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Reviews

Sony PlayStation 5 review: A beautiful, speedy upgrade from last-gen, and yet more praise for the DualSense controller — by Sarah Chaney.

Samsung Q950T soundbar review: at $1,800, this would want to be good, but thankfully it is —by Chris Thomas.

LG: Wing

The novel phone with a swiveling display offered something truly different from LG’s usual flagships. The LG Wing showed that LG can create what we called an engineering marvel in our review, with brilliant hardware and capable software.

Plenty of phone makers are willing to show off prototypes that never see the light of day. LG went for it. At $999, it was far cheaper than other first innovations from others, too.

I didn’t buy one in 2023, but it’s possible LG’s Explorer Project lineup can shake up smartphone design in the same way that Samsung is trying with its foldables. Speaking of…

Samsung: Galaxy S20 FE Google: Pixel 4a

The Pixel 4a arguably represents the strongest Pixel product Google has ever put forward. The price tag at $350 made it super attractive, and amazingly, went on sale with better specs and a cheaper price than the Pixel 3a. The flagship camera and Google’s software easily made up for some missing features.

Personally, I bought the Pixel 4a 5G, because I was happy to pay a little more for some of those higher-end features including the better processor, 5G, and the additional wide-angle camera. But the Pixel 4a was even on sale for as little as $299 this year at time.

What a bargain, and what a no-brainer for those looking for the best of Google on a budget.

Apple: iPhone SE (2023)

Apple cramming flagship speed and top-notch features — including IP rating and wireless charging — into an iPhone SE at $400 changed smartphones in 2023. At that low price, this became a default upgrade for many Apple-friendly consumers, and even Android fans were quick to appreciate what was on offer. Apple’s 2023 edition of the iPhone SE sold well all year, but it was especially relevant during the early pandemic period back in April.

Also: It alone may have been a catalyst for Google’s attractive Pixel 4a price, and may have driven OnePlus to debut its OnePlus Nord line at under ~$400 in Europe and other markets. But I’m only giving it a side-mention because the Nord didn’t hit the US. Instead, OnePlus kneecapped it , and brought out the almost bad Nord N10 in North America instead, leaving the true Nord for everyone else.

Microsoft Surface Duo

Here’s one that was important for almost all the wrong reasons.

The Microsoft Surface Duo was a super interesting device from Microsoft. The dual-screen smartphone/tablet/tiny workstation showed a lot of ambition, and potential around a new kind of way to work. It was also priced at $1,399 as part of a presumed branding strategy to make this feel like a premium device.

But, it fell completely flat. The hinge and innovations around dual-screen usage were great, but disastrous software bugs at launch, the $1,399 price tag for yesteryear’s specs, a roundly bad camera, fragile USB-C port, and performance issues made it a must-avoid.

Microsoft can take these lessons and do better — I’ve read long-term reviews that have sounded encouraging for smoothing out the software issues at least. But why release it with those bogs? Microsoft will have to learn a lot if it wants to keep its Surface phone dreams alive. And I really hope it does, because competition and innovation are vital for Android.

Tech tweet of the week

Giveaway

This month, we’re giving away three prize packs! Enter the December giveaway for your chance to win.

First prize: An Xbox Series X and an AA hoodie

Second prize: A Google Pixel 4a 5G and an AA hoodie

Third prize: A Garmin vivoactive 4 and an AA t-shirt

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Samsung Galaxy S21 Fe Receives The June 2023 Security Patch

Eric Zeman / Android Authority

Welcome to the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE updates hub. Here you’ll find the latest information on updates to Samsung’s latest “fan edition” phone. We’ll detail the current software versions for the device and alert you if there’s a new update rolling out. Samsung usually pushes out One UI updates regularly, but availability may be affected by variant, carrier, and region.

The Galaxy S21 FE launched with Android 12 and Samsung’s One UI 4 skin on top. Samsung will offer four major Android OS updates to the device. The company also guarantees five years of security updates for this phone.

Current stable version: Android 13

When will the Galaxy S21 FE get Android 14? December 2023 (Estimated)

Latest Samsung Galaxy S21 FE updates

Previous updates

March 21, 2023: Samsung’s March security update has finally arrived to the Galaxy S21 FE, but it’s only available in India at the moment. According to SamMobile, the patch comes with firmware version G990EXXS4EWC2 and offers a variety of fixes, including a fix for the series bug Google’s Project Zero found recently. However, the S21 FE, fortunately, wasn’t effected by the bug, so you don’t have to worry.

February 14, 2023: The latest version of Samsung’s Android skin has found its way to the Galaxy S21 FE and the 5G variant (via XDA Developers). The One UI 5.1 update is available for the SM-G990B and SM-G990B2 variants of the S21 FE across Europe. For the 5G model, however, the update is available in several Asian and European markets. SM-G990B and SM-G990B2 will get firmware versions G990BXXU2EWAJ and G990B2XXU1EWAJ, respectively. The 5G model will receive firmware version G781BXXU4HWB1. Along with the incremental update, the phones get February’s security patch.

