Which galaxy to buy?

READ NEXT: Our pick of the best smartphones you can buy

Which Samsung phone you choose will depend on a range of factors. Budget is likely the primary component when making this decision, but you’ll also want to weigh up other important factors such as screen size, display quality, battery life and camera characteristics. Have a read of our rundown so that you can make the most informed choice before bringing your next Samsung phone to the checkout.

Price: From £1,249 l Buy now from Amazon

Latest Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra contract deals

With the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung kicked off the new year with a bang. Not a huge amount has changed externally from last year's Galaxy S22 Ultra, but the biggest new addition is the move to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which not only seriously improved performance, but battery life is significantly longer as well.

If you're in the market for a new flagship smartphone, there's simply nothing better. Samsung's latest all-singing and all-dancing smartphone has seen a major upgrade in the photography department, with a fancy new 200MP main sensor. What impressed us the most, in fact, was the S23 Ultra's zoom capabilities. With a pair of 3x and 10x telephoto lenses (as well as a primary 108MP sensor), the S22 Ultra's pictures looked absolutely sublime in our tests, capturing every detail with tonally perfect colours, no matter the lighting conditions.

The sublime 6.8in 120Hz screen also returns (perfect for doodling with the bundled S Pen). Sure, there are far cheaper handsets you can get your hands on in 2023, but if you're after the very best that Android (not just Samsung) has to offer, then this is definitely it.

Key specs – Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2; Screen: 6.8in, 3,088 x 1,440; Camera: 200MP, 10MP (10x zoom), 10MP (3x zoom), 12MP (wide); Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB; Operating system: Android 13

Want to spend less on the latest Samsung flagship? The good news is that the regular Galaxy S23 is still a terrific option, that is provided you don't mind a few cutbacks.

For a huge £400 less than the Ultra, the Galaxy S23 is a smashing alternative for the cost-conscious buyer. It uses the same top-spec Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, pumping out the same ultra-fast performance figures and its 50MP main camera impressed in testing as well. It also has the added benefit of being a lot smaller than the Ultra (6.1in vs 6.8in), so if large-screened handsets aren't really your thing, the entry-level S23 should be your next phone purchase.

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Latest Samsung Galaxy A21s contract deals

If you aren't too keen handing over flagship-sized sums for the latest and greatest Samsung, then the Galaxy A21s is the perfect choice for the budget-conscious. It's not the flashiest smartphone on the market, but where it counts the Galaxy A21s is a remarkable smartphone that's filled to the brim with features for very little money.

Somehow, Samsung has managed to squeeze in a total of five cameras which, again, is rather generous considering how much it costs. It has a massive 48MP camera, which is excellent, as well as a macro, wide-angle and depth-sensing lens. Samsung certainly knows how to make a well-priced smartphone, and the Galaxy A21s, complete with Android 10, a snazzy design and a lovely screen, absolutely smashes our expectations.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy A21s review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Samsung Exynos 850; Screen: 6.5in, 1,600 x 720; Camera: 48MP, 8MP (wide), 2MP (macro), 2MP (depth); Storage: 64GB; Operating system: Android 10

Price: £1,649 l Buy now from Amazon

Latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 contract deals

Samsung's high-end foldable is the best we've ever seen. The kinks have been ironed out, and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the ultimate culmination of previous improvements, with an IPX8 water resistance rating, hard-wearing design, overall performance increases and huge changes to the multitasking.

The most expensive smartphone you can buy at the moment, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is well worth the cost if you're lucky enough to afford it, especially since it uses the most powerful mobile chipset yet, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 which, in our tests, provided the biggest gen-on-gen gaming performance improvement in a number of years. If you're after a phone that inspires "ooh's" and "aah's" from friends, and you've also got a lot of cash burning a hole in your pocket, then this is the handset to get.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1; Screen: 7.6in, 2,1768 x 1,812 (inner), 6.2in, 2,316 x 904 (cover); Camera: 50MP, 10MP (3x zoom), 12MP (wide); Storage: 256GB, 512GB; Operating system: Android 12

Price: £699 | Buy now from Amazon

Not got a huge amount of money for a Samsung flagship but don't want to scrimp on features? Thankfully, the S21 FE pretty much has it all: high-end specs and a long list of flagship-worthy features at a reduced price.

