Which Samsung Galaxy should you buy in 2026? The range is wide: from Galaxy A phones under €150 to foldables over €1,300, with the Galaxy S series and its FE versions in between. Picksly tracks 69 Samsung smartphones released from 2020 to 2026 and gives each a score out of 100, built from published measurements (performance, battery life, camera, display…) and a few announced specifications. Here, profile by profile, are the models that stand out — and the ones that cost more than they deliver.

Prices quoted were checked in France between 18 and 25 October 2026, with their date. They move: always check the price shown by the shop before buying. Picksly does not test phones itself; the method is detailed on the Transparency page.

The three families at a glance

  • Galaxy A (A07, A16, A17, A26, A36, A57…): €122 to €401 new for models released since 2024. Good battery life, but modest chips: their performance score ranges from 0 to 28 out of 100.
  • Galaxy S (S24, S25, S26, their "+", "Ultra", "Edge" and "FE" versions): €418 to €749 new at the prices checked. They lead the scores.
  • Galaxy Z (Fold and Flip): the foldables, €759 to €1,350 new. You mostly pay for the form factor; their score is no better than a Galaxy S at the same price.

One thing to remember: Samsung promises 7 Android versions for Galaxy S, S FE and Z models released since 2024, and 6 versions for recent Galaxy A phones. Older models (Galaxy S23, A55, A35, A15…) get only 4.

Budget profile: a former flagship, refurbished

The Budget profile looks for the best product for the least money, refurbished included. At Samsung, the best Budget score goes to the Galaxy S23 Ultra (71/100), found refurbished at €424.99 (Refurbed, 25 October). The Galaxy S24 Ultra follows closely (70/100, refurbished at €540, eBay, 23 October), then the Galaxy S23+ (62/100, refurbished at €334.42, Refurbed, 18 October). Mind the S23 models: they only have 4 Android versions promised, against 7 for the S24 Ultra.

New and under €250, five Galaxy A phones are neck and neck, all scoring 48 to 50/100 for Budget: Galaxy A15 (€159, Amazon), Galaxy A16 LTE (€127.40, eBay), Galaxy A16 (€219, eBay), Galaxy A17 4G (€171.99, Amazon) and Galaxy A07 (€122.59, eBay). The A15 has only 4 Android versions promised; the A16, A17 and A07 have 6. They suit simple use (messaging, video, browsing); for gaming or photos, a refurbished Galaxy S does better. See refurbished Samsung phones at €350 or less, ranked by Budget score.

Smart profile: the best value for money

The Smart profile weighs the score and the new price. In the lead: the Galaxy S24 Ultra (Smart 74/100, €607 new on eBay, 23 October). The Galaxy S23 Ultra comes next (Smart 71/100), but with only 4 Android versions promised. The Galaxy S25 Ultra (Smart 67/100, €739 new on eBay, 25 October) is the most recent of the three.

Cheaper, the Galaxy S25 at €558 (Amazon, 25 October) and the Galaxy S26 at €608.88 (Amazon, 25 October) share the same overall score, 59/100: the S25 is faster (100 against 89), the S26 lasts much longer (battery life 43 against 23). The Galaxy S26 FE, recorded at €724 (Amazon, 23 October) for a score of 52/100, is not a good deal next to a €558 S25.

Premium profile: the best, regardless of price

The Premium profile only keeps recent models (under 24 months). The Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Galaxy S26 Ultra share the best Samsung score there (74/100). The S26 Ultra had no verified new price in France on 25 October: only a refurbished one, at €901 (eBay). Among foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra (71/100) and the Galaxy Z Fold8 (70/100) are on a par, at €1,349.99 and €1,339.99 new (eBay, 25 October).

Foldables: Fold or Flip?

Folds open into a tablet, Flips fold into a square. Folds score higher: Galaxy Z Fold 7 at 61/100 (€1,236 new at Amazon, or €843.80 refurbished at Refurbed) against Galaxy Z Flip 7 at 49/100 (€895.44 new, €526.23 refurbished on eBay). The Galaxy Z Flip8 (59/100, €759, Amazon) beats the Flip 7 for less, and comes close to the Fold 7 for nearly €480 less. If the form factor does not matter to you, a Galaxy S25 Ultra (71/100) costs €739.

What the score does not tell you

  • Camera: many recent Galaxy phones have no published camera score yet (DXOMARK); their score then rests on the other criteria. Each model page says which ones are measured.
  • Prices: a gap of a few dozen euros quickly flips the Smart ranking. The price on each page is always dated.
  • Variants: storage and colour change the price; check the capacity on the shop page.

To go further: the best smartphone under €600, choosing by value for money and refurbished or new.

FAQ

What is the best Samsung phone in 2026?

According to Picksly scores, the Galaxy S24 Ultra (73/100), ahead of the Galaxy S26 Ultra (72/100) and the Galaxy S25 Ultra (71/100). The S24 Ultra was €607 new in France on 23 October 2026; the S26 Ultra had no verified new price yet.

Which Samsung to buy for under €300?

New, a Galaxy A: A15 (€159), A16 LTE (€127.40), A16 (€219), A17 4G (€171.99) or A07 (€122.59). Refurbished, the Galaxy S23 (€283.49, eBay) gets the best Budget score among Samsung phones under €300.

Galaxy S25 or Galaxy S26?

At the prices checked on 25 October, the Galaxy S25 (€558) and the Galaxy S26 (€608.88) score the same: the S25 is faster, the S26 has much better battery life.

How many years of updates does a Samsung get?

Samsung promises 7 Android versions for Galaxy S, S FE and Z models released since 2024, and 6 for recent Galaxy A phones. The Galaxy S23, A55 and A15 get only 4.

To compare every model, filter the smartphone ranking by brand, or pick your profile on the comparison page.

Picksly may earn a commission through affiliate links, at no extra cost to you, and this affects neither the scores nor the ranking. What affiliation can change is explained on our transparency page.

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