The top Samsung Galaxy phones: Tested by our expert team

Ever since Samsung first unveiled its ‘Ultra’ phone several years back, the company has consistently offered one of the most feature-packed Android flagships on the market, and that remains the case with the new Galaxy S26 Ultra. It might not be a complete reinvention of its predecessor, but it’s a top-tier phone nonetheless.

It’s the combination of an epic 6.9-inch display, rich stereo speakers, epic battery life and versatile cameras that make the S26 Ultra the one Samsung phone to buy to avoid any mobile-related FOMO. The whole thing is made even better this year with the addition of Privacy Display, which blocks out areas of the screen or the entire screen.

It’s such an ingenious feature that we reckon all manufacturers will have their own version of the tech within a few years, and it means that everyday actions such as sending information to loved ones or opening up your banking apps cannot be spied on by those around you. While the battery size has stayed the same at 5000mAh, there has at least been a big uptick in charging with both wired and wireless speeds bumped to 60- and 25W, respectively – albeit without the Qi2 magnets built in as we all hoped for.

Although the cameras are largely unchanged from last year, there is a handy addition in the form of horizon lock – something that’s been a staple of action cameras for years. This bit of software can keep your videos steady at a specific horizon level, even as you rotate the phone itself, which is a big win for mobile content creators who require smooth footage.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?

Professionals and content creators who need top-shelf specs across the board.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Further considerations

It’s a lot more expensive than the S25 Ultra, which can now be found for less.

For the longest time, Samsung’s Fan Edition phones have seemed to occupy a commercial no-man’s land where the value didn’t appear to be quite as good as the company’s A-series mid-range handsets, nor were they as feature-packed as the entry-level model of that year’s flagship Samsung phones.

Well, all of that has gone out of the window with the Galaxy S25 FE.

With this latest phone, Samsung has finally hit the right balance of value and performance. The Exynos 2400 chipset is the same one that was previously reserved for the Samsung Galaxy S24, and it performs well in everyday use. The only area where it struggles is in more demanding 3D games, but otherwise it has just the right amount of grunt for most users.

You’re also getting a larger display than the standard S25 with a sizeable 6.7-inch AMOLED panel, which is great for catching a bit of entertainment on the go, and the stereo speakers boast impressive sound for when you’re watching Netflix at home. On the back, you have no less than three cameras, spearheaded by a 50Mp main sensor which can pump out some great-looking shots with that typical Samsung eye for colour.

The fact that the phone is a whole £150/$150 cheaper than the S25 and comes with the full promise of seven years of software updates just makes it even better. It would be nice if Samsung could do more to beef up the secondary cameras, but that’s a minor blemish on what is overall a great option for anyone interested in buying a mid-range phone.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE?

Samsung fans who want a flagship-quality phone for less, or anyone looking for the best mid-range phone you can buy.

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: Further considerations

The standard Galaxy S25 can be found for around the same price when discounted, and is a better choice if you prefer small phones. The Galaxy S26 FE is also expected to arrive on 27 August.

If ever someone wanted to solidify the argument that Samsung currently rests too hard on its laurels, the Galaxy A17 5G makes for the perfect piece of evidence, but it’s far from a bad phone. Even though it’s almost identical to the previous Galaxy A16, it’s still using the solid foundations that Samsung has built in the budget sector to become an easy buy for anyone shopping at this price point.

In terms of upgrades, the only major difference here is the bump from 90Hz to 120Hz, but when you pair that with the eye-catching 6.7-inch AMOLED display, it’s a nice feature to have and one that just makes day-to-day use feel even better. The Exynos 1330 chipset makes a return, but for a phone that’s priced at £199, it easily gets the job done without any complaints.

The key thing that the A17 does so well is convince you that it’s anything but a budget phone, and it does this largely through its design and software. On the former, the phone combines a plastic frame with a glass fibre back to feel almost premium in the hand, and at 7.5mm thin, it’s also wonderfully lightweight.

With regards to software, you’re getting One UI 7 out of the box, which felt like the big shift that Samsung fans had been waiting years for at the time of launch, taking on a far more aesthetically pleasing tone that better mirrors what Apple’s iOS brings to the table. An update to One UI 8 has since become available, making it even more appealing.

Getting six years of updates from the time of launch is the icing on the cake, but it’s still worth considering the A16 as it can now be found for even less.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A17 5G?

Samsung fans who want a budget phone that ticks all the right boxes.

Samsung Galaxy A17 5G: Further considerations

The Galaxy A16 is practically the same and now even cheaper.

It’s easy enough to be cynical about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, a device that, if rumours are true, exists largely as a means to beat Apple’s similarly sized iPhone Ultra foldable to market, but as soon as you get the phone in your hands, any misgivings largely melt away. Sure, the taller Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is arguably the better buy for productivity-first users, but for everything else, the Z Fold 8 is a dream to use and we simply can’t get enough of it.

