Samsung is the biggest name in Android phones, and for good reason, as the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus are among the best handsets you can buy.But the company doesn't just make the headline-grabbing flagships, and it has a range of smartphones which, depending on your needs and budget, could be the perfect fit.Update:we've added the mid-range Samsung Galaxy A8 to our best Samsung phones list.
Read on to find out where it places.With that in mind heres our guide to the best Samsung phones available right now.
It covers new and old(er) at a range of price points, along with different screen sizes, specs and features.1.
Samsung Galaxy S9 PlusThe best Samsung phone you can buyRelease date: March 2018 | Weight: 189g | Dimensions: 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5mm | OS: Android 8 | Screen size: 6.2-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2960 | CPU: Snapdragon 845 / Exynos 9810 | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Battery: 3,500mAh | Rear camera: Dual 12MP | Front camera: 8MPGreat dual-aperture cameraImpressive screenPriceyNot all that different to S8 PlusThe Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is Samsungs best phone, and also the top ranked handset in our overall best phones list at the time of writing.Its big, in fact its 6.2-inch screen would make it very big, were it not for the almost complete absence of bezel and the curved edges, which ensure its actually quite manageable in the hand.
The screen is one of the best around too its sharp and sports great colors.The Galaxy S9 Plus also stands out through its dual 12MP cameras, one of which is a dual-aperture one, meaning it can switch between f/1.5 for dark scenes and f/2.4 for everything else.Other highlights include impressive stereo speakers and a big 3,500mAh battery.
Theres flagship power too of course, and all the bells and whistles that tend to go with that, like a stylish metal and glass build, water resistance, wireless charging and various biometric security options, including a fingerprint scanner, an iris scanner and a face scanner.Read our full Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus review2.
Samsung Galaxy S9A solid successor to a smartphone classicRelease date: March 2018 | Weight: 163g | Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5mm | OS: Android 8 | Screen size: 5.8-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2960 | CPU: Snapdragon 845 / Exynos 9810 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Battery: 3,000mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 8MPExcellent screenVery powerfulVery similar to S8Only has a single lens cameraThe Samsung Galaxy S9 is a smaller, cheaper (but still expensive) alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.The 5.8-inch screen makes it potentially preferable if you have smaller hands or pockets, and as with the S9 Plus its more compact than you might expect, thanks to its slim bezels and curvy screen.The Samsung Galaxy S9 has many of the same high points as the S9 Plus, including a sharp, vibrant display, a high-end build, plenty of power and various biometric security options.Its only got a single-lens camera, but its still a very good one, and the battery is smaller, so this is definitely the weaker phone overall, but its still one of the more impressive handsets you can buy in 2018.Read our full Samsung Galaxy S9 review3.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8A beastly phone for stylus fansRelease date: September 2017 | Weight: 195g | Dimensions: 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6mm | OS: Android 8 | Screen size: 6.3-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2630 | CPU: Snapdragon 835 / Exynos 8895 | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB | Battery: 3,300mAh | Rear camera: Dual 12MP | Front camera: 8MPImpressive cameraGreat screenWeak speakerExpensiveThe Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is Samsungs other flagship, designed for those who want a truly massive 6.3-inch screen and a stylus (known as the S-Pen) to help make the most of it.Other than that, it has much in common with the Galaxy S range, with a similar (and similarly stylish) glass back and metal frame, a QHD curved screen and a dual-lens rear camera.Theres lots of power too, though its using a 2017 chipset rather than a 2018 one, so its not quite a match for the S9 range.
But then its also now a little cheaper than the S9 Plus and still has water resistance, wireless charging and loads of storage.Bear in mind though, the Galaxy Note 9 launches on August 9 and will like be on sale soon after, so if you're considering Samsung's biggest handset you may want to hold out to see what the Note 9 can offer.Read our full Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review4.
Samsung Galaxy S8 PlusA great big-screen optionRelease date: April 2017 | Weight: 173g | Dimensions: 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1mm | OS: Android 8 | Screen size: 6.2-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2960 | CPU: Snapdragon 835 / Exynos 8895 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB | Battery: 3,500mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 8MPHuge screenBig batteryOnly has a single lens cameraFlawed biometricsThe Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is a big-screen alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S8, but its not just the 6.2-inch display thats bigger, the 3,500mAh battery is too.Otherwise this is a very similar phone, with many of the same pros and cons.
You get a sharp display with great contrast and colors, a powerful if now slightly dated chipset, a 12MP single lens camera that excels in most lighting, and more biometric options than youll know what to do with.Its also cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus or Galaxy Note 8, making the Galaxy S8 Plus a slightly more affordable big-screen option though it lacks the dual-lens cameras of those phones.Read our full Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus review5.
Samsung Galaxy S8Release date: April 2017 | Weight: 155g | Dimensions: 148.9 x 68.1 x 8mm | OS: Android 8 | Screen size: 5.8-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2960 | CPU: Snapdragon 835 / Exynos 8895 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB | Battery: 3000mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 8MPStrong cameraBig and sharp screenBiometric issuesBixby isnt very usefulThe Samsung Galaxy S8 was one of the best phones of 2017 and it still ranks high now.
In fact, the Samsung Galaxy S9 is only a fairly minor upgrade.The S8 has a sharp 1440 x 2960 5.8-inch OLED screen, which of course, is curved.
