The Best Samsung Phones in 2024

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Best Samsung phone overall

Samsung's latest Galaxy S24 line is the first to go all-in on AI, and the S24 Ultra, the most premium of the three, impressed us the most. The new Galaxy AI model embedded in the device brings a host of generative capabilities, including real-time phone call translations, the ability to circle an object on screen to perform an image-based Google search, AI-assisted photo editing and transcriptions, and even a Chat Assist feature for figuring out how to phrase a message in different tones. Like its predecessor, the S23 Ultra, the S24 Ultra is built with a large 6.8-inch AMOLED display and a reliable 5,000mAh battery. Though the price has gone up to $1,299 ($100 more than the S23 Ultra), the phone's upgrades make it well worth it: The S24 Ultra is made of a lightweight yet durable titanium frame, compared to last year's aluminum, and features Corning's new Gorilla Armor.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus

Best Samsung phone for most people

The Galaxy S24 Plus may not be as flashy as its Ultra sibling, but at $300 less, it remains a formidable option for shoppers eyeing a meaningful upgrade. In fact, the core experience of the Ultra model is present in the Plus, as I found during my month-long testing of the mid-sized S24 model. For example, Samsung's new Galaxy AI model and all of the useful features it brings (like real-time phone call translations and the ability to circle an object on screen to perform an image-based Google search), the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, 256GB of base storage, and a quad-camera system are present on both the Ultra and the Plus.

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G

Best Samsung phone under $400

If bang for your buck is what you're after, I'd say skip the S and Z series of devices and look to the Galaxy A35 5G. There are really three key reasons why you should buy the Galaxy A35 5G over any other sub-$400 phone: For the price you get a fantastic 6.6-inch AMOLED display that ramps up to 120Hz refresh rate, a triple-camera setup that includes a 50MP main sensor, and a beefy 5,000mAh battery. Clearly, Samsung knows what features users value the most, and even if you have preferences beyond that list, my time testing the Galaxy A35 5G has left me with enough confidence that it will meet your mobile needs. Coming from the older A34 5G, the latest model features a glass backing, a more performant Exynos chipset, and an improved camera system. Reddit users seem to agree that the battery life on the A35 5G has been one of its bright spots too.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6

Best compact Samsung phone

While the Z Fold 6 is the best Samsung foldable, it's the Z Flip 6 that will likely sell the most and appeal to the masses. Not only is the clamshell handset less expensive than the Z Fold but it's more compact and portable and has a more user-friendly learning curve. Shape-shifting displays aside, the Z Flip 6 is very similar to the standard Samsung Galaxy S-series flagship, with a large 6.7-inch AMOLED panel that's crisp and bright, up to 512GB of RAM for those high-resolution pictures and videos, and a healthy 4,000mAh battery powering it all -- an upgrade from the Z Flip 5. There's also now a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and the first vapor cooling chamber ever on a Z Flip device, both of which should make the phone run more efficiently, reducing battery drainage. The phone is thinner and lighter than previous models, too.