At a Glance
- Galaxy S25 Ultra leads at $1,300 with 200-MP camera and 6.8-inch display
- Galaxy S25 delivers flagship power for $800, sharing the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chip
- Galaxy A15 5G offers 5 years of security updates for only $200
- Why it matters: Samsung’s 2026 range spans $200-$2,000, letting buyers match features to budget without guessing
Samsung’s 2026 phone family covers every price point, from the $200 Galaxy A15 5G to the $2,000 Galaxy Z Fold 7. Marcus L. Bennett tested every model to find who should buy which device.
Flagship Power: Galaxy S25 Ultra
The $1,300 Galaxy S25 Ultra keeps its crown as Samsung’s most powerful phone. A 200-MP main camera, 50-MP ultrawide, 10-MP 3× telephoto and 50-MP 5× telephoto deliver the most versatile system available. A 6.8-inch AMOLED screen hits 2,600-nit peak brightness, matching the best displays tested.
A Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 12GB RAM and up to 1TB storage give the Ultra top speed. New pro video tools record in Log format, narrowing the gap with iPhone 16 Pro. The built-in S Pen, 5,000-mAh battery and seven years of updates round out the package.
Marcus L. Bennett warns the $1,300 price is hard to justify for S24 Ultra owners. Buyers coming from an S22 Ultra or older will feel a major jump.
Best for Most People: Galaxy S25
At $800, the baseline Galaxy S25 keeps the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 12GB RAM as the Ultra. The triple rear cameras-50-MP main, 12-MP ultrawide, 10-MP 3× telephoto-handle bright outdoor shots and low-light indoor scenes. A 4,000-mAh battery powers a 6.2-inch 120Hz AMOLED display.
AI features such as Audio Eraser and Gemini Live run identically across the S25 line. The phone earns seven years of OS and security support. Marcus L. Bennett calls it the sweet spot for buyers who want flagship speed without the four-figure price.
Bigger Screen, Same Guts: Galaxy S25 Plus
The $1,000 Galaxy S25 Plus adds a 6.7-inch display and 4,900-mAh battery yet keeps the same core specs as the smaller S25. In daily testing, battery life landed on par with the regular S25 despite the larger cell.
Shoppers gain a sharper 3,120×1,440 panel and ultrawide-band chip for precise location tags. The upgrade only makes sense if the larger screen feels better in hand; otherwise the $800 model offers identical performance.
Ultra-Slim Style: Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung’s $1,100 Galaxy S25 Edge trims thickness to an ultra-thin 5.8mm and weight to 163g, lighter than any S25 sibling. It keeps the 200-MP main camera from the Ultra but drops the telephoto lenses, leaving only ultrawide backup.
A 3,900-mAh battery provides about 24 hours of use-lowest in the series-and charging sticks to 25W wired. Buyers gain a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel and seven years of updates in a pocket-friendly frame.
Foldable Productivity: Galaxy Z Fold 7
The $2,000 Galaxy Z Fold 7 unfolds into an 8-inch tablet yet closes to a 6.5-inch phone just 4.2mm thick. Samsung added a 200-MP main camera, Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 12GB RAM. The device runs Android 16 with Galaxy AI tricks such as Circle to Search and multitasking up to three apps at once.
Battery capacity remains 4,400-mAh, same as the Fold 6, with 25W charging. Marcus L. Bennett notes the cover screen is so usable you may rarely unfold the phone unless watching movies or working in split-screen.
Clamshell Fun: Galaxy Z Flip 7
Samsung’s $1,100 Galaxy Z Flip 7 increases the inner display to a tall 6.9-inch panel and shrinks the crease. A 4.1-inch cover screen shows animations while charging or recording video. The phone survived concrete drops and runs Android 16 with One UI 8’s 90:10 split-screen mode.
Battery life stays equal to the Flip 6 despite a larger 4,300-mAh cell. Expect a day of use with 15-20% left by bedtime. Storage doubles to 512GB on the base model.
Budget Lifespan: Galaxy A15 5G
The $200 Galaxy A15 5G stands out with five years of security support and four years of Android updates-unmatched below $300. A 5,000-mAh battery charges at 25W, hitting 50% in 30 minutes. The 6.5-inch 90Hz LCD captures decent outdoor photos but struggles in low light.
Performance lags behind Motorola’s $200 Moto G 5G, and a single bottom speaker blocks easily in landscape. Still, the A15 is the safest long-term pick under $250.
Quick Comparison Table
| Model | Price | Key Strength | Battery | Cameras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S25 Ultra | $1,300 | Best screen + zoom | 5,000mAh | 200-MP quad |
| S25 | $800 | Flagship speed for less | 4,000mAh | 50-MP triple |
| S25 Plus | $1,000 | Bigger S25 | 4,900mAh | 50-MP triple |
| S25 Edge | $1,100 | Ultra-thin style | 3,900mAh | 200-MP dual |
| Z Fold 7 | $2,000 | Tablet in pocket | 4,400mAh | 200-MP triple |
| Z Flip 7 | $1,100 | Huge foldable screen | 4,300mAh | 50-MP dual |
| A15 5G | $200 | Years of updates | 5,000mAh | 50-MP single |
Key Takeaways
- $800 Galaxy S25 gives you 90% of the Ultra’s experience for $500 less
- $200 Galaxy A15 5G is the only ultra-cheap phone with five years of security patches
- Fold buyers must want bigger screens-cover displays are now good enough for most tasks
- Skip the S25 Ultra if you own an S24 Ultra; save cash and wait another year
