Rating of the TOP 10 best phones from Samsung in 2021 by price and quality

After the emergence of the M-segment and new Infiniti screens at Samsung, many doubts disappeared that this brand could produce not only flagship smartphones. Indeed, for a long time the J-collection of the South Korean manufacturer raised more questions than positive assessments from the majority of users who were considering alternative offerings from competitors. Everything changed relatively recently. This is confirmed by our current list of the best Samsung smartphones of 2021, in which you can find top models from different collections:

1. A -segment – ​​the widest line, which includes budget, mid-budget and premium models;
2. M -segment – ​​budget and mid-budget line, attractive due to the presence of phones with capacious batteries and maximum battery life;
3. The S -segment is the flagship line, which includes camera phones and the most powerful solutions of the South Korean brand.

This list is not final, since the specialists of the South Korean manufacturer are constantly experimenting and delighting with interesting solutions. In particular, the company has one line of rugged smartphones with a shockproof body; there are two models of folding smartphones, including the Fold and the branded flagships of the Note series with a proprietary stylus.

The best inexpensive Samsung smartphones

Initially, this class included representatives of the J-segment. Recently, new budget Samsung smartphones have been released in the A and M series. And the latter turned out to be extremely successful. And so much so that the manufacturer began to actively promote and develop it. As a result, not only budget models, but also mid-range M-class models appeared, although initially this fate was assigned to A-series devices. Now everything is, frankly speaking, confusing. However, based on the aesthetics and battery life of the M-segment smartphones, we can say that they are more designed for practical users, while the A-segment includes more camera phones and stylish phones. Taking these circumstances into account, we have collected the best models from both segments with prices up to 15,000 rubles.

Galaxy A10

The category of inexpensive Samsung phones opens with a rather interesting model of the Galaxy A10 series, the screen size of which is 6.2 inches. An IPS display is used, covering almost the entire front part of the device. At the front there is a modest waterdrop notch that houses a modest 5-megapixel camera. The hardware is handled by its own Exynos 7884 processor (quite good among the variety of branded chips). The technical component is complemented by 2 gigabytes of RAM. The main camera has one 13 megapixel module with excellent light sensitivity for its price category. The battery capacity is 3400 mAh, but there is no need to worry about this, since the screen is small and the chip is quite energy efficient. Judging by customer comments, the battery life is about 21 hours.

Pros:

• large screen;
• battery life;
• stylish design;
• main sensor

Minuses:

• IPS matrix;
• amount of RAM.

Galaxy A21s

For daily use, many users have chosen the stylish budget smartphone Samsung Galaxy A21s series with a bright 6.5-inch PLS TFT LCD screen with a resolution of 720 by 1600 pixels. Definitely not a perfect display considering how much progress the company has made in this area. However, users were able to adequately evaluate the battery capacity of 5000 mAh, which is enough for more than a day of battery life during active use. In addition, the manufacturer pleased its audience with a good 13-megapixel front camera sensor. The main one has a module of 4 lenses, including a camera: 48 (f/2.0), an 8 MP ultra-wide sensor (f/2.2), a 2-megapixel macro lens with an aperture (f/2.4, macro) and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with aperture (f/2.4). The amount of RAM is 3 gigabytes, and the amount of ROM is around 32 GB. The new product runs on Android 10.0.

Pros:

• fresh OS;
• large display;
• good main camera;
• good selfie camera;
• Battery capacity.

Minuses:

• a simple chip;
• screen matrix.

Galaxy A41

In terms of price and parameters ratio, the inexpensive but good Samsung smartphone with a Super AMOLED screen, the resolution of which is 2400 by 1080 pixels with support for HDR10 technology and a built-in scanner, looks quite solid. It's definitely a bright and clear display that's a "step up" from the models above. The eight-core MediaTek Helio P65 processor is responsible for the hardware, which is definitely inferior even to proprietary chips. The advantages of the gadget include a stylish appearance and a fairly good main camera consisting of three modules. The main camera has a 48-megapixel lens with f/2.0 aperture. Fast charging and NFC module are implemented. The icing on the cake is the 22 megapixel front camera.

