Best Samsung Phones in December 2024 – Picked by experts

Given the sheer number of devices that it releases every year, finding the best Samsung phones can often prove to be a challenge for most customers. It doesn't matter if you want a flagship or a budget device. Samsung offers plenty of options for all price ranges.

To make it easier for you to find the one that best suits your needs, our expert reviewers have created this list of the best Samsung smartphones. We'll explain precisely why a device has made it onto our list and provide you with links to their detailed reviews. This will help you cut through the noise and make an informed decision.

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Spec Monster: Galaxy S24 Ultra
Productivity: Galaxy Z Fold 6
Compact: Galaxy S23 FE
Foldable: Galaxy Z Flip 6
Mid-range: Galaxy A54 5G
Budget: Galaxy A34 5G

Our Best Samsung Phone List For December 2024

Our December 2024 list has a great variety of phones, including the Samsung's Galaxy S24 series, and the company's latest foldable phones. We have also included some of the good Samsung phones in the mid-range and affordable categories that are currently available.

Best Samsung Phone – Spec monster: Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung makes the “Ultra” model the one to get if you want the absolute best of what the company has to offer. The Galaxy S24 Ultra takes it up a few notches this year with some of the major upgrades that Samsung has made to this device. Its the best phone to experience Galaxy AI, Samsung's suite of AI features, on and it's also the first Galaxy smartphone to feature Titanium.

Galaxy AI also adds a handful of useful features to the device. This includes live translation of calls, intelligent summarization of content in Samsung Notes and other apps, Circle to Search, generative edit, and more.

The 6.8-inch Quad HD+ display is flat this time around, a departure from the curved panels on previous models. The Titanium finish makes the Galaxy S24 Ultra feel like one of the most premium devices we've seen yet from the company. While Samsung may have brought back the Exynos chipset with this series, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the only device that runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy in all markets. It's paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.

You still get the same 5,000mAh battery like last year with support for 45W charging. The camera setup gets an upgraded 200-megapixel primary sensor with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, a 50-megapixel 5x optical and a 10-megapixel 3x optical zoom sensor. You'll find a 12-megapixel selfie camera on the front as well. Significant improvements have been made to the camera software, including new AI features, that enable you to create slow-motion videos from any clip as well as remove and resize objects in photos.

Reasons to buy: Titanium finish, Galaxy AI features, Qualcomm 8 Gen 3 chipset everywhere, improved cameras.

Who should buy: Samsung loyalists, pro users, AI early adopters, content creators.

Galaxy S24 Ultra Specs | Galaxy S24 Ultra Review | Buy Galaxy S24 Ultra from Samsung

Best Samsung Phone – Productivity: Galaxy Z Fold 6

It goes without saying that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the best Samsung phone for productivity. It has a massive internal S Pen-compatible foldable display that's firmly in tablet territory, providing you plenty of screen real estate to get serious work done on the go. The external display is large enough that you can accomplish many quick tasks without having to unfold the device.

The external display gets a wider cover screen with a 22.1:9 aspect ratio which makes it much more comfortable to use the outer display. The internal display now reaches a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, which is seriously impressive.

The camera setup on this device includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor with Dual Pixel AF and optical image stabilization. There's also a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. A 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor is present as well in addition to a 4-megapixel Under-Display Camera and a 10-megapixel selfie camera on the cover screen.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 has been introduced with many new features as it ships with Android 14 and One UI 6.1.1 out of the box. This includes several new Galaxy AI features which add to the ease of communication and enhance productivity for users. While it's also the most expensive phone on the list, Samsung routinely offers great deals through its online store to make it easier for customers to buy the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Reasons to buy: Productivity-focused, S Pen-compatible, sleek design, latest chipset and foldable form factor.

Who should buy: Those who require a powerful device, mobile gamers, content creators, and executives.

Galaxy Z Fold 6 Specs | Galaxy Z Fold 6 Hands-on | Buy Galaxy Z Fold 6 from Samsung

Best Samsung Phone – Compact: Galaxy S23 FE

The wait for a new Fan Edition smartphone from Samsung ended in October 2023 as the company unveiled the Galaxy S23 FE. Based on the popular Galaxy S23 series, there were already high expectations from this device before it arrived, and it's safe to say that it met them all very well. Retaining the compact DNA of its predecessors, the Galaxy S23 FE features a 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate.

It's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset in some markets whereas an improved version of the Exynos 2200 powers it in most other markets. The company has added a vapor chamber to help with cooling on the Exynos variants, fixing one of the key concerns with this chipset. You can get the Galaxy S23 FE with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. It has the same 4,500mAh battery as its predecessor with support for 25W fast charging. The cameras have been upgraded on this model to include a 50-megapixel primary sensor in addition to an 8-megapixel telephoto with 3x optical zoom and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. You'll also find a 10-megapixel selfie camera on the front.

Much like most of the new devices in Samsung's lineup now, the Galaxy S23 FE is going to receive four years of Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates. This makes it a great future proof device for customers who don't particularly like changing their phones all that often.

At $629.99, the Galaxy S23 FE is $70 cheaper than its predecessor, which is just one of the many reasons why you should be picking this up in 2024. This device provides incredible value for money at this price point, a feat that few other phones can manage at this end of the price spectrum.

