We've tried every Samsung phone, and these are the best picks for you

We've been around longer than Samsung debuted its first Galaxy series smartphone, and we have tried every single model since they debuted. So, it's safe to say we have a good handle on which ones are worth your money.

When it comes to the best Samsung phones, the Galaxy S25 series is the latest. You'll get the most up-to-date features and powerful software along with the sleekest hardware with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. If you are looking to save some money but still get into the Galaxy ecosystem with a solid contender, the Galaxy S25 Edge is slim, lightweight, yet still premium. It makes some compromises to get to such a svelte design, however, and it's important to know what those are before you dive in.

There are also the Flip and Fold lines, which offer a unique design proposition with a handy inner and outer screen for those who are willing to fork over the dough for these futuristic looking phones. Conversely, Samsung has affordable models in the line, notably with its A series devices, that are a wonderful entry point into the Galaxy world without breaking the bank.

The great news across the board is that the latest Samsung phones come with seven years of software and security updates, which ranks among the best of any brand. So, whether you go for something uber-expensive or cheaper, you're getting tons of value and longevity.

At a glance

Best overall

If only the latest and greatest will do, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the phone for you. It houses the most powerful processor Samsung has ever put in a phone — that's the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor — which even puts Apple's latest processors to shame. It's based on Qualcomm's laptop chips and enables new Galaxy AI features. It's also future-proofed and will help Samsung deliver new AI features in the years to come with its seven-year OS upgrade guarantee.

If that wasn't enough to sway you, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a bigger 6.9-inch display with the same great tech as last year's model. It's a 120Hz, variable refresh rate panel with QHD+ resolution and inbuilt S Pen support. There's also a new, 50MP ultrawide camera for your photography needs. Plus, the new rounded corners ensure that your palms won't get uncomfortably poked while holding this big, beautiful phone.

Of course, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is a massive phone with a price tag just as big, so read on if you're looking for something different.

Best flagship

Some people want all the bells and whistles, but a lot of people just want a phone that works great and will last a long time without slowing down. That's where the Samsung Galaxy S25 comes in. I recommend it as the more sensible option for people who want a great flagship phone that's both smaller and cheaper than the Ultra variant.

Despite that, the Galaxy S25 shares many of the things that make the Galaxy S25 Ultra great. That includes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, new Galaxy AI tools, and a seven-year OS upgrade guarantee. You get all this for the same starting price as the Galaxy S24, too.

The Galaxy S25 is equipped with the same 6.2-inch AMOLED display as the Galaxy S24, with a 120Hz variable refresh rate. That isn't a bad thing, because the Galaxy S25 is smaller, thinner, and lighter. It's one of the best compact flagships on the market, if not the best.

Best foldable

While we're typically more inclined to recommend a Motorola Razr as the best flip phone, Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 6 beats Motorola's best in a few key areas. First off, it's got a much more powerful processor than two of Motorola's flips, and Samsung's expertise shows in sustained performance versus the Razr Ultra. Samsung also bumped up the camera specs this time around, making it the best camera you can buy on a flip phone today.

If those two reasons weren't enough to choose a Galaxy Z Flip 6, maybe the seven-year software promise will help a lot. Not only does Samsung offer a great hardware warranty in case something happens to your Z Flip, but the company also guarantees Android updates through 2030. No other flip phone manufacturer makes that guarantee!

Like the Z Flip 5, the Flip 6 is water-resistant and is built to withstand the rigors of everyday life, but that also includes protection against larger solid particles this time. While it's not quite the dust protection we've been asking for, the IP48 rating for the Flip 6 is a step in the right direction. Overall, it's a decent upgrade over the Flip 5, but is more attractive if you can find it at a discount.

Note that Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Z Flip 7, which boasts some improvements, like an edge-to-edge cover screen with the Now Bar and the Now Brief accessible there, snappier 120Hz refresh rate, and improved battery life. We haven't had a deep dive into this model yet, but if you want the latest and greatest, it's worth waiting for. Otherwise, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 remains a solid choice, especially as it comes down in price with still six years to go on the update cycle.