January 18, 2023: As Samsung prepares to debut One UI 5.1 on the upcoming Galaxy S23, the company has released its January security patch. According to SamMobile, the international version of the phone is getting firmware version G990EXXS3DWA6. The update is currently available in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico.

December 23, 2023: About a week before the month comes to an end, Samsung has started rolling out December’s security patch to the Galaxy S21 FE (via SamMobile). The latest security update comes with firmware version G990BXXS2DVL1, hitting Europe first.

November 21, 2023: Initially said to be arriving before the end of November, One UI 5 is finally making its way to the Galaxy S21 FE. According to SamMobile, the firmware version G990BXXU2DVK3 is available for the international Galaxy S21 FE with the model number SM-G990B. The update brings multitasking gestures, a new way to check background app activity, a new lock screen, and more.

June 15, 2023: Samsung introduced the June 2023 Android security patch to the Galaxy S21 FE (via SamMobile). The update was initially made available in Thailand and rolled out to other markets in the following days. The firmware is version G990EXXU2CVF1 and included some stability fixes along with security enhancements.

April 13, 2023: Samsung started rolling out the April 2023 Android security patch to the “Fan Edition” model of the Galaxy S21 series (per Droid-Life). The update appears to be mostly centered on the patch, though, with no other new features known at the moment. This makes sense considering March’s update brought One UI 4.1, so this one is a bit leaner.

March 22, 2023: Samsung has started rolling out the One UI 4.1 update to the Galaxy S21 FE in Asia, Europe, and the US. The latest update also brings the March 2023 security patch to the phone. According to SamMobile, the Snapdragon version of the Galaxy S21 FE in Europe is getting the new update with firmware version G990BXXU1CVC3. In Asia, the Exynos 2100 variant of the phone has started getting the update with firmware version G990EXXU1CVC5.

March 2, 2023: Samsung started rolling out the February security patch to the Galaxy S21 FE. According to SamMobile, the software carried firmware version G990BXXS1BVB3 and fixed over 60 privacy and security-related vulnerabilities.

January 17, 2023: Samsung rolled out the first official update to the Galaxy S21 FE in the US (h/t SamMobile). The firmware version, numbered G990U1UEU2BUL8, included the January 2023 security package and fixes for more than 60 pressing issues.

If you’ve spotted an update that we haven’t, tip us! Are you looking for another update? Be sure to visit our Android 12 update tracker.

Daily Authority: Health Tech Evolves With Foldable Phones, And More

A patent awarded to Samsung, spotted by LetsGoDigital, shows that it’s developing tech using the non-flat surfaces of foldable phones.

By quite literally folding the phone onto your finger, a bunch of interesting health data can be discerned.

It’s best described in this image:

This is clever stuff! There’s a few different methods of data gathering shown here but undoubtedly the clamping-the-finger method to calculate blood pressure, along with elements claimed in the patents including vascular age, aortic pressure waveform, stress, fatigue levels, and more, is pretty interesting.

There’s also a model where sensors are placed on the outside of the phone and the inside, where the phone will snap an image, convert pixel intensity into pulse wave amplitude, and gather health information using an amplitude conversion mode.

And one other variant is using the palm of your hand — my medical knowledge gives out at some point as to where and which method is best, but that’s a good range of options.

When are we getting these goodies? The patent game rarely yields those kinds of answers. Sometimes we see stuff that looks incredibly far in the future, where the company seems to be storing patents.

With Samsung’s next Galaxy Z devices expected in July or so this year, I’d hazard a guess that the timing of this patent means the next foldables won’t include this health tracking. There’s a chance, but perhaps more like 2023?

In case you forgot too, Samsung’s next smartwatch has long been tipped to get blood glucose monitoring sometime in the second half of this year.

Roundup

📈 Spotify prices are going up, mostly by $1 or so a month, across large swathes of the world (Android Authority).

🍎 Apple releases iOS 14.5, the biggest update since iOS 14 first launched, including the new privacy feature, while new versions of macOS, watchOS, and tvOS also rolled out (Ars Technica).

🍏 Also, a bug fixed in macOS 11.3 was one of the worst in a long time, already exploited in the wild and easy enough to do for malware (TechCrunch).

📜 Apple will reportedly face EU antitrust charges this week (The Verge).

📺 Roku is feuding with Google over YouTube TV (Gizmodo).

📺 Why the active-matrix LCD panel, despite largely being invented and developed by American companies in the 1970s, was never really manufactured in the United States (Tedium).

🥽 HTC Vive owners can buy parts from iFixit for DIY VR repairs (Engadget).

🌞 Tesla turns a record profit despite new Model S and Model X delay, including $100M+ profit from selling their new Bitcoin holdings, of all things. The company lost around $970 per car sold in Q1, too. Also, Elon Musk said Tesla made ‘significant mistakes’ with solar roof project (The Verge).

🤖 This researcher says AI is neither artificial nor intelligent: new book from Kate Crawford called Atlas of AI (Wired).

🔴 Scientists discover a ‘hellish’ planet so hot it would vaporize most metals (CNET). (Still not as hell as Twitter, where you can follow me for my not-very-often tweets.)

