are also two telephoto cameras in addition to the new and improved 50-megapixel ultrawide. At 3x and 5x, you have better zoom options with great quality, though this starts to diminish in low light. (I do miss the 10x optical zoom from the Galaxy S23.) The ultrawide also performs well in low light and has delivered sharper results than the Google Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
But just because this is Samsung’s top-of-the-line phone, it doesn’t mean this is the right phone for you. If you don’t care about a stylus and don’t use the zoom functions on a smartphone camera much, there are few reasons to spend so much on the S25 Ultra. Also, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is right around the corner.
Specs Display: 6.9 inches, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Processor and RAM: Snapdragon 8 Elite with 12 GB RAM Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB Battery: 5,000 mAh Cameras: 200-MP main, 50-MP ultrawide, 10-MP telephoto (3X), 50-MP telephoto (5X), and 12-MP selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): 7 years Extras: Non-magnetic Qi 2.1 wireless charging (Qi2 Ready with case). IP68. S Pen stylus, fingerprint unlock, NFC, titanium frame, Gorilla Armor 2 front, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 rear Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks
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A Respectable Midrange Phone
The final entry in the Galaxy S25 series is the Galaxy S25 FE. Samsung took the basic foundation of the Galaxy S25 and stripped out a few features to hit a lower price. I never think the “Fan Edition” series is worth the MSRP because it almost immediately dips by around $200 during big sale events—at around $475, that’s when it’s a great deal. However, I do want to point out that there’s not much new here over the previous Galaxy S24 FE; it is an iterative upgrade.
I’ve been using this phone for the past week, and it has operated almost flawlessly. Performance from the Exynos processor hasn’t given me any hiccups, though the phone does tend to get quite warm in specific spots on the back. I tried Genshin Impact, and while I wasn’t experiencing ultra-smooth gameplay, especially when I cranked the graphics, it was playable. The battery has lasted me through a full day of average use, though heavy users may find themselves plugging in by the evening.
The cameras are impressive for the money, especially the 3X optical zoom. I even got some decent photos out of the 10X digital zoom. It’s not amazing in low light, especially when trying to capture a subject that won’t stay still (my dog), and the autofocus can sometimes mess up, so you may find yourself tapping the shutter button a few times extra. The results are still pretty dang good.
You get the same Qi2 Ready wireless charging treatment as the other S25 phones, meaning there are no magnets baked into the device; you’ll need a magnetic case if you want to use the FE with Qi2 chargers. At least you’ll get seven years of software updates. Considering this phone is on sale as of publication for $475, that’s incredible. All things considered, if you don’t want to pay flagship prices and you definitely want a Samsung phone, the S25 FE is the way to go.
Specs Display: 6.7 inch, 60 to 120 Hz, AMOLED Processor and RAM: Samsung Exynos 2400 with 8 GB of RAM Storage: 128 or 256 GB Battery: 4,900 mAh Cameras: 50-MP main camera, 12-MP ultrawide, 8-MP telephoto (3X), and 12-MP selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): 7 years Extras: Qi wireless charging (Qi2 Ready with case), IP68, fingerprint unlock, NFC, Gorilla Glass Victus+, Wi-Fi 6E Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks -
Best Budget Samsung Phone
Samsung makes solid budget phones, but not the best. I highly recommend glossing through my Best Cheap Phones guide because you might be better served with a Pixel 9a, Nothing Phone (3a), or Moto G Stylus. But if you want to stick with Samsung, the Galaxy A26 (6/10, WIRED Review) is the best at the moment. It’s not flashy—the glossy black design is dull and attracts a ton of smudges and dust—but it has many of the features you want for not much money.
Performance is standout here. The Exynos 1380 delivers a mostly smooth experience, with few stutters, and the 120-Hz 6.7-inch screen helps things feel fluid. The screen is bright enough to read on sunny days, though the colors get washed out at the max brightness. This is one of the last few Samsung phones with a microSD card slot, if that matters to you, so you can expand storage on top of the base 128 GB. The battery easily lasts a full day with average use, and the best part is Samsung will deliver six years of updates—OS and security patches—which is unparalleled at this price.