Pros:

• fast charging;
• front-camera;
• excellent display;
• main camera

Minuses:

• weak processor.

Galaxy M21

In search of an inexpensive Samsung phone with a powerful battery, many users have already opted for this particular model. Before the presentation of version 31 and the appearance of 41, this model simply “teared” the charts. Indeed, 6000 mAh paired with the energy-efficient native Exynos 7 Octa 9611 processor allows you to use the device for 2-3 days without recharging, and this is an excellent indicator. And this is far from the only advantage of this budget employee. The fact is that the manufacturer equipped the device with a high-quality 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, which is definitely stronger than its IPS counterparts. The screen resolution is 2340 by 1080 pixels. On the front you can find a small cutout for the front camera with a large matrix, the resolution of which reaches 20 megapixels. The main camera has three modules with a 48-megapixel main sensor. The light sensitivity of each sensor corresponds to its own segment, so you definitely shouldn’t expect professional photos.

Pros:

• good selfie camera;
• capacious battery;
• shooting up to 240 fps;
• fast charging;
• clear screen.

Minuses:

• night time pictures.

Galaxy A51

The best budget Samsung smartphone in 2021 is the Galaxy A51 with a 6.5-inch AMOLED display, the brightness of which cannot be matched by any Chinese counterpart. Separately, it is necessary to praise the quality of the implementation of the main camera with a proprietary 48-megapixel sensor. Also noteworthy is the 12-megapixel secondary ultra-wide camera, which has a viewing angle of 123 degrees. For macro photography, an additional matrix with a resolution of 5 megapixels is used. The approach is excellent, as is the “live focus” from South Korean engineers. It’s worth saying right away that for the previously proposed price tag you can get a version with a memory capacity of 4/64 gigabytes. Regardless of the chosen configuration, the Samsung Exynos 9611 is responsible for the hardware. The battery capacity is 4000 mAh.

Pros:

• good main camera;
• good front camera;
• battery life;
• fast charging;
• stylish design.

Minuses:

• No.

Samsung Galaxy A line batteries

The SG A02 lives the longest on a single battery charge, since its battery capacity is 5000 mAh with fairly low performance. In second place is the SG A22 with the same 5000 mAh battery. An honorable third place is taken by another budget phone with modest specifications but good battery life – SG A02S with a 5000 mAh battery and a USB Type-C port.

The Samsung Galaxy A72 has a 5000 mAh battery, which is enough for 40 hours of talk time. Following it is the SG A52 with a 4500 mAh battery and fast charging. And behind it is the Samsung Galaxy A32, capable of talk time for more than 25 hours with a 5000 mAh battery.

The best mid-range Samsung smartphones

All representatives of this category in the company received AMOLED-based screens, which is their significant advantage in relation to their rivals, since such matrices are clearer, brighter and impress with their viewing angle. At the same time, in the range from 15 to 30 thousand there are also different lines, including Note - this is already a branded flagship, but of the previous generation. At the time of writing, the new one has not yet been released. The S-class flagships also fit into this budget, albeit simplified ones. However, we tried to choose the “most juice” from what we have at the moment. As new products are released, our rating of Samsung phones will be updated.

Galaxy M31

The Galaxy M31 model in the configuration of 6/128 gigabytes of RAM and ROM, respectively, joins the ranking of the best Samsung smartphones in 2021. Together with the Exynos 9611 chip, it achieves excellent performance for the mid-range price level. The strengths of this device include a bright Super AMOLED screen with a size of 6.4 inches. At the same time, the phone looks compact and laconic. On the front you can find a U-shaped cutout in which a front camera with a 32-megapixel matrix is ​​installed. The main advantage of the line is its capacious battery. This model uses a 6000 mAh battery, which is enough for at least 2 days of battery life. The main optics are also quite good: a quad camera with a 64 megapixel main sensor is used.

