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Samsung’s 8 Greatest Phones and 6 Biggest Misfires, Ranked

By Freedom251 Team · · 16 min read

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The best Samsung phone of all time is the 2011 Galaxy S II. It arrived when Samsung was still chasing the iPhone, then combined a class-leading Super AMOLED Plus screen, dual-core performance, a capable camera and a thin design in a way that changed the company’s trajectory. The worst is the 2016 Galaxy Note7: battery-cell failures forced a sales halt, replacement phones also failed, and Samsung permanently ended production.

This ranking weighs historical influence, innovation, execution, reliability, reception, value and how well each model’s ideas lasted. It also separates a genuinely dangerous product from a merely disappointing one, so a launch delay or a feature trade-off does not receive the same condemnation as a safety crisis.

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How were the best and worst Samsung phones judged?

“Best” does not simply mean the newest or the fastest. The ranking considers how important a phone was when it launched, whether it moved Samsung forward, how well its hardware and software worked together, and whether owners received a fair product for the price. Critical and commercial reception matter, but so does historical importance: a phone can be influential even if a later model is technically superior.

“Worst” is reserved for serious failures in safety, launch readiness, reliability, value or strategic judgment. The Galaxy Note7 is in a different category from the Galaxy S5: one created a documented safety emergency, while the other was a competent phone that disappointed the market. Some placements, especially the Galaxy S20 Ultra and Galaxy Beam, remain more provisional because model-specific measurements or sales evidence are limited.

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What are the eight best Samsung phones ever?

Rank Phone Why it matters Main qualification
1 Galaxy S II (2011) Established Samsung as a serious iPhone rival through display, performance and design. Its software and network support are obsolete today.
2 Galaxy S7 / S7 edge (2016) A mature flagship balancing camera quality, water resistance and useful hardware features. Modern app and security support is limited.
3 Galaxy S10 / S10+ (2019) Made the S line a multi-model family and pushed display-cutout experimentation. The ranking is based mainly on design importance, not a single benchmark.
4 Galaxy S23 Ultra (2023) A high point for Samsung’s large-screen performance and camera ambitions. Its position is comparative and editorial rather than a measured lab verdict.
5 Galaxy S24 Ultra (2024) The current flagship anchor, with a seven-year operating-system and security-update promise. Long-term ownership depends on Samsung delivering that support schedule.
6 Original Galaxy Note (2011) Created a stylus-centered flagship category that became a parallel Samsung identity. Its large size was divisive when phones were generally smaller.
7 Galaxy Note8 (2017) Rebuilt confidence in the Note name after the Note7 crisis. It was a recovery product, not a clean-sheet reinvention.
8 Galaxy Z Fold5 (2023) Represents the foldable line’s refinement after the first Fold’s troubled launch. Comparative maturity is not proof of indestructibility.

1. Galaxy S II (2011): the phone that changed Samsung’s trajectory

The Galaxy S II has the strongest overall historical case. Its 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, Super AMOLED Plus display, 8-megapixel camera and full-HD video recording formed a convincing flagship package in 2011. The phone was also notably thin and light for its time, so the specifications did not come at the cost of portability.

SlashGear described the S II as a runaway success that helped Samsung challenge the iPhone. The publication also cited more than 18 hours of continuous 2G use in its account of the phone, a figure that reflects the network and testing conditions of that era rather than a modern battery comparison. The important point is not the old endurance number; it is that Samsung delivered a polished, aspirational Android phone before the Galaxy brand had become a default choice.

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The S II’s influence came from execution. Earlier Galaxy models had established the name, but this generation made Samsung’s hardware, display technology and industrial design feel like a coherent alternative to Apple’s. It belongs at number one even though its operating system, cameras and cellular compatibility make it unsuitable as a primary phone in 2026.