Specs Display: 6.7-inch 120 Hz, AMOLED Processor and RAM: Samsung Exynos 1380 with 6 GB of RAM Storage: 128 GB with microSD slot Battery: 5,000 mAh Cameras: 50-MP main camera, 8-MP ultrawide, 2-MP macro, and 13-MP selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): 6 years Extras: IP67, eSIM, NFC, fingerprint unlock Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks
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An Ultra-Thin Samsung Phone
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Have you ever wanted a really thin and lightweight phone? No? Well, Samsung has an option for you anyway. The late-entry Galaxy S25 Edge (6/10, WIRED Review) sits in the middle of Samsung’s flagship lineup and matches several features of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, like a titanium frame, stronger front glass, and 4K 120 fps video recording. All the cameras even have autofocus. But it made several sacrifices to achieve its amazingly slim 5.8-mm frame (for context, the S25 Ultra is 8.2 mm thick). There’s no stylus, no telephoto camera, and worst of all, the battery capacity has been slashed.
We’ve seen this before—thin phones have always compromised on battery life, and that’s no different here. I constantly had to baby this phone’s 3,900-mAh battery with average to heavy usage, and that’s just not acceptable for a $1,100 smartphone today. If you find yourself constantly near a power source and you think you’ll enjoy the slim and light design, then go for it. It’s still an excellent flagship in many other ways. But battery life is routinely a top concern for most people, and it’ll disappoint here.
Specs Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Display: 6.7 inch, 120 Hz, AMOLED Processor and RAM: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite with 12 GB RAM Storage: 256 or 512 GB Battery: 3,900 mAh Cameras: 200-MP main, 12-MP ultrawide, 12-MP selfie camera Updates: 7 years Extras: Qi2 Ready 15-watt wireless charging, 25-watt fast charging, IP68, titanium frame, NFC, fingerprint unlock Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks -
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A Great Flip Phone
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip7 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) isn’t my favorite flip-style folding phone—that’d be the Motorola Razr Ultra—but this version has made some nice changes that make the phone thinner with bigger screens and a more durable hinge mechanism. The external screen is now 4.1 inches, so you can see more content at a glance, though annoyingly, you need to install an app called Multistar if you want to open any app on this display. Open it up, and you get a 6.9-inch screen that’s bright, sharp, and colorful. Performance is great, though the phone does get a little too warm for my liking. Unfortunately, battery life is lackluster. Most people may struggle to last a full day on a single charge.
The cameras are solid, but Samsung is facing serious competition this year from the Razr Ultra. In head-to-head comparisons, I ended up liking more photos from the Razr over the Flip7, which is quite shocking considering Samsung usually wins in the camera department. Still, if you want to stick with a Samsung phone—it’ll get far more software updates and has a better repair network, after all—the Flip7 is a satisfactory update that looks great and is wonderfully pocketable.
Specs External display: 4.1 inches, 120 Hz, AMOLED, Internal display: 6.9 inches, 120 Hz, AMOLED Processor and RAM: Samsung Exynos 2500 with 12 GB of RAM Storage: 256 or 512 GB Battery: 4,300 mAh Cameras: 50-MP main camera, 12-MP ultrawide, 10-MP inner selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): 7 years Extras: Qi2-Ready wireless charging, IP48, fingerprint sensor, NFC Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks
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Samsung’s Flagship Folding Phone
The Galaxy Z Fold7 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the most expensive smartphone in Samsung’s lineup. While the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra wins in many respects, there’s now better feature parity between the two devices, so you won’t feel like you’re losing out by going with the Fold7. (The only major losses are the lack of the S Pen stylus and the missing 5X optical zoom camera.) The cameras are much closer in quality thanks to both utilizing a 200-megapixel main sensor, and while the 3X optical camera is nice to have, I really do miss the 5X zoom on the Ultra.
Samsung slimmed down the phone considerably, making it wider in the process and lighter. It’s overall much nicer to hold and type on—even lighter than the iPhone 17 Pro Max! The build quality is excellent, with a reliable hinge and a crease that’s easy to ignore. Battery life is unimpressive, though, just about getting through a day, though far less if you opt to use the inner screen more often.
If you want a booklike folding phone and have the cash, this is the best you’ll find at the moment.
