Best Samsung phones in 2026

The best Samsung phones comprise of so many different types of device that you're all but guaranteed to find something you'll like. The Korean tech giant has so many different form factors and price options, you're spoilt for choice.

It's the Galaxy S26 Ultra that we like as the best Samsung phone available right now, with the standard Galaxy S26 as the best for the average user. Our top three is completed by the Galaxy Z Flip 7, currently our favorite Samsung foldable.

Now the Galaxy S26 series has launched, we likely won't see any updates to this list until midway through the year, when Samsung typically releases new folding phones. But right now, here's the best Samsung phones according to our extensive testing.

Richard Priday

Samsung launches dozens of phones every year, but fortunately I am able to try them out, test and review them. Before becoming a professional phones guy, I was a faithful Samsung user, eking out every last drop of life from my Galaxy S7 before my job required me to swap devices more regularly. So I've seen how Samsung's phones have changed and improved over a long period of time, and can hopefully steer you toward the right device in the company's spacious portfolio.

Best Samsung phone overall

While the S25 Ultra was the previous peak of Samsung's power, the Galaxy S26 Ultra arrives as a more than worthy successor.

The S26 Ultra introduces a world-first "Privacy Display" that gives it a unique security advantage over every other model in Samsung's current catalog, and the rest of the phone market besides. However, the Ultra's Privacy Display does come with a negative: it is slightly dimmer (1,806 nits) and has narrower viewing angles than the vibrant, traditional panels found on the S25 Edge or the Z Fold 7.

The S26 Ultra pushes the boundaries of software with its new AI powers. Samsung has added predictive tools like "Now Brief" and automated app actions that can handle complex background tasks, making it a much more capable productivity tool.

In the photography department, the S26 Ultra remains far more advanced than any other Galaxy phone, with its 200MP main camera and 50MP telephoto lens, which have both been upgraded with wider apertures for superior low-light performance. Samsung has also introduced Horizon Lock for video, providing a level of professional-grade stabilization that the cameras on older and cheaper models cannot match.

While the Galaxy S25 Edge and Galaxy Z Fold 7 are Samsung's thinnest phones, the Galaxy S26 Ultra still managed to be thinner and lighter than its predecessor without sacrificing its 6.9-inch screen size.

Regarding battery performance, the S26 Ultra’s 16 hours and 10 minutes of life easily outclasses Samsung’s foldables like the Z Flip 7 (12:24) and Z Fold 7 (10:55). It also powers up faster thanks to newly added 60W wired charging support.

Ultimately, the S26 Ultra remains a steep $1,299 investment, especially compared to the $899 Galaxy S26. But the Ultra's combination of top-tier zoom, innovative security features, and AI-driven efficiency makes it the definitive choice for power users who find other phones simply too limited.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review

Best Samsung phone for most people

We consider the Galaxy S26 to be the best Samsung phone for most people because it masterfully balances power and features with a lightweight, compact design. While high-end flagships often become bulky and difficult to manage, the S26 maintains an easy-to-carry form factor while still housing the same powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset found in the more expensive Ultra model (at least in the U.S.). This ensures that average users get top-tier speed and gaming capabilities without the physical or financial burden of the largest devices.

One of the standout upgrades is the new 6.3-inch AMOLED display. Despite the screen being larger than previous generations, Samsung managed to keep the phone’s overall footprint virtually unchanged. The display is also significantly brighter, reaching up to 1,950 nits, which makes it far more legible in direct sunlight than its predecessors or main competitors like the iPhone 17. This makes it an ideal choice for users who prioritize media consumption and outdoor visibility in a device that still fits comfortably in one hand.

The introduction of new and upgraded AI features is a major selling point too. These features allow the phone to become more aware of user habits and offer sophisticated photo editing capabilities—such as generating new elements or removing reflections—that were previously limited to more niche devices. For the everyday user, these AI tools simplify complex tasks like photo editing and device management, making the smartphone experience more intuitive and efficient.

Finally, while the S26 saw a price increase to $899, it remains the most practical choice due to its high-end software experience and innovative camera features like "Horizon Lock." This video stabilization tool keeps footage perfectly level even during significant rotation, a feature the reviewer noted as being far more useful for the average person than high-resolution 8K recording. By combining professional-grade internals with user-friendly software and a manageable size, the Galaxy S26 secures its spot as the most well-rounded option in Samsung’s 2026 lineup.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy S26 review

Best foldable Samsung phone

The latest versions of Samsung's premium foldable phones are both outstanding, but I think the Galaxy Z Flip 7 will appeal to more people, given its pocket friendly design and $1,099 price tag — exactly what Samsung charged for the Galaxy Z Flip 6. The price may not have changed, but plenty of other factors have, making this the best Flip Samsung's ever made.

