What is the best Samsung Galaxy phone?
Samsung Galaxy phones are the top competitor to iPhone, OnePlus and Huawei handsets. Even Samsung’s mid-range phones have top-tier features, like multi-camera setups, powerful processors, vibrant displays and 5G network compatibility.
Unlike iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones use the Android mobile operating system, which gives you access to third-party parental controls and other useful third-party applications. You can get a Samsung Galaxy phone at any price level but will need to spend extra for the best models.
Read on for our shopping guide on the best Samsung Galaxy phones so you can determine which one is right for you.
Features of Samsung phones
Samsung strives to maintain its position as a leading phone manufacturer, which means they need to produce phones with premium features to stay ahead of the competition. Here are some features you’ll find in high-end Galaxy phones.
Wireless charging
Most Samsung Galaxy phones offer fast, wireless and reverse wireless charging. This eliminates the need for cables. You can place your phone on a dedicated Charging pad, which uses Qi Inductive Charging technology to power up the battery.
Reverse wireless charging allows you to charge without a charging pad. Just place your phone down on a surface, screen facing down, and then place another phone on top of it to begin reverse charging. However, you can only charge Qi-based phones in this manner.
Vibrant displays
The Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (AMOLED) displays on some Samsung Galaxy phones are sensitive to the slightest touch of your finger and offer an incredible degree of color clarity. Images and videos look stunning on these screens, no matter what angle you’re watching from. AMOLED displays use up less power compared to other displays.
Bixby
Some Samsung Galaxy phones come with Samsung’s virtual assistant, Bixby. This virtual assistant is Samsung’s version of Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri. Just press and hold the Bixby button on your phone and ask about the latest news, weather, upcoming appointments and more.
Much like Amazon’s Alexa, Bixby can control a range of Samsung devices such as Samsung Family hub fridges, TVs and other products in the Samsung ecosystem.
Premium cameras
Premium phone cameras are all the rage. And people will pay for a phone that can capture gorgeous photos for their social media apps. Some Samsung Galaxy phones even have the same megapixel count as some of the best digital cameras on the market. These cameras can even control light exposure, thanks to the advanced built-in sensors and AI.
Samsung Galaxy phone prices
There are low-end, mid-range and high-end Samsung Galaxy phones. Phone features are the main factor for the price difference.
Low-end: Low-end Samsung Galaxy phones range from $99-$250. These phones have a decent camera and large screens to read websites, look at photos and watch videos. However, they have less-powerful processors, low screen refresh rates and small storage capacity.
Mid-range: These range from $300-$650. They have longer battery life and feature cameras with better picture quality and zoom. Phones in this category work well for gaming due to their powerful processors and large storage capacity.
High-end: You’ll find all the features you could want in the high-end models, which is why they cost between $750-$1,800. These phones are so powerful that they match the performance of some mid-range laptops. If you are a hardcore gamer, professional photographer or film-maker, you may want to seriously consider these phones.
Best Samsung Galaxy phones
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G: available at Amazon
Our take: The Galaxy S21 Ultra is Samsung’s latest flagship phone with a premium design, including a smooth Gorilla Glass back with a matte finish. This 6.8-inch phone comes in black and silver colors.
What we like: You can zoom in incredibly close using the Galaxy S21’s rear quad-lens camera, take a studio-quality photo and view the picture on the crisp 8K resolution screen. The Galaxy S21’s powerful processor handles multitasking and gaming seamlessly. Another feature to note is this is the first S-range handset to offer S Pen support.
What we dislike: Despite its high price, it does not have a microSD card slot. This means you have to pay extra to get a handset with more storage.
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G: available at Amazon
Our take: Though it is smaller than the high-end S21 Ultra, it still is a powerful and affordable alternative.
What we like: The S21 runs the same Snapdragon 888 processor as the S21 Ultra. It has decent resolution and a dynamic refresh rate. You can capture clear and detailed images with its above-average camera.
What we dislike: A smaller screen means it has a smaller battery, giving it a shorter life between charges. The S21’s also lacks a microSD slot which is disappointing, as is its cheap-looking plastic case.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G: available at Amazon
Our take: Not only is this phone compatible with the S Pen, but it also has all the great hardware the Note series phones are known for with some interesting improvements.
What we like: Both its 6.9-inch and 6.7-inch versions have AMOLED displays with 120 Hz refresh rates. Switching between apps is seamless, and both photos and videos look great on the display. Their bigger batteries last all day, and you can expand storage capacity with microSD cards.
What we dislike: This phone is expensive and charges more slowly than other high-end Samsung phone models.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: available at Amazon
Our take: This phone is jam-packed with advanced hardware making it feel like a pocket-sized computer.
What we like: The premium design of the S20 Ultra comes with a Gorilla Glass back, bronze color and sharp edges. This sleek rectangle sports an 8K camera, which captures vibrant and detailed photos and videos that look gorgeous on the AMOLED display. The powerful processor makes it a perfect choice for gamers.
What we dislike: This phone is very expensive.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G: available at Amazon
Our take: It is a great choice if you need a phone with decent performance but at a lower price.
What we like: You get the best value because it has a 120 Hz Super AMOLED display and the Snapdragon 865 processor. The display presents vibrant colors and superior sharpness without sacrificing performance.
What we dislike: The plastic shell makes it look cheap, but you can hide this with a good case.
Michael Rodgers Obunga is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money
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