Samsung has a smartphone for every budget, so we ranked them
It's not every day Samsung announces a brand new smartphone, but they do announce more than almost any other company in the market and there's a reason for that – they sell more phones than any other phone company in the world, and they've got one for every budget.
Their playbook is reasonably clear, at the start of the year they announced their biggest-selling "flagship" device, the Galaxy S series. Then, closer to the middle of the year they talk about their new A Series phones, which are more of a budget offering.
Halfway into the year, it's the impressive and innovative future-thinking Z Series of foldable phones.
But once every couple of years out of the blue, we get a new one that sits somewhere in the middle - the "FE".
FE stands for 'fan edition', but as one Samsung Executive told me, it could also stand for 'flagship experience' in that it carries most of the features you'll find in their flagship phones, but there are some tweaks, or compromises that help bring the price down.
This year's edition is the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and its $999 price tag puts it at a sweet spot for Samsung – a mid-priced phone in a market that is under pressure (like the rest of retail) from the rising cost of living, which is driving people to lower priced outright phones, and much lower monthly fees.
With a new entrant into their range, I thought it apt to look at almost every smartphone Samsung currently sells, to demonstrate how they literally have a phone for every budget and need.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
Samsung Galaxy A Series
To cater for a budget-conscious market, and also those who are simply nonplussed by all the fancy features of flagship phones, Samsung's A Series is the ideal starting point.
Competing with brands that play almost exclusively in the sub-$1000 space like Motorola, Oppo, and Nokia – Samsung brings huge brand credibility to this market.
Samsung Galaxy A04
This is your true entry-level phone for Samsung. Offering only 4G connectivity, shouldn't put anyone off. 4G is probably 10 years away from end-of-life so this will be a great phone.
The camera and screen are probably where users would notice the biggest difference, with just a 5MP camera and a 720x1600 resolution screen.
However, its 5,000mAh battery will ensure this is an all-day phone with ease.
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
As the number gets higher, we stay in the A Series, the 4 indicating it's a 2023 model.
Huge step up with a 50MP camera and 13MP front camera this is really great value for those who snap the occasional photo and share via messages or social media.
Resolution jumps up to 1080x2408 and it's still got that huge battery.
Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
On specs there's hardly much difference with the A34 until you start looking at some of the nerdier features. Like a 120Hz refresh rate, this means as you scroll through things on the phone it all seems smoother and less obvious to the eye.
Likewise, the screen is brighter and sitting these A series side by side the visible screen colour is a vast difference as you push up the range.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
On the A54 you get the little cut-out hole camera on the front, but also a big step up with the camera.
Optical Image Stabilisation makes for blur-free photos, and the front-facing camera is by far the best in the range.
Plus, water, dust and spill-proof along with gorilla glass making it a bit more durable for the clumsy among us.
The previous generation
Like their biggest competitor Apple, Samsung likes to keep a few phones from the year or so gone by on the market as "new" because they are still great devices among the range, just outpaced by their replacements.
This puts premium features into lower price points and that's a great win for shoppers.
Here are three examples of that.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Debuted in January 2022 this device took some of the best features of the S21 and put them in a a slightly different body.
It's got some extra weight (not a lot), and its dimensions are bigger, but It's still a stunning 6.4-inch screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 5G connectivity.
Frankly, very hard to go past this as an overall bang-for-your-buck choice from this whole Samsung lineup.
Samsung Galaxy S22
Now a touch over 18 months old, the S22 was literally the flagship phone in February last year. It features a 6.1-inch screen, 120Hz refresh rate, and ability to capture 8K video with a triple-lens camera for epic photos in wide, ultra-wide and telephoto modes.
Probably a tough choice with the newer Samsung Galaxy S23FE in the market at close to the same price when launching.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
While Samsung has loads of history now with Foldables, the Flip is its best chance of mainstream success, so keeping last year's model available at a more affordable price is smart.
You don't get the larger cover screen here, but you do get a cracking good phone that literally folds in half – and is the coolest thing ever if you've never used one.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Here we come to the middle of the price range, and the launch of a brand new device for 2023.
The S23 FE is aimed at those people walking around with older phones. You haven't been convinced or drawn to these expensive fancy phones, but you also appreciate the quality that comes with getting a product that isn't plastic and doesn't really compromise on how you use it or what you want it to do.
It's also a big upsell from the Galaxy A series above because it's made from metal and glass, not plastics, giving it a very premium look and feel in the hand.
Cameras are where this device shines most. A triple-lens camera set includes a 50 MP main camera and the epic 30x "space zoom" of the true flagship phones from Samsung. This means great photos in all lighting circumstances, and great astrophotography too if that's your thing!
To stand out, the phone comes in a range of colours too – mint, cream, graphite, and purple.
Samsung likes to keep a couple of colours exclusive for their online store – on the Galaxy S23 FE those are indigo and tangerine.
Samsung's premium smartphone range
From the A Series to the previous generations, then the latest FE – we end up at the top of the market, the premium range for Samsung.
While a "flagship" phone should be a single device, in reality for Samsung it's a range – the S series attracts their biggest bulk of customers, while the Z series foldable are what they see as their future biggest sellers.
Samsung Galaxy S23
The smallest of the trio of S23s, this first phone has a 6.1-inch screen with a 1080x2340 resolution. It weighs just 168 grams and its 3900mAh battery will be an all-day worker for you.
Camera-wise, there's nothing better from Samsung than an S series, and the 23 is the latest. What the standard 23 doesn't have is the 100x zoom but it does have a 30x hybrid and its standard lens is an impressive f1.8 at 50MP.
Recording 8K video at 30 frames per second, as well as ultra-slow motion capabilities in full HD at 960fps, there's not much this can't do.
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Upping the size a bit, the S23+ has a 6.6-inch screen and really, upscaling things is really what you're doing.
Bigger screen.
Bigger battery.
Bigger storage capacity.
And for the slight extra price, it's a no-brainer vs. the Standard S23.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
This is the current generation Flip, and I love it.
The large cover screen makes it usable even when shut.
The hinge is ever so slightly better than the previous generation and the camera is a step up from Flip4 – though still not "S Series" quality.
You've got to consider the Flip!
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
No holds barred, the Ultra is ultra in every way, starting with size. A 6.8-inch screen used to be what we called a Phablet – a tablet and phone combo. And this is really a workhorse.
The only reasons not to buy is the price, and if you don't like large phones – this is large.
Inside the body is a removable S Pen for jotting notes on the screen, making notes on documents, signing things, drawing, whatever you want. This is a huge feature of the Ultra.
The Ultra is Samsung's best seller.
The camera is mind-boggling, with the ability to take photos at 100x – though computer enhanced, it's brilliant even if just to show off.
S23 Ultra embodies the best Samsung has to offer. Simple as that.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
Fans of the Fold will never use a different style phone again.
Open it up, mini tablet. Close it, normal smartphone.
Interestingly it's not the best of Samsung as the camera isn't up to S23 Ultra standards, but it's still outstanding for what it can do.
A great device for those who read a lot of content on the go, and for those who work on the go with its split screen capabilities.
Expensive, but impressive.
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