Best Samsung phone 2023: The top Galaxy handsets tested and reviewed

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

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

Sitting below the S22 series, the cheaper Galaxy S21 FE remains 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 competition in 2023, but they still churn out decent shots from three distinct focal lengths based on our tests.

It is worth noting that Samsung has since announced the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE with newer hardware, but it isn’t due out in the UK until December, so you may be better off waiting for the newer model if possible.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full review: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE review

Samsung’s A series might not be as flashy as the other phones we’ve listed, but if you’re on a tighter budget, the Galaxy A54 5G represents impressive value. This still feels like a Samsung phone, with a bright OLED screen, Samsung’s own unique take on Android 13 and a reliable camera system that produces good-quality shots.

But paying less does limit the feature set somewhat. There’s no wireless charging and performance isn’t quite up there with its Exynos 1080 chipset, though it does at least offer a glass back to add to its premium feel – one of the key design upgrades compared to its predecessor. It also looks clean, sporting the same minimalist design as the Galaxy S23.

One of the best features here, especially when you consider the price, is the 6.4-inch screen. The OLED tech produces deep blacks and vibrant colours, while the 120Hz refresh rate gives a smooth touch to scrolling and gaming. It’s also pretty bright for the price at 1000nits. Essentially, 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 S23, we got more juice from a single charge, with enough left over for a second day in some scenarios.

The camera system is a predictable step down from the flagship-level S23 despite a new 50MP sensor delivering fairly detailed shots in well-lit scenarios, let down by lacklustre secondary macro and ultrawide lenses.

Still, even with these compromises, it’s still the best affordable option on this list.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter

Full review: Samsung Galaxy A54 5G review

Samsung’s latest edition of its flagship foldable is the best we’ve reviewed, though it’s far from a redesign of what we already know.

It’s incredibly similar to last year’s Z Fold 4, with plenty of similarities. It sports the same combination of a tall-and-narrow 6.2-inch cover display, flanked by a larger 7.6-inch AMOLED panel within, the same trio of rear-facing cameras, the same battery capacity and the same charging speeds despite costing a little more in the UK and US.

However, there are a bunch of small improvements that bring the Z Fold 5 closer to its initial vision. That includes a new teardrop hinge system that finally allows the phone to fold completely flat with no gap, and it’s both lighter and thinner as a result. There’s also the Snapdragon and 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivering some of the best performance around, foldable or not.

Samsung has also done a lot of work with app developers to bring support for the boxy inner display, with Samsung’s book-style foldable boasting much better support than the likes of the Google Pixel Fold.

So while it might not be a complete reimagining of the foldable, the Z Fold 5 does just enough to make it the best book-style foldable around.

If you’re after a foldable that’s a little cheaper and smaller, there’s the Z Flip 5. This is Samsung’s other foldable and it mimics the look of a classic flip phone.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter

Full review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review

The other foldable in Samsung’s 2023 range, the Z Flip 5 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 or expensive as the Z Fold 5 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.

That cover display is now much larger at 3.4 inches, boasting better functionality compared to the smaller 1.9-inch display used until now, with support for widgets, a full QWERTY keyboard and even the ability to run some apps, though the list of apps is rather limited. It also closes completely flat with no gap for the first time, reducing the overall thickness of the foldable when in its compact form.

Throw in great performance from the custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, decent 12MP snappers and all-day battery life and you’ve got a tempting clamshell foldable.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter

Full review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 review