2. Galaxy S7 and S7 edge (2016): the mature refinement

The S7 generation is the best example of Samsung refining rather than radically changing a successful formula. The standard S7 and curved-screen S7 edge paired strong cameras with water resistance, high-quality displays and hardware flexibility that many buyers valued. The edge model also demonstrated that Samsung could make a distinctive curved display without turning the entire phone into a usability experiment.

Reliability is central to this ranking because the S7 followed the Note7 battery crisis in the same year. Samsung’s US statement said more than 10 million Galaxy S7 devices were in use in the country and that it had found no confirmed internal battery failures in those devices at that time. That statement is a point-in-time safety observation, not a guarantee for every aging handset today; lithium-ion batteries still deteriorate with age, heat and physical damage.

The S7 is not first because it did not redefine smartphones as dramatically as the S II. It ranks highly because nearly every major decision was defensible: camera performance was competitive, water resistance improved everyday resilience, and expandable storage gave owners more control over media. In 2026, purchase one only after checking battery condition, carrier compatibility and the availability of security updates.

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3. Galaxy S10 and S10+ (2019): a design milestone

The S10 family marks the point where Samsung’s flagship strategy clearly became a range rather than a single phone. Samsung’s own chronology places the series at the start of multiple variants and display cutout experimentation. The S10 and larger S10+ gave buyers different sizes and feature balances while keeping a recognizable premium identity.

The display cutout was a deliberate compromise: it preserved more screen area than a traditional bezel while avoiding the motorized mechanisms used by some rivals. That choice influenced the visual language of later Galaxy phones, even as punch-hole designs evolved. The S10 generation also shows why a historical ranking cannot rely only on sales or benchmark charts. Its importance lies in how Samsung responded to the industry’s push toward near-full-screen designs and segmented its flagship line.

The exact third-place position is editorial. It rewards design direction and product breadth more than a single measured camera or battery result. Buyers considering one now should treat software support and battery replacement as more important than its once-premium specifications.

4. Galaxy S23 Ultra (2023): a modern performance and camera peak

The S23 Ultra belongs on the list as one of Samsung’s strongest modern flagships. Within the documented S-series sequence, it represents a mature combination of high-end performance, a large display, an integrated S Pen and an ambitious multi-camera system. Its importance is less about introducing one new category than about bringing several Samsung strengths together in one dependable flagship format.

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Because this ranking does not have a single independent test set establishing exact camera, battery or thermal results across every rival, the S23 Ultra’s placement should be read as a reasoned historical judgment, not a laboratory championship. It is a particularly persuasive choice for people who want a large screen and stylus without moving to a foldable.

Its long-term value also depends on the support policy attached to the exact regional model and purchase date. Check Samsung’s current update page before buying a used unit; a high launch specification does not compensate for an uncertain security-update future.

5. Galaxy S24 Ultra (2024): the current flagship anchor

The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the endpoint of Samsung’s conventional flagship development in this ranking. Samsung positions the S24 family around an advanced camera system, processor, display and 5G connectivity. Those are expected features in a premium phone, but the support commitment is unusually important: Samsung says the S24 series receives seven years of operating-system and security updates.

That promise changes the ownership calculation. A buyer is not only paying for launch hardware but also for a much longer period in which apps, security patches and new operating-system features should remain available. The commitment does not make the phone automatically better than every earlier model—some owners may prefer the S23 Ultra’s design or a smaller handset—but it gives the S24 Ultra the clearest current-use case in this historical list.

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If you want one Samsung phone that is practical to buy new or lightly used in 2026, this is the safest recommendation from the ranking. Confirm the storage configuration, regional modem bands, warranty status and the seller’s return policy before paying for an imported device.

6. Original Galaxy Note (2011): the form-factor gamble that became a product line

The first Galaxy Note was a risk. Its unusually large screen and integrated stylus looked excessive beside the smaller phones of 2011, yet the combination created a new category for people who wanted handwriting, annotation and more room for documents or media. Android Authority describes the Note family as a distinctive and influential Samsung line, and that influence began here.