It starts with larger screens, both inside and outside the phone. The 4.1-inch Flex Window is particularly handy for letting you handle tasks without ever having to open the phone, and my colleague John Velasco found the larger panel to be a helpful view finder when capturing images with the Flip's rear cameras.

Features like Gemini Live and the Now Brief are also available on the Flex Window, making it even more useful. That said, I wish Samsung took a cue from Motorola and its Razr foldables and let you run more app natively on the cover display. You still need to turn to Samsung's Good Lock app, which is a little annoying.

The Galaxy Z Flip 7 gets a long-awaited feature by adding Samsung DeX support, so you can now plug your flip phone into a display to use it as you would a laptop. It's a big productivity booster that helps the Flip evolve into more than just a pretty-looking phone, but a tool that power users can turn to. Battery life continues to improve with the Flip, too, in another positive step forward for Smasung's phone.

Should that $1,099 starting price prove to be too steep, Samsung offers the cheaper Galaxy Z Fold 7 FE, which shares more in common with last year's Flip. I'm testing that phone right now so stay tuned to see where it fits in among the best Samsung phones.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review

Thinnest Samsung phone

If you're looking for the thinnest phone Samsung makes, look past the Galaxy S25 Edge. Instead, open up the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and marvel at this 4.2mm thin phone's slender profile. Even when you close the Galaxy Z Fold 7, it's only 8.9mm thick — just fractionally thicker than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thinner and lighter than ever while also featuring larger interior and exterior screens. At the same time, Samsung has boosted durability with a new hinge design to evenly distribute stress. When Mark Spoonauer reviewed the Fold, he marveled at its design, noting that you no longer pay a penalty in extra bulk when you opt for this style of foldable phone.

There's more to the Fold than just a new look. It also boasts the same AI features found on other premium Samsung devices, with some of those capabilities optimized for the foldable design. For instance, you can see before and after shots to view AI-powered photo edits side-by-side. And Gemini Live support lets you share your screen and cameras with the phone's smart assistant.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 gets a big camera boost with the addition of a 200MP main camera, and we really like how Samsung's phone handles low-light photos. A less heralded change sees Samsung swap out the under-display selfie cam on the main screen for a higher resolution camera that uses a more conventional cutout. Selfies certainly look sharper, though not everyone is going to like the cutout interrupting the flow of the main screen.

We wish the Galaxy Z Fold 7 offered better battery life, as it only improved upon the Galaxy Z Fold 6's battery test result by about 20 minutes. And that $1,999 starting price — a $100 hike from last year — will be hard for some people to swallow. Still, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 marks the first time that Samsung has really mastered this phone's design, setting a high bar for similar-looking foldables.

Note: The Galaxy Z TriFold has been announced, which is not only larger than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, but also thinner. How much better Samsung's new XL foldable is, especially when accounting for pricing, remains to be seen though. We'll make sure to update you when we've had the TriFold in for review.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 review

Best Samsung phone design

The Galaxy S25 Edge is a feast for the eyes, particularly when you stack this 5.8mm-thin phone next to another device and see just how slender it is. The Galaxy S25, previously the most compact Samsung flagship at 7.2mm, is noticeably thicker than the Edge. Only the Galaxy Z Fold 6 gets thinner, and that's when you have the foldable phone opened up.

But the question is how much that thinness matters to you. My colleague John Velasco liked the look of the Edge, but he was much more taken with how light it is. (It's about the same weight as the S25 even though it has a bigger display.) Even more impressively, the Galaxy S25 Edge doesn't feel like it will split in two, as Samsung has coated the phone with durable glass and turned to titanium frames.

But you do have to give up features for the Galaxy S25 Edge to be so thin — notably a dedicated telephoto camera and a bigger battery. Comparing zoom shots from the Edge to those with phones that have a telephoto lens, you'll see the difference emerge the more you zoom in. That said, the 200MP main camera captures some real nice photos, even in low light.

The biggest problem with the Edge is that it has to turn to a smaller battery — smaller than even the power pack inside the standard S25. As a result, the nearly 12.5 hours the Edge lasted on our battery test may outperform the average phone, but it's the shortest time posted by any Galaxy S25 model.

These shortcomings matter when you consider the Galaxy S25 Edge costs more than both the S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus, which each have telephoto lenses and longer-lasting batteries. You really have to be swayed by the thin look of the Edge to justify that cost, since other features — including performance and Galaxy AI support — are identical.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review

Best value Samsung phone

U.S. shoppers can now discover what people in the U.K. and Australia have known for a few months more: the Galaxy A56 delivers a surprising amount of value for a midrange phone that's less than $500.

After releasing the A56 in other parts of the world last spring, Samsung has now made the phone available in the U.S. And that's good news as we were underwhelmed by the top midrange phone previously available to U.S. shoppers, the $399 Galaxy A36.

While there are elements of the Galaxy A56 that fall flat — performance lags behind similarly priced phones like the Pixel 9a and I was disappointed by the performance of the macro camera — the phone generally delivers solid value.

