Best Samsung phone: The top Galaxy phones we’ve tested and reviewed

If money is no object, you want the very best specs and don’t mind a large phone, then we think the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the best Samsung phone you can buy in 2022. This will likely come as no surprise, considering this is Samsung’s top-end phone for the year.

Based on our testing, as well as having the most developed feature set you’ll find on an Android phone, the S22 Ultra is also very pleasant to use day-to-day. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has a great display, powerful internals and the handy benefits of the included S Pen – a feature you won’t find on any other phones included in this list.

The S Pen is a small stylus that slides inside the device and allows you to draw and write on the display. We think it’s a great tool that makes it wonderfully pleasant to scribble notes and edit excel sheets on the go.

Another feature you won’t find on many other phones, and certainly none of the cheaper Samsung phones included within this list, is a fantastic zoom camera. While the S22 Plus can take great shots with the wide and ultrawide cameras, it’s the expanded zoom skills of the Ultra model that really set it apart when we reviewed it.

The capabilities on offer easily beat the competition from Apple and Google. We’re not talking about hitting 100x – these shots still look grainy – but at 10x and below the results are fantastic and a real reason to pick up this phone over a rival.

Away from the camera, the S22 Ultra stands as the best Samsung phone in a number of other ways. It has the best screen in the form of a 1440p OLED with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate for slick scrolling and gaming. There’s also the promise of many years of upgrades, fast charging (if you provide your own charger) and customisable software.

Of course, the large size of this phone will put many off – as will the price. That’s why we have a few more options recommended below.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full review: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra review

While we love the S22 Ultra, there’s no denying the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is a better pick for those who don’t need stuff like the high-res screen, extended zoom range and S Pen. It remains a big phone, but it’s certainly more pocketable than the Ultra.

There’s the usual array of excellent Samsung features here. In our in-depth review, we praised the bright and accurate display, the reliable software and good performance. Three really important features we always look for in a top-end phone.

We’re also big fans of the versatile camera system, with the three rear sensors letting you zoom in and take ultra wide shots with ease. Pictures shot in all sorts of situations, including tougher lower-light environments, come out reliably well with punchy colours. You’ll notice Samsung’s liberal use of saturation when you’re shooting bright skies or vivid flowers, and these results really pop on the bright 6.6-inch OLED display and lend themselves well to social media sharing.

As this is a Samsung flagship, you’ll be pleased to see there are plenty of ‘nice to have features’ that you often tend to only get with higher-end devices. There’s an IP68 rated body, Gorilla Glass Victus+ for added protection on the front and back, fast wired (and wireless) charging and the promise of four years of system updates.

One of our few notable criticisms of the device, and really this can be said for all the Samsung phones listed here, is that battery life is merely average. It’s far from bad – our reviewer managed to get through a busy work day and evening with 5% left – but it doesn’t push boundaries.

Reviewer: Peter Phelps

Full review: Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus review

Sitting below the S22 series, the cheaper Galaxy S21 FE is a very good, mid-range Samsung phone that focuses on getting all the basics right. Based on our time with it the FE manages to offer great value for money as a result. It has a bright, colourful display along with strong performance and handy extras like wireless charging and an IP rating for added protection.

While the S21 moniker might give the impression this is an older device, its release actually came closer to the S22 than the S21 thanks to numerous delays.

In many ways, the feature set is better than the original S21 series even though it comes with a lower price. The Snapdragon 888 chipset totes 5G and performed well in our rigorous lab tests, alongside real, everyday use. The three cameras on the back can’t match up to the similarly priced Pixel 6, but they still churn out decent shots from three distinct focal lengths based on our tests.

If you don’t want to spend more on the S22 series, then the S21 FE ticks most of the boxes and will be a good phone for a number of years.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full review: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE review

Samsung’s A series might not be as flashy as the other phones we’ve listed, but if you’re on a tighter budget then the Galaxy A53 5G represents impressive value. This still feels like a Samsung phone, with a bright OLED screen, Samsung’s own unique take on Android and a reliable camera system that produces good quality shots.

But paying less does limit the feature set somewhat. There’s no wireless charging, no adaptive refresh rate like the S22 Plus has and a build that’s constructed mostly from plastic.

One of the best features here, especially when you consider the price, is the 6.5-inch screen. The OLED tech produces deep blacks and vibrant colours, while the 120Hz refresh rate gives a smooth touch to scrolling and gaming. You’ll struggle to find a screen as good as this for this price.

This is one of the better Samsung phones when it comes to battery life, though considering the simplified feature set and the large 5000mAh cell that doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Compared to the S22 Plus, we got more juice from a single charge.

The camera system is a predictable step down from the S21 FE, throwing out slightly more saturated images that aren’t detailed. There’s also a fairly useless macro camera added, which our reviewer found wanting. But, even with these compromises, it’s still the best affordable option on this list.

Reviewer: Peter Phelps

Full review: Samsung Galaxy A53 5G review

Samsung makes the best foldable phones around and in our minds the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the best one you can buy right now. It mimics a clamshell flip phone of yesteryear, turning a larger display into a smaller phone that’s very pocketable.

The Z Flip 3 isn’t as rich in features as the pricier Z Fold 3 but we feel the unique prospect of the Flip makes it easier to recommend. It has two reliable cameras on the lid, a faster Snapdragon chipset keeping everything running and a smooth 120Hz display.

But you can find all those features on other phones that cost a lot less than this – what you buy the Z Flip 3 for is the foldable nature and the almost nostalgic hit. This feels both modern and retro at the same time and it has a lot of charm. Touches like the bright, sharp and very useful outer display for quickly glancing at messages really change how you interact with the phone.

One of the reasons to avoid buying the Z Flip 3 right now is that the Z Flip 4 could be with us very soon and that will mean not only a newer option to pick, but also the likelihood of price cuts to the Flip 3.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review