Pros:

• large screen;
• front-camera;
• photo resolution;
• video quality;
• stylish design.

Minuses:

• mediocre speakers.

Galaxy A70

One of the discoveries of that year in the mid-price category was the powerful Samsung Galaxy A70 smartphone with a good camera and a good battery. The main camera of this phone received 4 lenses with a 32 megapixel main sensor. The aperture of this module is F/1.7, which indicates a high level of light sensitivity. An 8-megapixel secondary sensor with an F/2.2 aperture. An 8-megapixel module is responsible for depth, and there is also a 5-megapixel wide-angle lens with F/2.2. This combination provides for shooting excellent photos and videos at speeds of up to 960 frames per second. The Super Slow-Mo mode deserves special attention, with the help of which the operator can capture the smallest details. The battery capacity is 4500 mAh, which is enough for 15-18 hours with intensive use. Ultra-fast charging at 25 W will help you quickly restore charge. The display uses a relatively new Infinity-U brand screen based on a Super AMOLED matrix. The physical screen size reaches 6.7 inches, and the resolution is Full HD+. The hardware is powered by an excellent mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 chip.

Pros:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 670;
• good main camera;
• excellent video quality;
• brand display.

Minuses:

• not flagship power.

Galaxy Note 10 Lite

This model almost does not fit into the declared price range, but we are talking about a flagship brand smartphone, and this fact cannot be ignored. Indeed, the gorgeous screen with FullHD+ resolution based on the immersive Super AMOLED matrix will be appreciated by every lover of sophisticated solutions. The 6.7-inch screen is not the only advantage of this gadget. The fact is that the entire line, including the simplified version of Note 10 Lite, supports remote control using the S Pen. We are pleased with the quality of 25 W fast charging, as well as the main camera, equipped with three modules: a 12-megapixel with a physical matrix size of 1/2.55″ and an f/1.7 aperture, a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture (double optical zoom) and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor with f/2.2. The battery capacity of this phone reaches 4500 mAh. Based on customer comments, the gadget has a user-friendly interface with all the controls in a convenient part. Scrolling through lists in the menu is always accompanied by insignificant vibration feedback.

Pros:

• excellent interface;
• branded stylus;
• main camera;
• fast charging;
• stylish design.

Minuses:

• A little out of scope for the price range.

Galaxy A71

Definitely one of the top Samsung smartphones with a good display this year is the Galaxy A71 with a 6.7-inch Super Amoled screen. Judging by the reviews, the picture is as clear as possible and color rendition is at the flagship level. This is a great phone for watching movies, surfing and gaming. The new Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 is responsible for the hardware basis, which is an undeniable advantage compared to other mid-budget analogues using a proprietary processor. At the same time, South Korean engineers pleased with the high quality of the main camera with a large main matrix, the resolution of which is 64 megapixels. It is also important to note the quality of the ultra-wide-angle matrix, the resolution of which is 12 megapixels and a viewing angle of 123°. There is also, as you guessed it, a pair of auxiliary lenses of 5 megapixels (for macro photography F=40 mm) and an additional module. This combination of lenses is sufficient for shooting video close to the professional level. The front camera is virtually noise-free. The 32 megapixel sensor meets the expectations of every user. In addition, there is a “selfie focus”, with which you can really focus on the emotions of users. The battery capacity is 4500 mAh.

Pros:

• fast charging 25 W;
• processor from Qualcomm;
• gorgeous screen;
• main camera;
• excellent display.

Minuses:

• not detected.

