There’s a Samsung phone for every price, from the Galaxy S22 Ultra to the foldable Z Flip 3 and low-cost 5G alternatives. Here’s what you should look for.
Samsung has a phone for any price, from the high-end Galaxy S21 Ultra with its remarkable magnification capabilities to the folding Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 phones, all the way down to the low-cost but nonetheless 5G-enabled Galaxy A32. Then there’s the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, which offers excellent specifications at a lower price. The number of phones available from the firm might be bewildering, but it means that there is likely a Galaxy phone for everyone, regardless of their preferences.
It does, however, make it tough to sort through all the firm has to offer in order to determine which Samsung phone is genuinely worth considering. I’ve done the legwork and compiled a list of all of Samsung’s current flagship smartphones so you can figure out which one is best for you.
But, before you go shopping too seriously, keep in mind that the company’s next flagship — the Galaxy S22 — is set to be released in February, so if you’re looking for the latest, greatest mobile technology Samsung has to offer (and you don’t mind paying what will no doubt be quite a lot of money), it’s worth waiting to see what the new model has to offer.
The Perfect Samsung Phone
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the top of what Samsung presently provides in phones, with its supercharged CPU, 5G connection, S Pen pen compatibility, and incredible photography capabilities. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the one to have if you value capturing excellent shots with your phone or just want to know you’re wearing the latest and best technology.
Flagship Technology at a More Affordable Price
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
The initial S20 FE (seen below) wowed us with its performance/price ratio, and the new S21 FE improves on that with a good triple camera, a large, colorful display, and the same fast CPU found in the flagship S21. It faces stiff competition from Google’s Pixel 6, but if you’re looking for a superb all-around Samsung phone but don’t want to spend top cash for the flagships, the S21 FE is definitely worth considering. Read Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Review and Specifications
A Fantastic, Low-cost Galaxy Experience
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
Despite the fact that the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE has replaced it, you can still get last year’s S20 FE for $100 cheaper than its successor. We liked the S20 FE so much that we gave it a prized CNET Editors’ Choice award, and its combination of great specifications and low pricing means it’s still worth considering in 2022. Especially if you can acquire it at a good price through a carrier.
The Ultimate All-Rounder
5G Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus
The S21 Plus, unlike the Ultra, does not support the S Pen pen, has a little smaller screen display, and lacks the top model’s remarkable zoom abilities. This Samsung smartphone, on the other hand, has the same chipset, has a larger battery, and still supports a 5G connection. Because of its lower pricing, this smartphone is a more economical Samsung mobile alternative than the Ultra, but you still get a premium flagship experience with the Gorilla Glass Victus backing that the S21 Ultra also has.
The No-brainer Upgrading Phone
5G Samsung Galaxy S21
The basic Galaxy S21, with its lower pricing, is a terrific mix of Android phone performance and value that CNET reviewer Patrick Holland dubbed “the no-brainer upgrading phone.” Although it lacks the zoom capabilities of the Ultra’s camera, this smartphone can still capture excellent photos and has the same strong CPU and large, colorful screen display. It can also make use of very fast 5G speeds.
Supercharged… as well as a stylus
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G
The Note series has traditionally been where Samsung bundles its most advanced technology, and the same is true for 2020’s Note 20 Ultra. The phone’s display is stunning, it has a ton of power, a 5G connection, and an incredible camera that wowed me on a photographic road trip. Because of the S-Pen pen, this smartphone is excellent for taking notes, making it an excellent choice for the more professional among you who desire a phone for both work and pleasure.
The Most Effective Folding Phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
Samsung’s first folding phone was an innovative concept, but the next edition, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, refines it even more. It’s still a Samsung gadget that splits in half to become a phone, but this smartphone has a better hinge, better specifications overall, a 5G connection, and a larger display on the exterior that makes it useable as a phone. Folding phones aren’t for everyone, and they’re not cheap, but if you’re looking for a futuristic folding, the Z Fold 3 is the finest option.
Samsung’s Smaller Compact Folding Phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
The Z Flip is a phone that folds in half to create a smaller phone, similar to how the Galaxy Fold is a tablet that folds in half to become a phone. This Samsung Galaxy smartphone has a large 6.7-inch display when open, but fold it in half and it becomes a compact square that fits easily into a trouser or jacket pocket. We enjoy its attractive appearance, as well as its good all-around features and 5G connection, and it’s a less expensive Samsung Galaxy Z Flip folding choice than the almighty Galaxy Fold 3.
5G On a More Moderate Budget
Samsung Galaxy A52 5G
Samsung’s A52 5G is at the pinnacle of the company’s more inexpensive A line of phones. It includes a large 6.5-inch display, 6GB of RAM, a multi-camera array on the back (including a 64-megapixel primary lens, wide-angle and macro sensors), and a 5G connection. It’s a low-cost phone with a respectable all-around set of specifications and a price that’s far more affordable than the top S21 variants.
Low Cost, 5G Connectivity, and a Large Screen
Samsung Galaxy A42 5G
The A42 5G Android phone is priced somewhat lower than the A52, has less RAM, no macro camera, and a lower quality front-facing camera. It still offers a 5G connection, as well as a larger battery and a somewhat larger display, making it a terrific budget Samsung phone alternative for those of you who watch a lot of movies on the go.
The Cheapest 5G Phone From Samsung
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
If 5G speeds are your top priority in an Android phone but you don’t want to pay a lot of money, Samsung’s Galaxy A32 5G is the phone to get. Its low price makes it one of the cheapest 5G-enabled phones available right now, but it also comes with a large 6.5-inch display and a multi-camera configuration on the back. It doesn’t match the overall performance of the S21 range, but it’s a good all-arounder for the money.
The Most Affordable Samsung Galaxy Phone
Samsung Galaxy A12
The Galaxy A12 is Samsung’s most affordable phone, and it’s the one to consider if you just want a phone for all of life’s necessities and don’t need to spend money on fancy cameras or supercomputer-level processing power. It lacks 5G, but it does offer four back cameras, a 6.5-inch display, and a huge 5,000-mAh battery that, given the specifications’ overall moderate needs, I’d anticipate to provide easily a full day of battery life power.
If you can get it at a significant discount, go ahead and buy it
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Series
Normally, you can get previous year’s Samsung phone models at a significant discount over the current version, but not with the S20 and S21 series. Last year’s Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra are still available from retailers such as Best Buy, and they’re still fantastic phones. However, Samsung made a concerted effort with this year’s S21 series to make them more inexpensive, and as a result, all of the S21 series phones are less expensive than their equivalents from last year.
There isn’t a great difference in specs, and some of the construction materials on the S20 series are perhaps a little bit more quality, but overall we advocate getting the latest models, especially in this instance because it really saves you money.