It helps that the Galaxy A56 has the most extensive set of AI feature among Samsung's Galaxy A models, highlighted by a filter creator for saving the color profile of photos you like to apply to other images. I also found Auto Trim for creating a montage out of video clips to be an impressive addition to a sub-$500 phone.

In every day use, the Galaxy A56's battery held up well, and I appreciate the ample screen space the A56 provides. Despite some trade-offs with performance and cameras, this is a solid choice if your budget prevents you from getting a Samsung flagship.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy A56 review

Galaxy AI for less

If Samsung’s Galaxy AI is your main point of interest as you upgrade, start by looking at the Galaxy S25 FE. It’s got all the same features as the regular Galaxy S25 models and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, but its $649 entry price means it’s the cheapest of the lot.

But with a lack of hardware upgrades, and stiff competition from Apple and Google, the Galaxy S25 FE isn’t quite as much of a bargain as its predecessors were. We still love its software, which is guaranteed seven years of updates, its speedy charging and its decent camera performance. It’s just the battery life and lack of hardware improvements over the previous S24 FE, especially in terms of the chipset, that makes it harder to recommend.

If you like your phones on the larger side, but don’t want to pay through the nose for it, and want to try out Galaxy AI features like cross-app actions or Now Brief, then perhaps the Galaxy S25 FE is worth your while. We’d still recommend spending a little extra to get a better-rounded device overall though, from Samsung or someone else.

• Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 FE review

Also tested

If these options don't suit your needs, then fortunately we have other recommendations that aren't necessarily the top choice for a given niche, but could still be excellent for particular users.

You can still probably find the Galaxy S24 models around, and given their lengthy software support (seven years like the S25 models), Galaxy AI features and similarities to the S25 hardware, these would still be very good phones. Some of the new Galaxy AI features introduced with the Galaxy S25 could find their way to older models, but there's no official word yet from Samsung.

If you do look for an S24, make sure you're getting it for less than what the current Galaxy S25 models cost. As a reminder, the Galaxy S25 starts at $799, the S25 Plus goes for $999, and you'll pay at least $1,299 for a Galaxy S25 Ultra. Look for discounts of at least $100 if you opt for the S24 versions.

If you're on a really tight budget — when even the Galaxy A36 and A56 seem pricey — Samsung offers the Galaxy A16, a $199 phone with a 6.7-inch display, Exynos 1330 chipset and three rear cameras. (A macro lens joins the main and ultrawide shooters.)

How to choose the best Samsung phones

Picking which Samsung phone to buy is primarily driven by budget considerations. You won't want to look at the latest Galaxy S Ultra or Z Fold if you're not prepared to pay for it. But other factors need to be taken into consideration as well.

Focusing on battery life will mean ruling out Samsung's foldables. Most other phones on this list have strong longevity on a single charge but unfortunately you'll probably have to pay more to get the best available battery life.

For photography, the best will normally be the latest Galaxy S Ultra model. That goes for productivity too due to Samsung bundling the S Pen in with its Ultra models, unless you'd prefer the extra screen space and multitasking options that a Galaxy Z Fold can provide. And if you're a gamer, any Galaxy S phone will offer the best possible performance - it's just up to you to device how much you want to pay for other features on top of that.

How we test the best Samsung phones

For a smartphone to make our best phone list, it needs to excel on several tests that we run on every handset. We perform some of these tests in our labs and some in the real world. See our detailed explanation on how Tom's Guide tests and reviews smartphones for more information.

When it comes to performance, we rely on such synthetic benchmarks as Geekbench 6 and 3DMark to measure graphics performance. These tests allow us to compare performance across iPhones and Android devices.

We also run a real-world video transcoding test on each phone using the Adobe Premiere Rush app and time the result. (We unfortunately have to skip this test on some phones due to app compatibility issues, but we attempt this benchmark with each device we get in to review.)

To measure the quality of a phone's display, we perform lab tests to determine the brightness of the panel (in nits), as well as how colorful each screen is (DCI-P3 color gamut). In these cases, higher numbers are better. We also measure color accuracy of each panel with a Delta-E rating, where lower numbers are better and score of 0 is perfect. (We're waiting for the U.S. release of the Galaxy A56 to test that phone's display in our lab, which is why it's not listed below.)

One of the most important tests we run is the Tom's Guide battery test. We run a web surfing test over 5G (or 4G if the phone doesn't have 5G support) at 150 nits of screen brightness until the battery gives out. In general, a phone that lasts 10 hours or more is good, and anything above 11 hours makes our list of the best phone battery life.

Last but not least, we take the best phones out in the field to take photos outdoors, indoors and at night in low light to see how they perform versus their closest competitors. Below, you can see a gallery of shots we've taken with various Samsung phones featured in this guide.

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We take shots of landscapes, food, portraits and more, and also allow you to be the judge with side-by-side comparisons in our reviews.