Galaxy S10 Lite

The best Samsung smartphone in terms of price and quality in 2021 is the Galaxy S10 Lite, which has a gorgeous frameless Super AMOLED Plus screen with FullHD+ resolution and a size of 6.7 inches. In addition to the gorgeous OLED matrix, you can note support for HDR10+. The professional camera with a 48-megapixel sensor “on board” deserves special attention. For panoramic shots, an auxiliary module with a viewing angle of 123 degrees and 12 megapixel resolution is used. The triple optics are completed by an auxiliary lens for macro photography with a resolution of 5 megapixels. The front camera also has a fairly large and high-quality 32 megapixel sensor. Users have responded positively to the video quality with UHD resolution support, even in low light conditions. In particular, this is due to the support of the “live focus” mode, with which the lens focuses on the most important details. Of the variety of effects, we can note the effectiveness of such as “large circle”, “color dots”, “basic blur” and “glitch”. The excellent sound is due to the presence of three microphones. The battery capacity is 4500 mAh, which is enough for 1 day of operation without recharging. It’s worth adding that in December last year, Strategy Analytics praised the efficiency of 45 W fast charging. At the same time, you can find negative reviews on the Internet regarding the operation of the fingerprint scanner.

Pros:

• good performance;
• sound quality;
• good main camera;
• great video;
• fast charging.

Minuses:

• fingerprint scanner.

Performance of the Samsung Galaxy A line

In first place from the end is the Samsung Galaxy A02 with its untrustworthy MediaTek MT6739 processor and 2 GB of RAM. The A 02S already has a Qualcomm processor and 3 GB of RAM, which is quite good.

The Samsung Galaxy A32 has average performance in terms of performance. Although the MediaTek Helio G80 is used here, the amount of pre-installed RAM is at the level of 4 GB. And the built-in storage can have a capacity from 64 to 128 GB.

The absolute leader in terms of performance is the SG A72. Under the hood, it has a high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G CPU with 8 cores and as much as 6 or 8 GB of RAM. For user needs, there is a built-in storage of 128 or 256 GB.

The best Samsung flagship smartphones

In the premium category you can find branded models for business people from the Note line, folding smartphones of the Fold and Z Flip series, as well as representatives of the S-class, which deserve the title of camera phones. Last year, the collection of flagship solutions was replenished with representatives of the A-class. Unfortunately, the A90 is not sold in Russia and Europe, but there is a good alternative, which will be discussed below.

Galaxy A80

The list of flagship Samsung smartphones opens with the Galaxy A80 series model, which received a Snapdragon 730 with 8 Kryo 470 series computing cores with a maximum frequency of 2.2 Hz. In Antutu tests, this phone received more than 200 thousand points, which is quite a high figure. One of the advantages of the device is a large 6.7-inch screen based on Super AMOLED, the resolution of which is 2400 by 1080 pixels. The display delivers truly rich colors, with white being especially true to life. No “acidity” is visible when the brightness is increased, which is typical for most premium OLED-based devices when the brightness is increased. Good performance in games is guaranteed by the Adreno 618 graphics accelerator. There is no reason to doubt the same as the main camera, however, the selfie camera with the “goodies” and modes of the South Korean brand looks solid, but rather for the middle segment.

Pros:

• good power;
• bright screen;
• stylish design;
• excellent sound;
• model functionality.

Minuses:

• Selfie camera.

Galaxy Note 10 Plus

The best Samsung phone for business people is still the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, but the presentation of the new Note 20 is just around the corner. It is worth saying that this model differs favorably from its analogues by supporting a screen based on Dynamic AMOLED with support for HDR10+ technology and resolution 3040x1440 pixels. As you understand, in the picture you can see the smallest details. The performance is ensured by the proprietary 8-core Exynos processor of the previous generation, supplemented by 12 gigabytes of RAM. You won't feel short on power when performing any task. The One UI graphical shell provides the most comfortable control paired with a proprietary stylus for remote control. Users appreciated the comfort when creating handwritten notes, for which special gestures are provided. The model operates on the basis of three sensors, including 16 megapixels with an f/2.2 aperture, a 12-megapixel wide-angle sensor with an f/2.1 aperture, and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with f/2.1. The main camera allows you to shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second. The selfie camera has a 10-megapixel lens with f/2.2 aperture. Thanks to Samsung DeX technology, you can connect your phone to a monitor and turn the device almost into a full-fledged PC.