🧽 “ELI5: Why can’t you boil a sponge to sanitize it?” (r/explainlikeimfive). (First use of the sponge emoji in this newsletter, I’m sure!)

The Gemini 11 mission in 1966 (Wikipedia) is definitely one of the cooler missions among these.

It also shows just how far away the Moon is, despite it lighting up our night sky so brilliantly, as it will tonight for a “pink” supermoon (The Guardian).

All the best,

Tristan Rayner, Senior Editor

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Daily Authority: Samsung Rollable 🗞️

A detailed patent document was unearthed by LetsGoDigital, which includes 32 pages of info from a German filing.

We’ve already seen trademark filings for Samsung with the Galaxy “Z Roll” and “Z Slide” being secured.

Now we have a bunch of info, including helpful renders that provide an impression of Samsung’s tech.

The details:

Llike the Oppo X 2023, and LG’s cancelled rollable, Samsung’s patent imagines a rollable phone with a display that extends outwards. Once extended, the display becomes 40-50% larger, and the UI adapts automatically.

Huawei is also working on a rollable, using magnets to prevent creases showing in the rolled-out phone.

Samsung’s avoiding creases by using “multiple flexible/elastic carrier films,” together with a clever mechanical hinge structure to support the folded-out display, along with a supportive flat plate.

There’s also talk of an under-display camera with the model.

The robust documentation appears to suggest Samsung has developed the technology here, not just patents of ideas. But there’s still, usually, a long way to go between prototyping, production, and a commercial release.

According to our own Dhruv Bhutani, even rollable prototypes seem to make more sense than foldables, when he wrote:

“Having tried out almost all the foldable smartphones on the market, I can safely say that the Oppo X 2023 gets the closest to combining a smartphone and tablet experience in a singular device, and that’s largely due to how usable the phone is.”

That said, people who own foldables do seem to love them. Stockholm Syndrome when paying big money, or actual utility?

Glad you asked! There’s a great piece at Gizmodo that cautiously enthuses about the Fold 2, with the one (fairly significant) downside being dust bubbles with the screen protector.

Will that be fixed with the Fold 3?

Roundup

⌚ Samsung just announced a new Exynos wearables chipset, coming to the Galaxy Watch 4 to be announced tomorrow, is a pretty big leap for Wear OS smartwatches: from 26nm to 5nm, better power efficiency, 20% faster CPU, and 10x more graphics (Android Authority).

🔐 Google’s VPN service for higher-tier Google One subscribers is now available outside the US, adding Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and the UK to the list if you pay $9.99 or so a month (Android Authority).

💵 We asked, you told us: Here’s what you’d pay for the Pixel 6 Pro (Android Authority).

🔜 Asus ROG Phone 5S tipped for launch: adds the Snapdragon 888 Plus (Android Authority).

🎧 Beats Studio Buds review: Apple’s Android olive branch (Android Authority).

🍎 Apple released an FAQ and had a call with reporters, saying it will refuse government demands to expand photo-scanning beyond CSAM (Ars Technica). But the hits keep coming: Stratechery has a post called “Apple’s Mistake” which neatly questions why Apple didn’t stick with cloud storage scanning, and went on-device, saying: “It’s truly disappointing that Apple got so hung up on its particular vision of privacy that it ended up betraying the fulcrum of user control: being able to trust that your device is truly yours.”

🔑 Google’s new Titan security key lineup won’t make you choose between USB-C and NFC, only USB-A vs USB-C. $30/35, on sale today (The Verge).

🎮 Gamescom 2023 gets officially underway on August 25th, and Microsoft has announced an event on August 24 (Engadget).

🔋 A new Lamborghini Countach is coming, and for the 50th anniversary, the famous Lambo might add a battery (The Verge).

💪 The squishy, far-out new experiments headed to the ISS (Wired).

🛰️ SpaceX is buying an Internet of Things smallsat company (Engadget).

Chart Tuesday

Here’s how the marathon world record has changed over the years, as competitors keep trying to get past the two-hour barrier (in legal conditions, i.e. not including the successful sub-two hour experiment staged by a British multinational chemical company — though more power to Eliud Kipchoge for getting that cash!):

Kipchoge’s incredible record is 2:01:39.

Most of the narrowing of the record time has been Kipchoge’s efforts, who lives a life of running in a small community in Kenya.

In the New York Times there’s this remarkable quote: “A millionaire, Kipchoge is known to live an ascetic lifestyle while training with his running group at altitude in Kenya: living apart from his family, chopping vegetables for communal meals, cleaning toilets, hand-washing his gear, and drawing water from a well.”

But “while training” doesn’t really cut it – Kipchoge seems to always be training.

Performance coach and author Steve Magness wrote on Twitter: “Eliud Kipchoge is the greatest of all time… in ANY sport. His domination in a major sport in the modern era is unprecedented.”

