The 7 Best Samsung Phones of 2024: A Guide to the Latest Galaxy Models

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Samsung’s lineup of smartphones is bigger and better than ever, with new iterations launching every year. Their collection of smartphones ranges from the budget-friendly Galaxy A Series to the iconic Galaxy S family, all the way to the futuristic Galaxy Z Series.

The tech giant kicked off 2024 by unveiling the Galaxy S24 series of smartphones. The Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra bring a host of design and hardware upgrades, along with intuitive AI-powered user experience features, developed in partnership with Google. From enhanced communication and Google search capabilities to next-level camera performance and image editing capabilities, AI will drastically improve your user experience.

Pricing of the latest Galaxy S phones has remained similar to that of the outgoing S23 lineup: the S24 and S24+ start at $799.99 and $999.99, respectively, while the range-topping, titanium-clad S24 Ultra starts at $1,299.99.

The Best Samsung Phones

• Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

• Best Budget Galaxy: Samsung Galaxy A15 5G

• Best Midrange Galaxy: Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

• Best Galaxy Under $1,000: Samsung Galaxy S24

• A Premium Galaxy for Less: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G

All top-shelf smartphones from Samsung have a waterproof design, on top of other essential features like fast wired and wireless charging and onboard stereo speakers. You'll also get futureproof wireless connectivity features such as 5G, Wi-Fi 6/6E, and Bluetooth 5.0 (and higher).

The prices of the smartphones on this list are for unlocked, contract-free devices. You can opt to purchase any phone in small monthly installments, either from Samsung or through the wireless carrier of your choice.

What to Consider

Form Factor

With the latest Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold iterations, Samsung transformed its foldable smartphones from expensive niche offerings to legit mainstream contenders. Therefore, the form factor is now an essential product feature to consider before buying a Galaxy phone.

Durability

In addition to being pricier, the foldable Galaxy Z smartphones lack the durability of their mainstream siblings, which have an IP rating for water and dust resistance. For comparison, the latest Galaxy Z Flip5 and Galaxy Z Fold5 only have an IPX rating for exposure to water.

Traditional Galaxy phones are also more likely to survive accidental drops with or without a protective case — so if you have a bad habit of frequently dropping your phone, you should keep this in mind.

Camera

Even though they're on another level when it comes to multitasking and entertainment capabilities, Samsung's foldable phones don't have the camera and battery capabilities of the top-shelf Galaxy S handsets. If battery life and camera are important to you, consider a Galaxy with an Ultra moniker.

Memory

The more RAM a Samsung Galaxy phone has, the better it will be at multitasking — so if you plan on constantly toggling between many open apps, you should consider a phone with 8GB or more.

Regarding onboard storage, if you plan to capture many photos and videos with your Galaxy’s (consistently stellar) camera, consider getting a version with more storage than the entry-level model. Most Samsung phones don’t have memory card slots for easy expansion, so the upgrade upon purchase will be worth spending another $50 to $100.

How We Chose

We've been testing out smartphones for years, including Samsung's Galaxy lineup. When new products launch, we evaluate their design, hardware, performance, and battery life as compared to older models. We also pay close attention to the overall value they deliver.

This Samsung Galaxy guide contains picks with the most up-to-date specs and features in their price categories — from affordable to high-end — ensuring that your new phone will keep you satisfied for a long time. Here are the best Samsung phones worth buying today.

Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra is the phone to get if you want the latest and greatest in hardware specs and camera performance — if it fits your budget. It has a bigger, sharper screen, a distinctive design with sharper angles, a more premium titanium build (a first for a Samsung Galaxy S), a larger battery, and a superior camera setup than its Galaxy S24 and S24+ siblings.

Its integrated S Pen stylus sets the Ultra apart from the rest of the Galaxy S24 family, as always. It makes the big-screen phone capable of creativity and productivity tasks that no competitor is up for.

Once again, the Ultra's camera hardware includes a high-resolution 200MP wide sensor and dual telephoto snapper, including one with a high-resolution 50MP sensor. The primary snapper has the highest resolution in the business. Combined with the high-resolution telephoto camera, it makes the phone an instant contender for the best camera phone of 2024.

You can order the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in titanium black, titanium gray, titanium violet, and titanium yellow. Additional blue, green, and orange options will be available exclusively from Samsung.