Cheaper than the S21 but with similarly speedy performance, a dazzling display and a great set of rear cameras, the S21 FE (or, Fan Edition) is one of last year's best-value smartphones. If you're put off by the prices of this year's flagships, then the Galaxy S21 FE is easily the next best thing.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S21 FE review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888; Screen: 6.4in, 2,400 x 1,080; Camera: 12MP, 8MP (zoom), 12MP (wide); Storage: 128GB/256GB; Operating system: Android 11

Price: £449 l Buy now from Amazon

Alternatively, if you have even less money to spend on a new Samsung phone, and you still aren't willing to sacrifice too much in the way of features, then the mid-range Galaxy A54 5G is a safe bet.

With a large, colour accurate 6.4in screen, triple camera array and solid performance, there's very little to dislike. Not to mention that the battery life is exceptional, with the Galaxy A54 5G lasting almost 27 hours in our tests. The only downside is that the Display isn't HDR compliant, but this is a small niggle when you consider just how much stuff you're getting for relatively little money.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy A54 5G review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Samsung Exynos 1380; Screen: 6.5in, 2,340 x 1,080; Camera: 50MP, 12MP (wide), 5MP (macro); Storage: 128GB, 256GB; Operating system: Android 13

Price: £999 l Buy now from Amazon

Alongside the Fold (featured above), the Z Flip 4 5G is another tremendous folding flagship. Featuring the same high-level features, such as IPX8-rated waterproofing, a surprisingly sturdy design and a 120Hz refresh screen, the Flip 4 5G is much better value, since it costs a heck of a lot less. And with Flip-friendly changes such as an increase to the size of the battery, upgraded performance and a handful of UI improvements, the Flip 4 5G is pretty much as good as it gets all for a fraction of the price.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 5G review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1; Screen: 6.7in, 2,640 x 1,080 (cover: 1.9in, 512 x 260); Camera: 12MP and 12MP (wide); Storage: 128GB, 256GB; Operating system: Android 12

Price: £513 l Buy now from Amazon

Samsung flagships needn't cost the earth. If you're in the market for a new top-end handset and don't have S22-sized sums to pay for one, then last year's Galaxy S21 is still a great pick. It's still one of the fastest smartphones we've tested, the display is top-notch and the triple cameras still hold their own against more recent phone releases such as the iPhone 13.

As ever, this recommendation only applies if you don't mind buying a refurbished model. However, if this doesn't bother you then you'll be rewarded with a great phone at a remarkably low price.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S21 review for more details

The year's already off to a good start for Samsung with the Galaxy S23 launch. That's brought the best Samsung phone overall — Galaxy S23 Ultra — but the standard S23  and the big-screen S23 Plus have their strengths, too. And if you're really looking to save, the Galaxy S22 remains a part of Samsung's lineup at a reduced cost.

Speaking of saving, Samsung has introduced the midrange Galaxy A54, an impressive phone in its own right. At a time when people might be reluctant to splash the cash on a flagship phone, the Galaxy A54 delivers some outstanding features in a more affordable device that makes only modest sacrifices in terms of performance.

Whether it's budget devices like the Galaxy A54, flagships like the S23 or some of the top foldable phones, Samsung delivers a diverse set of offerings reflected in our list of the best Samsung phones. See what you can save with the best Samsung Galaxy S23 deals along with our Samsung promo codes.

If you do wind up grabbing a Samsung device, make sure you check out the first app you should install on your Samsung Galaxy phone and all of the Samsung hidden features that will change the way you use your phone.

As well as being the new top Galaxy S model, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is also one of the best phones around generally, beating even the usually indomitable iPhone on photography and performance in some areas.