Amazing! Have an inspired Tuesday,

Tristan Rayner, Senior Editor

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The Best Black Friday Android Deals: Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, And More

If you’ve been waiting to buy a new Android phone, your patience has been rewarded. Black Friday has brought some of the best deals on our favorite Android phones that we’ve ever seen. Here are our favorites, which are available right now, but be sure to check back as we keep adding more.

Samsung Amazon

Galaxy S10: $700 with free Galaxy Buds ($330 off)Remove non-product link

Galaxy S10+: $800 with free Galaxy Buds ($330 off)Remove non-product link

Galaxy S10e: $550 ($200 off)Remove non-product link

Galaxy Note 10: $750 with free Galaxy Buds ($330 off)Remove non-product link

Galaxy Note 10+: $900 with 512GB of storage ($300 off)Remove non-product link

Galaxy Note 10+: $900 with free Galaxy Buds ($330 off)Remove non-product link

Michael Simon/IDG

Best Buy

Galaxy S10: $600 with Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint activation; $700 without activation ($200 or $300 off)Remove non-product link

Galaxy S10+: $600 with Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint activation; $800 without activation ($200 or $300 off)Remove non-product link

Galaxy S10e: $450 with Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint activation; $550 without ($200 or $300 off)Remove non-product link

Galaxy Note 10: $650 with Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint activation; $750 without activation ($200 or $300 off)Remove non-product link

Galaxy Note 10+: $800 with Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint activation; $900 without activation ($200 or $300 off)Remove non-product link

Google

The Pixel 4 might be the newest phone on the lot, but Black Friday is already bringing serious savings on it, along with the other phones in Google’s lineup. We particularly like the Pixel 3a deals, which knock 25 percent off an already great price:

Amazon

Pixel 3a: $299 ($100 off)Remove non-product link

Pixel 3: $349 ($200 off)Remove non-product link

Pixel 3 XL: $449 ($200 off)Remove non-product link

Michael Simon/IDG

Best Buy

Pixel 3a/3a XL: $199/$279 ($200 off with Verizon new line)Remove non-product link

Pixel 4: $549 with Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint activation; $599 without activation ($200 or $250 off)Remove non-product link

Pixel 4 XL: $649 with Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint activation; $699 without activation ($200 or $250 off)Remove non-product link

Google Store

Pixel 4/4XL: $599/$699 ($200 off)Remove non-product link

Pixel 3a: $299 ($100 off)Remove non-product link

Pixel 3a XL: $379 ($100 off)Remove non-product link

Remove non-product link

OnePlus

While we’re still on the lookout for a deal on the 7T, OnePlus has a couple of rare price cuts on its older phones:

OnePlus 7 Pro: $549 ($150 off)Remove non-product link

Razer

The Razer Phone 2 isn’t one of our picks for phone of the year, but had it launched at this price it most certainly would have been. With a fresh price cut to $300, you’ll get high-end specs all round, including the only 120Hz screen on an Android phone—and one of the best displays in the business.

Razer Phone 2: $300 ($100 off)Remove non-product link

The LG G8 ThinQ isn’t one of our favorite phones, but that’s mainly because of its price tag. At $850, it can’t really stand up to its iPhone and Galaxy peers, but at this discount, we don’t hate on it. It’s got a few cool features that other phones don’t, as well as very high-end specs. We also like the LG Style 5 for nearly 50 percent off:

LG G8 ThinQ: $400 ($450 off)Remove non-product link

LG Stylo 5: $160 ($140 off)Remove non-product link

The Best Samsung Phones To Buy In 2023

One of the major reasons Samsung is the leading smartphone vendor in the world is that it makes a lot of phones. Lots of them, actually! And it’s understandable if you are unable to keep track of them all, so we’ll handle the dirty work of finding the best Samsung phones to buy in 2023 – just for you, our readers.

Best Samsung phones [March 2023]

Galaxy S10 series

Hands down, the Galaxy S10 series is the best from Samsung right now. There is just so much to love about all three phones, depending on what you are looking for in a phone and the amount you are willing to spend. As usual with Galaxy S series phones, the three boast the best smartphone hardware available at the moment, both on the outside and inside.

While the Galaxy S10 and S10+ are mainly separated by their sheer size, battery capacity, and the fact that the Plus variant has a second selfie shooter for depth sensing functions, the Galaxy S10e is not only the smallest in the family, but it also features a flat-screen design with significant bezels on the sides, a dual-lens camera on the back, and also misses out on the in-display fingerprint scanning technology.

Other than these, you are still getting an equally flagship-level experience in the S10e, as you can see from the specs of the trio below.

Specs

Galaxy S10

6.1-inch 19:9 QHD+ (3040×1440) Curved Dynamic AMOLED display

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855/Exynos 9820 processor

8GB RAM

128GB or 512GB expandable storage, up to 512GB

Tri-lens main camera: 12MP (OIS, Dual Pixel AF, f/1.5-f/2.4 aperture) + 12MP (telephoto, f/2.4 aperture, OIS, Dual Pixel AF) + 16MP (super wide-angle, f/2.2 aperture)

10MP (f/1.9, Dual Pixel AF) front camera

3400mAh battery

Android 9 Pie with One UI

Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, fast wired and wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, Wi-Fi 6, IP68 dust and water resistance, AR Emoji, in-display fingerprint scanner, face recognition, heart rate sensor, etc.