Pros:

• reverse charging;
• gorgeous camera;
• excellent screen;
• branded stylus;
• functionality and equipment.

Minuses:

• A new model will be released soon, this one will become cheaper.

Galaxy S20

It comes to the real Samsung flagships, and their list opens with this year’s debutants, about which so much has already been said that I would not like to pay special attention to the description. The top end of the S-line received a new chip, a capacious 4000 mAh battery, a stylish design and a top-end camera. Features include a stunning screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, as well as a hundredfold zoom. However, you can talk about the same thing about the main camera with a 108-megapixel sensor for a very long time and challenge the opinions of critics who doubt the rather large and revolutionary matrix developed with the support of Xiaomi. It is worth adding that the camera installed in this device provides for shooting 8K video at a frequency of 30 frames per second. Obviously, such equipment involves certain nuances, in particular a noisy camera, which is due to the abundance of modules. If you shake the phone, the device turns into a “rattle”.

Pros:

• gorgeous camera;
• update frequency;
• excellent sound;
• autonomous work.

Minuses:

• starting price.

Galaxy Z Flip

Actually, at present there is nothing to choose from if you want to buy a folding Samsung smartphone. The only serious contender, at least until the second-generation Fold comes out, is the Galaxy Z Flip. This opinion is due to the fact that the first generation of folding devices turned out to be practically unrepairable, and many fans of the brand probably remember that many early users were faced with poor display protection of the new form factor that was literally cracking at the seams. As for this model, it attracts with a fairly high-quality and reliable 6.7-inch screen, the resolution of which is 2636x1080 pixels. Like other flagships, this model has a Dynamic AMOLED screen, but with a number of additional control options. Surely, it would not be superfluous to note the presence of a fairly large matrix of the main camera, the resolution of which is 10 megapixels. The second sensor of the dual camera has a 12 megapixel lens. The hardware is powered by the once premium Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ or Samsung Exynos 990 processor (depending on the sales region). Wireless charging is implemented with support for reverse technology (you can charge other gadgets).

Pros:

• excellent display;
• high power;
• reverse charging;
• stylish design;
• good sound.

Minuses:

• high price.

Galaxy S20 Ultra

The best Samsung smartphone of 2021 is the Galaxy S20 Ultra with a large 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen with HDR10+ technology and a 120 Hz refresh rate. The resolution of the highest quality mobile screen currently is 3200 by 1440 pixels. The proprietary Samsung Exynos 990 (in our region) is responsible for performance. Many users were not pleased with this fact, and even wrote a petition about the fact that the company does not allow you to choose the desired processor. However, even with this configuration excellent performance is achieved. The main feature is the main camera, which includes a 108 MP ultra-wide-angle lens, an additional 48 MP matrix and a 12 MP telephoto lens and an additional depth sensor. Many users were pleased with the hybrid zoom with a 100x zoom. With fast wireless charging, you can charge various gadgets.

Pros:

• top screen;
• sound quality;
• hybrid zoom;
• 8K video;
• high power.

Minuses:

• not detected.

Samsung Galaxy A line displays

The simplest screen is expected to be equipped with the Samsung Galaxy A02 and modification A02S. A standard PLS panel with a resolution of 1600×720 pixels is installed here. The screen diagonal is at 5.70 inches.

The Samsung Galaxy A32 has a very good display. This is a 6.40-inch SuperAMOLED panel with a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels. The picture is updated at a frequency of 90 Hz. The information on this display is displayed extremely clearly.

The SG A72 has the coolest display. This is a huge 6.7-inch panel with a SuperAMOLED matrix and a 90 Hz refresh rate. The resolution here is impressive - 2400x1080 pixels, which is fully consistent with the FHD+ standard.

