At this point, I spend nearly half the year with my SIM in a Samsung phone. It’s hard to believe, given how frequently I bounce from one device to the next as a phone reviewer, but with a Galaxy release schedule that spans the entire year, it’s no surprise that Samsung keeps drawing me back in, no matter the price point. Sometimes that means firing up an ultra-thin Android flagship, and sometimes it means testing out a well-rounded budget phone, but no matter what, One UI always finds its way back into my pocket.
As such, I have a pretty good idea of what works for Samsung and what doesn’t — I know which Galaxy devices will offer a return on your investment and which ones won’t. So, with that in mind, here are the best Samsung phones that you should actually buy right now.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: The best Samsung phone overall Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 100x zoom • Big battery • 7 years software support MSRP: $1,299.99 Samsung's best for 2025 Simply put, this is Samsung's very best phone for 2025. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a 6.9-inch QHD+ device with 12GB of RAM, 256GB+ of storage, embedded S Pen, and the overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. The key upgrade over the lower S25 models is a 200MP main camera and 100x Space Zoom. See price at AmazonSee price at SamsungSee price at Samsung Positives Premium materials
Premium materials Great battery life
Great battery life Solid cameras
Solid cameras Top-tier Snapdragon performance
Top-tier Snapdragon performance Brilliant display
Brilliant display Excellent software policy Cons Downgraded S Pen
Downgraded S Pen Mostly AI-based upgrades
Mostly AI-based upgrades Still no full Qi2 support
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