Best Samsung Phones UK 2026: which Galaxy to buy
Samsung sells more than a dozen Galaxy phones in the UK, from a £170 A-series to a £2,400 folding phone, and the names don't make it easy to choose. These are the six we'd shortlist in October 2026, covering every budget: the S26 Ultra flagship, the compact S26, the mid-range S26 FE, the budget A57, and the Z Flip8 and Z Fold8 foldables.
How we chose: this is a researched buying guide, not a hands-on test. We haven't tested these phones ourselves. We compared Samsung UK's official specifications with independent reviews from Expert Reviews, Trusted Reviews, Which? and The Guardian, and checked UK SIM-free prices on Amazon UK and other UK retailers on 20 October 2026. Prices change often, especially during Samsung Week (until 3 November), so check before you buy.
The quick answer
- Best overall: Galaxy S26 Ultra, the best cameras, S Pen and Privacy Display.
- Small hands and pockets: Galaxy S26.
- Big screen for less: Galaxy S26 FE, ideally on offer.
- Best value: Galaxy A57 5G.
- Foldables: Z Flip8 to fold small, Z Fold8 to open a tablet-sized screen.
At a glance
| Model | Best for | Screen | Battery | Rear cameras | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | Best overall | 6.9in | 5,000mAh | 200MP + 3 more | ~£1,049 |
| Galaxy S26 | Compact | 6.3in | 4,300mAh | 50MP + 2 more | ~£879 |
| Galaxy S26 FE | Mid-range | 6.7in | 4,900mAh | 50MP + 2 more | ~£699 |
| Galaxy A57 5G | Budget | 6.7in | 5,000mAh | 50MP + 2 more | ~£418–£499 |
| Galaxy Z Flip8 | Flip foldable | 6.9in + 4.1in | 4,300mAh | 50MP + 12MP | ~£1,149 |
| Galaxy Z Fold8 | Book foldable | 7.6in + 5.5in | 4,800mAh | 50MP + 50MP | ~£1,359 |
1. Best Samsung phone overall
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Price: £1,049.00 for the 256GB UK version (Black) on Amazon UK when we checked (20 October 2026), sold by Amazon and in stock. It starts at £1,279 at other UK retailers such as John Lewis, and Samsung is running Samsung Week trade-in offers until 2 November.
The S26 Ultra is Samsung's do-everything flagship. Expert Reviews calls it the fastest Android phone around, with a sharp screen, excellent stamina and a fantastic set of cameras, and Which? made it a Best Buy. New this year is Privacy Display, which makes the screen hard to read from the side, so people next to you on the train can't see your messages. It's also the only S26 with a built-in S Pen.
Key specs
- Screen: 6.9in QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, with Privacy Display
- Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 12GB or 16GB RAM
- Cameras: 200MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x and 50MP 5x telephoto
- Battery: 5,000mAh, 60W wired and 25W wireless charging
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB or 1TB; 214g
Pros
- Best cameras and zoom in the line-up
- Privacy Display is genuinely useful
- Built-in S Pen
- Seven years of updates
Cons
- Expensive
- Big and heavy at 214g
- Rivals now match or beat its battery life
Best for: Anyone who wants the best Samsung phone, especially for zoom photos, note-taking with the S Pen or keeping your screen private.
Watch out for: Look out for Samsung Week trade-in deals before paying full price.
2. Best compact Samsung phone
Samsung Galaxy S26
Price: from £879 SIM-free (256GB) at UK retailers such as John Lewis when we checked (20 October 2026).
The standard S26 is the one to get if you want a flagship that's easy to use one-handed. It's much lighter than the Ultra at 167g, with a 6.3in screen, Samsung's new 2nm Exynos 2600 chip and the same 3x telephoto zoom as the S26+. You give up the Ultra's 200MP camera, S Pen and fast charging, and its 4,300mAh battery is the smallest of our picks.
Key specs
- Screen: 6.3in FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz
- Chip: Exynos 2600, 12GB RAM
- Cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto
- Battery: 4,300mAh, 25W wired and 15W wireless charging
- Storage: 256GB or 512GB; 167g
Pros
- Small and light
- Flagship chip and 3x zoom
- Seven years of updates
Cons
- Smallest battery here
- Slow 25W charging
- Pricey for its size
Best for: People who want a top-end Samsung phone that fits a pocket and a hand.
Watch out for: If battery life matters most, the S26 FE or S26 Ultra last longer on paper.
3. Best mid-range Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
Price: from £699 SIM-free at UK retailers such as John Lewis when we checked (20 October 2026). Samsung UK was offering it for £599 with PayPal during Samsung Week.
The FE (Fan Edition) gives you the big 6.7in screen and much of the S26 experience for less. Trusted Reviews praises its screen, reliable performance and seven years of updates, but says the cameras are the same as last year's and it's best bought with a discount. We agree: at around £600 it's a sensible big-screen Samsung, but at full price the A57 or S26 are worth comparing.
Key specs
- Screen: 6.7in FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz
- Chip: Exynos 2500, 8GB RAM
- Cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP 3x telephoto
- Battery: 4,900mAh, 45W wired and 15W wireless charging
- Storage: 128GB or 256GB
Pros
- Big, good-quality screen
- Bigger battery than the S26
- 45W charging
- Seven years of updates
Cons
- Cameras unchanged from the S25 FE
- Weaker in low light
- Base model has only 128GB
Best for: Anyone who wants a big-screen Samsung with most flagship features, bought on offer.