Galaxy S10+

6.4-inch 19:9 QHD+ (3040×1440) Curved Dynamic AMOLED display

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855/Exynos 9820 processor

8GB or 12GB RAM

128GB, 512GB or 1TB expandable storage, up to 512GB

Tri-lens main camera: 12MP (OIS, Dual Pixel AF, f/1.5-f/2.4 aperture) + 12MP (telephoto, f/2.4 aperture, OIS, Dual Pixel AF) + 16MP (ultra wide-angle, f/2.2 aperture)

Dual-lens selfie camera: 10MP (f/1.9, Dual Pixel AF) + 8MP (RGB depth sensor, f/2.2 aperture)

4000mAh battery

Android 9 Pie with One UI

Galaxy S10e

5.8-inch 19:9 FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855/Exynos 9820 processor

6GB or 8GB RAM

128GB or 256GB of expandable storage, up to 512GB

Dual main camera: 12MP (OIS, Dual Pixel AF, 4K video recording, f/1.5-f/2.4 variable aperture) + 16MP (ultra-wide angle, 123 degrees, f/2.2 aperture)

10MP front camera (f/1.9 aperture, Dual Pixel AF)

3000mAh battery

Android 9 Pie with One UI

Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, fast wired and wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, Wi-Fi 6, IP68 dust and water resistance, AR Emoji, side-mounted fingerprint scanner, face recognition, heart rate sensor, etc.

Galaxy S9 and S9+

It’s only a few weeks ago that Samsung Galaxy S9 was topping the list of the best Samsung phones to buy, but now that the Galaxy S10 is here, tables have been turned, for obvious reasons. Still, this doesn’t mean the 2023 handset should be written off. In fact, this is arguably the best time to purchase this powerful phone at a discount since most retailers are doing clearance sales to make room for the new kids on the block.

The S9 expertly combines the perfect hardware and the latest software (Android 9 Pie with One UI) in a superbly built body that delivers an all-round experience for all types of users.

Despite being a year old, many will agree that the Galaxy S9 is no slouch and while it misses out on things like a tri-lens camera and in-display fingerprint scanner that highlight the S10, you are still walking away with one of the best phones available today. On a bargain. But just so you know, it is the little things that actually make the difference.

Speaking of difference, the Galaxy S9 has some significant differences compared to the Galaxy S9+. In addition to the bigger screen size, the S9+ also gets more RAM, a bigger battery and a second camera lens on the back – all of which come at a price.

Specs Galaxy S9

5.8-inch 18.5:9 Super AMOLED QHD+ display

Snapdragon 845/Exynos 9810 processor

4GB RAM and 64/128GB storage (expandable)

12MP back camera and 8MP front camera

3000mAh battery

Android 8.0 Oreo

Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, 960FPS HD slow-mo videos, rear-mounted scanner, Iris scanner, IP68, Samsung Pay, fast charging, wireless charging, stereo speakers, HDR10, 3D Touch (home button), etc.

Galaxy S9+

6.2-inch 18.5:9 Super AMOLED QHD+ display

Snapdragon 845/Exynos 9810 processor

6GB RAM and 64/128GB storage (expandable)

Dual 12MP + 12MP back camera and 8MP front camera

3500mAh battery

Android 8.0 Oreo

So, if you love the size and the trending dual-lens cameras, the Galaxy S9+ is what you should get, but if you want a small Samsung phone in the market that is second only to the Galaxy S10e, the standard S9 is worth every penny.

Related: Samsung Galaxy S10: Specs, Release date and more

Galaxy Note 9

Samsung’s Note series has proven time and again that it’s the go-to smartphones when looking for the best in class. The story was true with the Note 8 and the new Galaxy Note 9 continues this tradition by packing some punch alongside a flurry of firsts in the Note series. Whether it is dual cameras, wireless charging, water resistance, a huge curved Super AMOLED display screen, a big battery, or even the headphone jack; the Galaxy Note 9 has it all.

Specs

6.4-inch 18.5:9 QHD+ Super AMOLED display

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor (Exynos 9810)

6GB RAM or 8GB RAM

128GB or 512GB expandable storage up to 512GB

Dual 12MP + 12MP main camera

8MP front camera

4000mAh battery

Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung Experience 9.5

Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB-C, Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, 3.5mm audio jack, IP68, 1.2Gbps LTE, (Cat-18), rear-mounted scanner, iris scanner, S Pen, etc.

Even better is the presence of the powered S Pen stylus, a feature that has for years made the Galaxy Note series such a unique offering and is, in fact, the main talking point of the Galaxy Note 9. But of course, not everyone is a fan of the stylus. Although quite older, the Galaxy Note 8 seems to be aging gracefully. Samsung has already upgraded it to the new One UI based on Android 9 Pie and without a doubt improved it into a compelling alternative to the Note 9, especially now that it has been discounted much further as it grows older.

