Since we reviewed the Galaxy S2 many years ago Samsung handsets have consistently impressed the team of reviewers over at Trusted Towers. Each year the new flagship has earned our accolades proving to be one of the best Android phones available when we get it in for testing. This was most recently demonstrated by the Galaxy S22 Ultra which remains one of 2022’s best phones to this day. But, it’s not just about flagships. If you’re on a budget Samsung actually offers a number of brilliant value mid-range and affordable phones, many of which borrow elements of its S-series flagships. If you’re after something a little different Samsung also offers foldables. These are a new class of smartphone featuring nifty foldable screen designs. If any of that sounds like it could be a good fit for you, keep reading as in this guide we’ll detail the best Samsung phones we’ve reviewed. Every phone on this list has been used by a reviewer as their main handset for at least a week, during which time they run them through a series of real world and lab tests. So you can trust our buying advice. Samsung is pretty much done releasing phones for 2022 now, and all eyes are now turning to what the brand has in store for us in 2022. Early rumours suggest we might see the Galaxy S23 series – the successor to the top phone on this list – in February, so that’s just a few months away. We have curated other best lists if you’re looking for a more specific handset. Our best camera phone round-up focuses on a device’s photographic and videography skills, while our best cheap phone and best mid-range phone lists focus solely on more affordable options depending on your budget.
Best Samsung phone
Best high-end phone: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – check priceBest under £1000/$1000: Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus – check priceBest mid-range Samsung phone: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE – check priceBest affordable option: Samsung Galaxy A53 5G – check priceBest foldable phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 – check priceBest clamshell foldable: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 – check price
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 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 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 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’s latest edition of its flagship foldable is the best we’ve reviewed. It matches the Galaxy S22 Plus for camera quality, packs a number of smart software tweaks that make it a far more productive device than the S22 Ultra and doesn’t suffer from any of the durability issues that plagued some previous entries. The biggest reason to pick this up over another Samsung phone is the large inner display that folds out when you need it. When you don’t want a tablet-sized 7.6-inch display there’s a smaller outer panel for texting, phone calls and the like. If you’re after a foldable that’s a little cheaper, and a little smaller, there’s the Z Flip 4. This is Samsung’s other foldable and it mimics the look of a classic flip phone. Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review Instead of utilising a foldable screen to give you a tablet-sized screen in a phone, the Z Flip 4 takes a regular 6.7-inch display and lets you fold it in half. This creates a small, pocketable device that doesn’t skimp on features or tech. When unfolded, the OLED display is sharp and colourful with just a small crease running across the middle. When you have the phone closed, there’s a Cover Display that highlights calls, the time, notifications and so on. Updates over the Z Flip 3 are minimal, but this is still the better overall phone. The bezel around the screen is slimmer, the cameras better in low-light conditions and the Qualcomm chipset inside faster. More importantly, the battery is larger and lasted longer in our tests. Reviewer: Max Parker Full review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review 14,192 Mobile Phone