Best premium foldable

I love big phones, which is why I love taking a foldable like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 around wherever I go. This time around, Samsung has further refined the hardware, slimming it down, squaring off the corners of the folding screen, and adding an IP48 ingress protection against large dust particles. It's also a few millimeters shorter and wider, making the outer display a tad more friendly when typing.

While the battery size is the same as the Z Fold 5, the battery life is still excellent thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, which is not only more powerful, but it's also far more power efficient. We wish Samsung would have improved the charging speeds, though, as it's still stuck at 25W while competitors like the OnePlus Open charge three times faster.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 was also the recipient of better camera software, improved foldable glass screen durability, and new Galaxy AI features. Its wide availability and decent long-term software support of four years make the Z Fold 6 a great choice for power users.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has been followed up by the Galaxy Z Fold 7. In our initial hands-on with that device, we enjoyed the wider screen, redesigned hinge, and incredibly thin design. Keep an eye on this model as well, if you're willing to spend a few extra bucks to get the newer version.

Best mid-range Galaxy

Like the Galaxy A55 before it, the Samsung Galaxy A56 continues the legacy of the top-tier A-series mid-range smartphones, bringing you great cameras, outstanding battery life, and expandable storage in a phone that costs under $500. If you already own a Galaxy A55 though, you might want to skip this as it doesn't really offer any meaningful upgrades.

The 2025 refresh brings with it a few minor upgrades for roughly the same cost. For starters, it now gets Gorilla Glass Victus Plus for the front and back panels, while most other phones at this price range get 2013's Gorilla Glass 3 or something equally old. The next change is the SoC, which is now an Exynos 1580 chip built on the 4nm process.

The display on the Galaxy A56 is larger at 6.7 inches, including a peak brightness level bump. The rest of the specs and features are more or less the same as before. There's a 50MP main camera, an IP67 rating for dust and water-proofing, and the phone comes with Android 15. Samsung is promising seven years of updates for the A56, which is very good for a sub-$500 smartphone.

Best budget Galaxy

The Galaxy A16 5G isn't Samsung's cheapest Galaxy phone, but it isn't far off. Even so, it gets better update support than some flagships with Android 14 out of the box and six years of software updates promised. It has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh which looks nice, and Samsung has switched from the Mediatek Dimensity 6100+ chipset to an Exynos 1330 chip which should be more potent.

The camera system is decent for this level of phone with the ability to snap some solid pictures in good lighting thanks to the 50MP main sensor. You can take photos all day with the large 5000mAh battery, and storage can be expanded with a microSD card. Samsung ditched the 3.5mm jack this time around, which is a huge shame, but at least there are some dirt-cheap (and really good) wireless earbuds available these days.

This phone supports 5G and if you get the version made for the U.S., it will work on just about any carrier.

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How to choose

Get the right specs

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Samsung phones are updated every year, and while long-term software support and quality hardware means you don't need to upgrade your phone annually, there are often worthwhile upgrades to entice you to pass on your old one and grab something new. Samsung has even started giving its mid-range phones like the Galaxy S24 FE, seven years of Android upgrades.

As of now, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the best Samsung phone of 2025, primarily due to its sophisticated blend of super-powered hardware and impressive software features. The 120Hz AMOLED display is sublime, the internal hardware is the fastest of any phone today, and the 200MP camera outclasses most other sensors without trying.

Premium specs often come at a premium price, so the S25 Ultra may not be the best choice for everyone. If you're working with a smaller budget, the base model Galaxy S25 is almost just as good. The S25 boasts a vibrant 120Hz screen with a compact 6.2-inch construction, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor — when paired with the 4,000mAh battery — makes the phone run smoother and more efficiently than any base model Galaxy phone to date.

On the more affordable end, Samsung offers the Galaxy A55 5G with hints of the flagship Galaxy S models trickled down to a mid-range price that can be incredibly appealing if you can't push your budget as high as the S25 models. The Galaxy A55 finally switches to a metal and glass build, has a 120Hz AMOLED screen, 5G connectivity, and comes with a promise of four Android OS upgrades.

The Galaxy A35 is also worth a look as it's nearly identical to the A55 and is cheaper, but you should only choose that if you don't care much about mediocre cameras and performance.

