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Samsung is the world’s largest smartphone company. It makes some of the best Android smartphones and is trusted by consumers globally. Its Galaxy devices offer excellent reliability, camera quality, and other features, making them the favorite of many. However, the Korean firm launches so many smartphones each year that it’s often difficult to track and pick the best for you.
From sub-$200 devices to foldables costing $1,800 and more, Samsung has a Galaxy phone at almost every price point. Whatever your budget might be, the Korean company has something for you. To help you find a suitable model for your needs, we have curated a list of the best Samsung smartphones to buy in November 2023. We regularly update this list to reflect new launches and price changes.
Best Samsung flagship – Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is arguably the best Android smartphone out there.
Featuring a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display and a built-in S Pen, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a productivity powerhouse. The stylus pen makes taking notes and annotating PDFs a breeze. It also works as a remote controller for the camera and music and helps enhance productivity with various other nifty tricks. The screen has a brightness of 1,750 nits and boasts a 120Hz variable refresh rate. This makes it super smooth and legible in bright environments.
The phone runs on a special version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that delivers excellent all-round performance. You’ll get smooth gameplay in even the most graphics-intense games on your Galaxy S23 Ultra, with effective thermal management thanks to a robust cooling system. It handles background apps well, allowing you to switch back and forth between them without any stutters. With Samsung DeX, you can connect a monitor and use the phone in a PC environment.
The latest Samsung flagship delivers excellent camera performance as well. It is equipped with a 200MP primary camera that captures crisp images and 8K videos in all lighting conditions. You get tons of camera features to play with. You also get two optical zoom cameras (3x and 10x), with up to 100X hybrid zoom. While the latter option is just about usable, zoom photos at up to 10x magnification come out brilliant. The 12MP ultrawide lens and 12MP selfie camera give you amazing photos too.
Thanks to IP68 dust and water resistance, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is safe to use in light rain. Its Armor Aluminum body and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back add to its physical strength. Other highlights include AKG-tuned stereo speakers, a 5,000mAh battery, 45W wired charging, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) support, and an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanner. The phone is Wi-Fi 7-ready, though Samsung has blocked it with software. It should unblock it at some point.
The device takes slightly under an hour to charge fully and offers excellent battery life with about nine hours of screen time. You also get wireless and reverse wireless charging here. Debuted with Android 13, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has already received Android 14, with Samsung’s One UI 6.0 on top. This phone will get updates up to Android 17. Prices start at $1,199. You can read our Galaxy S23 Ultra review to know more about its performance and user experience.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – Amazon
Best compact flagship – Galaxy S23
The Galaxy S23 gives you the best of Samsung in a compact package.
If you like compact smartphones, then look no beyond the Galaxy S23. It gives you a similar software experience as the Ultra model. The device runs the same Android and One UI versions and is eligible for updates up to Android 17. It misses out on the S Pen but the 6.1-inch display is as good as it gets. You’ll get vivid colors across all sorts of content on the screen, with smooth navigation. It supports the same under-display fingerprint scanner as well.
Like the Ultra model, Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S23 with a customized Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. It’s the best chip you can get on any Galaxy phone today. It delivers swift performance with no hiccups during normal usage. Even the most resource-intensive games run smoothly while background app management is excellent too. The Android 14-based One UI 6.0 experience complements the chip’s capabilities.
The Galaxy S23’s 50MP primary camera is highly capable. You don’t get the same maximum resolution as the Ultra’s 200MP sensor but images come out as crisp and vibrant. It lets you capture 8K videos too. There’s no 10X optical zoom camera here but you do get 3x optical zoom and up to 30X hybrid zoom. The ultrawide lens and the selfie camera are the same, so you aren’t losing much in the camera department either. Unless limited by hardware constraints, all software camera features are here.
The rest of the specs and features also mostly carry over unchanged, including IP68 dust and water resistance, Armor Aluminum body, Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 at the front and back, Samsung DeX support, and AKG-tuned stereo speakers. So the phone is as strong and durable as its pricier sibling. Since the Galaxy S23 is smaller, you get a 3,900mAh battery here that supports 25W of fast wired charging, along with wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
Battery life is good enough to take you through the day. 25W charging may seem a little slow in 2023, but the Galaxy S23 charges from 0 to 100% in a little over an hour, which isn’t too bad. Overall, it’s an excellent compact Samsung flagship without many compromises over the Ultra model. All of this for $799 is unmissable as long as you’re okay with a smaller screen and battery.
