Against the backdrop of rapidly developing Chinese brands, the pace of gadget development by the South Korean company has slowed down significantly. However, this year the brand managed to please the public with a new budget segment and a series of solutions from the brand. In our selection of the best Samsung smartphones of 2021, we will consider both new models and series of previous generations that have not lost their relevance even against the background of competitors. Conventionally, all telephone lines of the company can be divided into several classes:
- Series F – the budget line of the new generation;
- A-series: includes entry-level and mid-range models and is equipped with Qualcomm processors;
- M-series: includes budget and mid-range models with large batteries based on Exynos chips;
- The S Series is the flagship line of camera phones with the brightest displays and the most powerful processors.
It is also worth noting that the company produces a number of gadgets that do not fall into any category: Z Flip, Fold, Note and several shockproof phones.
Good budget Samsung smartphones
This section presents models up to 20,000 rubles, and in this price range the company has two classes of the line – the A series and the M series. The first line is distinguished by the support of processors from other manufacturers, therefore it wins in performance. The second series has proprietary Exinos processors, so it wins in terms of energy efficiency and battery life, respectively.
Galaxy A02s
The best smartphones Samsung opens with the Galaxy A02s, which belongs to the lowest price category of phones from the Korean brand. Actually, this is also visible on the display side, because the company uses proprietary AMOLED displays, but here we had to limit ourselves to a budget matrix with a resolution of 1520 by 720 pixels. On the 6.5-inch display is a simple front camera with a compact 5-megapixel matrix. Of the positive aspects, only good performance for the budget segment can be noted, which is justified by the support of the Snapdragon 450 processor. True, the impression is immediately spoiled by a small minus – this is 2 gigabytes of RAM, but the chip’s power is enough for speed. Another plus is the 5000mAh battery plus the “brilliant” 2-band Wi-Fi. Obviously, there is no fingerprint scanner in this model.
The cheapest Samsung A-series phone, which is clearly inferior to many Chinese competitors in terms of screen. However, there is no doubt about the reliability of this gadget.
Advantages:
- good processor;
- battery capacity;
- good wifi module.
Flaws:
- balance visualization;
- amount of RAM.
Galaxy M12
Another budget smartphone, but already from the M series, which attracts with a longer battery life. This is due to two factors. Firstly, representatives of the M line have 5000-7000 mAh batteries. This model is minimal. Secondly, proprietary Exynos processors are used, which has reduced the level of power consumption. At the same time, there is also an inexpensive Infinity-V display with a modest HD + resolution and low brightness. The Exynos 850 chip isn’t far superior to the Snaps 400 series in terms of performance. However, this smartphone looks much more interesting as it has 15W fast charging, an 8MP selfie camera, and a microSD slot for up to 1TB of storage. The main camera has four modules, including a large 48-megapixel lens. At the same time, the amount of RAM is twice that of the above-mentioned civil servant.
One of the best options on the market in the segment of smartphones up to 15,000 rubles. It is not the most powerful, as it is based on the company’s proprietary processor.
Advantages:
- battery capacity;
- memory size;
- self-employment;
- main camera;
- selfie camera.
Flaws:
- simple display.
Galaxy A12
If you do not know which budget Samsung smartphone to choose under 15,000 rubles, you should pay attention to the Galaxy A12 with a minimum amount of RAM. Like the counterpart of the M series, this model boasts support for a quad-camera with a 48 MP main matrix. The screen here is also an Infinity-V measuring 6.5 inches. As you may have guessed, the resolution is modest: 1560 by 1080 pixels. I am glad that in the case of this gadget there is a fingerprint scanner located on the side face. The entry-level MediaTek chip from the Helio P35 series is responsible for the performance. The amount of RAM reaches 4 gigabytes. The battery capacity is 5000mAh and the built-in battery is 15W.
The only reason to choose this model over the M12, in our opinion, is the more powerful Helio P35 chip.
Advantages:
- good feature;
- memory size;
- main camera;
- Fingerprint’s scanner;
- fast charging.
