Samsung sells a huge variety of phones, from the affordable Galaxy A series handsets to the premium Galaxy S flagships and foldable Galaxy Z models.
So whether you’re choosing between the best Samsung phones or the company’s best cheap phones, there are plenty of factors to consider, from the cameras, power and battery life to the price and longevity.
Everyone’s needs are different, but to help you narrow down the vast selection of Samsung phones currently available, we’ve outlined the five things you should consider when buying a Samsung phone.
1. Cameras
Cameras are an important feature of smartphones for some people, but not for everyone. So it’s worth considering how much you care about smartphone photography before settling for a photography-focused Samsung model.
If you’re a die-hard photographer, then one of the best camera phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra could be a worthwhile investment, but if not, you can easily get away with something that doesn’t prioritize photography as much. such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, or a cheaper model such as the Samsung Galaxy A54.
If you take a lot of photos with your phone, it’s also worth thinking about what kind of photos you take. If you’re not taking photos of distant subjects, you probably don’t need a long-distance telephoto lens, so you can skip the Ultra models and choose something like the standard Samsung Galaxy S24 (which still has a shorter 3x optical zoom), or even skip the zoom camera altogether and get something like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.
2. Screen size
Another important consideration when buying a Samsung phone is how big your device should be. There are pros and cons to a big screen – choose a big device like the 6.8-inch Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and you’ll have a lot more app space to play with than on something like the 6.2-inch Samsung Galaxy S24.
Videos also feel more alive on a larger screen, and games feel less cramped, but there are downsides: they’re harder to use with one hand, and the larger physical size makes them bigger and heavier to carry around.
For the best of both worlds, you could consider something like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, which has both a compact 6.2-inch cover screen and a truly enormous 7.6-inch foldable display. But of course, this solution doesn’t eliminate the size and weight issues that come with larger screens.
3. Battery life
Good battery life is an important aspect of smartphones, but how important it is to you will likely depend on how much you use your phone, how easily you can charge it on a normal day, and how annoying you find it to be. leave. attack.
Only you can answer those questions, but if you want a phone that will comfortably get through even the busiest and longest days, consider something like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. In our Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review, we said the device “offers better battery life than any iPhone or any Galaxy Ultra; You won’t find better battery life on any phone worth buying.”
Either way, larger Samsung phones tend to have better battery life (because there’s room for a bigger battery). But foldable phones are an exception to the rule, because they require less space due to the extra components, and the batteries are therefore quite small. For lighter users, however, they – and more compact handsets – should still be fine.
4. Power
Do you need a lot of strength? If you plan to play demanding games, multitask, or use other intensive software, then the answer is probably yes. You’ll also need plenty of power if you’re someone who suffers from your phone feeling a little less than silky smooth during use.
But for many users, the top chipsets are likely overkill, so if you mainly just plan on using social media and browsing the web, then a lower-end chipset should be fine. In that case, you can save some money by choosing a lower-end phone, such as the Samsung Galaxy A35, or an older model such as the Samsung Galaxy S21.
5. Do you want a stylus?
A final consideration is whether you want a stylus with your smartphone. Samsung is one of the few companies that supports styli on its phones, but not all of them work with a stylus.
If you want a stylus – for example to sketch or take handwritten notes – then the obvious choice is an Ultra model, the latest of which is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. This phone comes with a stylus and even has a slot to fit it into.
But you could also consider a Z Fold, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. This model doesn’t come with a stylus or have a stylus slot, but it does support Samsung’s S Pen if you buy it separately, and with its huge screen, this phone is perhaps best positioned to benefit from a stylus.
On the other hand, if you don’t care about a stylus, you can buy any Samsung phone and maybe even skip the Ultra because it comes with a part you won’t use.