Its got a great design, with a metal frame, a glass back and minimal bezel, its got a 12MP camera that outperforms most phones and even now its still very powerful.Its also water-resistant, supports wireless charging and has a fingerprint scanner, a face scanner and an iris scanner though the latter two dont work as well as on the Galaxy S9 and the former is in a more annoying position.
Still, theyre small complaints about whats otherwise a minor classic in the smartphone world.Read our full Samsung Galaxy S8 review6.
Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018)Flagship features at a lower price pointRelease date: January 2018 | Weight: 172g | Dimensions: 149.2 x 70.6 x 8.4mm | OS: Android 7.1.1 | Screen size: 5.6-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2220 | CPU: Exynos 7885 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32/64GB | Battery: 3,000mAh | Rear camera: 16MP | Front camera: 16MP + 8MPSuper-vivid OLED screenQuality, water-resistant buildLow light photos could be betterNo 4K video recordingThe Samsung Galaxy A8 finds the sweet spot between Samsung's flagship S range, and the slightly more basic J and lower numbed A devices with a mix of high-end features and more affordable compromises.One feature that is unique to the Galaxy A8 compared to the other Samsung phones in this list is its dual front-facing selfie cameras.There's a 16MP primary sensor, which sits alongside an 8MP snapper and allows you to access the Live Focus feature, which blurs the background of portrait shots to create a bokeh effect.The Galaxy A8 delivers many of the core features offered by the flagships.
You can get more for your money elsewhere, but if you're set on Samsung there's little to complain about here.Read our full review: Samsung Galaxy A87.
Samsung Galaxy S7This once flagship is still a strong upper mid-rangerRelease date: March 2016 | Weight: 152g | Dimensions: 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9mm | OS: Android 7 | Screen size: 5.1-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2560 | CPU: Snapdragon 820 / Exynos 8890 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32GB | Battery: 3,000mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 5MPGreat compact screenGood cameraOnly 32GB of internal storageAging innardsThe Samsung Galaxy S7 was one of the best phones of 2016, which means its still very decent now, especially given that the price has dropped a lot since launch.But it could appeal not just to those on a budget, but also those who want a fairly compact phone, as its 5.1-inch screen is small by modern standards.
Its as good as youd expect from Samsung though, thanks to its use of Super AMOLED and its QHD resolution, though unlike most Galaxy S handsets from the last couple of years this ones screen is flat.The Galaxy S7 also has a water-resistant build and a highly capable 12MP camera, plus specs that were once top-end and still hold their own in the mid-range.Read our full Samsung Galaxy S7 review8.
Samsung Galaxy S7 EdgeThe best smartphone of 2016 is still a great buyRelease date: March 2016 | Weight: 157g | Dimensions: 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7mm | OS: Android 7 | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 2560 | CPU: Snapdragon 820 / Exynos 8890 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32GB | Battery: 3,600mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 5MPSharp, curvy screenBig batterySlight plastic feelOnly 32GB of storageThe Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is a bigger, curvier alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S7.
The larger 5.5-inch screen is the same resolution (and therefore slightly less sharp) but still super crisp and vibrant, while the curves ensure the design is more modern.The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge also has a big 3,600mAh battery, making it one of the longer lasting Samsung phones youll find, and it has the same great camera as the standard Galaxy S7.Its chipset is getting on a bit, but still stands up to similarly priced phones, and theres only 32GB of built-in storage, but you do also get a microSD card slot, so even the bad that points arent that bad.Read our full Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review9.
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)Release date: January 2017 | Weight: 157g | Dimensions: 146.1 x 71.4 x 7.9mm | OS: Android 7 | Screen size: 5.2-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | CPU: Exynos 7880 | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 32GB | Battery: 3,000mAh | Rear camera: 16MP | Front camera: 16MPGood battery lifePotent OLED screenNo camera OISMediocre chipsetThe Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) was launched as a mid-range alternative to the Galaxy S range, and it holds up well, thanks largely to its 1080p AMOLED screen capable of punchy colors.The Galaxy A5 is also packing mid-range power and a quality metal and glass build thats quite similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy S7.Battery life is far better than you might expect too, with the phone comfortably lasting well over a day, but the 16MP camera is a bit of a step down in quality from the S7 range.Read our full Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) review10.
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)Flagship looks at a much lower priceRelease date: January 2017 | Weight: 138g | Dimensions: 135.4 x 66.2 x 7.9mm | OS: Android 7 | Screen size: 4.7-inch | Resolution: 720 x 1280 | CPU: Exynos 7870 | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 16GB | Battery: 2,350mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 8MPTwo-day battery lifeHigh-end looksCamera yields mixed resultsJust 16GB of storageThe Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) looks far higher end than it is, thanks to its metal frame and glass back.
Its even water and dust-resistant.
Yet this phone has a price thats barely even mid-range.Take a look at the specs and the low cost becomes easier to explain, as theres just 2GB of RAM, a mid-range chipset and a 720p screen, but thats still solid for the money, especially as its a compact 4.7-inch display so those pixels go further than on a big screen.And despite its small cell size you can actually get around two days of life from the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) with moderate use, which is something few phones can match.Read our full Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) review29mJjQYoNnJJ32V4sXVTFi.jpg#