Galaxy S8 and S8+

Now that the Galaxy S10 and S9 series are ahead of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ in the pecking order, the 2023 duo is seeing massive discounts from retailers that still have it in stock. Given the subtle improvements the S9 pair brings over the S8 twins, this might be the perfect opportunity to grab an aging high-end phone that offers nearly all the bells and whistles found on the S9 and S9+ on the cheap.

Even better is that the Galaxy S8 has just received an update to Android 9 Pie with One UI, the second and last major OS for the device. This, coupled with the facts that both phones have top-end specs, solid battery life and what we’d easily classify as some of the best cameras, you’ll be saving some good money by opting for the S8 or even the bigger Galaxy S8+.

Specs Galaxy S8

5.8-inch 18.5:9 Super AMOLED QHD+ display

Snapdragon 835/Exynos 8895 processor

4GB RAM and 64GB storage (expandable)

12MP back camera and 8MP front camera

3000mAh battery

Android 7.0 Nougat, Oreo 8.0 update available

Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, rear-mounted scanner, Iris scanner, IP68, Samsung Pay, fast charging, wireless charging, HDR10, 3D Touch (home button), etc.

Galaxy S8+

6.2-inch 18.5:9 Super AMOLED QHD+ display

Snapdragon 835/Exynos 8895 processor

4GB RAM and 64GB storage (expandable)

12MP back camera and 8MP front camera

3500mAh battery

Android 7.0 Nougat, Oreo 8.0 update available

Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, rear-mounted scanner, Iris scanner, IP68, Samsung Pay, fast charging, wireless charging, HDR10, 3D Touch (home button), etc.

So, if you want a cheaper, flagship Samsung phone, the Galaxy S9 is great, but the S9+ has a dual-lens camera and is bigger in size and thus gets you a bigger battery unit with a longer life. If, however, you have a more constrained budget, the 2023 Galaxy S8 is still a great option, especially if you want a compact flagship phone. But if size isn’t a concern, then, in this case, the S8+ is your best bet.

Galaxy S8 Active

Samsung skipped the Active variant with the Galaxy S9 and it seems this will be true for the recently-launched Galaxy S10 series. Granted, the Galaxy S8 Active is your best buy if looking for a flagship Samsung phone that can take all the roughing without flinching. But due to the heavy protection of the phone, the outside is not as beautiful as the standard Galaxy S flagships or S8 for that matter, but for this, you get a device that is by far one of the best in the rugged market.

Even better is the fact that the Galaxy S8 Active ships with a massive 4000mAh battery unit that ensures you don’t have to worry about battery life. The device already received the Oreo update and is also expected to join the Pie group later in 2023, but of course, you are getting a phone with two-year-old hardware and will soon be old enough not to receive any more major OS upgrades.

Specs

5.8-inch 18.5:9 Super AMOLED QHD+ display

Snapdragon 835 processor

4GB RAM and 64GB storage (expandable)

12MP back camera and 8MP front camera

4000mAh battery

Android 7.0 Nougat, planned upgrade to Oreo 8.0

Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, rear-mounted scanner, Iris scanner, IP68, MIL-STD 810G, Samsung Pay, fast charging, wireless charging, HDR10, 3D Touch (home button), etc.

Note that the Galaxy S8 Active is limited to the U.S. market, but unlike previous models, it’s not limited to AT&T.

Galaxy A9 2023

If you want to be known in your clique as the first person to own a smartphone with a four-lens camera on the back, go for the Samsung Galaxy A9 2023 right away. The phone, besides this impressive feat with the camera, also boasts some beefy hardware specs in a premium-like design, just like you would expect from the top-most offering in the already premium-like Galaxy A series.

Specs

6.3-inch 18.5:9 FHD+ (2220 x 1080) Super AMOLED display

Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor

6GB or 8GB RAM

128GB expandable storage, up to 512GB

Quad-lens 8MP + 10MP + 24MP + 5MP rear camera (top to bottom)

24MP front camera

3800mAh battery

Android 8.0 Oreo

Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, Rear-mounted FPS, Facial Recognition, Samsung Pay, Dual-SIM, NFC, Fast battery charging, etc.

Unlike the previous Galaxy A9 handsets, we expect the 2023 model to be sold in more markets, but it may likely never make it to the U.S. Of course, with Amazon, you can always have one of these, although you’ll have to pay the full price outright and it’s not cheap.

Galaxy A7 2023

For a moment, we thought it was over for the Galaxy A7 family and then came the Galaxy A7 2023. The first from Samsung with a tri-lens camera on the back, the A7 2023 picks up from where the A7 2023 left off and adds plenty of t0uches to the design as well as internals, coming in with what arguably looks like an upgrade to the Galaxy A8 2023 family.

Specs

6-inch 18.5:9 FHD+ Super AMOLED display

2.2GHz octa-core processor

4GB or 6GB RAM

64GB or 128GB expandable storage

Tri-lens 24MP + 8MP + 5MP main camera

24MP front camera

3300mAh battery

Android 8.0 Oreo

Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, side-mounted fingerprint scanner, face unlock, NFC, Samsung Pay, 3.5mm audio jack, etc.