The new 200MP camera proves to be very versatile, offering wonderful detail and color depending on your priority. The special Galaxy-only version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers lots of power, while the display is as colorful and bright as ever, even though Samsung's improved the phone's power efficiency.

Samsung's still asking for a lot of money for this phone, and has stuck with a curved display, even if the angle's less extreme than previous years. We're also unimpressed by its charging speed, which even at 45W is a bit slow.  But if you've got the cash to splash, you won't get a better Galaxy phone right now than this one.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review.

The Galaxy A54 provides a low-cost alternative to Samsung's Galaxy S flagships, but don't dismiss it as a mere budget device. Samsung has packed a lot of value into the A54, starting with the same 50MP main camera that the Galaxy S23 uses. That camera helps the Galaxy A54 produce quality photos that outshine many of the other camera phones in its price range.

The Exynos 1380 powering the Galaxy A54 doesn't exactly impress in terms of performance, but it does help the phone last a long time on a charge. (The 5,000 mAh battery plays a role, too.) And we like the fact that Samsung didn't rest on its laurels with last year's Galaxy A53 display, making the Galaxy A54 screen even brighter than before.

As impressive as the Galaxy S23 models are, not everyone can pay $799 or more for a new phone. The Galaxy A54 means you don't have to, and you can still get a very capable device in return.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy A54 review.

The changes that Samsung made with the Galaxy S23 lack the pizzaz of some Galaxy S23 Ultra features. Nevertheless, there are some solid improvements over past Galaxy S flagships, largely driven by the introduction of the customized Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Not only does this silicon bolster the Galaxy S23's performance, it also helps improve battery life over last year's model, addressing one of our key concerns about Samsung's flagships.

Samsung also improved the Galaxy S23's display, giving it the same maximum brightness as the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra screens. Throw in some worthwhile if not earth-shattering photo processing improvements, and this is certainly a solid addition to the Galaxy lineup. At $799, it's the Samsung flagship most people can afford, and they'll be getting plenty of premium features for their purchase.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S23 review.

Everything you get from the Galaxy S23, you'll find in the Galaxy S23 Plus, only with a much bigger screen. It's the best Samsung phone to get if you prefer super-sized displays but can't swing the Galaxy S23 Ultra's $1,119 starting price.

While screen size is the most prominent difference from the standard S23, it's not the only way the Galaxy S23 Plus stands out from its smaller sibling. You also get a bigger battery that helps the S23 Plus last nearly 11.5 hours on our battery test — an outstanding time. And the phone charges at 45W speeds, too, allowing you to top off that battery faster.

Otherwise, there's little difference between the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus, though we'd say that's a good thing. You can expect a bright, beautiful display, good cameras, and four years of Android software updates. That should be more than enough for fans of big-screen phones.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus review.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 takes the best foldable phone and makes it better in multiple ways. For one, Samsung and Google made it much easier to multitask by adding a taskbar, and you can now drag and drop content between more apps when you're running them side by side.

We also really like the improved camera system on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, headed up by the same 50MP main sensor as the Galaxy S22 series. In our testing, the Fold 4 held its own against the iPhone 13 Pro Max and beat it in a few shots.

Other highlights of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 include a slimmer hinge and narrower bezels, as well as a brighter main display. The battery lasted longer, too, in our testing.

However, $1,799 is still a lot to spend on a phone — even one that doubles as a tablet — and this is still one thick and heavy device. But if you want a foldable phone that can do it all, this is it.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is an impressive foldable phone for someone who wants a big screen in a compact design. Not only is the design ever so slightly sleeker, the battery life has vastly improved over the Galaxy Z Flip 3 last year. In our custom battery life test, the Flip 4 went for considerably longer than its predecessor.

The folding 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display is beautiful, even though the display crease remains very noticeable. The Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 certainly makes this foldable a little powerhouse, turning in excellent scores in our benchmarks.

