Its tempting to overlook the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus, wedged as it is between the low-cost Galaxy S22 and the feature-packed Galaxy S22 Ultra. Although it's a bit pricey at $1,000, it feels like the right option for those who want a screen that's big but not gigantic paired with one of the best cameras around. It is superior in camera capabilities, processor speed, and battery life, and it rivals its greatest competitors like Apple and Huawei. For a lower cost and a step down on some more features, there's the Galaxy A lineup. 40MP front-facing camera, 10MP with 3x optical, 50MP wide, and 12MP ultra-wide. Priced at $699.99, you may think Samsung compromised a lot to offer a powerful 5G phone. The size combined with the low resolution doesn't look great in person. New for 2022, the Galaxy A53 gets you a plethora of Samsung features and power at a fraction of the S-series price. One significant improvement is the increased size of the cover screen display from 1.1 to 1.9 inches. Sometimes all at once. Four color options are available for the S22 Plus so you can find one that fits your style. Owners of last years S21 Plus may not notice much of a difference, but if youve had the same phone for more than two years, the Galaxy S22 Plus can offer you a premium experience without the Ultras stratospheric price tag. We've also listed the top (non-Samsung) picks from both those guides below for your convenience. Pricing starts at $999.99. We wish battery life was a little better, though we appreciate that Samsung has gone back to 45W charging for this model. You wont get the fast wired charging found in other Galaxy S22 models, and the S22s battery life leaves a little bit to be desired. Samsung offers three options in the A-Series lineup with the A52 5G, A42 5G, and A32 5G. Other versions of this page are available with specific content for the following regions: Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Lead Editor, CNET Advice, Europe; Lead Photographer, Europe. The Galaxy A53 5G has an ultrawide lens for taking photos with a broader field of view and also supports night-mode photography. First, decide if you want a standard "glass rectangle" smartphone or if you want a folding device. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra review. The Galaxy S22 Plus is the big-screen phone to get if you cant swing the Galaxy S22 Ultra. You also can enjoy the same bright display and fast 45W charging found in the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but for $200 less. Choosing between so many options can get complicated, so here's how to decide which Samsung phone is best for you. The main display has improved panels and a screen protector that provide an 80% increase in its durability. We also have the best Samsung Galaxy S22 deals available right now here. Shop your favorite products and well find the best deal with a single click. In our testing, it lasted for just 6 hours when the display was locked at 60Hz. Samsung's latest foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 3, is a stunning feat of engineering that we found to be a significant improvement over its predecessor. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the first affordable foldable phone. When open, this Samsung Galaxy smartphone has a big 6.7-inch display, but fold it in half and it becomes a small square that's easy to slide into a jeans or jacket pocket. If 5G speeds are your top Android phone priority but you don't want to spend much money, Samsung's Galaxy A32 5G is where you should be looking. Whats more, the new Galaxy Z Fold 3 is more durable than ever, thanks to an IPX8 water resistance rating, The Armor Aluminum body is stronger than before while the phones use of a Gorilla Glass Victus display should reduce the likelihood of scratches and other damage. Read ZDNet's full review:Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 review. 'ZDNet Recommends': What exactly does it mean? He loves nothing more than relaxing in his home with a book, game, or his latest personal writing project. In order to offer customers another alternative, Samsung released the Galaxy S21 FE (Fan Edition) phone. Samsung is clearly the leader in foldable technology and its new S22 series shows it is working to be the best across the board. Neither ZDNet nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. From there, consider whether or not you need stylus support, or if you'd prefer some of the best camera arrays around. In general, a phone that lasts 10 hours or more is good, and anything above 11 hours makes our list of thebest phone battery life. Like the Z Fold 3, the Z Flip 3 is the third generation Flip device from Samsung. We try to spend time with every phone in our best list and if we don't get that opportunity then we look to trusted reviewers in the mobile space. The three main cameras are basically the same, but the new under display camera is a step forward in mobile technology that's great for video conferencing, even if it can't quite compete yet with its more obvious counterparts. If you're looking to save