Best affordable flagship – Galaxy S23 FE
The Galaxy S23 FE makes flagship-grade features more affordable.
Samsung’s FE (Fan Edition) devices offer flagship-grade features at a lower price point. You won’t get a full-fledged flagship experience as the Galaxy S23, but the Galaxy S23 FE gives you a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor (Exynos 2200 in Europe), which is no slouch. The device offers smooth and consistent performance during most of the tasks. It has a fairly large cooling system and can handle thermals well for efficient occasional gaming.
This phone’s affordability doesn’t come with a display compromise. You get a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel almost as good as the Galaxy S23 Ultra. It boasts a peak brightness of 1450 nits, a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support. It delivers vibrant colors and a smooth overall display experience. The phone has an aluminum body, IP68 dust and water resistance, and Gorilla Glass 5 front. Samsung’s cost-cutting gives it a plastic back, though it doesn’t necessarily feel cheap.
The cameras on the Galaxy S23 FE are almost as good as the Galaxy S23. It features the same 50MP primary shooter with 8K video recording capabilities. It’s paired with an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom (up to 30x hybrid zoom), a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 10MP selfie shooter. All of these cameras give you quality pictures and videos, with the same set of features. Overall, it’s a premium camera setup with excellent value at its price, which starts at just $599.
The latest FE phone from Samsung packs a 4,500mAh battery with support for 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. Battery life isn’t excellent but not too bad either. A full charge takes a little longer than an hour. Like most recent high-end phones from the Korean firm, the Galaxy S23 FE is also eligible for four major Android OS updates. It arrives with Android 13, so you will get official support until Android 17. This phone also boasts Samsung DeX support, an under-display fingerprint scanner, and stereo speakers.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE – Amazon
Best discounted Samsung phone – Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Galaxy S22 Ultra gives you the best of Samsung at a discounted price.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra is Samsung’s best phone from 2022. It features the same display and build quality as the Galaxy S23 Ultra, including an Armor aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back, and IP68 dust and water resistance. This phone comes with a built-in S Pen too, so you’ll get a similar experience at a discounted price. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip (Exynos 2200 in Europe) may be a generation old but it is still very much capable. The difference isn’t noticeable during most of the tasks.
That said, it isn’t as efficient as the latest solution. That means you won’t get the same battery life as the Galaxy S23 Ultra, even though the battery capacity is unchanged. The older chip also heats up more quickly, affecting the charging time. The Galaxy S22 Ultra takes more than an hour to fully charge its 5,000mAh battery with Samsung’s 45W charger. App management isn’t a problem but the phone may get a little too hot during long hours of gaming.
As for cameras, the 2022 phone has a 108MP primary shooter that is still one of the best out there. It lets you record 8K videos, while photos come out excellent too. Since the Galaxy S22 Ultra is eligible for updates up to Android 16, you get all the latest camera features as well. The other rear cameras are the same as the Galaxy S23 Ultra so up to 100X hybrid zoom is available here. The 40MP selfie camera is almost as good too. Our Galaxy S22 Ultra review will give you more insights.
The rest of the setup is more or less the same as on the 2023 model, including an ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanner, Samsung DeX, AKG-tuned stereo speakers, and Ultra Wideband (UWB). If you want the best of Samsung but the Galaxy S23 Ultra is out of your budget, a discounted Galaxy S22 Ultra shouldn’t disappoint you. You can get it at around $850 or even less. However, if you can find a good deal on the former, it’s slightly better in overall comparison. Most notably, the processor is better on the latest Samsung flagship.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – Amazon
Best Samsung foldable – Galaxy Z Fold 5
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the best foldable smartphone in the current market.
If you’re looking to buy a foldable smartphone, there’s nothing better than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5. The Korean company has been making foldables for five years now and its expertise is reflected throughout the device. The hardware may not be perfect, but the software experience is unmatched. This phone is a pocketable PC of sorts. You get more or less the same set of premium features as the Galaxy S23 Ultra but in a folding form factor.