Flaws:
- screen resolution.
Galaxy A32
Another budget smartphone from Samsung with a good camera for its category, which includes four lenses. It uses Super AMOLED technology with a 90Hz refresh rate for its display. Under-screen scanner support is reassuring, as is a dedicated memory card slot so you don’t have to sacrifice a SIM slot. Fast charging power is 15W. The Helio G80, created by Mediatek, is responsible for the performance of this line. The screen attracts with good color reproduction, a smooth image and a high level of clarity. In the display you can find a modest size, but a good front camera, the resolution of which reaches 20 megapixels. The main camera supports a 64-megapixel lens and three other additional sensors.
Balanced model for its price range. A good choice, according to the editors of “PriceQuality”.
Advantages:
- processor Helio G80;
- fast charging;
- subscreen scanner;
- refresh rate 90 Hz;
- the main camera is 64 megapixels.
Flaws:
Galaxy M21
Samsung’s best budget smartphone in 2021 is the Galaxy M21, powered by an Exynos 9611 processor paired with 4GB of RAM. The battery capacity of this gadget is 6000 mAh. The phone is included in the list of the best smartphones in terms of battery life. At the same time, the engineers of the Korean company used a fairly clear display with FullHD + resolution. Battery life was also not greatly affected by Super AMOLED technology, which offers excellent brightness and viewing angle. At the front is a large selfie camera with a resolution of 20 megapixels. The quad camera has 4 sensors, including a 48MP lens and an 8MP wide lens. The battery recovers quickly with support for 15W fast charging.
A smartphone with a good battery life (included in the TOP-10 regardless of the brand) and other great features in its price category.
Advantages:
- energy efficiency of the microcircuit;
- main camera;
- ultra-wide-angle matrix;
- good technique;
- battery capacity.
Flaws:
- no for this price
Samsung smartphones with a good camera and battery
Galaxy M31
Also in our ranking of the best Samsung smartphones is the Galaxy M31 model, equipped with a proprietary Exynos 9611 processor and a 6000 mAh battery. The model has excellent battery life, pleases with amazing Super AMOLED display technology. Also noteworthy is the rear camera, which we’ll talk about in a bit, there’s 15W fast charging. It should be noted right away that not all lines are equipped with NFC. This module is only used in configuration with part number SM-M315F. Users speak positively about the front camera, whose resolution is 32 megapixels. At the same time, the quad-core camera received a 64 megapixel main lens. The amount of RAM in the described line reaches 6 gigabytes, which is enough to work in the current software for mobile chips.
The main advantage of this series is luxurious autonomy. If you like this model, look for the NFC version.
Advantages:
- good screen;
- fast charging;
- battery capacity;
- compact size.
Flaws:
- power of the proprietary chip.
Samsung Galaxy A52
The list of smartphones with a good camera and a powerful processor is replenished with the Samsung Galaxy A52 based on the Snapdragon 720G. This is a clear advantage over the M line with its own processors. The main camera is class-leading and has four sensors, including a 64-megapixel lens. The display here uses an expensive Super AMOLED panel with a refresh rate of 90 Hz, a fingerprint scanner is located under the screen, there are stereo speakers and NFC. In terms of functionality, this device is clearly superior to the M31. True, there is a plastic cover and a not so concise design, but this is a matter of taste. It is worth noting that the engineers equipped the model with a good front camera, the resolution of which reaches 32 megapixels. Fast charging power is 25W. The case is protected according to the IP-67 standard.
One of the most functional smartphones of the A series, which has an almost perfect price / quality ratio. It has a waterproof housing typical of the premium class.
Advantages:
- guarded guardianship;
- functionality for this class;
- refresh rate 90 Hz;
- fast charging 25W
Flaws:
- plastic coating.
