Best Samsung Phone of 2025

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Samsung launched the Galaxy S25 series, which are updates to last year’s Galaxy S24 series. There’s the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus that have solid performance, good cameras and long-lasting batteries. And if you want an even more versatile camera setup, there’s the $1,300 Galaxy S25 Ultra. If you want a cheaper option, there’s the $200 Galaxy A15 5G. And then there are Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6, Samsung’s pricey foldable phones with screens that fold to be more portable. With all the options, it can be tough figuring out which Samsung phone to buy for your specific needs. But we’ve tested and reviewed every Galaxy phone on this list to help you find the best one for you.

Read more: Best VPN for Android for 2025

What is the best Samsung phone?

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra — priced at $1,300 — comes packed with maximum features which, for most people, is more than necessary. For the rest of us, the $800 Galaxy S25 is a standout among its Galaxy counterparts. It has the same Snapdragon customized chip and RAM as the S25 Ultra, runs the same version of Android and costs $500 less. The Galaxy S25 has a very capable triple rear camera setup that is versatile in capturing both bright outdoor scenes and candid moments inside under mixed lighting. Overall, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is ideal for Android fans who prioritize fast performance, versatile cameras and a spacious, bright screen. 

How to pick the right Samsung phone for you

Deciding which Samsung phone is right for you comes down to what you want in a phone and how much you’re willing to spend. If you want the largest screen available on a standard Samsung phone, enjoy note-taking with a stylus and need a camera with a significantly closer zoom, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the right choice. You’ll also have to spend $1,300 unless you score a trade-in deal. 

Those who don’t need the stylus, prefer more compact phone and still want a good camera should consider the Galaxy S25 or Galaxy S25 Plus. If you just want the basics, like a spacious screen, 5G and a decent camera, consider the Galaxy S24 FE. Those looking for the flashiest tech around — and who also have deep pockets — should consider the Galaxy Z Flip 6 or Z Fold 6. 

Finding the best Samsung phone will ultimately come down to preference. Choosing among so many options can get complicated, so here’s how to decide which Samsung phone is best for you. Check out our phone buying guide for more tips on how to choose the right device.

Best Samsung phones in 2025

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra which has a lot of AI features, the best of which are interesting and the worst of which unreliable. Luckily, Samsung gets a lot of other things right on the S25 Ultra, which has a new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, high-resolution ultrawide camera, and some sweet pro video tools that rival the iPhone 16 Pro. Samsung wisely kept all the best parts of last year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra (basically the entire phone including that antireflective display) but some of its worst parts, too, like the $1,300 price tag.
If you want the best screen you can find on any phone, get the S25 Ultra. If you want the most versatile phone cameras, get the S25 Ultra. If you want a stylus, get the S25 Ultra. But if your needs scale back on any of those fronts, the more affordable S25 options, or even last year’s S24 Ultra, may be worth considering.

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For better or worse, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 foldable is packed with AI. It can take a rough sketch and turn it into artwork or help me have a conversation in French or Korean despite my only knowing a few words of either language. The new autofocus/auto zoom feature lets you prop the phone in a half-open position, the Z Flip 6 will automatically zoom in or out (switching between the main and ultrawide cameras) to get a photo that best suits the moment.

Samsung’s latest clamshell style foldable has a new 50-megapixel main camera, a smaller hinge and crease, a larger battery and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. But all this comes at a higher starting price: $1,099, which makes it hard to appreciate the Galaxy Z Flip 6 for the absolute great phone that it is.

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The Galaxy S25’s biggest flex is that it shares many of the same attributes as its pricier counterparts, the S25 Plus and S25 Ultra – but it does so for several hundred dollars less. You’ll find features like the AI Select tool, Audio Eraser and deeper Gemini integration across all of Samsung’s S25 devices, as well as a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12GB RAM – making the smaller phone of the bunch still seem pretty mighty. 

And while the Galaxy S25 might look incredibly similar to the S24 and share many of the same specs, consistency isn’t so bad when it means there’s a consistently good camera and great battery life.

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What impresses me the most about the Samsung Galaxy S24 isn’t the new Galaxy AI features, brighter screens or solid cameras. It’s the battery life. After testing, I can say the larger battery in the Galaxy S24 has no trouble plowing through a long day of use on a single charge.

The S24 is a wonderful, well-built phone that is excellent right out of the box, just as the nearly identical S22 and S23 were before it. This similarity to the S22 and S23 can be viewed as either a strength because the design reflects three years of refinements, or a weakness because features like the camera hardware are essentially identical to what came out in 2022. But all of this is overshadowed by the great battery life. You’ll never hear anyone complain about getting too much battery life. Read our Samsung Galaxy S24 review.

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Samsung’s $200 Galaxy A15 5G is an easy choice for someone looking to buy a phone that will last for years. Samsung provides it with four years of software updates and five years of security support, which in this price range is unparalleled. Plus the phone supports 25W wired charging that in my testing was able to charge half of its big 5,000-mAh battery from empty in 30 minutes. I also like the eye-catching light blue option.

A $200 phone has to have some compromises. The Galaxy A15 5G feels sluggish compared to competing phones like Motorola’s $200 Moto G 5G, and as an entertainment machine falls short with its single audio speaker that is blocked by accident when you hold the phone sideways for games and video. Photography, which is typically a weak point on phones in this price range, is similarly mixed with decent photography in outdoor environments while struggling to photograph lowlight spaces. This makes the Galaxy A15 5G an easy choice for when you just need a phone that can handle the basics, but you may want to consider other options if you are looking for the best pocket YouTube player in this price range.

