Samsung, one of the biggest smartphone manufacturers in the world, shells out a plethora of phones every year. The products are a conscious mix of software and capable hardware. As per a Canalys Newsroom report, its market share stood at 19.2 percent in the global market for the last quarter of 2019.
For 2020, it would be difficult to choose a Samsung phone to buy, and that necessarily is not a bad thing.
Even though we associate them with flagships, they have offerings across several price ranges. Whatever be your budget, you will get a Samsung phone that is an excellent purchase for the money you spend, and that is what we are discussing today.
- Best overall – Samsung S20 Ultra 5G
- Best for work – Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
- Best compact – Samsung Galaxy S20
- The flagship for less – Samsung Galaxy S10+
- Best under $400 – Samsung Galaxy S10e
- Best under $300 – Samsung Galaxy A51
- Best under $200 – Samsung Galaxy A30S
- Best in Battery Life – Samsung Galaxy M30S
- Best in innovation – Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G
Specification List
| Comparison of Specifications | |||||||
| Name | SoC (System-on-Chip) | Display | Rear Camera | Front Camera | RAM options | Storage options | Battery Size |
| Samsung S20 Ultra 5G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865/ Exynos 990 | 6.9 inches 2K sAMOLED | 108 MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 48 MP, f/3.5 periscope (telephoto) + 12 MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 0.3 MP ToF 3D (depth) | 40 MP, f/2.2 | 12/16 GB | 128/256/512 GB | 5000 mAh (supports 45W charging and USB PD 3.0) |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855/ Exynos 9825 | 6.8 inches 2K sAMOLED | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4 (wide) + 12 MP, f/2.1 (telephoto) + 16 MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 0.3 MP ToF (depth) | 10 MP, f/2.2 | 12 GB | 256/512 GB | 4300 mAh (supports 45W charging and USB PD 3.0) |
| Samsung Galaxy S20 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865/ Exynos 990 | 6.2 inches 2K sAMOLED | 12 MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 64 MP, f/2.0 (telephoto) + 12 MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) | 10 MP, f/2.2 | 8 GB | 128 GB | 4000 mAh (supports 25W charging and USB PD 3.0) |
| Samsung Galaxy S10+ | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855/Exynos 9820 | 6.4 inches 2K sAMOLED | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4 (wide) + 12 MP, f/2.4 (telephoto) + 16 MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) | 10 MP, f/1.9 + 8 MP, f/2.2 (depth) | 8/12 GB | 128/512/ 1024 GB | 4100 mAh (supports 15W charging and USB PD 2.0) |
| Samsung Galaxy S10e | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855/Exynos 9820 | 5.8 inches FHD+ sAMOLED | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4 (wide) + 16 MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) | 10 MP, f/1.9 | 6/8 GB | 128/256 GB | 3100 mAh (supports 15W charging and USB PD 2.0) |
| Samsung Galaxy A51 | Samsung Exynos 9611 | 6.5 inches FHD+ sAMOLED | 48 MP, f/2.0 (wide) + 12 MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 5 MP, F/2.4 (macro) + 5 MP, f/2.2 (depth) | 32 MP, f/2.2 | 4/6/8 GB | 64/128 GB | 4000 mAh (supports 15W fast charging) |
| Samsung Galaxy A30S | Samsung Exynos 7904 | 6.4 inches FHD+ sAMOLED | 25 MP, f/1.7 (wide) + 8 MP, f/2.2 (ultrawie) + 5 MP, f/2.2 (depth) | 16 MP, f/2.0 | 3/4 GB | 32/64 GB | 4000 mAh (supports 15W fast charging) |
| Samsung Galaxy M30S | Samsung Exynos 9611 | 6.4 inches FHD+ sAMOLED | 48 MP, f/2.0 (wide) + 8 MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 5 MP, f/2.2 (depth) | 16 MP, f/2.0 | 4/6 GB | 64/128 GB | 6000 mAh (supports 15W fast charging) |
| Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | 7.3 inches Foldable Dynamic sAMOLED, 1536* 2152 pixels | 12 MP, f/1.5-2.4 (wide) + 12 MP, f/2.4 (telephoto) + 16 MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) | 10 MP, f/2.2+ 8 MP, f/1.9 (depth) | 12 GB | 512 GB | 4235 mAh (supports 15W fast charging) |
1. Best overall – Samsung S20 Ultra 5G
Pros
- 120Hz AMOLED is a treat
- Cameras are amongst the best
- Stunning battery life for a flagship
Cons
- Bulky
- Expensive
The most expensive and feature-rich phone to have come out from the house of the Korean giant, the Samsung S20 Ultra 5G, is grand by every definition. It is incredibly built, and you get all the specs that you expect from a top-tier phone. The presence of One UI, along with a very capable chipset and praise-worthy cameras, makes it one of the best products from Samsung so far.
