Best Samsung phone 2023: The top Galaxy handsets tested and reviewed
Introduction
Samsung has become synonymous with Android phones, and we’ve had the privilege of reviewing nearly every device they’ve released in the past decade.
Through our extensive experience reviewing Samsung phones, we’ve developed a strong understanding of which ones are the best – and which ones are best avoided. We’re well-acquainted with their standout features as well as their limitations.
This list represents the culmination of our hours upon hours of testing, featuring only the very best Samsung phones that are currently available for purchase.
It’s worth keeping in mind that Samsung’s phone lineup isn’t solely focused on high-end, powerful devices. They also offer several more affordable options for budget-conscious consumers. Samsung is at the forefront of innovation with foldable devices, and we’ve included the finest examples of these in our list. Expect to see more of these arrive before the end of 2023.
Each Samsung phone included in this list has undergone rigorous testing by one of our expert smartphone reviewers, who has used it as their primary device for at least a week – although often a lot longer. They have evaluated the phone in real-world scenarios as well as in controlled lab conditions. Our reviewers have gone so far as to transfer their apps, photos, and messages to the device to ensure their experience reflects that of an average user. Our aim is to provide you with trustworthy purchasing advice that you can rely on.
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 S23 Ultra – check price
- Best under £1000/$1000: Samsung Galaxy S23 – check price
- Best mid-range Samsung phone: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE – check price
- Best affordable option: Samsung Galaxy A53 5G – check price
- Best foldable phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 – check price
- Best clamshell foldable: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 – check price
How we test
All the phones included in our Best Samsung phone list have been thoroughly tested and used by one of our product experts. We never review a phone based purely on specs and benchmark scores. We use them as our everyday device for the review period, which is usually at least five days but often a lot more.
Whenever you read a phone review published on Trusted Reviews, you should be confident that the reviewer has put their personal SIM card into the phone, synced across their most-used apps and logged into all their typical accounts. We do this so you’ll feel confident in our review and trust our verdict.
Best high-end
- 200MP camera delivers in both well-lit and low-light conditions
- Top-notch performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
- All-day battery life
- Stunningly detailed 6.8in 120Hz display
- Very expensive
- Relatively slow 45W charging
- Difficult to use one-handed
Best under £1000/$1000
- Pocketable, minimalistic design
- All-day battery life
- True flagship performance
- Near-identical to Galaxy S22
- Slow charge speeds
- Display only drops to 48Hz
Best mid-range
- A very complete package
- Bright, colourful screen
- An IP rating and Qi charging
- Overpriced compared to the competition
- Camera not as good as Pixel 6
- Average battery life and charging speeds
Best affordable
- Great screen for video
- Decent battery life
- Good camera system
- Fairly attractive design
- No adaptive refresh rate
- No wireless charging
- No charger included in the box
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
Best foldable
- Smart UI tweaks
- Camera no longer an issue
- The form factor really does work
- Lack of apps making true use of the big inner screen limits usefulness
- Crease and thick body remain from the previous iteration
- Price still puts it out of reach for most
Best clamshell foldable
- The best small phone around
- Battery life improvements
- Clever camera tricks
- Battery life still could be better
- Cover Screen is good, but functionality is better on the Razr
- MInimal upgrades over the previous model
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The best high-end Samsung phone
Pros
- 200MP camera delivers in both well-lit and low-light conditions
- Top-notch performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
- All-day battery life
- Stunningly detailed 6.8in 120Hz display
Cons
- Very expensive
- Relatively slow 45W charging
- Difficult to use one-handed
If you want the absolute best of the best that Samsung has to offer, and don’t mind the hefty price tag that comes with it, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the smartphone to go for.
It offers a combination of best-in-class display tech, processing power and camera performance that trumps not only every other Samsung phone, but most of the Android competition – though its 6.8-inch display means it’s also one of the biggest phones on the market right now, and not that easy to use one-handed.
Still, that 6.8-inch display is one of the main reasons to opt for the top-end model with Samsung’s dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, LTPO tech that allows the display to go up to 120Hz and down to 1Hz to improve battery efficiency, and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision makes it an absolute treat for watching movies.
It’s also a great canvas for the built-in S Pen stylus that allows you to draw and write on the display with an impressive 2.3ms latency that’s among the fastest in the market.
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 other models have decent 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. It also has a whopping 200-megapixel main camera that delivers stunning results both during the day and at night, with the latter representing a real upgrade compared to the already-capable Galaxy S22 Ultra.
It boasts a 5,000mAh battery that’ll comfortably provide all-day use even with the WQHD+ resolution and high refresh rate enabled, and it’s among the most powerful phones around due to the inclusion of the Samsung-exclusive Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset. There’s also a great long-term software upgrade promise that’ll keep it feeling fresh for years to come.