However, the same matrix is ​​installed in the A52 and A32. Only the diagonals are different. And the A22 also has SuperAMOLED, but without an increased refresh rate, which greatly saves battery power.

What should you consider when buying a phone from Samsung?

If you don’t know which Samsung smartphone to choose, and don’t understand what you need to start from, we suggest paying due attention to the current classifications and technologies used by the company’s engineers:

1. Display . After the presentation of the Infinity screen line, many doubts disappeared about who is the manufacturer of the best displays for smartphones. In particular, this applies to Infinity-V, Infinity-U and Infinity-O, which are equipped with new phones from the South Korean company. The letters in the name indicate the shape of the cutout for the front camera. Moreover, they are all made on the basis of Amoled technology, which is significantly better than IPS matrices in a number of parameters, including color rendering level, viewing angle and other characteristics.
2. Positioning of rulers . Let's start with the fact that the J-segment is no longer updated, and this is one of the most disastrous collections (budget) in the history of the company. This line has been replaced by the M-Class, which attracts with large batteries and long battery life. At the same time, the South Korean brand has a wide “A” range, which includes budget, mid-range and premium solutions. The Galaxy Note category includes premium flagships for businessmen, the S-class includes flagship camera phones. There are also flexible smartphones (two lines), but they have not yet received the predicted popularity (apparently it’s too early).
3. Cameras . If you are planning to buy a camera phone from Samsung, then you definitely need to focus on the S-class. In the average budget, the best cameras are those of the A-class A50, A51, A series
4. Battery . Battery capacity can vary from 3500 to 6000 mAh. The most capacious models are included in the M-class.
5. Productivity . For our region, the overwhelming number of models are based on Exynos. We are talking about proprietary chips, which should be more energy efficient, but in practice they are less powerful than Snapdragon from a second manufacturer. The South Korean brand uses the same products (in almost every model), but they are available for certain regions. This causes indignation among many users who want to choose the desired configuration themselves, but so far there is no such option.

What is Serie A

Line A was originally conceived as a transition from cheap to premium devices. Here the company used relatively expensive materials, made a non-standard appearance and parameters, although they did not reach the most productive ones, they were close to that. When buying a smartphone from the A series, the user could be sure that he was getting the best for the price paid. Today this line has been erased; if previously price tags started from 15 thousand, today the most affordable model A10 will cost even less than ten thousand. At the same time, the series is still positioned as the best for your money.

The difficulty in choosing a model in the A line is that the phones are very similar. Of course, if you take the older and younger devices, the difference will be visible and significant, but if you look at the ones next to each other, the differences are largely cosmetic. When choosing an A-series model, you can follow the rule that the older the phone, the larger its diagonal, so it is impossible to single out which one is the best - in fact, they are all equally good within the price segment. If you need a smartphone with a large screen and there are no restrictions on money, then it’s worth considering older models - they are close to flagships in terms of performance. Junior devices are inexpensive, but well-built devices with decent performance. They may be inferior to competitors in appearance or in certain parameters, but overall this is a balanced assembly.

Which Samsung smartphone is better to choose in 2021?

At the end I would like to share my personal opinion. Obviously, today you can buy a smartphone from Samsung of previous generations and save a lot, since the products of this company are rapidly becoming cheaper with the advent of new lines, but over time they become outdated and cease to be relevant in terms of software, at least. With this in mind, we want to share our current findings on the most popular smartphones:

1. A good budget phone from Samsung is the Galaxy A51;
2. The best Samsung smartphone in terms of price and quality is the Galaxy S10 Lite;
3. Samsung smartphone with the best camera – Galaxy S20 Ultra;
4. The best foldable smartphone is the Galaxy Z Flip.

We suggest putting an end to this, but this does not prevent you from continuing the discussion in the comments, friends, which is what we encourage you to do.