While the cameras saw minimal upgrades this year, the Galaxy Z Flip 4’s night mode is something to behold. It gives Apple and Google a run for their money, but daytime photos could be better.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review.

Does the Galaxy S22 get better with age? Perhaps not, but the fact that Samsung cut the price on this phone by $100 after the arrival of the Galaxy S23 makes it an attractive option for bargain hunters.

Our Galaxy S23 vs. Galaxy S22 face-off addresses the differences between these two phones, but the upshot is that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset in the newer phone gives a big boost to both performance and battery life. There's not much difference in the cameras, though, and while the Galaxy S23 display has a higher maximum brightness, the Galaxy S22 is plenty bright in its own right.

Thanks to Samsung's generous update policy, the Galaxy S22 can expect another three years of software updates. If you don't need the latest and greatest hardware, this older model could be your chance to save on one of the best Samsung phones.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S22 review.

Just as the Galaxy S22 remains around after the Galaxy S23 though at a reduced cost so does the Galaxy S21 FE. Samsung now offers this stripped-down variation of 2021's Galaxy S21 for $599 — the same price at as the Galaxy A53.

That's an attractive price for a phone that shares many of the Galaxy S21's features. (The S21 FE has less RAM than its counterparts and you have to manually adjust the display's refresh rate.) Then again, the Galaxy A53 is no slouch either, and new versions of the Galaxy A series will be here before you know it. If you absolutely need a new phone now and $600 is the limit of your budget, the Galaxy S21 FE is a decent enough option with a still solid chipset powering the device. But it's just one of several budget options among the best Samsung phones — just be aware that rumors point to a Galaxy S23 FE coming out later this year.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S21 FE review.

Picking which Samsung phone to buy is primarily driven by budget considerations. You're not going to spring for a Galaxy S23 Ultra, for example, if you're not prepared with at least $1,199 even if you opt to spread those payments out over time. But other factors need to be taken into consideration as well.

Start with how you use your smartphone. If it's primarily a productivity device, the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 4 are appealing, despite their high price tags, because they both support the S Pen. (Like the S22 Ultra before it, the S23 Ultra comes with an S Pen; the stylus is an optional add-on for Samsung's foldable.) If you turn to your phone for photography, the Galaxy S series is usually first in line for Samsung's camera innovations, and all three S23 models offer impressive camera features — particularly the 200MP main camera on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. (Check out our initial 200MP camera test results.)

Budget-minded shoppers have a plethora of options, from the reduced price tags of the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21 FE to the midrange Galaxy A series. You can also find discounts on Samsung phones by buying directly from the phone maker and trading in your current device. Check out the best Samsung phone deals for the latest savings.

With the Galaxy S23 release now behind us, Samsung will likely turn to its midrange phones next. We've already seen the low-cost Galaxy A14 at CES 2023 followed by the Galaxy A54. The Galaxy S22 FE has been dropped from Samsung's plans, but there could be a Galaxy S23 FE in the second half of this year. Also around that time, we're expecting to see new versions of Samsung's foldable phones in the form of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5.

In order 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 5 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.

READ NEXT: Our pick of the best smartphones you can buy

Which Samsung phone you choose will depend on a range of factors. Budget is likely the primary component when making this decision, but you’ll also want to weigh up other important factors such as screen size, display quality, battery life and camera characteristics. Have a read of our rundown so that you can make the most informed choice before bringing your next Samsung phone to the checkout.

Price: From £1,249 l Buy now from Amazon

Latest Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra contract deals

With the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung kicked off the new year with a bang. Not a huge amount has changed externally from last year's Galaxy S22 Ultra, but the biggest new addition is the move to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which not only seriously improved performance, but battery life is significantly longer as well.

If you're in the market for a new flagship smartphone, there's simply nothing better. Samsung's latest all-singing and all-dancing smartphone has seen a major upgrade in the photography department, with a fancy new 200MP main sensor. What impressed us the most, in fact, was the S23 Ultra's zoom capabilities. With a pair of 3x and 10x telephoto lenses (as well as a primary 108MP sensor), the S22 Ultra's pictures looked absolutely sublime in our tests, capturing every detail with tonally perfect colours, no matter the lighting conditions.