Like its other siblings, the Galaxy A7 2023 rocks a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and Samsung’s trademark Infinity Display screen. There’s an unknown octa-core processor clocked at 2.2GHz running the show alongside either 4GB or 6GB of RAM and for the software, there’s Oreo out of the box. The A7 2023 has been unveiled in India, where the base model goes for INR 23,990 (about $330) and the high-end variant is priced at INR 28,990 (about $400).

Samsung Galaxy A6 and A6+

Samsung recently launched the Galaxy A6 and A6+. Unlike the Galaxy A8 and A8+ that failed to address the price gap between the budget and high-end Galaxy phones, these two are a perfect fit as far as midrange Samsung phones are concerned. Priced between €309 and €370 in Europe and INR 21,990 and INR 25,990 in India, the two offer amazing designs, some super-cool features, and even though they have their flaws, you can’t take the good out of them.

The Galaxy A6, although different on the outside, shares some internals with the Galaxy J7 2023. As for the Galaxy A6+, it has a different package, as you can see below.

Specs Galaxy A6

5.6-inch 18.5:9 HD+ AMOLED AoD display

3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage

Exynos 7870

Android 8.0 Oreo

16MP main camera, 16MP selfie shooter

3000mAh battery

Extras: Rear-mounted fingerprint reader, facial recognition, Samsung Pay, Bluetooth 4.2, MicroUSB, 3.5mm audio jack, Dolby Atmos sound, NFC, etc.

Galaxy A6+

6.0-inch 18.5:9 FHD+ AMOLED AoD display

3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB internal storage

Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor

Android 8.0 Oreo

Dual 16MP + 5MP main camera, 24MP selfie shooter

3500mAh battery

Extras: Rear-mounted fingerprint reader, facial recognition, Samsung Pay, Bluetooth 4.2, MicroUSB, 3.5mm audio jack, Dolby Atmos sound, NFC, etc.

Even though both phones have not so inspiring processors, the Galaxy A6+ stands out with its dual-lens camera on the back, a bigger display screen and an even bigger battery unit to keep it alive. Also, the screen on the A6+ has a full HD+ resolution, which promises better quality compared to the HD+ resolution found on the standard A6.

Why in the hell Samsung went for the aging microUSB port for connectivity and charging still baffles many, but that’s Samsung for you. They’ll get this right and get the other completely wrong, but for their price tags, there’s for sure less to rant about.

Samsung Galaxy J6 and J6+

A closer look at the Galaxy J6 reveals that it has a lot in common with the Galaxy A6. Of course, the build material isn’t the same for obvious reasons (Galaxy A series is more premium than Galaxy J series), but most of what is used on the inside are the same on both handsets – apart from a few tweaks here and there. The story is, however, quite different when it comes to the Galaxy J6+, a device that is already available in India.

The phone touts a glass finish that brings a premium feel to the budget J series, but packs a mediocre chipset on the inside. Samsung hopes the inclusion of a dual-lens camera on the back alongside 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage will play key to the sales of the J6+ and for those hoping to see an update to Pie, it should get even better.

Related: Samsung Android Pie update news and device list

Specs Galaxy J6

5.6-inch 18.5:9 HD+ AMOLED display

Exynos 7870 SoC

3GB RAM

32GB storage

13MP main camera

8MP selfie camera

3000mAh battery

Android 8.0 Oreo

Extras: Rear-mounted fingerprint reader, facial recognition, Bluetooth 4.2, microUSB, 3.5mm audio jack, Dolby Atmos sound, etc.

Galaxy J6+

6-inch 18.5:9 True HD+ Infinity Display

Snapdragon 425 SoC

4GB RAM

64GB storage

Dual 13MP + 5MP main camera

8MP front camera

3300mAh battery

Android 8.1 Oreo

Extras: Side-mounted FPS, Bluetooth 4.2, microUSB, 3.5mm audio jack, NFC, etc.

Usually, Galaxy J handsets are sold in multiple markets across the globe. We don’t expect anything different with respect to the Galaxy J6 and J6+, which is already available for purchase in a handful of markets including India. But if you are willing to dig a little deeper into your pockets, the dual-lens Galaxy J7 Duo should be a great option, too.

Related: Galaxy J6 and J6+ firmware download: fast and free Stock ROM links

Samsung Galaxy M20

If you are in the market for a notched Samsung phone on a budget, don’t look past the Galaxy M20. The phone rocks a 6.3-inch FHD+ Infinity V LCD display screen that features a waterdrop-style notch housing an 8MP selfie shooter. The back camera has a dual 12MP + 5MP, the second lens acting as a wide-angle camera with a field of view of up to 120 degrees, but it is the huge 5000mAh battery unit that makes the M20 the go-to handset in its price range, as evidenced by the rest of the specs below.

Specs

6.3-inch 19.5:9 FHD+ (1080 x 2340) LCD display

Exynos 7904 processor

3GB or 4GB RAM

32GB or 64GB expandable storage

Dual 13MP + 5MP (ultra-wide) main camera

8MP front camera

5000mAh battery

Android 8.1 Oreo

Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, rear-mounted FPS, Face unlock, Dual LTE, Dual VoLTE, etc.