The first thing you’ll notice is just how compact the whole thing is. At 201g and with a 5.5-inch display on the outside, the Fold 8 feels like a breath of fresh air amongst a sea of big phones that are just begging to burst out of someone’s front pocket. Of course, the fact that you can open the phone up and be treated to a tablet-sized 7.6-inch display at any time is just too much fun.

When that inner screen is unfolded, the Z Fold 8 becomes the perfect device for a bit of entertainment on the go, as streaming the likes of Netflix or Disney+ doesn’t result in the same intrusive letterboxing that you’ll get with taller foldables like the Z Fold 7. It’s arguably even better for gaming as titles like Genshin Impact sprawl out to every corner. We did find that the phone struggled with taxing games like Wuthering Waves, which would dip to around 40fps despite targeting 60fps, but you’ll be fine with most titles.

Outside of entertainment, the everyday experience with the Z Fold 8 is wonderful, with One UI still proving itself to be one of the best Android overlays out there. What surprised us is that, despite having only a 4800mAh battery, the Z Fold 8 could still get through a busy day without hitting 0%, so you have room to push it a fair bit. Plus, the phone charges rather quickly, as we claimed back 70% in just 30 minutes.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8?

Entertainment-first buyers who love a compact phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Further considerations

With a telephoto lens and a larger battery, the Z Fold 8 Ultra has a more feature-packed experience.

Just like the Z Fold 7, the Flip 7 represents a major leap forward for Samsung’s foldable line-up, finally meeting the competition on level ground thanks to a whole host of upgrades that fans have been clamouring for. While there’s a lot to like about this phone, it’s the new cover screen that held our attention more than anything else.

Instead of the cramped and weirdly ratioed outer screen of the Galaxy Z Flip 6, the Flip 7 takes a leaf out of Motorola’s book in offering an external display that’s almost end-to-end, making it much better suited for using full-fat apps at short notice. It’s bright too, with 2600 nits, so unless you’re after a specific use-case, there’s a good chance that you won’t need to use the interior display most of the time.

For the moments when you do want to kick back with a film or dabble in a spot of gaming, the Z Flip 7’s internal 6.9-inch display has you covered. The vibrant AMOLED panel works in tandem with the Samsung Exynos 2500 chipset to deliver an overall experience that’ll leave you wanting for very little.

If there’s one area that could still do with some improvement, it’s in the battery life, not just in longevity but also the speed of the charging (25W is simply too slow in 2025). Still, it’s a minor issue, and the fact that you can get seven years of updates from the point of launch just makes the Z Flip 7 one of the better investments right now in the world of flip phones.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7?

Content creators and those who appreciate having a compact phone with high-end specs.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Further considerations

While handy for shooting selfies, the cameras don’t quite compete with the standard Galaxy S phones.

While the S26 is an ideal entry-point into Samsung’s latest flagship range, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra is arguably too expensive for many users, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ represents the perfect middle ground. You’re getting tons of flagship features here, including an epic battery life that crucially won’t cost you as much as the Ultra.

Just like it’s been with previous generations, the main appeal here over opting for the standard Galaxy S26 is that you’re getting a larger 6.7-inch AMOLED display for your money, alongside a beefier 4900mAh cell. The combination of these two factors is exactly why the S26+ is a great handset for entertainment.

Admittedly, it would have been nice if Samsung had seen fit to upgrade the battery or charging speeds in any way over the S25+, but the core experience is still solid and it’s very unlikely that you’ll ever find yourself dreading a low battery alert towards the end of the day. Plus, the new Exynos 2600 chipset is more efficient than before to help lessen everyday battery even further.

The real allure of the S26+ to non-Samsung users will be in all that you get from the brand’s ecosystem. For starters, seven years of OS updates is brilliant for providing long-term value, and Samsung’s OneUI overlay and Galaxy AI software continue to get better each year, and the S26+ is one of the go-to phones right now to show all of that off in its best light.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S26+?

Gamers and streamers who want a long-lasting, big-screened flagship phone.

Samsung Galaxy S26+: Further considerations

Camera and charging speeds are bested by the competition. Doesn’t have the Ultra’s Privacy Display.

While great in their own right, the most recent Galaxy Fold phones have felt like a lesser experience than what competitors such as OnePlus and Honor have been able to provide, but that feeling of envy is nowhere to be found with the massively upgraded Galaxy Z Fold 7. This is a foldable phone that means business, and it’s a must-have for any Samsung fan with the budget to splash.

The biggest upgrade here is that, compared to the Z Fold 6, the 7 is now just 4.2mm thick when unfolded, making it barely that much larger than the USB-C port at the bottom. With this new lightweight build in tow, it no longer feels as if you’re carrying around two devices in your pocket, and it’s much more comfortable to use the phone unfolded for longer periods of time.