The sublime 6.8in 120Hz screen also returns (perfect for doodling with the bundled S Pen). Sure, there are far cheaper handsets you can get your hands on in 2023, but if you're after the very best that Android (not just Samsung) has to offer, then this is definitely it.

Key specs – Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2; Screen: 6.8in, 3,088 x 1,440; Camera: 200MP, 10MP (10x zoom), 10MP (3x zoom), 12MP (wide); Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB; Operating system: Android 13

Want to spend less on the latest Samsung flagship? The good news is that the regular Galaxy S23 is still a terrific option, that is provided you don't mind a few cutbacks.

For a huge £400 less than the Ultra, the Galaxy S23 is a smashing alternative for the cost-conscious buyer. It uses the same top-spec Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, pumping out the same ultra-fast performance figures and its 50MP main camera impressed in testing as well. It also has the added benefit of being a lot smaller than the Ultra (6.1in vs 6.8in), so if large-screened handsets aren't really your thing, the entry-level S23 should be your next phone purchase.

Buy now from Samsung

Price: £150 l Buy now from Amazon

Latest Samsung Galaxy A21s contract deals

If you aren't too keen handing over flagship-sized sums for the latest and greatest Samsung, then the Galaxy A21s is the perfect choice for the budget-conscious. It's not the flashiest smartphone on the market, but where it counts the Galaxy A21s is a remarkable smartphone that's filled to the brim with features for very little money.

Somehow, Samsung has managed to squeeze in a total of five cameras which, again, is rather generous considering how much it costs. It has a massive 48MP camera, which is excellent, as well as a macro, wide-angle and depth-sensing lens. Samsung certainly knows how to make a well-priced smartphone, and the Galaxy A21s, complete with Android 10, a snazzy design and a lovely screen, absolutely smashes our expectations.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy A21s review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Samsung Exynos 850; Screen: 6.5in, 1,600 x 720; Camera: 48MP, 8MP (wide), 2MP (macro), 2MP (depth); Storage: 64GB; Operating system: Android 10

Price: £1,649 l Buy now from Amazon

Latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 contract deals

Samsung's high-end foldable is the best we've ever seen. The kinks have been ironed out, and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the ultimate culmination of previous improvements, with an IPX8 water resistance rating, hard-wearing design, overall performance increases and huge changes to the multitasking.

The most expensive smartphone you can buy at the moment, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is well worth the cost if you're lucky enough to afford it, especially since it uses the most powerful mobile chipset yet, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 which, in our tests, provided the biggest gen-on-gen gaming performance improvement in a number of years. If you're after a phone that inspires "ooh's" and "aah's" from friends, and you've also got a lot of cash burning a hole in your pocket, then this is the handset to get.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1; Screen: 7.6in, 2,1768 x 1,812 (inner), 6.2in, 2,316 x 904 (cover); Camera: 50MP, 10MP (3x zoom), 12MP (wide); Storage: 256GB, 512GB; Operating system: Android 12

Price: £699 | Buy now from Amazon

Not got a huge amount of money for a Samsung flagship but don't want to scrimp on features? Thankfully, the S21 FE pretty much has it all: high-end specs and a long list of flagship-worthy features at a reduced price.

Cheaper than the S21 but with similarly speedy performance, a dazzling display and a great set of rear cameras, the S21 FE (or, Fan Edition) is one of last year's best-value smartphones. If you're put off by the prices of this year's flagships, then the Galaxy S21 FE is easily the next best thing.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S21 FE review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888; Screen: 6.4in, 2,400 x 1,080; Camera: 12MP, 8MP (zoom), 12MP (wide); Storage: 128GB/256GB; Operating system: Android 11

Price: £449 l Buy now from Amazon

Alternatively, if you have even less money to spend on a new Samsung phone, and you still aren't willing to sacrifice too much in the way of features, then the mid-range Galaxy A54 5G is a safe bet.

