Best Samsung Phones 2021
The best Samsung budget, midrange, and high end phones
Samsung continues to increase its target audience by offering a huge number of products, which cannot be said about Xiaomi recently. In our ranking of the best Samsung smartphones of 2021, we offer you to get acquainted with short reviews of the most popular and worthy brand solutions at different prices.
First, you should understand the lines of the company in order to understand what symbols to look at before buying:
- budget and mid-budget devices;
- middle class, characterized by increased battery life;
- premium models of the South Korean manufacturer with flagship cameras, and more;
- currently, the company has only one model in this segment, but a second gadget will be released soon. Most likely, with the introduction of this line, the brand decided to expand the model range of the M-class, which looks at the similarities in terms of battery power.
In addition to classic solutions, the company produces models with flexible and foldable screens, there is a Note brand line with a branded S-pen stylus, as well as one shock-resistant device, which should soon receive a receiver.
RANKING OF THE BEST SAMSUNG SMARTPHONES OF 2021
GOOD BUDGET SAMSUNG SMARTPHONES
Previously, Samsung had a J segment that was far behind its competitors. Now there are A- and M-lines, which feature devices with decent cameras, screens, and processors. However, you can be convinced of this by reading brief reviews of these devices.
Samsung Galaxy A12
The Samsung Galaxy A12 is a balanced smartphone in the company’s lineup that combines a large screen, a decent level of performance, and comparative affordability. He received a frameless design that combines brand and easily recognizable features. The Samsung Galaxy A12 is equipped with a 6.5-inch PLS matrix with a resolution of 1600×720 pixels. The 8-core MediaTek Helio P35 solution is used as a central processor. The main camera of the smartphone consists of a 48 MP sensor, 5 MP with an ultra-wide-angle lens, 2 MP with a macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. The 8 MP front camera received an ultra-wide angle of view of 123 degrees. The Samsung Galaxy A12 has a built-in NFC module and also supports 15W fast charging.
Galaxy A12
Another high-quality budget Samsung smartphone powered by MediaTek Helio P35 chip. The device has a 6.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. The display of this device is built on a PLS matrix. The Samsung Galaxy A12 is equipped with a modest quad camera, which includes a 48-megapixel sensor. This is already an excellent indicator for a device in this price range. True, the auxiliary sensors leave much to be desired. It is unlikely that there is any sense from the depth sensor, but the price of the device must be taken into account. Another advantage is support for 15W fast charging and a decent 8MP front camera.
Galaxy A21s
A real discovery for many fans of the brand was a budget Samsung smartphone with a good camera of the Galaxy A21s series. At the heart of the design of this device is a 6.5-inch display on PLS technology, the resolution of which is 1600 x 720 pixels. Probably not ideal parameters against the background of the M-class price of newer products, but the device attracts with good power and a really high-quality camera. The main photo block consists of four modules of 48, 8, 2, and 2 megapixels. A decent level of performance can be explained by the presence of a proprietary processor of the Exynos 850 series.
Galaxy M11
If you are interested in an inexpensive Samsung smartphone with a good battery, the Galaxy M11 is definitely worth a look. This entry-level phone received a capacious 5000 mAh battery, which is quite enough for several days of battery life. Qualcomm’s entry-level Snapdragon 450 series chip delivers decent power. The selfie camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels, which is located in a neat cutout at the front. The main camera has three sensors, including a matrix of 13, 5, and 2 megapixels. Given the totality of the gadget’s advantages, it is virtually impossible to find disadvantages.
Galaxy A31
The best budget Samsung smartphone of 2021 is the Galaxy A31, built on a Super Amoled matrix, and in terms of the screen of the model, it is difficult to find a competitor in this price category. In addition to gorgeous color reproduction, this device attracts with high definition – the pixel density of 411 PPI. The device has a stylish design and a good main camera, which includes three modules of 48, 8, 5 and 5 megapixels. The selfie camera has received a resolution of 20 megapixels. A good level of functionality is also good news. In particular, it has a scanner, as well as an NFC module. Hence, you can make contactless payments.
BEST SAMSUNG SMARTPHONES (PRICE / QUALITY)
This section contains models of the middle and premium class. In the second case, we are talking about generations of previous years that have not lost their relevance but have a more affordable price tag. This is the policy of the South Korean company: old generations are seriously falling in price against the background of new products. And this can be used to your commercial interests if you do not chase the trend.