As with any book-style foldable phone, the reason why you would want the Z Fold 7 is for its ability to amp up your productivity on the go. When using the 8-inch inner display, it’s very easy to multitask with several apps at once, making it possible to research a document while typing up your findings at the same time.

You can also use the form factor to prop up half of the interior display, perfect for watching content when you’re on a plane, as you don’t need to hold the phone in your hand. The cameras have also been massively upgraded this iteration, so you’ll be able to capture plenty of colourful shots that won’t leave you pining for the S25 Ultra.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7?

Productivity users who need their phone to operate as a work device with multitasking features.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Further considerations

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra replaces it, but may not be worth paying extra for.

In a vacuum, the Samsung Galaxy S26 is a great smartphone, but when viewed in the context of what came before, as well as against its closest competitors from Google and Apple, things get a bit trickier. Still, even with these caveats, the headline is that this is a worthy upgrade for anyone who wants a compact phone with flagship performance.

Despite the fact that it retains the same slim profile of its predecessor, the Galaxy S26 actually has a slightly larger 6.3-inch display, so you’re getting a better viewing experience for your money, and one that, as always, is bolstered by Samsung’s colourful AMOLED 2X technology.

The battery is also larger now at 4,300mAh, and Samsung’s optimisations allow that cell to last for more than one day at a time under certain use cases. The addition of the updated Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset is a big win too, with everything from multitasking to Galaxy AI feeling just that little bit faster than before.

As mentioned, however, the S26 isn’t without its faults. A lot has stayed the same, including the camera set-up, but the phone now costs more with a starting tag of £879/$899 (although the storage has also been bumped, with 256GB now being the baseline). With the Galaxy S25 now being cheaper, the S26 is best reserved for those who plan on carrying the phone for the entire seven years or so that Samsung plans to support it.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S26?

Fans of compact phones who want a handset for the long haul.

Samsung Galaxy S26: Further considerations

It’s more expensive than the Galaxy S25, which is now much cheaper than before.

From the A56 down to the A16, Samsung has plenty of great budget options available to those who simply cannot afford a handset from the main Galaxy S line-up, but of all the ones you can buy, it’s the Galaxy A36 that hits the sweet spot of being affordable yet feature-packed. 

Admittedly, the Galaxy A36 isn’t going to wow anyone with its looks, but if you’re the type of person who always puts a case on their phone, then this isn’t going to matter all too much. What is important is that, unlike most of the phones you can find around the A36’s £399/$399.99 price point, you’re getting a full six years of software and security updates from the time of launch.

Unfortunately, most budget/mid-range phones still tend to cap out at around three years of support if you’re lucky, so to have double that on an affordable device is a huge win for consumers, especially if you don’t want to go through the upgrading process again in just a few years.

Beyond the software support, you’re also getting a massive 5000mAh battery which, under the right conditions, can actually last for up to two days at a time. That’s helpful because you’ll want to make use of the excellent 50Mp main camera which can capture some truly great-looking shots.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A36?

Anyone who wants a long cycle of software updates and a reasonable price tag.

Samsung Galaxy A36: Further considerations

Spend a little bit more and you’ll get better durability overall with the Galaxy A56. Our Galaxy A37 review is coming soon.

The Samsung Galaxy A27, partly due to the litany of options in Samsung’s wares, particularly at the budget end, is in an unenviable position. It’s not quite as cheap as the Galaxy A17, but it isn’t as feature-packed as the Galaxy A37, which limits its appeal a fair bit. However, if you have a budget that doesn’t exceed £319/$349.99 and you want a long-lasting phone for your money, the A27 easily fits the bill.

There are a few key upgrades over the previous-gen Galaxy A26 that might turn some heads. For starters, the phone has finally done away with the teardrop notch, which has felt wildly outdated for years now, and embraced the much sleeker hole-punch notch that you’ll find on most modern Galaxy phones. The bezels have also been shaved down by nearly 2mm, so you’re getting a nicer viewing experience overall.

The Galaxy A27 also boasts a faster chipset under the hood with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. It’s a solid enough chipset for everyday use, but it won’t be wowing anyone with its speed. There’s also enough power here to get away with enjoying less taxing games, as we tested a few rounds on Clash Royale and Asphalt Legends. You can get better-performing phones for around the same amount, but they can’t beat the A27 on long-term support and the overall software experience.

What has left us scratching our heads, however, is that, in some regards, the Galaxy A27 is a downgrade over its predecessor. The phone has dropped from an IP67 rating to a less-equipped IP64 build, and the ultra-wide camera has fallen to 5Mp after the A26 enjoyed an 8Mp alternative. It’s an odd situation, particularly as the A27 also features a price increase, so some fans may want to seek out the A26, instead, particularly if they can find it for less than it went for at launch.

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy A27?

Budget buyers who want a great display and decent chipset for their money.

Samsung Galaxy A27: Further considerations

In some ways, it’s a downgrade from the Galaxy A26, which can now be found for less.