Reasons to buy: Respectable specs, revamped design, great performance, lower price.

Who should buy: Budget conscious customers, those who don't need a full-fledged flagship but require decent performance.

Galaxy S23 FE Specs | Galaxy S23 FE Review | Buy Galaxy S23 FE from Samsung

Best Samsung Phone – Foldable: Galaxy Z Flip 6

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is one of the two new foldable phones Samsung launched in July 2024. It gets a spot on this list because not only is it the most affordable of the two, but it's also a lot more versatile and this lineup itself accounts for the majority of Samsung's foldable sales.

Samsung has made some meaningful improvements to the 2024 iteration of its clamshell foldable. It has made the internal foldable panel more durable, and it has equipped the device with a new 50-megapixel primary sensor. Lastly, the company has also increased the battery capacity to 4,000mAh. All of these updates significantly improve the user experience.

It's powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and now comes with 12GB of RAM as standard. The primary sensor is paired with a 12MP ultrawide camera and a 10-megapixel selfie camera.

Samsung ships this device with Android 14 and One UI 6.1.1 with plenty of new Galaxy AI features. This is clearly one of the best Samsung phones ever made, if you were to ask foldable fans specifically, as there aren't many devices that can hold a candle to the Galaxy Z Flip 6.

Reasons to buy: Durable inner display display, improved IP rating, and enhanced performance.

Who should buy: Galaxy Z Flip enthusiasts, trendy and fashionable folks.

Galaxy Z Flip 6 Specs | Galaxy Z Flip 6 Hands-on | Buy Galaxy Z Flip 6 from Samsung

Best Samsung Phone – Mid-range: Galaxy A54 5G

Samsung has further solidified its premium mid-range offerings with the Galaxy A54 5G. This device comes with several improvements that make it better than its predecessor. It's one of the best Samsung mid-range smartphones in the market right now. It has a design language similar to the Galaxy S23 models, including the three independent circular cutouts for each rear-facing camera sensor.

The Galaxy A54 5G boasts a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The panel itself has seen a massive reduction in blue light emissions, making it more comfortable to view, and utilizes Vision Booster technology to increase the brightness up to 1,000 nits. You'll find the Exynos 1380 chipset under the hood with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It does support memory expansion via microSD cards. The camera setup includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor alongside a 12-megapixel ultrawide and 5-megapixel macro sensor. There's a 32-megapixel selfie camera on the front.

A 5,000mAh battery keeps the lights on with support for 25W fast charging. In addition to its stereo speakers, the device also supports Dolby Atmos. Like most of its devices, the Galaxy A54 5G will also receive four years of Android OS upgrades from Samsung.

Reasons to buy: Great new design, powerful internals, brighter display, bigger battery, great software support.

Who should buy: Those who love mobile gaming, millennials, and customers looking for a great mid-range phone.

Galaxy A54 Specs | Galaxy A54 5G Review | Buy Galaxy A54 5G from Samsung

Best Samsung Phone – Budget: Galaxy A34 5G

Samsung has made considerable upgrades to this budget lineup with the Galaxy A34 5G. It gets a design refresh with a slightly curved frame and separate cutouts for the rear camera lenses. Instead of being powered by an Exynos chipset like its predecessors, the Galaxy A34 5G comes with a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Its 6.6-inch Full HD+ resolution Super AMOLED display has an improved refresh rate of 120Hz and the brightness can now go as high as 1,000nits, thanks to Samsung's Vision Booster technology. The rear camera setup now features a 48-megapixel primary sensors alongside an 8-megapixel ultra-wide and 5-megapixel macro sensor. Ther'es a 13-megapixel selfie camera as well.

You'll get plenty of juice with the 5,000mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging. The device even has IP67 dust and water resistance. Samsung confirms that the Galaxy A34 5G will get four years of Android OS upgrades.

Reasons to buy: Efficient chipset, improved design, better battery life, elevated cameras.

Who should buy: Budget conscious customers and customers who like simple phones.

Galaxy A34 5G Specs | Galaxy A34 5G Review | Buy Galaxy A34 5G from Samsung

Why These Are The Best Samsung Phones This Month

Samsung's strategy has long been to offer something for everyone. We now have one of Samsung's most diverse smartphone lineups. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is a true beast and there won't be many phones this year that can match its power. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is one of the most feature-packed phones from Samsung. With its unique foldable form factor and support for the S Pen, there's hardly any device that can rival its claim as a productivity champion.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is one of the best foldable smartphones Samsung has ever made. The larger cover display makes it easier to get more done without having to unfold the device every single time. The new hinge also improves durability and makes the device sleeker.

The Galaxy S23 FE is the best option for customers that want the most value for their money. Not only does it provide near flagship-level specifications but it also does that at lower price compared to its predecessor, making it a no-brainer if you're in that price segment.

The Galaxy A54 5G arrived in 2023 and it spectacularly builds upon the popularity of this mid-range series. It fast became one of the most sought-after phones in this segment, courtesy of its revamped design and powerful internals. The Galaxy A34 5G's upgrades have also won it a place on this list, as it's one of the best-value devices from Samsung so far.