Samsung Galaxy A51
The Galaxy A51 model opens the rating of Samsung smartphones in 2021, attracting with a bright appearance and a clear screen based on Super AMOLED technology. In addition to the good technical characteristics of the display, this model attracts a powerful processor, which includes 8 cores. The proprietary Exynos 9611 class chip functions in conjunction with the Mali-G72 MP3 accelerator. This is enough for next-generation games. The main camera, which has a 48-megapixel module, allows you to shoot video in 4K format at a frequency of 60 frames per second. Not all models of this price category can boast of such technical characteristics. The selfie camera has a 32-megapixel lens. It is worth noting support for slow-motion shooting at 240 frames per second.
Galaxy A71
Suddenly, if you have not yet decided which mid-range Samsung smartphone to buy, we recommend that you pay attention to the model of the Galaxy A71 series. Like its predecessor, this device has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 chip, which includes 2 cores with a frequency of 2.2 GHz and 6 cores with a frequency of 1.8 GHz. As a display, the manufacturer decided to use a 6.7-inch screen based on a Super AMOLED matrix. The device received a camera of four modules, including 64 megapixels, 12 megapixels, 5 and 5 megapixels. The device runs on Android 10.0. The battery capacity is 4500 mAh. The front camera of this gadget has a large matrix with a resolution of 32 megapixels. In this series, the RAM is 6 gigabytes and the volume of ROM is 128 gigabytes.
Galaxy S10
Why is this model in the current list? Because this device is still considered the flagship. Yes, more stringent requirements are imposed on the current premium models, but the device operates on the basis of the Dynamic AMOLED matrix, the flagship proprietary chip Exynos 9820, and has excellent stabilization. During the Galaxy S10 launch period, there was no trend for 100x zoom quad cameras, but efficient, large sensors were used. The level of stabilization and the quality of night shooting are still pleasing. The front camera has a modest 10MP resolution. The amount of RAM is 8 gigabytes. The battery capacity is 3400 mAh.
Galaxy Note 10 Lite
Another model presented earlier, which has not lost its relevance and still has flagship characteristics. The device has a large 6.7-inch display with Super AMOLED technology. The screen resolution is crisp and bright, 2400 x 1080 pixels. Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite attracts with a stylish design, as well as a neat cutout, which houses a 32-megapixel matrix. The main camera includes several sensors, each of which has a resolution of 12 megapixels. During that period of release, no one was chasing high-resolution lenses. The amount of RAM can be from 6 to 8 GB, depending on the configuration, in conjunction with the premium Exynos 9810 chip.
Galaxy S20 FE
The best Samsung smartphone of 2021 in terms of value for money is the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, which features a 6.5-inch Infinity-O screen, a flagship triple camera with 30x zoom, and a waterproof design. The model received an adequate price tag, despite the support for stunning night modes and a virtually professional selfie camera, the resolution of which is 32 megapixels. The refresh rate of the screen, as in the classic version, is 120 Hz. This speaks of a smooth picture. Implemented support for fast charging, with which you can restore the battery charge in just 30 minutes. The battery capacity is 4500 mAh. The Galaxy S20 FE has 6 gigabytes of RAM and 128 gigabytes of permanent memory. With a memory card, the ROM can be expanded up to 1 TB.
THE BEST SAMSUNG FLAGSHIPS
This category contains flagship solutions that attract maximum performance. The premium smartphones of this brand are among the top of the best in the world, and the line is far from one. Therefore, we recommend comparing not only the models with each other but also their different configurations.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Definitely, one of Samsung’s most successful flexible smartphones is the Galaxy Z Flip, which debuted alongside the first generation Fold, but has proven to be more maintainable and reliable. Moreover, the device is equipped with an advanced 6.7-inch screen on the Dynamic AMOLED matrix. The device can be split in half, opening up additional control options for users. The front camera has a 10-megapixel sensor. The main camera consists of two 12 megapixel modules. Excellent performance is provided by the flagship processor of the previous generation – this is Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+. Naturally, the device with such a price has wireless charging, as well as built-in NFC for contactless payments.
Galaxy Fold 2
The best folding smartphone from Samsung in 2021 is considered to be the premium device of the Galaxy Fold 2 series. The model has two displays, respectively: 6.2-inch Super AMOLED (2260 by 816 pixels) and 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2208 by 1768 points). The Snapdragon 865+ chip is responsible for the performance in this flagship, and this is a huge advantage because, in the classic premium phablets, the brand is trying to promote its proprietary processors (at least on our continent). As for the configuration of the cameras, everything here does not correspond to the declared value at all. Yes, the matrices are large, but the light sensitivity and resolution of the triple camera of 12-megapixel sensors leave much to be desired. The front camera has a large 10-megapixel sensor with different modes but is far from premium quality.
