Samsung is the most popular Android phone manufacturer. The company has phones that range from bleeding-edge technology to budget-friendly smartphones, and no matter what your price point is, there is a Galaxy phone available for you.

What to Look for in a Samsung Phone in 2023

It may sound like a bit much to need a buying guide for phone shopping from just one company. How hard can it be? Well, Samsung makes a lot of phones, and it can be difficult to figure out which ones have the features and specs you want.

You may be familiar with some common Samsung lines, such as the Galaxy S series or the Galaxy Z foldable phones. However, those are just a few of Samsung's smartphone lines. The company has a smartphone at practically every price point.

There's more than just price to take into consideration, though. Are you okay with the big size of the Galaxy S23 Ultra, or do you want something smaller? How important is camera hardware to you? Is a long battery life a necessity?

One nice thing about Samsung phones is they all run the same software: One UI. Whether you're looking for the biggest and baddest or something low-key and affordable, the software will look the same across Samsung phones. However, what does matter is software update support. Understandably, Samsung's flagships get more preference, but mid-range and entry-level devices tend to lose the software support battle quite quickly, especially if the phone is a few years old.

There's a Samsung device that fits everyone's needs, so let's start finding them.

Best Samsung Phone Overall: Galaxy S23

The best Samsung phone overall should be something that checks all the major boxes: price, power, design, camera, and battery life. Right now, the Galaxy S23 takes the cake.

Available in six colors, the S23's aluminum frame has a look for everyone. This smartphone's upsides are more than skin-deep, though. Beneath the 120Hz, 6.1-inch HDR screen is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 octa-core processor that, combined with 8GB of RAM, easily handles mobile games, live streaming, and productivity work.

Processing power is great, but what if you want to take some selfies or snap some vacation pics? That's where the S23's capable camera lineup comes into play. The 12MP selfie camera is a 2MP improvement over the S22's front-facing camera, but that's where the improvements end in the photography department.

You'll still find a 12MP Ultra Wide camera, a 50MP Wide-angle camera, and a 10MP Telephoto lens on Samsung's 2023 flagship handset. That's not to say these cameras need improvements; they still rival and, in some cases, beat the best Android camera phones. However, if you already have the S22 and your main priority is a boost to camera quality, you may want to opt for the upgraded S23 Ultra instead.

But the best phone camera in the world doesn't matter if you're constantly anchored to a charging cable. Thankfully, the Galaxy S23 features a 3,900mAh battery—a 200mAh improvement over the S22. This is more than enough juice to get you through a day of work, play, and endless social media scrolling.

And in case you come across a particularly great meme that's too funny not to grace your camera roll, you'll enjoy up to 256GB (with 128GB at the lowest) of storage space.

Starting at $800, the Galaxy S23 is a perfect cross-section of solid performance, modern design, and a reasonable price.

Samsung Galaxy S23

Best Samsung Phone Overall

$691 $800 Save $109

The standard model of Samsung's flagship phone is the perfect mix of features and price for most Android users.

$691 at Amazon See at Samsung

Best Mid-Range Samsung Phone: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

The Galaxy S23 FE offers many of the same specs as the more expensive Galaxy S23, though it cuts some corners to achieve a more reasonable price. But if you can live with a handful of compromises, this is a great way to save a few bucks.

One of the biggest drawbacks to the smartphone is its processor, as it uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 instead of the Gen 2 found on the Galaxy S23. However, it still boasts 8GB RAM, support for 5G networks, and a robust suite of cameras (headlined by the 50MP Wide lens). It also packs in an optical fingerprint scanner, giving you a way to quickly unlock your device.

Samsung didn't seem to cut any corners with the S23 FE's display, as it uses a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen that's larger than the standard Galaxy S23. It also supports the same 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, though it maxes out at 1,500 nits compared to 1,750 nits. Still, it's a great-looking screen—especially when you consider its price tag.

While it may not be as premium as the Galaxy S23, the Galaxy S23 FE takes many of its best features, cuts away the excess, and gives you a solid handset at a remarkable price.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

Best Mid-Range

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE offers many of the same features as the more expensive Galaxy S23, though it cuts a few corners to achieve a more approachable price.

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Best Budget Samsung Phone: Galaxy A32

Samsung has a phone for every price range, including the budget category. The Galaxy A32 is a phone with all the benefits of a Samsung-made device at a price around $300.

The Galaxy A32 has a 5,000mAh battery, so it gets great battery life. It's powered by the Mediatek Helio G80 processor and 4GB of RAM, which is decent at this price point. There's also a microSD card slot, so you can upgrade your storage if you need to.

Cameras are a big part of smartphones, but budget devices usually suffer in this area. The Galaxy A32 offers a triple camera setup on the back, with 64MP, 8MP wide-angle, and 5MP macro cameras. They aren't the best out there, but you do get options, which is always a bonus, especially compared to other budget phones.

One area where the Galaxy A32 struggles is in the display. It's 6.4 inches and Super AMOLED, but the resolution is lower than mid-range and high-end models. For most people, it's not a problem, but you may notice it if you're used to something with higher specs.

The Galaxy A32's price tag is great for a budget phone with 5G connectivity, and the device will still get Samsung's four years of updates.

Samsung Galaxy A32

Best Budget Samsung Phone

For around $300, you can get a competent Samsung phone. With a 5,000mAh battery and three cameras, this phone will last all day and do what you need it to do.

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Best Samsung Phone for Battery Life: Galaxy S23 Ultra

When battery life is your top concern, you'll need to come to grips with using a large phone. If you're alright with that, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra fits that bill.