With a large, colour accurate 6.4in screen, triple camera array and solid performance, there's very little to dislike. Not to mention that the battery life is exceptional, with the Galaxy A54 5G lasting almost 27 hours in our tests. The only downside is that the Display isn't HDR compliant, but this is a small niggle when you consider just how much stuff you're getting for relatively little money.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy A54 5G review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Samsung Exynos 1380; Screen: 6.5in, 2,340 x 1,080; Camera: 50MP, 12MP (wide), 5MP (macro); Storage: 128GB, 256GB; Operating system: Android 13

Price: £999 l Buy now from Amazon

Alongside the Fold (featured above), the Z Flip 4 5G is another tremendous folding flagship. Featuring the same high-level features, such as IPX8-rated waterproofing, a surprisingly sturdy design and a 120Hz refresh screen, the Flip 4 5G is much better value, since it costs a heck of a lot less. And with Flip-friendly changes such as an increase to the size of the battery, upgraded performance and a handful of UI improvements, the Flip 4 5G is pretty much as good as it gets all for a fraction of the price.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 5G review for more details

Key specs – Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1; Screen: 6.7in, 2,640 x 1,080 (cover: 1.9in, 512 x 260); Camera: 12MP and 12MP (wide); Storage: 128GB, 256GB; Operating system: Android 12

Price: £513 l Buy now from Amazon

Samsung flagships needn't cost the earth. If you're in the market for a new top-end handset and don't have S22-sized sums to pay for one, then last year's Galaxy S21 is still a great pick. It's still one of the fastest smartphones we've tested, the display is top-notch and the triple cameras still hold their own against more recent phone releases such as the iPhone 13.

Samsung has a growing collection of Galaxy phones to choose from. If you have a big budget and want a giant screen with Samsung's best camera, the $1,200 Galaxy S23 Ultra is your best choice. But there's also the budget-friendly Galaxy A12, which costs less than $200. On top of that, there are plenty of choices in between.

Samsung just launched the Galaxy S23 lineup in February, meaning you shouldn't have to worry about those models feeling outdated anytime soon. We'll update this list periodically as we test more Samsung devices.

Like many purchasing decisions, 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 notetaking with a stylus and need a camera with a significantly closer zoom, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the right choice. But you'll also have to be willing to spend more than $1,000 unless you score a trade-in deal.

Those who don't need the stylus, prefer more compact devices and still want a top-notch camera should consider the Galaxy S23 or Galaxy S23 Plus. And if you really just want the basics, like a spacious screen, 5G and a decent camera, consider the Galaxy A53 5G. Those looking for the flashiest tech around -- who also have deep pockets -- should consider the Galaxy Z Fold 4 or Galaxy Z Flip 4. Samsung typically releases new versions of its foldable phones in August, so consider whether you'd rather wait to see what the next model has in store.

It's also important to consider whether now is the right time to upgrade. If you have a relatively new phone that's two to three years old and still functions properly, you can probably wait. Samsung has also committed to supporting four generations of Android operating system updates for devices like the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy A53 5G, which improves their longevity.

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. Not sure whether it's worth upgrading to the Galaxy S23? We have a guide for that too.

• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: The very best for flagship lovers.
• Samsung Galaxy A21s: The best budget Samsung phone.
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: The best foldable worth buying.
• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE: Fan-tastic value.
• Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: Samsung's best-value smartphone.

That said, ZDNET has tested, reviewed, and compared the best and worst Samsung Galaxy smartphones over the years, including the value-driven A-series, the flagship S-series, and the shape-shifting foldables that make up the Z-series.

Also: Every Galaxy S23 model compared

See below for my top picks of 2023 -- the phones I'd recommend from the Galaxy maker. And if you want more information on the latest Galaxy S23 models, you can also check out our Samsung Unpacked hub.