So far, the Galaxy M20 has been confirmed for the Indian market and while some parts of Asia, Europe and Africa are also expected to get their hands on the M20, we can’t guarantee anything for the U.S. market at the moment.

Related: Will Samsung release the Galaxy M20 and M10 in the U.S.?

Samsung Galaxy J4 Plus

The Galaxy J4 represents Samsung’s continued push into the budget segment with a blend of premium and budget features such as a Super AMOLED display screen, 4G LTE connectivity, a plastic body, a decent camera (on paper), a removable battery, and runs the latest Android Oreo out of the box, which means Project Treble is on board.

While the 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display screen is without a doubt the standout feature on the Galaxy J4, Samsung also says the phone packs an ultra data saving mode that is more capable than any other third-party app you can think of. And then there’s the Galaxy J4 Plus that takes things a notch higher, coming in with a bigger Infinity Display, twice the storage, and a bigger battery, yet somehow still managing to keep the price affordable.

Specs Galaxy J4

5.5-inch 16:9 HD AMOLED display

Exynos 7570 SoC

2GB or 3GB RAM

16GB storage

13MP main camera

5MP front camera

3000mAh battery

Android 8.0 Oreo

Extras: Bluetooth 4.2, microUSB, 3.5mm audio jack, 4G LTE, etc.

Galaxy J4 Plus

6-inch 18.5:9 True HD+ Infinity Display

Snapdragon 425 SoC

2GB RAM

32GB expandable storage

13MP main camera

5MP front camera

3300mAh battery

Android 8.1 Oreo

Extras: Bluetooth 4.2, microUSB, 3.5mm audio jack, 4G LTE, side-mounted FPS, NFC, etc.

Samsung Galaxy J4 and J4+ are still new on the market and have so far been launched only in a handful of countries. In India, for instance, the former has a price tag of INR 8,990 while the latter goes for INR 10,990, which translate to about $125 and $150, respectively. Not bad huh! Availability in the U.S. and the UK remains unclear, but for now, folks in these markets can make do with the Galaxy J3 2023 if in the market for a good budget smartphone from Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy M10

Featuring the same design language as the Galaxy M20, the Galaxy M10 has a notched Infinity V display screen featuring a 6.2-inch real estate with an HD+ resolution. Like the J4, the M10 is small on specs, featuring a base model of 2/16GB and lacks a fingerprint scanner, but you are getting a huge 3400mAh battery alongside a favorable price tag.

The Galaxy M10 is the only device you’ll find in this price range rocking a wide-angle lens on the back, but you might not like the fact that Oreo still runs the show out of the box. Sammy says a stable update to Pie will arrive in August 2023.

Specs

6.2-inch 19.5:9 HD+ (720 x 1520) LCD display

Exynos 7870 processor

2GB or 3GB RAM

16GB or 32GB expandable storage

Dual 13MP + 5MP (ultra-wide) back camera

5MP front camera

3400mAh battery

Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung Experience 9.5

In India, the Galaxy M10 starts at INR 7,990 and goes up to INR 8,990. When converted, it means you are paying about $112 and $126 for these two, but we cannot guarantee these prices will be retained when the phones go global.

Best Samsung for you?

As noted at the beginning, Samsung’s dominance has a lot to do with the sheer number of devices it releases annually. Some of the devices on this list won’t last long. The Galaxy Note 8, which has been, and still is one of the best Samsung phones, has now been replaced on the list by the new and even more powerful Galaxy Note 9. As for the Galaxy S9 and A8 2023 family, well, their successors should be unveiled in 2023, which means they’ll probably remain on this list until next year.

By all means, the Galaxy S8 remains our favorite Samsung device at the moment — not only because it offers all the goodies you would want, but also because it’s price has fallen a bit, now that S9 has become available. If you are an S-Pen guy, go for the Galaxy Note 9, otherwise, unless you want the super cool super slow-mo recording feature, your best buy has to be the Galaxy S8.

The Galaxy A8 pair fails to impress, but they are what you get in the mid-range lineup of Samsung. Kind of take it or leave it devices — a must buy if you want only Samsung and has that range as budget, but we would urge you to go for the S8 in place of the A8 devices. Even better, you can as well opt for the Galaxy J7 Duo that rocks the same processor like the A8 and A8+ but with a totally different design. Also, the Galaxy A6+ is a great option for anyone who wants Galaxy A-class smartphone in a Galaxy J-body.

The J series still remains one of the most successful series on Android, and this is not gonna change anytime soon, until Xiaomi takes over, which it’s starting to begin with the Redmi Note 5 Pro. But yeah, Xiaomi isn’t available in the US, where the J series remains the budget king of Samsung smartphones. So, if you are looking for a budget phone, you should go for the Galaxy J4+ or Galaxy J6+, depending on your preference for smartphone size. If and when the Galaxy M20 or even the M10 comes your way, you don’t even have to think twice about getting one.

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