Best Samsung Phone of 2024

The right phone for you depends on a variety of factors, such as your budget, your current phone and whether you own other mobile accessories from the same company, such as earbuds or smartwatches. Many people prefer to stick with phones from the same company because the experience is more consistent and there's less of a learning curve when switching to a new device.

The same holds true for Samsung; the company's One UI software (its customized version of Android) can be found across its phone lineup. Samsung's One UI 5 introduced a more customizable lock screen and the ability to answer a phone call through a text message instead of speaking.

Consistency aside, there are some benefits to choosing a Samsung phone over devices from other Android phone makers. Samsung usually excels when it comes to display quality and brightness, and it typically offers a lot of choices in terms of size and pricing. Samsung phones usually offer decent battery life -- especially midsize and large phones -- and the cameras are usually among the best, especially on the Galaxy S23 lineup. Samsung also offers four years of Android version updates for most of its new smartphones, which is longer support than even Google provides for its Pixel phones.

However, Google's Pixel devices also have stellar cameras along with specific software features you can't get elsewhere. The OnePlus 11 is also cheaper than the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra at regular prices without a trade-in and offers faster charging speeds. It could be a better choice for those who want to pay a little less but still want a giant 6.7-inch screen and triple rear camera.

Samsung's Galaxy A and S families serve different purposes, so which one is right for you will depend on your needs and budget. The Galaxy A lineup is Samsung's mid-tier and budget line, and it's the best choice if you're looking for a phone under $500 without a trade-in deal. These phones typically offer core features like a big screen, large battery and multiple cameras at a cheaper price. 

You also get what you pay for; Samsung's cheapest phones have very limited storage space, poorer cameras compared with the pricier models, and they sometimes struggle with juggling multiple tasks. More expensive phones like the Galaxy A53 5G provide almost everything most people want in a basic phone, although you'll still have to compromise a bit on camera quality and general performance. 

The Galaxy S series, on the other hand, is Samsung's flagship smartphone line. Galaxy S phones usually include the best tech that Samsung has to offer and features you'd expect on any high-end phone, such as a premium design, 5G support, screens with high refresh rates and multiple high-end cameras. The biggest updates that launched with the Galaxy S23 lineup, for example, included the bump to a 200-megapixel main camera on the Ultra and bigger batteries for the smaller models. You'll have to be willing to pay hundreds of dollars more than you would for a Galaxy A series phone in most cases.