Watch out for: It's best value with a discount; Trusted Reviews says it's hard to recommend at full price.
4. Best budget Samsung
Samsung Galaxy A57 5G
Price: from £418 to £499 SIM-free at UK retailers such as John Lewis when we checked (20 October 2026).
The A57 is the Samsung we'd point most people to if they just want a good, long-lasting phone without paying flagship prices. It has a 6.7in OLED screen, a 5,000mAh battery, IP68 water resistance and a triple camera, and Which? says it should get security updates until around March 2032. It lacks wireless charging and the S series' telephoto zoom.
Key specs
- Screen: 6.7in FHD+ OLED (2340 × 1080)
- Cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 5MP macro
- Battery: 5,000mAh, no wireless charging
- Water resistance: IP68
- Storage: 128GB or 256GB; 179g, 6.9mm thick
Pros
- Big battery
- IP68 water resistance
- Long software support
- Thin and light
Cons
- No wireless charging
- No telephoto zoom
- Slower than the S series
Best for: Most people on a budget, older relatives and anyone who wants a dependable everyday phone.
Watch out for: The cheaper A37 is similar if you can live with a slower chip.
5. Best flip phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8
Price: from £1,149 SIM-free (256GB) at UK retailers such as John Lewis when we checked (20 October 2026).
The Z Flip8 folds in half to the size of a make-up compact, with a 4.1in cover screen for notifications, selfies and quick replies, and a full 6.9in screen inside. It's the most fun phone in Samsung's line-up and a talking point. The trade-offs are a smaller 4,300mAh battery, no telephoto camera and a price close to the S26+.
Key specs
- Main screen: 6.9in FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz
- Cover screen: 4.1in Super AMOLED
- Chip: Exynos 2600, 12GB RAM
- Cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide
- Battery: 4,300mAh, 25W wired, 15W wireless; 180g
Pros
- Pocketable when folded
- Useful cover screen
- Fun, eye-catching design
Cons
- Price went up by £100 this year
- No telephoto camera
- Folding screens are more delicate
Best for: Style-conscious buyers and anyone who wants a big screen that folds small.
Watch out for: Consider Samsung Care+ or insurance, as foldable screen repairs are expensive.
6. Best foldable for big-screen multitasking
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8
Price: £1,359.00 for the 256GB, 12GB RAM model (Graphite) on Amazon UK when we checked (20 October 2026), sold by Amazon, but Amazon said it usually dispatches in 1 to 2 months. It starts at £1,699 at other UK retailers such as John Lewis.
The Z Fold8 is a phone that opens into a 7.6in mini tablet. The Guardian calls it a passport to a folding phone future, with the same Snapdragon chip as the S26 Ultra and around 40 hours of battery in its testing. It's £100 cheaper than last year's Fold7. The new Z Fold8 Ultra (from £1,899) adds a bigger 8in screen and a 200MP camera.
Key specs
- Main screen: 7.6in QXGA+ AMOLED, 120Hz
- Cover screen: 5.5in, 120Hz
- Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 12GB or 16GB RAM
- Cameras: 50MP + 50MP rear
- Battery: 4,800mAh, 45W wired, 20W wireless; IP48; 201g
Pros
- Tablet-sized screen in your pocket
- Flagship performance
- Good battery life for a foldable
Cons
- Very expensive
- Only IP48 dust resistance
- Less zoom than the Fold8 Ultra or S26 Ultra
Best for: Busy people who read, work or multitask on their phone and want a tablet-sized screen with them.
Watch out for: The Fold8 Ultra costs £200 more for a bigger screen and better camera.
How to choose a Samsung phone
S, A or Z? The S series are Samsung's flagships, with the best chips, cameras and build. The A series cover the budget and mid-range, and make sensible trade-offs such as no wireless charging. The Z series fold: the Flip folds small like a compact, the Fold opens into a mini tablet.
Storage: none of these phones take a microSD card, so buy enough storage up front. 256GB suits most people; 128GB fills up quickly if you take lots of photos and videos.
Updates: Samsung promises up to seven years of Android and security updates on its recent S and Z phones, and Which? estimates support for the A57 until around 2032, so any of these should last for years.
Buy SIM-free and UK version: check the listing says UK version, so the charger, warranty and network bands are right for the UK.
FAQs
What is the best Samsung phone in 2026?
For most people who can afford it, the Galaxy S26 Ultra. If you want to spend under £500, the Galaxy A57 5G is the best value.
Is the Galaxy S26 FE worth it?
It's a good phone with a great screen, but reviewers say its cameras haven't changed from last year. It's best value when it's discounted to around £600.
Are folding phones reliable?
They're much tougher than early models, but the inner screens are still more delicate than a normal phone and repairs are costly, so a case and insurance or Samsung Care+ are worth considering.
Sources: Samsung UK specification and comparison pages, Samsung Newsroom UK and Samsung Global Newsroom specifications, Expert Reviews (Galaxy S26 Ultra), Trusted Reviews (Galaxy S26 FE), Which? (Galaxy A57, Galaxy S26 Ultra Best Buy) and The Guardian (Galaxy Z Fold8), plus UK retailer SIM-free prices on 20 October 2026. We have not tested these phones.