The 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X external display comes with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection and supports all apps. It is a full-fledged smartphone on its own, though its tall aspect ratio may make things a little uneasy at times. This is a tradeoff you’ll have to make for an awesome foldable experience. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 lets you get most tasks done without unfolding the device, including messaging, photography, and more.
When you need a bigger screen, you have a 7.6-inch panel on the inside with the same resolution, color accuracy, and refresh rate (120Hz). It supports the S Pen, a special version Samsung made to work with the plastic folding screen. It is a separate $100 purchase, though. This foldable shares the processor with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, so the performance is not an issue. You can expect a similar flagship experience, with a big folding screen adding more value.
When we say more value, we mean its unmatched multitasking features that Samsung continues to improve with each new generation. You can simultaneously open three apps on the screen and quickly switch between apps through the persistent task manager at the bottom. With the Flex Mode, the device can be unfolded at various angles to use the two halves of the screen for different purposes. It also helps keep the phone stable for taking pictures.
Speaking of pictures, the rear camera setup of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the same as the Galaxy S23. So you get 8K video recording here, along with all other flagship camera features such as up to 30X hybrid zoom and Nightography. Its Flex Mode comes in handy for taking long-exposure photos of the night sky. The foldable runs Android 13 out of the box, with One UI 5.1.1 on top. It will get updates up to Android 17, so there’s plenty of life in it.
Samsung has fitted the device with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner at a comfortable height. The foldable offers IPX8 water resistance with an Armor Aluminum body. AKG-tuned stereo speakers, UWB, and Samsung DeX are part of this package too. The device packs a 4,400mAh battery and gives you around seven hours of screen time. 25W charging is a little slow as it takes almost two hours to charge fully. This phone is priced at $1,799 and above. You can read our Galaxy Z Fold 5 review for more.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 – Amazon
Best compact foldable – Galaxy Z Flip 5
The Galaxy Z FLip 5 is a compact foldable with grace and elegance.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a slightly less powerful foldable from Samsung, with more style. It features the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset as the Fold model and the Galaxy S23 series, so you won’t be compromising on performance. It is IPX8 water-resistant too, and does feature an Armor Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2. That means durability isn’t a concern either.
The display is equally good. On the outside, you have a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED folder-shaped display that can run some apps and lets you see notifications, control music, take photos, and more. This screen serves as a viewfinder when taking selfies with the rear cameras. With Flex Mode, you can do this hands-free. The 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel on the inside is big, bright, and boasts vibrant colors. It doesn’t support the S Pen, though.
The biggest shortcoming of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is its cameras. They aren’t as good as other Samsung flagships. The Flip model’s 12MP dual main camera lacks 8K video recording capabilities (supports 4K videos). The image quality isn’t the best either, at least in this price segment. The same can be said for the 12MP ultrawide lens and the 10MP selfie camera. This phone lacks a zoom camera too. You can find phones with better cameras at $999. Read our Galaxy Z Flip 5 review for a detailed look into its camera performance.
The device still gives you a great foldable experience for its price. If the best camera isn’t your primary need, and the Fold model isn’t your type or in budget, the new Flip won’t disappoint you. Samsung offers many foldable-specific One UI features that make tasks more intuitive and help enhance your productivity. You get a 3,700mAh battery in this phone, which can run throughout the day. It takes a little over an hour to charge fully with a 25W Samsung charger. The company will push updates up to Android 17.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 – Amazon
Best value – Galaxy A54 5G
The Galaxy A54 5G is Samsung’s best-value smartphone of 2023.
The Galaxy A54 5G arguably offers the best value among all recent Samsung smartphones. You get a vibrant 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and 1,000 nits of brightness. The screen is readable under sunlight though colors may appear a little washed out. It’s good enough for media consumption. The phone is IP67 dust and water-resistant and gives you stereo speakers, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, and an under-display fingerprint scanner.
The Exynos 1380 SoC powering this phone is a decent 5nm chip from Samsung. It isn’t a flagship solution, so don’t expect a groundbreaking performance. However, you won’t notice major hiccups during normal usage. It squeezes a decent amount of screen time out of the phone’s 5,000mAh battery that supports 25W wired charging. A full charge, which takes a little over an hour, would comfortably take you through the day. Gaming isn’t its forte, though. You can game occasionally, but long sessions of intense gaming make the phone hot.