The original Note’s achievement was not simply adding a pen to a phone. Samsung treated the stylus as a reason to choose the device, then built a parallel flagship identity around it. The Note line later influenced Samsung’s software, accessories and premium-phone segmentation, even after the company eventually folded Note characteristics into the S Ultra family.

As a device to use today, the first Note is a historical artifact rather than a sensible daily driver. Its age means outdated software, worn batteries and uncertain network support. Its place in this list is about category creation.

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7. Galaxy Note8 (2017): a credible recovery

The Note8 had to do more than deliver good hardware; it had to persuade customers that the Note name was safe to trust again. Android Authority reports more than 270,000 Note8 units sold during its first weekend, evidence of a strong rebound after the Note7 disaster. That early response does not prove every owner had a perfect experience, but it demonstrates that Samsung restored substantial demand.

The Note8 preserved the stylus-centered identity while presenting a more cautious, confidence-building product. Its historical value comes from recovery: Samsung did not abandon the category after a catastrophic failure, and buyers were willing to return when the replacement product met a higher bar for reassurance.

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For a used purchase, inspect the battery and screen carefully and verify that the phone is not locked to a carrier or region. The Note8’s importance exceeds its usefulness now, but it remains the clearest proof that a damaged product family can regain credibility.

8. Galaxy Z Fold5 (2023): foldable maturity after a false start

The Z Fold5 earns the final place because it represents refinement in a category Samsung helped popularize. Its historical significance is comparative: later Fold generations became more credible after the first Galaxy Fold exposed serious display and hinge problems before launch. The Fold5 is therefore evidence of an engineering program learning from an early failure, not evidence that foldables are immune to wear.

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A foldable’s value depends on whether the large inner screen changes what you do. Reading, multitasking and document work can benefit from the tablet-like workspace, while the added hinge and flexible display introduce more components that can require careful handling. Without a cited durability test, it would be wrong to promise a particular lifespan.

Choose the Fold5 for the form factor, not simply because it is expensive or new. Ask about hinge condition, screen-protection history, repair coverage and software support when buying used.

Which six Samsung phones were the worst?

Rank Phone Why it ranks here What the judgment does not mean
1 Galaxy Note7 (2016) Documented battery safety crisis, replacement failures and permanent production halt. It was not merely a poor-reviewed phone; it was a safety failure.
2 First Galaxy Fold (2019) Serious display and hinge problems appeared before launch, forcing a delay. A delayed launch is not the same as a permanently unusable product.
3 Galaxy S6 (2015) Major redesign brought mixed results and removed features valued in earlier models. It was not inherently dangerous or universally poor.
4 Galaxy S5 (2014) A competent phone that sold far less than the S4 and felt like a value disappointment. Lower sales alone do not make a phone defective.
5 Galaxy S20 Ultra (2020) A provisional entry tied to launch-value and camera-execution concerns requiring model-specific testing. The evidence does not support a definitive failure verdict.
6 Galaxy Beam (2012) A niche projector phone whose trade-offs and reception make it a weak mainstream choice. This is the least certain placement in the list.

1. Galaxy Note7 (2016): Samsung’s clearest product failure

The Note7 is unambiguously the worst Samsung phone because the problem was safety, not taste. On September 2, 2016, Samsung said: “In response to recently reported cases of the new Galaxy Note7, we conducted a thorough investigation and found a battery cell issue.” The company also said, “However, because our customers’ safety is an absolute priority at Samsung, we have stopped sales of the Galaxy Note7.”

Samsung reported 35 cases by September 1, 2016, then stopped sales and initiated a replacement program. The replacement units did not solve the problem. Samsung ended production permanently and later reported that 96% of the three million devices sold had been returned. Those figures make the Note7 a documented safety crisis with a failed remediation effort, not a phone that merely received harsh reviews.