Galaxy A15 5G

The sub-$200 Galaxy A15 5G is the best Samsung phone for thrifty shoppers. It has a cool design, 5G, a large and crisp Super AMOLED display with a high refresh rate, a multisensor camera setup, excellent battery life, expandable storage, and a standard audio jack. A signature Galaxy feature for more than a decade, the Super AMOLED display panel is handily the most important upgrade the Galaxy A15 5G brings over last year's A14 5G.

Powered by a gigantic 5,000 mAh battery — the same capacity as the Galaxy Ultra phones — the Galaxy A15 5G can effortlessly deliver days of use between charges. Its onboard USB-C port has fast charging capabilities.

It's important to note that the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G lacks water resistance or stereo speakers. However, it more than makes up for their lack with its super affordable price.

Galaxy A54 5G

The A54 5G is the midrange Samsung Galaxy to get and one of the best phones $500 can buy.

It offers a sleek design similar to the pricier Galaxy S phones, a sturdy waterproof build, a capable chipset with 5-nanometer architecture, a large and vibrant display, a versatile camera setup, and long battery life. I also tip my hat to Samsung for launching the product with a below-$450 sticker identical to the one of the Galaxy A53 5G it replaces.

Similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy A54 5G has a fully waterproof build and stereo speakers. Unlike top-shelf Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel smartphones, the midrange product has a card slot for cheap and easy memory upgrades.

The phone’s triple camera is one of the best in its price range, and so is its selfie camera with a high-resolution sensor. You can order the Galaxy A54 5G in black or violet. Each color option rocks an “awesome” moniker.

Galaxy S24

The entry-level Samsung Galaxy S24 is the best option for buyers on an under-$1,000 budget. Available in several colors, it has an elegant design, a powerful chip, a capable camera setup, and a beautiful AMOLED display. The product also has an agreeable price despite its cutting-edge specs.

Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 has a beefier chip and a bigger and brighter 6.2-inch screen. The newcomer also packs a slightly larger battery and a selfie camera with a higher-resolution sensor.

If you need a bigger screen and larger battery with faster charging speeds, consider the $200 pricier Galaxy S24+ instead. Unlike the S23+, the sequel has a higher-resolution display panel than the non-plus Galaxy S — the rest of its hardware specs are identical.

Galaxy S23 FE

Like its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Fan Edition) delivers top-tier specs and performance at an incredibly agreeable price point. For less than $600 before additional deals and discounts, the value-packed Galaxy offers everything a great Android should: sleek design, tough build, and stellar hardware specs.

Compared to the standard Galaxy S23, the FE iteration has a bigger screen and battery. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip is a generation behind, and it can’t record 8K video, but neither of these features is a dealbreaker in its price category. The S23 FE is handily one of the best phones for the money.

You can order the S23 FE with 128 GB in cream, graphite, mint, and purple colors.

Galaxy Z Flip5

The Galaxy Z Flip5 is a follow-up to the most popular foldable phone in the business and, again, a more futuristic alternative to today's best smartphones. Compared to the Galaxy Z Flip4, the new iteration has a more refined design with an upgraded hinge, a larger external display, a beefier chip, and a superior camera.

Dubbed Flex Window, the big external display of the Z Flip5 brings more interactive widgets and a whole new set of more elaborate customization options. Its ample size also makes answering texts easy because it can display a full keyboard.

Better yet, the screen also makes capturing selfies with the main camera of the phone even more effortless. And because of its unique form, the Galaxy Z Flip5 offers an equally memorable user experience. When open, it can split an app's interface and place its controls on the bottom half of the display.

Samsung offers the Galaxy Z Flip5 in several colors: mint, graphite, cream, and lavender. You can spec the device with 256 or 512GB of onboard storage.

Galaxy Z Fold5

The Galaxy Z Fold5 follows the tradition its predecessors began by being Samsung's most avant-garde and expensive smartphone. It can transform from a phone to a tablet, so it's more attention-commanding and versatile than any other Galaxy.

Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold4 it replaces, the Fold5 has a more powerful chip and hinge that allows it to close almost completely flat. The minor tweak makes the hefty gadget noticeably easier to handle.

Of course, Samsung also equipped the Z Fold5 with a stellar triple camera, whose primary image sensor resolution and optical zoom capabilities are on par with those of the Galaxy S23 snapper. This means you don’t have to compromise on camera performance to have the most design-forward Galaxy. Its selfie cameras feature a snapper hidden underneath the foldable display.

The range-topping Samsung Galaxy supports the S Pen stylus, too. You can order it in Phantom icy blue, phantom black, and cream color options, with up to 1TB of onboard storage.

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