Cameras on the Galaxy A54 5G are fairly capable. This device can record 4K videos with its 32MP front camera and its 50MP primary rear camera. Photos come with enough dynamic range and details. It also boasts PDAF (phase detection autofocus) and OIS (optical image stabilization), along with a 12MP ultrawide lens and a 5MP macro camera. The latter two are mostly there to make up the numbers, though. The image output from those lenses is usable but nothing special. That is expected in this price segment.
There’s no wireless charging on the Galaxy A54 5G, nor do you get a metallic body. It has a plastic frame that doesn’t feel necessarily cheap but is not premium either. However, Samsung has slapped a Gorilla Glass 5 panel on its front and back, so that’s some extra protection there. This phone is also eligible for four major Android OS updates, i.e. until Android 17. Overall, the device gives you excellent value for the money you are spending on it. Samsung has priced it at $399.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G – Amazon
Best mid-range Samsung phone – Galaxy A23 5G
The Galaxy A23 5G is the right pick for people looking to buy a decent Samsung phone without breaking the bank.
The Galaxy A23 5G gives you all the basics and a few extras without breaking the bank. At $299, you get 5G connectivity (UW option available for Verizon users), a 6.6-inch Full HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 50MP main camera with PDAF, OIS, and 1080p video recording, an 8MP selfie camera, side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a 5,000mAh battery, and 25W charging.
For its price, these specs look promising. However, bear in mind that the 50MP camera here is no match to that of the Galaxy S23. The image quality is about as good as the Galaxy A54 5G, though. The Galaxy A23 5G also has a 5MP ultrawide lens, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor, but they aren’t very good. Overall, it’s a usable camera system but don’t expect a high amount of dynamic range and details in photos and videos.
This phone’s display is an LCD panel, so colors may not look vibrant either. That’s expected in this segment, anyway. The Galaxy S23 5G’s battery life is good and so is its charging speed. A full charge takes a little over an hour. That’s an excellent charging speed considering that Samsung flagships take as much to charge from 0 to 100%. The capacitive fingerprint scanner on the right side is swift and at a comfortable height.
The Galaxy A23 5G is equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 695 chipset, which is a 6nm solution. It’s a decent performer as long as you don’t put too much stress on it. It can keep a substantial number of apps in the background. The chip is good for occasional too. The phone comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, with support for up to 1TB micro SD cards. It’s nice to have expandable storage when the onboard capacity is on the lower side of the spectrum.
This Samsung mid-ranger offers NFC and has a 3.5mm headphone jack. You don’t get a metallic body, wireless charging, and stereo speakers here. Samsung gives you a plastic frame, plastic back panel, and Gorilla Glass 5 on the front. The bottom-firing speaker is quite loud. The device will get Android 14 and Android 15 updates, so it won’t be outdated anytime soon.
Best budget model – Galaxy A14 5G
The Galaxy A14 5G is the cheapest Samsung phone with 5G connectivity.
The Galaxy A14 5G is a budget handset for basic smartphone use. It offers 5G cellular connectivity at just $199. The device features a 6.6-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a Full HD+ resolution. The LCD screen isn’t of the best quality but not bad either. You get decent colors and viewing angles. It isn’t the brightest and most legible under direct sunlight, though.
Samsung has equipped its cheapest 5G phone with MediaTek’s Dimensity 700 chipset (Exynos 1350 in international markets). It’s a 7nm SoC (the Exynos chip is a 5nm solution) and not the most powerful or efficient one. However, since the Galaxy A14 5G is a budget phone, gaming isn’t recommended here. You won’t feel major hiccups in normal usage. With a 5,000mAh battery, you’ll get a decent amount of screen time as well. Its 15W charging speed takes over two hours for a full charge, so that’s a bummer.
The Galaxy A14 5G is available with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Like most other Samsung phones in the budget and mid-range segments, it supports micro SD cards up to 1TB capacity. This phone has a 50MP camera at the back with support for PDAF but no OIS. The images you get here are good enough for keeping memories. You can capture 1080p videos as well.
The primary shooter is paired with a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor, neither of which gives you excellent photos. The 13MP selfie camera is fairly decent, though. It supports 1080p video recording too. Other highlights of the Galaxy A14 5G include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and a 3.5mm headphone jack. This phone will also get Android 14 and Android 15 updates.
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