Galaxy S20 Ultra
In terms of objective price and performance, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is definitely worth considering. The premium version of the flagship of the previous generation still looks powerful enough among other camera phones. At the same time, the gadget has seriously “dropped in price” against the background of the new generation of this line. Recall that the device has an advanced front camera with a resolution of 40 megapixels. The screen of the model is built on Dynamic AMOLED technology with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and support for HDR10 +. The simply stunning 6.9-inch screen has a resolution of 3200 by 1440 pixels. But that’s not all, because the main camera of the flagship received a 108-megapixel sensor, which complements a wide-angle lens, a depth sensor, and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera. Photo block supports video in 8K, pleases with 100x zoom.
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Another Samsung flagship with one of the best displays to date. We are talking about a 6.7-inch screen, which is based on Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, and the pixel density is 508 PPI. The picture is very accurate, bright, and rich. At the same time, this branded smartphone with a branded stylus for remote control is also positioned as a gaming smartphone, which can be explained by the support of 12 gigabytes of RAM and a powerful Exynos 990 chip. Will you say that this is more a minus than a plus? Probably, but after criticism towards the S21, the manufacturer has significantly improved its processor, and this is shown by all benchmarks (performance tests). The main camera is slightly better than the previously mentioned flagship – the night mode is better implemented. The rest of the characteristics are actually the same.
Galaxy S21 Ultra
The best Samsung smartphone of 2021 is the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, which received a new flagship processor based on the 5nm Exynos 2100 process technology with a frequency of up to 2.9 GHz. The main camera has received several improvements in terms of modes, but the modules have not actually changed: 108, 12, 10 and 10 megapixels. The same gorgeous zoom has been implemented, but photos at night have become more natural. The model is based on Android 11.0. The battery capacity is 5000mAh. The model can of course shoot 8K video. The amount of RAM reaches 16 gigabytes. The 120 Hz screen with Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology deserves special attention. Among other things, it is worth noting the presence of the most durable Gorilla Glass.
HOW TO PICK A GOOD SAMSUNG SMARTPHONE
o decide on the purchase of a suitable model today, you need to understand what to start from, how to choose a Samsung smartphone. To do this, you need to find out what standards are being presented today, and what standards are used by the South Korean manufacturer when developing different segments of their models:
- Screen . For many years, Samsung has been pleased with the highest quality displays, but this rule does not apply to the budget segment, where, for some unknown reason, the brand still saves money using TFT matrices. In the middle class AMOLED is used, and in the premium class it is difficult to find analogues of Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology. The latter has amazing clarity (pixel density), brightness, color reproduction.
- Cameras. The company uses its own matrices in its best lines. Many sensors have been used in collaboration with Xiaomi. If you don’t want to understand the lens lines, compare light sensitivity, matrix size, resolution. The rest depends on software options, zoom, and other specifications. The easiest way to determine the quality of a camera is to use a dedicated resource like DxOMark.
- Battery. This figure is measured in “mAh”, but the capacity of the battery does not directly affect the battery life. Autonomy depends on energy efficiency, technical characteristics of the gadget, and the functionality of the flagship. All other things being equal, the best battery life is given by M-class models with a battery from 6 to 7 thousand milliamps per hour.
- Processor. Samsung uses mainly proprietary Exynos and Snapdragon processors in its gadgets. Despite the progress of the company’s latest flagship chips, Snapdragon is still a priority, because they are more powerful. The 888 series is considered the most powerful today. As for the proprietary processor, the most advanced is the Exynos 2100, which first appeared in the S21. Both are powered by the most energy-efficient 5nm process technology.
- Functions. In the entry and middle class, it is worth paying attention to the fast charging power. Premium lines can support many additional options: from a stylus for the remote control to reversible charging for using the gadget as a power bank.
WHICH SAMSUNG SMARTPHONE IS BETTER TO BUY IN 2021?
Thus, the range of smartphones of this brand is increasing annually, in large volumes. If you do not know which Samsung smartphone to buy, try to familiarize yourself with the features of different lines, decide on the budget and the main tasks that you set for the phone:
- Good and inexpensive Samsung smartphone – Galaxy A31;
- A budget phone with a good camera and battery – Galaxy A51;
- Best Samsung smartphone for price and quality – Galaxy S20 FE;
- Gaming phone with a good camera – Galaxy Note 20 Ultra;
- The best Samsung smartphone to date is the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