Specs External display: 6.5 inches, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Internal display: 8 inches, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Processor and RAM: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite with 12 GB of RAM Storage: 256, 512 GB, or 1 TB Battery: 4,400 mAh Cameras: 200-MP main camera, 10-MP telephoto (3X optical), 12-MP ultrawide, 10-MP outer selfie camera, 10-MP inner selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): 7 years Extras: Qi2-Ready wireless charging, IP48, fingerprint unlock, NFC Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks -
The 2024 Flagships
There’s nothing wrong with buying the previous generation of flagship phone. You often can score a good deal, especially on the used marketplace, and frankly, the Galaxy S24 series (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is shockingly identical to the latest Galaxy S25 devices. There’s the 6.2-inch Galaxy S24, 6.7-inch Galaxy S24+, and 6.8-inch Galaxy S24 Ultra. They’re powerful through and through, though they get a little warm and may not deliver as smooth gameplay in intensive games as much as the newer Galaxy S25 series. (Performance is otherwise pretty flawless.) I break down each of these devices even further here if you’re stumped on which one to get. Just don’t pay MSRP—you may as well buy the latest and greatest if that’s the case.
Galaxy S24 Galaxy S24+ Galaxy S24 Ultra Display: 6.2 inch, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED 6.7 inch, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED 6.8 inch, 120-Hz LTPO, AMOLED Processor and RAM: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 8 GB RAM Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 12 GB RAM Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 12 GB RAM Storage: 128 and 256 GB 256 and 512 GB 256, 512 GB, 1 TB Battery: 4,000 mAh 4,900 mAh 5,000 mAh Cameras: 50-MP main camera, 12-MP ultrawide, 10-MP telephoto, and 12-MP selfie camera 50-MP main camera, 12-MP ultrawide, 10-MP telephoto, and 12-MP selfie camera 200-MP main camera, 12-MP ultrawide, 10-MP telephoto (3X), 50-MP telephoto (5X), and 12-MP selfie camera Updates (from date of manufacture): 7 years 7 years 7 years Extras: Wireless charging, IP68, fingerprint unlock, NFC Wireless charging, IP68, fingerprint unlock, NFC Wireless charging, IP68, fingerprint unlock, NFC, titanium frame, S Pen stylus Carrier compatibility: Works on all three major US networks Works on all three major US networks Works on all three major US networks
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Other Samsung Phones to Consider
If you don’t see a Samsung phone mentioned in this guide, that might be because it’s not sold in the US and is a little harder to source for testing. But here are a few other Samsung phones I’ve tested to consider.
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G for $400: The Galaxy A36 (6/10, WIRED Review) doesn’t quite measure up to its peers from Nothing and Motorola. Performance is just too choppy, and that’s not acceptable at this price. It’s manageable—it’s not so slow that it will frustrate—but you can do better. If your needs are very minimal, it’s an OK phone, and the camera system is good, with day-long battery life, a nice AMOLED screen, and 6 years of software updates.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE for $565: The Galaxy S24 FE is not worth the price, considering the Galaxy S25 FE is enjoying a better discount, but it’s a perfectly fine smartphone. It uses Samsung’s Exynos processor, and I haven’t had any performance issues whatsoever; my benchmark scores put it a smidge below the Galaxy S24 and its Snapdragon chipset. You still get access to all the original Galaxy AI features, nearly the same triple-camera experience, the 7-year software update policy, and perks like IP68 water resistance and wireless charging. What you miss out on are a higher resolution display, extra RAM, and more storage options. The bezels are a smidge thicker around the screen, which doesn’t support LTPO (the tech that allows the display to move from 1 Hz to 120 Hz to conserve battery life). The fingerprint scanner is also optical and not ultrasonic, and while it’s been quite responsive for me, ultrasonic scanners are often more reliable. Battery life has been solid; after several weeks of use, I average 30 percent left in the tank by midnight, and that’s with a few hours of GPS navigation and music streaming thrown in, not to mention too many hours of riffling through Instagram Reels.
