Best Samsung Phones
Samsung
Samsung
Samsung
Samsung
Samsung
Galaxy S26 Ultra
Galaxy S25 Ultra
Galaxy S26+
Galaxy S26
Galaxy Z Fold 7
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Samsung's lineup spans flagships, mid-range options, and foldables, which makes choosing the right model less straightforward than it might seem. This list ranks the best Samsung phones across several categories, scored on camera quality, display, performance, battery life, and software support.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra takes the top spot overall, pairing a high-resolution camera system with strong benchmark results. For those who prioritize endurance above all else, the Galaxy S25 Ultra remains a standout thanks to its large battery capacity and efficient power management. And if a foldable form factor appeals to you, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 leads that segment with improved hinge durability and a refined inner display.
Below you will find picks for performance, value under $1,000, and more. Each recommendation is based on tested benchmarks and real-world specs, and the rankings update automatically as new devices and data become available.
Best Samsung Phone Overall
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra beats other Samsung phones in a few ways. One of the most interesting, though, is the fact that its speakers are louder and cleaner than many other phones, reaching volumes the S26+ and base S26 can't match, with noticeably less distortion at high output. That matters on a $1,299 phone you're likely to use for calls, video, and media without headphones regularly.
Performance is strong across the board. Multi-core CPU scores are competitive with the S26+ and base S26. The 6.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel is bright enough for outdoor use and handles the display basics well, though it sits in the middle of the pack among flagship displays — not what you'd expect at this price.
Battery is the weak spot. At roughly 31.5 hours of continuous video playback it's not bad in absolute terms, but both the S26+ and S25 Ultra hold their charge better in our testing. Gaming sessions drain it faster than either sibling as well.
Overall, this is the strongest all-around Samsung option available, with the speakers being the standout reason to choose it over the cheaper S26+.
Best Samsung Phone for Battery
Nearly 31 hours of continuous video playback puts the S25 Ultra well ahead of the standard S25, which manages just over 28 hours with a 4000mAh battery. Web browsing drains only 21 percent per hour, and standby loss is minimal — around 2 percent overnight. Gaming burns through the battery at a rate comparable to most phones at this tier, so that's not a differentiator, but day-to-day the 5,000mAh cell handles two full days of moderate use without much anxiety.
Charging is a real limitation. The 45-watt wired charging reaches 74 percent in 30 minutes, which is adequate, but the Honor Magic8 Pro — at the same $1299 price — hits 81 percent in the same window and backs a significantly larger 7,100mAh battery that runs nearly five hours longer on video. The Magic8 Pro also drains roughly half as fast during web use. The S25 Ultra is the best Samsung has in this lineup for battery, but that's a narrower claim than "best phone at this price."
What it does offer alongside that endurance is a package that the Magic8 Pro doesn't match. Also worth noting is the fact that the S25 Ultra is only a little better than the S26 Ultra, and if you’re buying new you might want to go for the newer phone.
Best Samsung Phone for Performance
The S26+ sits at the very top of our performance database, separated from the Honor Magic8 Pro — which holds the overall number one position — by a margin too small to matter in practice. What distinguishes the S26+ within that tier is its CPU output. It hit single-core and multi-core GeekBench scores of 3,791 and 11,523 respectively, which place it ahead of every other phone we've tested, including the pricier S26 Ultra, which scores 3,685 and 11,198 on the same tests. Web workloads, measured through Speedometer, come in at 44.3.
GPU performance is a different story. The S26 Ultra actually outpaces the S26+ in graphics-intensive sustained workloads, and the S26+'s Wild Life Extreme stability sits at 59.5 percent — meaning it throttles under extended load, though it does so less aggressively than the base S26, which holds 45.8 percent.
Charging speed is below average for this price tier — 45W wired is unremarkable at $1,099. For raw CPU throughput in a Samsung chassis, though, nothing else in the lineup matches it.
Best Samsung Phone Under $1,000
The Galaxy S26 posts a GeekBench multi-core score of 11,232, putting it among the stronger performers in this price range. The gap over last year's S25 is solid — multi-core throughput is up roughly 14 percent, and sustained performance holds steady under load in a way the S25 couldn't match.
Charging is the obvious trade-off. At 25W wired with 58% recovered in 30 minutes, it's well behind what rivals like the OnePlus 15 deliver — that phone reaches 88% in the same window with 120W wired charging. The S26's battery is adequate for a full day of mixed use, but gaming sessions drain it faster than the OnePlus 15's much larger cell.
Camera performance sits in the middle of the field. The ultrawide is reasonably sharp in good light, and the main camera handles a solid tonal range, but neither is a standout at this price. The display, despite a 2,791-nit peak, ranks near the bottom of our display comparisons. For Samsung software and ecosystem at under $1,000, the S26 is the entry point that makes sense.
Best Samsung Foldable Phone
If you’re looking for a Samsung foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the way to go. Touch response on the inner display is also notably snappy, making the large 7.7-inch panel feel more responsive than the Honor Magic V5, which shows considerably more latency at the same $1,999.99 price point.
Performance is solid. The Snapdragon 8 Elite handles sustained workloads well, and gaming drain is reasonable for a device with this display size — though the S25 Ultra, with its larger battery, manages heavier gaming sessions with less overall drain.
Battery life is a weakness. The inner display runs to about 22.5 hours of continuous video, which trails the Honor Magic V5 by more than eight hours in that same test. Charging is slow for the price tier — 25W wired is behind what most competing foldables offer. Web browsing specifically drains the battery faster than most phones in this class.
Camera performance sits in the lower half of our rankings. If imaging is the priority, the S26 Ultra is the stronger Samsung option at $700 less.
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