Galaxy M62
This model is distinguished by the presence of Super AMOLED Plus technology, in which the company decided to return to using RGB instead of proprietary PenTile RGBG technology, and this is a reasonable decision. There is almost no graininess on the 6.7-inch screen, the display looks much sharper. Also worth noting is the support for a 7000 mAh battery. In combination with the Exynos 9825 processor, a good battery life is achieved. However, it is also difficult to find fault with performance, since there is 8 gigabytes of RAM and support for the Mali-G76 MP12 graphics accelerator is available. The device is enough for all games and applications. The main camera has 4 sensors, including a 64 MP sensor with f / 1.8 aperture. Ultrawide – 12 megapixels at f/2.2. The macro camera and depth sensor are not as effective.
A smartphone with a powerful battery and a good camera, designed for the practical user who wants to stay connected all the time.
Advantages:
- excellent camera;
- improved screen;
- gaming performance;
- not very hot;
- 7000mAh battery.
Flaws:
- still no clicks.
Samsung Galaxy A72
A fairly popular Samsung smartphone, which received a good camera and a clear screen. The model differs from many flagships primarily in power, as it uses a mid-range chip from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G series. The semi-flagship has a stunning 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2400 by 1080 pixels with a refresh rate of 90 Hz. The main camera is also difficult to classify in the middle class, because it is based on a 64 MP lens. The front camera uses a 32MP sensor. There is support for fast charging, an NFC module, but there are not many options for a truly premium model. The manufacturer abandoned experiments with a retractable front camera, and the performance gain compared to the A51 itself, in our opinion, is not so attractive.
In terms of price / quality ratio, this is not the most pleasant gadget, but in terms of photo and power it is above the average class.
Advantages:
- improved chip;
- screen refresh rate;
- fast charging;
- elegant design;
- sharp image.
Flaws:
- a few changes in the background of the A51.
Galaxy S10 Plus
The best Samsung smartphone of 2021 in terms of price / quality is the flagship of previous generations of the C10 Plus series, it uses the premium Exynos 9820 processor, typical of many premium representatives of the South Korean company. The front camera has two sensors with modest resolution. However, at the time of the release of this gadget, there was no tendency to chase the number of megapixels. At the same time, large sensors provide a sharp image even by today’s standards. The main camera has three sensors, including an excellent telephoto lens, a wide-angle sensor, and an ultra-wide-angle sensor. The battery capacity here is 4100 mAh.
Compact flagship model, but already past generations. Produced up to S20.
Advantages:
- flagship series;
- self-employment;
- image quality;
- ergonomic model;
- good sound.
Flaws:
- no at this price
The Best Premium Samsung Smartphones
Galaxy Z Flip
The list of Samsung smartphones has been replenished with a model with a flexible screen from the Galaxy Z Flip series. The body of this gadget can be folded in half. In this case, an additional screen is formed at the back. In addition, the displays are based on Dynamic AMOLED technology. The advantages of this line also include surround sound supported by support for Dolby Atmos technology. There is also Samsung Pay. A camera is built into the screen, which consists of a large matrix, and it is its size, and not the megapixel resolution, that determines the excellent image quality. Also noteworthy is support for Qualcomm’s premium Snapdragon 855+ processor. Obviously, reverse charging is implemented, which is typical for all premium devices of this brand.
A flagship with a unique form factor, but far from a new generation, because the company has restarted the series. In terms of price / quality ratio, we chose this solution.
Advantages:
- the price has fallen;
- surround sound;
- flexible body;
- screen technology.
Flaws:
- past generation.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus
Adding to the list of Samsung’s flagship smartphones with a good camera is the Galaxy S20 Plus, which is powered by an Exynos 990 processor. In other regions, Snapdragon 865 is used, which annoys many users. Actually, the main difference between this model and the previous generation (S10 Plus) is the design of the upper frames, as well as a more efficient chip. The front camera has become smaller, but in terms of image quality, it does not really win. The premium panel has a 120Hz refresh rate, so you can look forward to great smooth images. The screen is protected by high-strength glass from the Gorilla Glass 6 series. A 4500 mAh battery is responsible for battery life. Combined with the proprietary chip, there is nothing to complain about. The camera is equipped with a serious zoom, stabilization and great videos. True, at night it is inferior to the 12th generation iPhone.