So yes, it’s certainly the most capable of Samsung’s current smartphone collection, but the overall size – and premium price tag – may put some off. That’s why we have a few more options recommended below.
Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review
Samsung Galaxy S23
The best Samsung phone under £1000/$1000
Pros
- Pocketable, minimalistic design
- All-day battery life
- True flagship performance
Cons
- Near-identical to Galaxy S22
- Slow charge speeds
- Display only drops to 48Hz
There’s no doubt that the top-end Galaxy S23 Ultra is the most capable Samsung smartphone around, but we’ve got a lot of love for its smaller sibling, the Galaxy S23. It’s not only much cheaper than the top-end Ultra model but it’s easier to hold, especially one-handed, with a pocketable compact design that’s still very much premium.
In fact, the Galaxy S23 is one of few Android smartphones to offer truly premium specs in a smaller chassis. The 6.1-inch display, while smaller than the 6.6 inches of the S23 Plus and 6.8 inches of the S23 Ultra, boasts the same dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a super smooth 120Hz refresh rate, delivering vibrant colours and impressive brightness.
We found it perfectly fine for watching TikToks and YouTube videos, but those who like to watch Netflix on the go may prefer the larger, but near-identical, Galaxy S23 Plus.
That premium experience extends to the chipset, using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (which is exclusive to the S23 range, by the way) to deliver top-end performance with benchmarks that comfortably surpass the standard 8 Gen 2 used in many competing flagships. The improved battery efficiency also means it’s a comfortable all-day device despite packing a relatively small battery, fixing one of the biggest issues with last year’s model.
We also love the versatility of the camera system, sporting three rear sensors including a rather powerful 3.5X telephoto zoom and an ultrawide for expansive shots. As you’d expect, images are reliably detailed and well-lit, even as light levels begin to drop, though it does suffer from Samsung’s signature OTT vibrancy which can be a little too much in some shots.
There are also a bunch of ‘nice to have’ features like wireless charging, full IP68 dust and water resistance and a long-term software update promise of four OS upgrades and five years of security updates.
It’s not perfect, lacking the impressive main 200MP sensor of the top-end Ultra model, and it’s slow to charge at just 25W, but it’s a tempting pocketable flagship that ticks most boxes.
Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full review: Samsung Galaxy S23 review
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
The best mid-range Samsung phone
Pros
- A very complete package
- Bright, colourful screen
- An IP rating and Qi charging
Cons
- Overpriced compared to the competition
- Camera not as good as Pixel 6
- Average battery life and charging speeds
Sitting below the S22 series, the cheaper Galaxy S21 FE is a very good, mid-range Samsung phone that focuses on getting all the basics right. Based on our time with it the FE manages to offer great value for money as a result. It has a bright, colourful display along with strong performance and handy extras like wireless charging and an IP rating for added protection.
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
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
The best affordable Samsung phone
Pros
- Great screen for video
- Decent battery life
- Good camera system
- Fairly attractive design
Cons
- No adaptive refresh rate
- No wireless charging
- No charger included in the box
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
Samsung’s A series might not be as flashy as the other phones we’ve listed, but if you’re on a tighter budget then the Galaxy A53 5G represents impressive value. This still feels like a Samsung phone, with a bright OLED screen, Samsung’s own unique take on Android and a reliable camera system that produces good quality shots.
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 Galaxy Z Fold 4
The best foldable phone
Pros
- Smart UI tweaks
- Camera no longer an issue
- The form factor really does work
Cons
- Lack of apps making true use of the big inner screen limits usefulness
- Crease and thick body remain from the previous iteration
- Price still puts it out of reach for most
Samsung has one of the most varied lineups of any smartphone maker, offering everything from budget devices to high-end, futuristic foldables like the Z Fold 4. Just beware you’ll have to have deep pockets for this one.
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 S23 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
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Best clamshell foldable
Pros
Cons
Out of the two foldables in Samsung’s range, the Z Flip 4 is the cheaper, more consumer-friendly option. If you’re keen on trying out a foldable phone, but don’t want something quite as elaborate as the Z Fold 4 then we recommend the Flip.
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 are better in low-light conditions and the Qualcomm chipset inside is faster. More importantly, the battery is larger and lasted longer in our tests.
Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review
We also considered…
FAQs
None of the phones here come with a charger in the box, however, they all support USB-C charging and do come with a cable so you just have to provide a plug.
All of the phones listed have some form of 5G support. You’ll want the S23 Ultra or S23 Plus (or last year’s S22 variants) if you’re in an area that supports mmWave 5G.
You might like…
Trusted Reviews test data
If you want the best of the best, the S23 Ultra is the choice. It has the most accurate display that can get very bright and impresses in various tests.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.