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Do not buy, activate or charge a Galaxy Note7 today. A sealed box, collector listing or unusually low price does not change the underlying safety history. This model should be treated as recalled hardware, not as a bargain flagship.

2. First Galaxy Fold (2019): a launch-readiness failure

The first Galaxy Fold’s failure happened before a normal retail launch. Reviewers encountered serious display and hinge problems, and Android Authority reports that Samsung delayed the release. That distinction matters: a delayed product can be repaired and eventually become viable, while a permanently cancelled product cannot.

The Fold’s ambition was significant, but the launch exposed a gap between a compelling prototype and a phone ready for uncontrolled consumer use. Early reviewers are not ordinary owners, yet their failures revealed vulnerabilities that Samsung had to address before broad availability. The incident changed how the company handled review units, protective layers and launch timing for later foldables.

Later Fold models can be historically successful without erasing this failure. When evaluating any used first-generation Fold, assume the launch history is a risk signal and prioritize repair coverage, hinge inspection and screen condition over the novelty of owning an early example.

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3. Galaxy S6 (2015): a risky formula change

Android Authority’s retrospective describes the S6 redesign as a “glass sandwich” that produced mixed results. Samsung changed the formula dramatically, and users who valued features in earlier Galaxy S phones viewed the removals as a poor trade. The phone could look and feel more premium while simultaneously becoming less flexible for the people who had chosen Samsung for practical hardware options.

This is why the S6 ranks below the S5 despite its more polished design. A redesign should improve the reasons customers buy a product, not discard them without a clear replacement. The S6 was not unsafe and was not a technological dead end; it was a strategic misread of what parts of the Galaxy experience mattered most to its existing audience.

Its historical lesson is useful when comparing modern phones: evaluate the features removed as carefully as the specifications added. A thinner body or more premium material may not compensate for losing a capability you use every day.

4. Galaxy S5 (2014): disappointment rather than disaster

The S5 was not a bad phone. The problem was that it sold much less than the S4, making it a reasonable disappointment entry in a list otherwise dominated by more severe failures. Its design and feature mix did not create the same excitement Samsung had generated with earlier Galaxy S generations.

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Lower sales can reflect competition, pricing, design fatigue or changing consumer preferences, so they should not be treated as proof that every owner disliked the phone. The S5 belongs here because Samsung’s flagship momentum stalled, not because it was unusable or dangerous.

That distinction helps calibrate the entire worst list: a commercial letdown can rank poorly in historical terms while still being perfectly adequate for basic tasks if its battery, screen and network compatibility remain healthy.

5. Galaxy S20 Ultra (2020): a provisional camera-and-value entry

The S20 Ultra is included cautiously. Its placement depends on independent, model-specific evidence about autofocus behavior, launch pricing and software refinement. Without a consistent test record attached to this ranking, it would be excessive to call the phone an outright failure.

The case against it is therefore about risk and expectations. A device marketed as Samsung’s highest-end S20 should deliver a camera system and launch experience that justify its premium. If autofocus limitations, early software behavior or pricing made that proposition unconvincing, the model can be remembered as an overpromised flagship even while later updates improved ownership.

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When buying one used, inspect the exact software version, test every camera at different focus distances and compare the price with newer supported models. Those checks matter more than a blanket historical label.

6. Galaxy Beam (2012): an interesting idea with narrow appeal

The Galaxy Beam is the least certain entry because its projector concept made it a niche product rather than a mainstream flagship. A built-in projector could be useful for informal presentations or shared video, but it also imposed trade-offs in size, brightness, battery demand and everyday practicality.

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Its position is provisional: the available historical evidence does not establish a strong, comparable record of market reception or projector performance. It is included to represent Samsung’s willingness to experiment, not as a claim that every owner regretted the purchase.

For collectors, the Beam is an unusual example of converged hardware. For ordinary buyers, a modern phone plus a compact external projector is generally a more flexible arrangement, provided the use case genuinely requires projection.