If you're into the flip and foldable style phones, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 cost more but will be conversation starters. If you want to wait or you're willing to save up some more coin, the newer Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 offer improvements that you might find justify the cost. Please, they're all just downright cool.

Should you pick a Samsung over an iPhone?

When you compare a Samsung Galaxy phone to an Apple iPhone, we think there's no real contest. While Apple's products have plenty of positive traits — including great customer service at physical Apple Stores — Samsung's phones are feature-rich and often feel a step ahead in terms of technology.

From a physical design standpoint, Samsung phones usually sport bigger screens with smaller bezels around the edges, sleek designs, and sometimes even extra special features like the S Pen built into phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung's displays are world-class and are the brightest you'll find in any phone. There's a reason even Apple uses Samsung displays in its phones.

On top of that, Samsung has been leading the pack in innovation, with devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 (and now the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7), which offer large and impressive foldable glass displays in pocket-friendly form factors.

On the software front, Samsung offers great long-term support for its flagship Galaxy S phones, affordable Galaxy A phones, and its folding phones. The flagships get seven years of support while the more affordable models still get a very competitive four years. We're talking years of support, and optional add-ons like Samsung Care+ are often better than insurance offered through your carrier of choice. Plus, Samsung's AI features keep getting better and are trickling down to lower models too.

Samsung phones ship with a bevy of options that cater to every kind of user, from beginners to power users. And optional downloads like Samsung Good Lock offer customization options that Apple users could only dream of, including plenty of features that most other Android phones don't offer either.

Samsung phones are powered by Android — that's the world's most popular operating system if you didn't know — which means they are compatible with a dizzying array of great accessories and smart products in every category imaginable. Since most smartphones are powered by Android, you could always pick a different non-Apple brand of phone the next time you upgrade and you won't lose access to apps or services you already enjoy on Samsung phones.

Do Samsung phones come with a charger?

Most Samsung phones do not come with chargers these days. Samsung has been making the decision to ship without chargers on a piecemeal basis, typically foregoing them in an effort to become more environmentally friendly and avoid adding e-waste to landfills, as the company previously stated.

Unfortunately, the lack of a charger in the box doesn't mean phone prices have dropped at all. Samsung — and a number of other companies — say that users continue to re-use old chargers and often don't even take new chargers out of the box. Other users pick up great wireless chargers to use in place of traditional wired chargers.

Most premium Samsung phones use 45W charging, further negating the need for a new charger to be included in the box. Chance is, if you've got a charger at home already, it's probably no better than a new one that would be included in the box anyway. Thanks to USB-C, however, chances are you have dozens of them lying around that can power Samsung phones.

Do Samsung phones support microSD cards?

SD card support is one of the many casualties of modern smartphone design. Along with 3.5mm headphone jacks, IR blasters, and removable batteries, SD cards have become less and less common. No Samsung flagship phone in 2025 — that means phones that normally cost $800 or more — supports removable SD card storage.

While there could be many legitimate reasons for removing SD card support, two of the biggest are the inclusion of more internal storage and the proliferation of cloud storage. Services like Google Photos can automatically back up your photos and videos, keeping your internal storage free for other apps and games, and many phones ship with at least 128GB of internal storage these days.

But one of the many bright sides of saving a bit of cash on a phone is that, more often than not, budget-friendly phones include budget-friendly features like a 3.5mm headphone jack and removable SD card support. That includes many of the Galaxy A series, like the Galaxy A15, A25, and A35. This means you won't need to spend a bunch of money on expensive internal storage when the best microSD cards only cost a few bucks.

Do Samsung phones support eSIM?

Most modern Samsung phones support eSIM but don't do away with the SIM card tray. That means, on phones like the Galaxy S24, Z Flip 6, Z Fold 6, and even some Galaxy A-series support eSIM.

There are many advantages of having the option to use both eSIM and a physical SIM at the same time. Folks who travel a lot can use multiple carriers that offer better pricing or cell services in different locations. If you have no desire to juggle between more than one carrier, using the same carrier for both eSIM and a physical SIM can increase network bandwidth, offering a way for power users to get better upload and download speeds without having to do much at all.

As usual, the best part of a Samsung phone is the choices offered to users. It's something for everyone!

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