money on any purchases including new Samsung phones be sure to check out the back-to-school sales. The biggest downside is the underwhelming display. The S21 FE challenges Google's new Pixel 6 and other phones. However, we see a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, high-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, large capacity 4500mAh battery, 6 or 8GB of RAM, 128 or 256GB storage with a microSD card slot, IP68 dust/water resistance, three rear cameras (one with 3X optical and 30x super-resolution zoom), and a high resolution 32MP front camera. With two telephoto cameras, Samsung stands out from Apple and Google with fantastic zoom capability. But the jump from the Galaxy S21's 12-megapixel camera to the S22's 50-megapixel camera is perhaps the most noticeable improvement. All three introduce excellent new features bright displays, great performance and improved cameras while maintaining the same price range as the Galaxy S21 models Samsung introduced in 2021. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S21 FE review. Runner-up to the best Samsung phone overall. The Galaxy A53 isn't Samsung's cheapest 5G phone. There was a problem. Battery life on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 could be better, and while the debut price is lower than what it was for the Galaxy Z Fold 2, $1,799 is still a lot to pay for the phone. Samsung's phone lineup has something for every budget, from the $1,200Galaxy S22 Ultrato the $180 Galaxy A12. New York, Here's how to choose. If youre a Samsung fan in search of bargains, the Galaxy A53 is the phone to get. Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. Looking up the top Galaxy Z Flip 4 rumors can tell you whether the new phone will be worth the wait. Cameras offer better low light performance, The affordable big-screen option in the S22 lineup, Most camera improvements still cant match Google Pixel, Battery life barely better than last year, Durable design with water resistance rating, Hard to recommend with Galaxy S22 launch looming, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, 108MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 2 10MP telephoto (rear); 40MP (front), 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto; 10MP front, 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP telephoto (rear); 10MP (front), 64MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, 5MP depth (rear); 32MP (front), 12MP wide, 12MP ultrade, 12MP telephoto (rear); 10MP (front); 4MP (under-display), 12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 8MP telephoto (Rear); 32MP (Front), 48MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, 2MP depth (Rear); 13MP (Front), 12MP wide, 12MP ultrawide (rear); 10MP (front), why you might want to buy the Galaxy S22 Ultra, what the first app you should install on your Samsung Galaxy phone, Apple VR/AR headset could use gloves or Apple Watch to sense finger gestures, Inner: 6:35 (Adaptive) / 7:53 (60Hz) | Outer: 7:57 (Adaptive) / 8:48 (60Hz), The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Last but not least, we take the best phones out in the field to take photos outdoors, indoors and at night in low light to see how they perform versus their closest competitors. With the S22 Ultra, Samsung has fully embraced it as the Note successor with an S Pen silo, flat and square design elements, and all of the latest and greatest specifications in a smartphone. If it's primarily a productivity device, the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 3 are appealing, despite their high price tags, because they both support the S Pen. It features a 108MP main camera along with four accompanying cameras, which allow it to take extremely high-quality shots including telephoto and ultra-wide. With its giant 6.8-inch screen and four-lens camera, it's best for those who want the largest screen and best camera possible in a new Samsung phone. With the Galaxy S22 now shipping, our attention can turn to future Samsung phones. Samsung continues to show that its serious about midrange phones with the Galaxy A53. Even though it's summer, the start of school is just around the corner. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The S22 Ultra rises to the top of our list by drawing upon an old familiar phone to Samsung fans the design looks like a Galaxy Note model, right down to the slot for the included S Pen. We've got a list of reasons to buy and skip the Galaxy S22 as well as why you might want to buy the Galaxy S22 Ultra, if you're trying to decide among Samsung's flagships. (The S22 Ultra now comes with an S Pen, in fact.) 32MP front-facing camera, Three or four rear cameras and 13MP or 32MP selfie camera. The A42 5G Android phone sits just below the A52, provides less RAM, loses the macro camera and has a lower-resolution front-facing camera. TheS21 FEis available in four unique colors to suit your style. It is constructed with an Armor Aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus Plus. While the Galaxy S22 series provide compelling options, they are flagship phones priced in the $800 and higher range. best Samsung Galaxy S22 cases and accessories here. ZDNet's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. There are cheaper options than the S22. Samsungs premium foldable phone remains the Galaxy Z Fold 3, especially now that the new version has added 120Hz displays both inside and out. With the Galaxy S22 debuting at $799, there's only a $100 difference from the Galaxy S21 FE. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G is ZDNet's first choice with its high capacity battery and fantastic performance. Overall, the Galaxy A53 5G is a suitable choice for those who prioritize having a large screen and long battery life for less than $500. And if you do pick one up, make sure you check out what the first app you should install on your Samsung Galaxy phone is and all of other Samsung hidden features that will change the way you use your phone. Samsung has significantly expanded its offerings with the A Series, Fold, and Flip options so now the first thing to consider is your desired form factor. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. We also run a real-world video transcoding test on each phone using the Adobe Premiere Rush app and time the result. Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review. He's written about phones for over five years and plans to continue for a long while to come. These tests allow us to compare performance across iPhones and Android devices. Picking which Samsung phone to buy is primarily driven by budget considerations. There are some trade-offs. Many of the updates Samsung made across the Galaxy S22 lineup are iterative, like the phones' new processors and refreshed designs. The S22 Ultra can also video record in up to 8K UHD quality making it one of the most capable phone cameras money can buy. It's essentially a smaller version of the Galaxy S22 Plus, except the Plus also has a bigger battery, faster charging and ultrawideband support. The Galaxy S21 FE faces some tough competition from Google's Pixel 6, but if you're after a great overall Samsung phone and don't want to pay top dollar for the flagships, then the S21 FE is well worth considering. Still, everything else you'd want in a Samsung phone is here with a larger screen than what you get with the standard S21. In addition to a couple of new features, the cover display resolution and refresh rate were updated so you get a high-resolution display with 120 Hz support constructed of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The $800 Galaxy S22 otherwise brings many of the same benefits as the Galaxy S22 Plus. Samsung's nonfoldable phones like theGalaxy S21 FE,Galaxy S22 lineupandGalaxy A53 5Gare still just a few months old, so they should still feel fresh and new. Image quality isn't as good as what you'd get on a more expensive Samsung phone like the Galaxy S21 FE or Galaxy S22, but it's certainly clear and colorful enough for basic shots. Samsung's original folding phone was a novel idea but the latest generation -- the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 -- refines it further. NY 10036. While the S21 Ultra from 2021 supported the S Pen, there was no way to store, carry, or charge up the S Pen. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. Back to school: Must-have tech for students, How to answer "tell me about yourself" in interviews, Apple explains why iPhone cases are a waste. You're not going to spring for a Galaxy S22 Ultra, for example, if you're not prepared with at least $1,199 even if you opt to spread those payments out over time. The first S20 FE seriously impressed us with its balance of performance and price, and the new Galaxy S21 FE takes that further with a solid triple camera, a vibrant display and the same powerful processor found in the flagship S21. Nevertheless, if you want a premium device that gives you plenty of screen to work with, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the best Samsung phone yet to offer a foldable display. Samsung has even begun to roll out updates for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra camera, including a performance upgrade to portrait mode. Samsung also committed to supporting four generations of Android and Samsung operating system updates on these devices. 2022 CNET, a Red Ventures company. It boasts a far larger screen and more versatile camera cluster than the iPhone SE, though Apple's budget model delivers snappier performance. The S22 Plus supports 45W fast charging, ultra wideband, WiFi 6E, and 5G. Samsung also recently launched theGalaxy A13, which has 5G, more storage and a sharper 50-megapixel camera, which could be worth considering when searching for Samsung Galaxy phones. Android users don't have much choice when it comes to small phones, but Samsung is changing that with the Galaxy S22. Be sure to follow our back-to-school guide for all of your shopping needs this season. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. No matter what model has caught your eye, picking the best Samsung phone for you comes down to figuring out what kind of phone you're looking for and how much you're willing to pay. Starting at $999, it offers top-end specs and the ability to fold in half horizontally. You don't need to pay full price to get the big features in the Galaxy S21 lineup. ZDNet has rounded up the best phone deals available right now in a guide here. Unlike other flagship phones in its price range, the Galaxy S22 even has a dedicated telephoto lens which now supports a 3x optical zoom. Samsung also improved the cameras on the Galaxy S22, which takes excellent low-light photos and compelling portrait shots. You can also find discounts on Samsung phones by buying directly from the phone maker and trading in your current device. You might just find Galaxy phones on sale at Samsung, wireless carriers and other dealers, especially in advance of a rumored Samsung product launch event in August. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services were assessing. We handpick the products and services we write about. Thank you for signing up to Tom's Guide. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. This $1,099 version lets you choose the colors of the frame as well as the front and back panel there are 49 color combinations in all. It's still essentially a tablet that folds in half to become a phone, but this smartphone has an improved hinge, better specs all round, 5G connectivity and a bigger display on the outside that actually makes it usable as a phone. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. That's especially true if you're willing to consider the phone maker's more affordable Galaxy A midrange models. One of the best things Samsung did was to convince more app makers to optimize their software to work with the Galaxy Z Fold 3s foldable display. The company typically launches new foldable devices in August, meaning there's a chance we might see a Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 next month. Prior to joining CNET, Lisa served as a senior tech correspondent at Insider covering Apple and the broader consumer tech industry. Jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom's Guide, covering all things phone-related. Samsung's first flagship phone of 2022was released as the Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G. But at $799, this model delivers the right balance of premium features and value for your money. Its 6.6-inch screen size is just right for most people, it has a sharp new glass-and-metal design and the camera has gotten a major upgrade compared with the S21 generation. As a result, the S22 Ultra has the closest zoom of any Samsung phone -- and perhaps any phone, period. And the Flip 3 lacks a telephoto lens, unlike other phones at this price range. Start with how you use your smartphone. Andrew is CNET's go-to guy for product coverage and lead photographer for Europe. We also wish Samsung didnt include a superfluous macro camera with the A53s array of lenses. The $200 price drop on the Z Flip 3 means you can now join the foldable sector for $1000, which is competitive with other flagship smartphones and gives the Z Flip 3 the potential to seriously challenge other manufacturers while expanding the adoption of foldable devices. Budget-minded shoppers will want to look at the Galaxy S21 FE, which costs $100 less than its fellow Samsung flagships. Check out the best Samsung phone deals for the latest savings. If you choose a standard form factor, then price is the next factor to consider. What is the best Samsung phone? And that can adversely affect battery life. Its low price makes it one of the cheapest 5G-enabled Samsung Galaxy phones that it's possible to buy right now, and you still get a big 6.5-inch display and a multiple rear camera setup. But it packs a 5,000 mAh battery that lasts a really long time almost 12 hours in our testing with its adaptive refresh rate enabled. Bixby was first introduced in the Galaxy S8 phones and according to Samsung it is an "intelligence assistant" that can be activated by voice, taps, or text. Designed to make shopping easier. We run a web surfing test over 5G (or 4G if the phone doesn't have 5G support) at 150 nits of screen brightness until the battery gives out. So the Galaxy A32 might be your only choice if the A53 is still too rich for your blood. Just keep in mind that the Galaxy S22's smaller size also comes along with shorter battery life than the S22 Plus and S22 Ultra. When it comes to performance, we rely on such synthetic benchmarks as Geekbench 5 and 3DMark to measure graphics performance. Flagship tech at a more approachable price. Samsung bills this option as a way to add your own unique flair to an already unique-looking device. But for those who love big screens and who really want a superior zoom camera and the S Pen for taking notes, the S22 won't disappoint. But other factors need to be taken into consideration as well. An unusual phone that will make people go, "what's that?". Folding Samsung Galaxy phones may not be to everyone's taste and they certainly come at a premium, but if you're after a futuristic foldable, the Z Fold 3 is the best one to buy. The Galaxy S22 Plus also lasted the longest in CNET's battery test of Samsung's Galaxy S22 phones, although battery life still felt average rather than impressive. With Samsung's new strategy you have phones priced from under $250 to over $1,200. Unlike last year's model, the Galaxy S22 Ultra also comes with Samsung's S Pen stylus at no additional cost, just like Samsung's older Galaxy Note devices. Given the generally low demands of the specs, that battery should easily last a full day. If that's too much for your budget, don't despair. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Then look no further than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the crown jewel in Samsungs new lineup of flagship phones. It still has 5G connectivity though, along with a bigger battery and a marginally bigger display, which could make it a great affordable Samsung phone option for those of you who watch a lot of videos on the move. Finding the best Samsung phone will ultimately come down to preference. But make no mistake the Galaxy S22 Plus is a stellar Samsung phone in its own right. While there's a newer model around, the Galaxy A33 isn't slated to ship outside of Europe. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, 10MP front-facing under-display camera, Three rear 12MP, 10MP cover screen, 4MP under main display, 8MP telephoto, 12MP wide, and 12MP ultra-wide. Read ZDNet's full review: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G review. This makes for a very pocketable device that packs a serious punch. We found the best Samsung phone is the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G. The larger sensor on the new Ultras main camera lets in more light for better low-light photography, and we also appreciate software improvements like the more advanced Portrait mode. Watch out, Apple! Just keep in mind you might have to deal with some occasional lag, and the camera isn't as advanced as those found on pricier phones. Samsung offers other top devices that rank among the best phones, and they can be had for less. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. You will receive a verification email shortly. The phone can become even more novel if you opt for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 Bespoke Edition. The Galaxy S22 boasts the same chipset found in more expensive S22 models, and it also has a brighter screen than its predecessor, even if the S22 Ultra and S22 Plus outshine it. With its big 6.5-inch screen, the A32 is not a small phone. A better choice would be the Galaxy A53, which gives you a capable 5G phone for less than $500. The other major change is the IPX8 water resistance that gives you peace of mind when you are flipping open and closed out in the weather. It was much easier to choose a Samsung phone option in the past when just the S and Note series were available, along with some low-range basic phones. The Galaxy A12 is one of the cheapest phones Samsung sells and it's the one to consider for those of you who simply want a phone for all of life's essentials. Read ZDNet's full review: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra review. The 2020 Galaxy Z Fold 2 set the bar for foldable devices that also serve as mini tablets. But the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is still a compelling option, thanks largely to its lower price tag. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus review. The top-of-the-line flagship Samsung phone with all the bells and whistles in a traditional form factor. While all three new Galaxy S22 phones can take better photos in the dark and have improved color and contrast, the S22 Ultra is the only one with two telephoto lenses. If you don't care for extravagant cameras or supercomputer-levels of processing power, you won't have to pay for them with this model. Jordan likes finding new things to dive into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. But the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a novel thing. 2022 ZDNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. But that low price equal to the Pixel 5as cost is hard to beat, especially in a phone that comes with a solid design and a generous amount of software updates. Battery life was a concern with the last generation model so we'll have to see how the processor, Android 11, and Samsung software enhancements impact the battery life on the Z Flip 3. 10MP with 10x optical, 10MP with 3x optical, 108MP, and 12MP ultra wide. One of the most important tests we run is the Tom's Guide battery test. If you want the best Samsung phones, don't look any further than the new Galaxy S22 models. Outside of work, you can find him poring over open-source software and his studies. Samsung added S Pen support, too, and while the main display certainly gives you a lot of real estate for sketching and taking notes, its a shame the stylus is an optional accessory (meaning youll have to pay extra to pick up both an S Pen and a case for holding the stylus). We like its neat design, along with its decent all-round specs and 5G connectivity and it's a more affordable folding option among Samsung Galaxy phones.