The model of the latest generation, on which the price is falling, but the power and parameters of the camera are still enough to respect fashionable solutions.
Advantages:
- price goes down;
- excellent exposure;
- flagship series;
- guarded guardianship;
- good sound.
Flaws:
- you cannot select a processor.
Galaxy Z Fold3
This Samsung smartphone has the most expensive and high-quality screen in the brand’s product segment. Of course, it has a flexible display and a stylus that the Z Flip doesn’t have. The main screen is built on a dynamic AMOLED matrix with a frequency of 120 Hz, while the case is protected according to the IPX8 standard. In the last generation there was a problem with glass. It was solved using Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and Samsung’s proprietary ultra-thin solution. The strength has almost doubled. The resource is enough for 200,000 folds, according to the company’s testing results. The main camera has flagship parameters. It is also worth noting the presence of the Snapdragon 888 processor. The 4400 mAh battery, in our opinion, is not enough to power two screens at the same time.
The best samsung smartphone with a flexible screen. That says it all.
Advantages:
- powerful processor;
- expensive glass;
- big screen;
- folding resource;
- functional model.
Flaws:
- little autonomy.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
We are talking about a Samsung smartphone, which has the maximum set of options, which has always been characteristic of the Note series. It must be said right away that the flagship can also be found on sale on the Snapdragon 865+ chip, but there are more varieties on proprietary Exinos. The kit includes a branded stylus for remote control. Among the main advantages, we note the advanced night mode, the power of wireless charging. There is a heart rate monitor and support for pairing with other external displays. In terms of parameters, the camera is not much inferior to the S21 Ultra. At the same time, the proprietary processor has been improved, taking criticism from users.
This is a brand line with the maximum set of functions and technical equipment. It uses the most expensive screen technology, a premium camera and the best proprietary processor.
Advantages:
- functionality;
- brand line;
- good sound;
- excellent camera;
- high power.
Flaws:
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The best Samsung smartphone of 2021 is the Galaxy S21 Ultra with a high quality display and camera. This flagship has a 2X Dynamic AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1440 by 3200 pixels. Almost all well-known experts spoke about the accuracy of the transmission of shades and brightness after the model went on sale. They found shortcomings, as now, only in the Exynos 2100 processor, which was inferior even to the Snap 865 series, not to mention new solutions. However, in terms of power, the device also occupies a high position, although not the maximum. For gaming performance is clearly enough, so we consider it a demanding factor. The camera is equipped with two telephoto lenses at the same time, and the maximum zoom reaches 100x. The main camera has a resolution of 108 megapixels. Photo stitching is provided, providing beautiful image sharpness.
To date, this is the most advanced flagship of Samsung in all respects.
Advantages:
- focus;
- 100x zoom;
- display technology;
- laser focus;
- have a stylus.
Flaws:
What to consider when choosing a Samsung smartphone
Of course, it is extremely difficult to please everyone with a selection. If you do not know how to choose a Samsung smartphone, we recommend that you consider the following aspects:
- Self-employment: In this regard, the company’s smartphones based on energy-efficient proprietary Exynos processors with powerful batteries win. These criteria are ideally matched by M-class models with batteries from 6000 to 7000 mAh. It is important to understand that autonomy depends not only on the capacity of the battery, but also on the process technology of the microcircuit, display parameters and other parameters;
- Charging: Considering the amount of energy required for modern screens from a company that is rightfully considered a leader in the production of mobile displays, it is necessary to pay more attention to charging. Devices that support reversible charging and wireless charging are usually included in the S series. In the budget segment, models with 15W fast charging are mainly represented.
- RAM: 4 GB is optimal for the starting category, 6 GB is the norm for the middle class, and the company has gaming solutions in the premium class, including the Note 20 Ultra with up to 12 GB of RAM, and there is no limit.