If the baseline Galaxy S25 appeals to you but you’d rather have a bigger screen and higher battery capacity – without upgrading all the way to the Ultra – the S25 Plus may be the phone for you. The entire S25 lineup shares many features, from AI capabilities to processing power to memory, so the Plus may be a viable choice if you’re looking for something right in the middle.

That said, the Plus’ minimal upgrades over the baseline S25 may not justify the $200 price difference. But if a bigger phone just feels better to hold and you’d rather have a 4,900 mAh battery (over the S25’s 4,000 mAh one), then that $1,000 starting price might ultimately be worth every penny.

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With the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung is getting closer to its goal of making a device that doubles as a phone and a tablet without compromising too much in either direction. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has an improved design with a sleeker look that’s easier to grip, a less noticeable crease, a new processor and an upgraded ultrawide camera.

But it’s really the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s big, bright and crisp internal screen that makes it the best choice for those who want a foldable phone for entertainment. However, be prepared to spend a pretty penny: The Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at an eye-watering $1,900, making it $100 more expensive than last year’s Z Fold 5 was at launch.

Get more for less with cheap phones: For a fraction of the cost, you can get a solid phone that does almost everything a pricier flagship phone can do. The Galaxy S24 FE packs a good camera and costs only $650 before discounts or trade-in offers.

Test your phone: It’s worth going to a store and trying out a phone before you shell out hundreds of dollars for it.

Find peace of mind with a case: You spent all this time picking a phone, now protect it from damage with a case.

Be ready for Cyber Monday sales: The holidays usually bring big discounts and sales, even on phones.

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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

We test the battery, screen, performance, cameras and more on every phone we review.

Lisa Eadiciccio/CNET

We test every phone in real-world scenarios focusing on its features, design, performance, cameras, battery life and overall value. We document our findings in an initial review that is periodically updated when there are new software updates or to compare against new phones from competitors like Apple, Samsung, Google and OnePlus.

Photography

Photography is a major focus for most phones these days, so we take pictures and videos of various subjects in a variety of settings and lighting levels. We try out any new camera modes such as 4K 120fps slow motion video that debuted with the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max or AI reframe and focus on the Motorola Razr Plus (2024).

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Lisa Eadiccico/CNET

Battery life

Battery testing is conducted in a variety of ways. We assess how long a phone lasts during a typical day of use, and note how it performs during more focused sessions of video calls, media streaming and gaming. We also conduct a video playback test, which isn’t always included in the initial review and is added later in an update.

Performance

We perform processor-heavy tasks like editing photos, exporting videos and playing games. We evaluate whether a newer version of a particular phone includes enough features to make it worth upgrading from older models.

We use benchmarking apps to measure the performance, alongside our own anecdotal experiences using the phone for our review. Of particular note are how graphics and animations look. Are they smooth? Or do they lag or stutter? We also look at how quickly the phone switches between horizontal and vertical orientations and how fast the camera app opens and is ready to take a photo.

Read more: How We Test Phones

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Why buy a Samsung phone instead of other Android phones?

The right phone for you depends on a variety of factors, such as your budget, your current phone and whether you own other mobile accessories from the same company, such as earbuds or smartwatches. Many people prefer to stick with phones from the same company because the experience is more consistent and there’s less of a learning curve when switching to a new device.

The same holds true for Samsung; the company’s One UI software (its customized version of Android) can be found across its phone lineup. Samsung’s One UI 6 introduced a more customizable lock screen and the ability to answer a phone call through a text message instead of speaking.

Consistency aside, there are some benefits to choosing a Samsung phone over devices from other Android phone makers. Samsung usually excels when it comes to display quality and brightness, and it typically offers a lot of choices in terms of size and pricing. Samsung phones usually offer decent battery life — especially midsize and large phones — and the cameras are usually among the best, especially on the Galaxy S25 lineup. Samsung also offers seven years of Android version updates for most of its new smartphones, which is longer support than even Google provides for its Pixel phones.

Google’s Pixel devices also have stellar cameras along with specific software features you can’t get elsewhere. The OnePlus 13 is also cheaper than the Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra at regular prices without a trade-in and offers faster charging speeds. It could be a better choice for those who want to pay a little less but still want a giant 6.82-inch screen and triple rear camera.


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Which Samsung phone series is best, Galaxy A, S or Z?

Samsung’s Galaxy A and S families serve different purposes, so which one is right for you will depend on your needs and budget. The Galaxy A lineup is Samsung’s mid-tier and budget line, and it’s the best choice if you’re looking for a phone under $500 without a trade-in deal. These phones typically offer core features like a big screen, large battery and multiple cameras at a cheaper price. 

You also get what you pay for; Samsung’s cheapest phones have very limited storage space and poorer cameras compared with the pricier models, and they sometimes struggle with juggling multiple tasks. More expensive phones like the Galaxy A35 5G provide almost everything most people want in a basic phone, although you’ll still have to compromise a bit on camera quality and general performance. 

The Galaxy S series, on the other hand, is Samsung’s flagship smartphone line. Galaxy S phones usually include the best tech that Samsung has to offer and features you’d expect on any high-end phone, such as a premium design, 5G support, screens with high refresh rates and multiple high-end cameras. The biggest updates that launched with the Galaxy S25 lineup, for example, included the bump to a 200-megapixel main camera on the Ultra and bigger batteries for the smaller models. You’ll have to be willing to pay hundreds of dollars more than you would for a Galaxy A series phone in most cases. 


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