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Was the Galaxy Note7 really that bad?

Yes. The Note7 is the only phone in this ranking whose failure was conclusively a safety crisis. Samsung identified a battery-cell issue, reported 35 cases by September 1, 2016, halted sales, issued replacements, then stopped production after replacement devices also failed. The later 96% return figure from three million devices sold confirms the scale of the recall response.

That history also explains why the Galaxy S7’s contemporaneous safety statement must be read carefully. Samsung said more than 10 million S7 devices were in use in the United States with no confirmed internal battery failures at that time; this was evidence about the S7 population then, not a promise that every ten-year-old battery is safe now. Age, swelling, heat or physical damage require immediate discontinuation and proper recycling.

Which older Samsung phone is still worth buying?

The answer depends on whether you want a usable phone or a historical collectible. Among older conventional models, a well-maintained S7 can still make sense for a low-cost backup if it works on your network and its battery is healthy. The S10 generation is a more capable used option when its regional software-support status and battery condition are acceptable. The S II, original Note and Note8 are better understood as collectibles or secondary devices than as secure primary phones.

  • Check network compatibility: confirm the exact model number, supported bands and whether your carrier still provides the required service.
  • Inspect the battery: reject swollen, unusually hot or rapidly draining units; do not attempt to charge a damaged battery.
  • Verify updates: look up the latest security patch available for that model and region before relying on it for banking or work.
  • Test essential hardware: cameras, charging port, speakers, microphones, fingerprint reader, SIM tray and display should all work before the return period ends.
  • Price in repairs: an inexpensive phone is not a bargain if a battery, screen or proprietary part costs more than a newer supported handset.

How does Samsung’s phone history explain the ranking?

Samsung’s history is a sequence of calculated experiments followed by consolidation. The S II established credibility; the original Note created a second flagship identity; the S7 refined the conventional phone; the S10 expanded the lineup; and the S24 Ultra turned long-term software support into a major selling point. In parallel, the Note7 and first Fold show what happens when ambitious hardware reaches customers before the safety or durability case is complete.

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The strongest phones made a new capability feel dependable. The S II made Samsung a credible iPhone challenger, the Note made a giant stylus phone desirable, and later Ultra and Fold models integrated specialized features into products people could realistically use every day. The weakest phones either endangered users, launched before they were ready, or removed valued capabilities without replacing them with an equally persuasive benefit.

What should you take away from the best-and-worst list?

If historical influence is your priority, choose the Galaxy S II and original Note as the defining milestones. If you want a modern Samsung with the clearest support outlook, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the practical anchor because Samsung promises seven years of operating-system and security updates for the S24 family. If you are shopping used, favor condition, network support and remaining updates over nostalgia or launch specifications.

The central lesson is that Samsung’s greatest phones are not always the newest, and its worst phones are not simply the slowest. A phone earns lasting respect when its innovation arrives in a reliable, coherent product; it earns lasting criticism when safety, readiness or value fails the people who bought it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I safely use a Galaxy Note7 if its battery has never caused trouble?

No. The model was subject to a documented battery-cell crisis, a sales halt, replacement failures and permanent production termination. Treat any Note7 as recalled hardware and do not charge or activate it.

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How can I tell whether a used Galaxy phone will work with my carrier?

Find the exact model number in Settings or on the label, then compare its LTE and 5G bands with your carrier’s compatibility database. Imported variants can lack required bands or carrier certification even when the phone looks identical.

Does Samsung’s seven-year policy apply to every Galaxy phone?

No. The seven-year operating-system and security-update promise cited here applies to the Galaxy S24 series. Older Galaxy models have different, generally shorter support schedules, so check the specific model and region before buying.

Why did the Note line disappear as a separate flagship?

Samsung gradually incorporated the Note’s large display and S Pen into the S Ultra family. That preserved the stylus-focused experience without maintaining two separate conventional flagship lines.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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