- Camera – Here you need to consider all the elements separately for different lenses: from the main photo module to the depth sensor. It will take a lot of time to describe all the sensors, so we recommend comparing models on the Dxomark Resource website;
- Processor: Most smartphones run on proprietary Eksinos or Kvalkom processors. The first option is interesting from an energy efficiency point of view, but the chips are not as powerful as latches.”
Separately, we offer to talk about the company’s displays and processors used by the brand.
Budget segment of smartphones
As practice shows, chips under the Exynos brand, placed against the background of the Snapdragon 600 series, look more beautiful. If you are looking for a performance device and are torn between M20, A30s, A51 and M30, then it is better to opt for the owners of Exynos 9611 in a configuration with 6 gigabytes of RAM. This will allow you to cope with demanding games without acceleration and without problems “from fifth to tenth”.
As for the choice of display, almost all budget models today support FullHD and work on the basis of an AMOLED matrix. In this case, M31 with the prefix “Super”. Good response speed, high contrast and brightness levels are guaranteed by the A51, which is also equipped with a powerful 4K camera.
If the budget does not allow, then, in our opinion, the best option would be the A30.
Middle segment Samsung
Unlike Apple, the pricing policy of the South Korean brand is built in such a way that after some time one day premium phones become available, but this is due to the fact that there is always a buyer.
In our opinion, this is the rare case when there is no need to compare a huge number of parameters in order to single out a particular favorite. In terms of value for money, the Galaxy S10 Lite is undoubtedly worthy.
If for some reason you do not like this line, you can pay attention to the representatives of class A. In particular, A70, A90 are relatively satisfied with their good performance, interesting design and value for money.
Flagship segment from Samsung
it’s more difficult here, because not everyone is ready to pay about 100 thousand rubles for the new S20 Ultra, realizing that with the release of Note 20, the new flagship may become cheaper. At the same time, the Note 10 Plus looks quite advantageous against the background of the S20, which is lower in terms of refresh rate, but wins in terms of battery capacity and the order of parameters.
The S10 Plus looks cheaper and weaker, and it certainly lacks a 108-megapixel sensor and a wild refresh rate, but its screen, power and style are still relevant. Most likely, this is a matter of taste and financial possibilities. If you’re not going to keep up with Samsung’s engineers, then the S10 line is definitely worth it.
What mobile screens does the company use?
- AMOLED is the most popular technology, surpassing IPS in color reproduction and viewing angles;
- SUPER AMOLED is Samsung’s development, the essence of which is to use proprietary backlighting instead of a not-so-successful product, because the image turned out to be grainy.
- SUPER AMOLED PLUS – the company decides to return to using RGB, but the matrix has become much more efficient in terms of brightness and sharpness;
- DYNAMIK AMOLED is the flagship lineup with HDR10+ support. These screens are equipped with more expensive smartphones of the brand.
What is the best Samsung smartphone to buy in 2021?
At the end, we will summarize and highlight a few leaders in our assessment. If you do not know what to buy a good Samsung smartphone, we recommend that you first take a look at the reviews of the following models.
- A model with a good camera and a strong battery is the Galaxy M62.
- The best Samsung smartphone in terms of price-quality – Galaxy S10 Plus
- Cheap but good phone – Galaxy M21;
- A cute smartphone with a flexible screen – Galaxy Z Fold3;
- Samsung smartphone with the best camera: Galaxy S21 Ultra.
We also offer to take part in a survey so that other shoppers can see the answer to a real question and not reviews bought from store catalogs.
Galaxy A02s 1.28% Galaxy M12 0.96% Galaxy A12 2.56% Galaxy A32 7.37% Galaxy M21 9.29% Galaxy M31 3.53% Galaxy A52 13.46% Galaxy M62 13.78% Galaxy A72 4.49% Galaxy S10 Plus 16.35% Galaxy Z Flip 1.6% Galaxy S20 Plus 5.77% Galaxy Z Fold3 2.56% Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 4.81% Galaxy S21 Ultra 12.18% 312