Samsung Galaxy A16 for $170: Samsung’s Galaxy A16 still doesn’t reach the highs of the Galaxy A14, and that’s largely due to sluggish performance. Sure, Samsung is promising six years of software updates, but that remarkable update window doesn’t matter when the phone is frustratingly slow, and you want to throw it out the window. If you barely plan on using this device but want something from a reliable brand that will stay secure, the Galaxy A16 is fine. Its performance just isn’t competitive with other similarly priced phones.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 for $1,900 or Galaxy Z Flip6 for $900: If you don’t want to pay a premium for a new folding phone, then consider last year’s Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip7 (7/10, WIRED Review). The Fold6 has a close to “normal” smartphone experience on the exterior 6.3-inch screen. Open the phone up, and there’s a vast 7.6-inch AMOLED screen staring at your face, turning this folding phone into a tiny tablet. The Flip6 isn’t as nice as the newer Flip7—the bigger and brighter cover screen on the latest model is a step up—but it’s worth considering over the new Galaxy Z Flip7 FE. Technically, it’s nearly identical to that phone, but the FE uses a Samsung Exynos chip instead of a Qualcomm processor, and performance may not be as smooth. The main drawback? Battery life isn’t great. Make sure you don’t pay MSRP for these 2024 phones.
If you’re looking to save some cash, it’s fine to buy Samsung’s Galaxy S23 range or the Galaxy S23 FE from 2023, as long as the prices are a good deal lower than the original MSRP. (They’re hard to find at most major retailers.) These phones will still get support for a while, and they’re pretty great. I don’t think it’s worth buying anything older.
Should You Invest in Samsung’s Ecosystem?
Samsung is one of the few smartphone manufacturers that can match Apple in its hardware ecosystem. Not only does the company make smartphones, but you can also expand your experience by adding on a Galaxy Watch8 smartwatch, Galaxy Buds3 Pro earbuds, Galaxy Ring fitness ring, Galaxy Tab S10+ tablet, and even a Windows-powered Galaxy laptop.
There are certain perks to this, like how some features on the Galaxy Ring and Watch8 are only available when paired with a Samsung phone, and its earbuds will automatically switch between Samsung devices based on what you’re using. There’s not much in the way of exclusive features when using a Galaxy phone with a Galaxy laptop, but features like Quick Share let you speedily send photos and documents between your devices.
Again, it’s not necessary, and these other devices might not be the right ones for you within their respective categories, but if you’re chasing hardware parity, you have that option with Samsung.
What Is Galaxy AI?
With the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung launched “Galaxy AI,” a selection of artificial intelligence features, many of which are powered by Google’s Gemini large language models. These enable smart features that may be helpful day to day, like real-time translations during phone calls, real-time transcriptions in Samsung’s Voice Recorder app, the ability to summarize long paragraphs of text in the Samsung Notes app, or change a sentence’s tone with the Samsung Keyboard.
In the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy AI expanded to include Gemini as the default voice assistant and the ability for Gemini to work with multiple apps simultaneously. It also debuted Drawing Assist, which lets you sketch or enter a prompt and get an AI-generated image. Now, you can also use video in real-time with Gemini, even from the cover screen of the Galaxy Z Flip7.
You can find many of these features by heading to Settings > Galaxy AI to toggle them on or off. We have an explainer on how to limit Galaxy AI to on-device processing, too.
What Is Samsung DeX?
Samsung’s DeX (short for “desktop experience”) launched in 2017, and it’s a way to plug in your Samsung phone to an external monitor and trigger a desktop version of the Android OS, all completely powered by the phone. You can find a list of compatible Samsung phones here—the Flip7 is the first Galaxy Flip to support DeX—and you’ll need a monitor, mouse, and keyboard, plus a cable to connect the phone to the monitor. (You can also cast DeX to select screens wirelessly.)
When in DeX mode, you can resize Android apps and have them all open in separate windows. It’s a proper computing platform, though you probably won’t want to use this as a permanent laptop replacement or anything of the sort. It’s great if you’re visiting another office, or working out of a coffee shop or airplane (if you have a portable display). We have a whole guide to setting up and using DeX here.
How I Test Phones
I’ve been reviewing smartphones for a decade, but one of my earliest smart devices was a Samsung Galaxy Captivate, which I got for “free” from my carrier at the time. After working during college, I finally saved enough cash for a Galaxy S3, my first flagship. I’ve spent years using Samsung phones in my personal life and began reviewing them for work not too long after.
With each Samsung smartphone, I always put my personal SIM card inside and spend as long as I can (a few weeks) using the phone as my own. I do camera testing and compare the results with similarly priced devices, I benchmark performance and play graphically demanding games to see how they fare, I try out all the new features, and even take calls to make sure that ol’ function still works fine.
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