It has a beefy 5,000mAh battery and a giant 6.8-inch display, so you'll get great battery life and all the screen real estate you'd ever want. Joining that massive battery and display is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, up to 12GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage, and five total cameras.

The processor and RAM are just as important as the battery capacity when it comes to battery life. You want an efficient processor with enough memory to prevent heavy hardware stress. A device that has to chug hard to do what you need will use more resources and won't have great battery life, so the S23 Ultra has all its bases covered.

Of course, a phone this big, with this many cameras, and this level of high-end specs isn't going to be cheap. The base model of the Galaxy S23 Ultra starts above the thousand-dollar mark and only gets more expensive as you tack on more RAM or storage. However, that might be worth it if you need a battery that lasts as long as your overnight work projects and oh-so-late gaming sessions.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Best Samsung Phone for Battery Life

9 / 10

$1080 $1380 Save $300

A bigger phone means a bigger battery, and the S23 Ultra has a huge 5,000mAh battery to power all of the smartphone's bleeding-edge features.

$1080 at Amazon See at Samsung See at Best Buy

Best Samsung Camera Phone: Galaxy S23 Ultra

If cameras are super important to you, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. This beast of a Samsung phone has four total cameras on the rear, including a 200MP main (Wide-angle) camera.

The 200MP main camera is joined by a 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto, and 10MP 10x telephoto on the rear. The front selfie camera clocks in at 12MP, meaning you benefit from being equipped for any picturesque situation. Ultrawide is great for stepping back to get a lot in the frame, and telephoto lenses help capture details from a far distance away.

Two telephoto lenses mean you're covered for two different distances without losing quality. You can zoom in 3x or 10x without digital zoom, which only crops photos and doesn't look great. Samsung has also equipped the S23 Ultra with "Super Clear Glass" lenses to help reduce glare and lens flare.

Apart from the fantastic camera setup, this is also a beast of a phone all around. It has a gorgeous 6.8-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, up to 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and a 5,000mAh battery. These high-end features will cost you around $1,200 or more, but given the price of a DSLR or mirrorless camera today, $1,200 for a full set of cameras attached to a capable handset is a respectable price to pay.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Best Samsung Camera Phone

9 / 10

$1080 $1380 Save $300

With five incredible cameras and Super Clear Glass lenses, you'll always be able to take the perfect shot. The S23 Ultra isn't cheap, but it's worth it if you're big on taking pictures.

$1080 at Amazon See at Samsung See at Best Buy

Best Samsung Foldable Phone: Galaxy Z Flip 5

When it comes to foldable phones, you get the mini-tablet style, and then you have the flip style, which hearkens back to the days of the flip phone. Samsung makes both types of phones, but for the average person looking for a foldable, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the best choice.

The flip form factor makes fitting the Z Flip 5 into your pocket much easier than the typical smartphone phone design, but you also get useful gestures like flipping the phone shut to end a call. The outer screen isn’t just a gimmick, either, as you can use it for certain apps without opening the phone. While not every app is supported on the Cover Screen (as Samsung calls it), many are, so it's likely your favorites can work on the outer screen. And there are workarounds to use any app on the Cover Screen as well.

The inner screen is a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, while the Cover Screen is a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED panel. This Galaxy phone is also powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and 8GB RAM. Finally, you can opt for either 256GB or 512GB configurations.

While the camera lenses and sensor haven’t seen much of an upgrade, the more powerful chipset makes for better processing than the Z Flip 4, leading to better photos. The Z Flip 5 has four color options: Graphite, Cream, Lavender, and Mint.

As good as the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is, the flip-style form factor isn’t for everyone. If you want more screen real estate and more powerful hardware, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a higher-end alternative to the Z Flip 5. The only major downside is that it’s considerably pricier than the Z Flip 5.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Best Samsung Foldable Phone

$800 $1000 Save $200

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a flip-fold style foldable with a big outside display and a small compact size.

$800 at Amazon See at Samsung See at Best Buy

FAQ

How do I unlock my Samsung phone?

First things first, you need your Samsung phone's IMEI number. The easiest way to find it is by entering *#06# in the Phone app (or navigating to Settings > About Phone). Next, contact your mobile service carrier and tell them you'd like to unlock your phone; give them the required information. At this point, there's nothing left to do on your end. Your carrier will handle it and let you know when your Samsung phone is unlocked.

How do I take a screenshot on my Samsung phone?

There are a couple of ways to take screenshots on your Samsung phone. Firstly, you can press the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously. Or, if you'd prefer a simple hand gesture, you can locate Settings > Advanced Features > Motion and Gestures, then enable "Palm Swipe to Capture."

How do I reset my Samsung phone?

If you're going to trade your phone in for a new one, or there's an annoying bug that won't go away, a factory reset will take care of things by wiping your phone clean. So, before factory resetting your Samsung phone, make sure you back up your photos, videos, and other important files.

How do I pair the Samsung Galaxy Buds with my Galaxy phone?

Before starting the pairing sequence, ensure your phone's Bluetooth is enabled. Once you're sure Bluetooth is available, set your Galaxy Buds in their charging case, close the lid for about five seconds, then open the case again. Next, choose your Galaxy Buds from the list of available devices, and they'll attempt to pair with your Galaxy Phone. For more help, check out Samsung's support page on connecting Galaxy Buds.

Are Samsung phones waterproof?

While no Samsung phone is waterproof, all models since the S7 are equipped with an IP68 water resistance rating. This means you shouldn't go swimming with a Samsung phone in your pocket, but your handset is safeguarded against splashes of water and sweat, as well as water submersion of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes (though it's unwise to put this to the test).