Check out Samsung Galaxy S20 on BestBuy.com here!
2. Best for work – Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus – Aura Blue
Pros
- Best stylus experience
- Camera produces some excellent shots
- Battery life
Cons
- Lack of headphone jack
- Limited 5G support
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ is a great phone. It offers everything, from excellent performance to an equally good camera experience. The screen looks good, and so does the software. The S Pen is a unique experience and offers additional functionality like controlling the phone via Bluetooth and clicking pictures.
Check out Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus on BestBuy.com here!
3. Best compact – Samsung Galaxy S20
Pros
- Feels great to hold and use
- Display makes it a pleasurable experience
- Capable cameras
Cons
- Average battery life of the Exynos version
- Camera performance is inconsistent at times
Initially priced at $999, the Samsung S20 has all the perks that you come to expect from a 2019 flagship and a camera cluster that has something for every situation. It comes in either the Exynos or the Snapdragon version according to the country you live in, and both of them are competent performers. Some regions even have a 4G only version, which is priced lower and offers better value for money than the 5G one.
Buy Samsung Galaxy S20 from BestBuy.com here!
4. The flagship for less – Samsung Galaxy S10+
Pros
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
- Has a headphone jack
- The display
Cons
- The Exynos model has a weaker camera output
- The charging tech feels slow for the current times
The Samsung Galaxy S10+ was amongst the very best when launched, and fortunately, it hasn’t lost much ground ever since. Be it cameras, software, or the hardware inside, everything feels top-of-the-tier and makes for a joyful experience.
Buy Samsung Galaxy S10+ from BestBuy.com here!
5. Best under $400 – Samsung Galaxy S10e
Pros
- Very compact and easy to hold and use
- Fingerprint sensor is seriously fast
- Overall good camera performance
Cons
- Low light photography is not its strength
- Battery life is subpar
Even today, there are people who vouch for smaller displays, and the Samsung Galaxy S10e caters to them. It is a powerhouse in a small package, and you get every feature you expect a phone to have, and they work well too! Samsung has succeeded in creating a compact phone that performs as well as its elder siblings.
6. Best under $300 – Samsung Galaxy A51
Pros
- 48 MP camera takes some crisp images
- Lightweight and sturdy
- One UI experience
Cons
- Old hardware
- Lacks high refresh rate screen
The Galaxy A51 is Samsung’s contender to the Realmes and the Redmis in the midrange. It offers something that others don’t usually provide, a sAMOLED panel and lightweight phone. The cameras are good and get the job done.
Buy Samsung Galaxy A51 from BestBuy.com now!
7. Best under $200 – Samsung Galaxy A30S
Pros
- Versatile cameras
- Decent battery life
- sAMOLED display
Cons
- The hardware finds it challenging to hold up to the competition
- 720p just doesn’t feel enough
Another entry to Samsung’s midrange oriented ‘A’ series, is the Galaxy A30S which offers a decent package under $200. You get triple cameras on the back, refreshing design and a bloat-free software.
8. Best in Battery Life – Samsung Galaxy M30S
Pros
- Battery life
- The audio quality is excellent
- Generally smooth performance
Cons
- Camera output is underwhelming
- Heats up at times while gaming
There are people who want to buy a phone whose battery doesn’t bow down quickly, and the 6000 mAh cell on the Galaxy M30S is an apt choice for them. The day-to-day performance is respectable, and you get good daylight images from it. Plus, there is an AMOLED display for all those who love vibrant colors.
9. Best in innovation – Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G
Pros
- Two screens
- Good battery life
- Excellent day-to-day performance
Cons
- Build quality doesn’t instill confidence
- Pricey
Even though it is not the first commercially available foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold 5G shows us the future in many ways. It covers all the basics and does so with elan. But being so pricey, very few people can afford it, and the technology seems half-baked as of now. For those who want to buy it, the overall package won’t disappoint.
Bottom line
The Samsung S20 Ultra 5G is the best phone in their lineup, but there are other skillful offerings as well. You get the reasonably compact S20 or the to-be-upgraded Note 10+ with an S Pen support.
If you talk mid-range, the ‘A’ and the ‘M’ series offer serious competition and appeal to a lot of consumers with their overall package. Not to forget last year’s flagship lineup, the S10+, and the S10e are no slouch either!
