Best Samsung Phones Android Central 2020

Samsung is one of the biggest phone manufacturers in the world, and with good reason — it makes some pretty incredible phones, combining outstanding hardware design with long lists of handy features that differentiate its phones from the competition. The Galaxy S20 Ultra is the company's top phone, but there's also a range of other devices that hit different sizes, price points and value propositions.

The Galaxy S20 Ultra is the culmination of years of iteration and improvement. Samsung has been sticking with this general design language since the Galaxy S6, but it feels like it might have finally perfected it. The S20 Ultra is incredibly well-built, and its massive footprint allows it to squeeze in top-of-the-line specs, 5G support, and a massive 5,000mAh battery. It also has the best display we've ever seen on a phone: an enormous 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling. It has plenty of other great hardware features, too, including microSD expansion, water resistance, and bilateral wireless charging. It runs Samsung's most mature One UI software yet, and it's buttery smooth thanks to the Snapdragon 865 chipset. Of course, we can't talk about a Samsung phone without mentioning the cameras. The S20 Ultra goes all out with a 108MP primary camera, featuring a sensor 3x larger than that of the preceding Galaxy S10 series and 9:1 pixel binning for extra-sharp and bright 12MP photos. You also get an ultra-wide camera and a new periscope-style telephoto camera that lets you reach all the way up to 100x zoom. There's also 8K video recording, complete with editing tools built into the gallery, and a new Single Take shooting mode that captures multiple different types of photos and videos all at the press of a button. Pros: Incredible 120Hz display

Top-end specs

Incredible cameras with massive sensors

Support for mmWave and sub-6 5G

Massive 5,000mAh battery Cons: No headphone jack

Too large for some

Very expensive

Best Compact — Samsung Galaxy S20

The S20 Ultra may be the most eye-catching phone in Samsung's 2020 lineup, but the cheaper S20 is every bit as good for most people. You get a nearly identical experience, with the same 865 processor and equally impressive cameras, all in a size that actually fits in your hands (and pockets). The screen is smaller at 6.2 inches, but still wonderful with the same 120Hz refresh rate. The smaller 4,000mAh battery should still be plenty for most people (especially when you consider the reduced power draw of the smaller display), and you'll still be able to zoom all the way up to 30x with the telephoto camera. It also still has 5G, although only sub-6 and not mmWave 5G. Otherwise, this truly is a Galaxy S20 experience through and through, with a much much manageable size and more accessible pricing. Pros: Core GS20 experience for less

Compact size fits most hands

Reasonable price for all it offers Cons: Smaller battery

No mmWave 5G support (sub-6 only)

Screen may actually be too small for some

Best for Productivity — Samsung Galaxy Note 10+

The Galaxy Note 10+ offers almost everything that makes the Galaxy S20 Ultra great in a slightly cheaper package, with the added benefit of the unrivaled S Pen stylus. All of the basics are the same, with excellent build quality, a high-end screen, consistently good cameras, and software that's packed with features. You'll get last year's Snapdragon 855 processor, but that's hardly a downside. The S Pen offers a unique experience you won't find on any other phone. You can write, draw, annotate, and sign documents all day long. Plus, it can be used in a pinch to control your phone from a distance over Bluetooth. You can even use it as a remote shutter for Note's cameras, making it far easier to take challenging shots without contorting your hands, or even grab a fun group selfie. Pros: Outstanding performance

Great battery life and fast charging

Consistent camera performance

Expandable storage

Best stylus experience on any phone Cons: Camera isn't great at low-light

No 5G support on most carriers

No headphone jack

Best for Less — Samsung Galaxy S10

When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S20 series, it also announced that it'd continue selling the Galaxy S10 at a reduced price. This provides an excellent option for shoppers who don't want to shell out four figures for a new phone; even a year in, the Galaxy S10 is still a terrific phone with powerful specs and three great cameras. You won't get 5G with the Galaxy S10, but most networks throughout the U.S. don't yet offer a worthwhile 5G experience anyway. You get the same Android 10 software experience with One UI 2, a blisteringly fast Snapdragon 855, water resistance, reverse wireless charging … basically everything and the kitchen sink! Pros: Last year's flagship at a discounted price

Three versatile cameras

High-end Snapdragon 855

Top-notch build quality Cons: No 5G support

Likely won't be updated for much longer

Best Mid-range Option — Samsung Galaxy A71

The Galaxy A71 is one of Samsung's best phones yet — and not just in the mid-range segment. There really isn't anything missing on the device: you get a massive 6.7-inch AMOLED screen (second only to the S20 Ultra) backed by robust internal hardware, versatile quad cameras at the back with a 64MP primary sensor, and incredible battery life with 25W fast charging. Combine that with a gorgeous design and it's easy to see why the Galaxy A71 is one of the best devices around. If you're looking for a reliable option without spending too much money, the Galaxy A71 should be at the top of your list. Pros: Outstanding battery life

Gorgeous design

Massive AMOLED screen

Robust internal hardware

Great 64MP camera Cons: Unwieldy

Slow fingerprint sensor

Best Mid-range Option Samsung Galaxy A71 The best mid-ranger from Samsung yet The Galaxy A71 has it all: a massive AMOLED screen, great internal hardware, versatile cameras, and outstanding battery life. $400 at Amazon

Best on a Tight Budget — Samsung Galaxy A51

The Galaxy A51 continues the heritage of last year's A50 by bringing the best features that Samsung has to offer to a more attractive price point. The phone has a large 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with vibrant colors and excellent contrast levels, and you also get a 48MP camera at the back, along with a 12MP wide-angle lens, a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP portrait module. The design itself has also been refreshed, with the Galaxy A51 looking just as modern as the Galaxy S20 series. There's a hole-punch cutout for the front camera, and the thanks to thin bezels, the phone isn't too unwieldy to use. The A51 has a generous 4,000mAh battery with 15W fast charging, and while it isn't the fastest phone in the world, it gets all the basics right. The only thing it's missing is Samsung Pay. Pros: Premium design

Vibrant AMOLED screen

Great battery life

Decent cameras

Good value Cons: Laggy at times

No Samsung Pay