The best Samsung phones for games in 2025

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is the best phone for most people. It has many of the benefits of its bigger brother (the Ultra), but cuts back on certain aspects to reduce the cost, resulting in a fantastic flagship that won't see you spending upwards of $1,000.

Sharing the same chipset as the Ultra, at least in the United States, the performance of this handset is well, ultra impressive. It runs all the best Android games at high settings, without getting too hot, and it breezes through the day-to-day of scrolling social media and streaming content.

It's also just as capable in the Galaxy AI department as the S24+ or S24 Ultra, giving you the ability to communicate in other languages with Live Translate or take your photo editing skills to the next level with Generative Edit. While other brands might be jumping on the AI bandwagon, Samsung is still leading the pack in terms of useful tools, even after the arrival of the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Apple Intelligence.

The sacrifices come in obvious places: the screen isn't as high resolution and the battery is a little smaller. Battery life shouldn't be a huge worry, however, as Samsung's software is very good at managing battery, and 45W charging speeds mean it takes just over an hour to get from 0-100%. For more details, check out our Samsung Galaxy S24 review.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a formidable contender in the 2025 smartphone arena. With its overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset powering best-in-class performance, a slightly improved display on last year's S24, chassis refinements, and an upgraded camera system, the S25 Ultra is a versatile flagship catering to diverse user needs, from playing the best mobile games to photography and productivity.

Design-wise, the S24 Ultra refines its predecessor's aesthetics with a titanium frame and matte finish, elevating durability and tactile appeal. The flat display, with Corning's Gorilla Armor glass, promises improved visibility and scratch resistance. It's also IP68 rated, which means you don't have to worry too much about dust or waterproofing even without a case.

Despite minor drawbacks such as the lacklustre camera software (though the phone does produce gorgeous photos), the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a compelling option for users seeking a premium Android experience. Its blend of top-tier performance, innovative features, and refined design reaffirms Samsung's position as a leader in the smartphone market, setting a high standard for flagship devices. For more on this one, read our Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review.

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is a great mid-range option for anyone after a Samsung phone. Even if you're on a tighter budget, it's worth shopping around for deals on this handset - it has many flagship features without the high price.

With a 120Hz display, lovely build quality, and a shared design language with the big boys in the bunch, it definitely feels like a premium product. The battery is big and efficient, the main camera is pretty ace for the price, and all around, for day-to-day tasks, this is more than enough.

Still, there are of course drawbacks to buying a phone at a third of the cost of a flagship. The chip inside is nowhere near the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 if you really want to push your phone - the A54 is enough for standard stuff, but don't expect to max out the graphical settings or do some in-depth photo editing.

That's the main drawback, mind you. The camera is good enough - nowhere near the low-light or zoom performance of the S24 Ultra, however - while the trusted Samsung software support is a boon against some of the smaller-scale competition. It's a great deal. For more information, read our Samsung Galaxy A54 5G review.

While we've already included a budget option on this list, this is the cheapest Samsung we can recommend that still does all the jobs it needs to do. The A14 5G delivers despite its low cost with a 6.6-inch full HD+ LCD screen that looks beautifully vibrant, and full 5G connectivity.

The biggest setback for this model is that it uses One UI Core, rather than the standard One UI that other Samsung phones have in place. This sacrifices a few playback enhancements, Smart Suggestion, and a few other features, but all the essentials are still there.

Its 50MP sensor is physically much smaller - at 1/2.54 inches - than the premium S24 series, but during testing our reviewer was able to capture some high-quality shots in a range of lighting conditions. If you want the full lowdown, see our Samsung A14 5G review.

2023's Samsung Galaxy A34 holds up as a great option for a lower price. It has a large 6.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen which holds up excellently for watching movies and shows or playing your favorite mobile games.

It's also very well designed inside and out, offering an IP67 dust and water resistance certification, which is impressive for the price if nothing else. While the cameras are good enough for everyday use including selfies and off-the-cuff snaps, this phone isn't great for ultrawide photography.

Things end up getting weirdly distorted by the fish-eye perspective, and it's disappointing for anyone who likes to take photos like that. Still, with a large screen, stylish design, and a fairly decent price, this phone is an excellent choice. Read our Samsung Galaxy A34 review.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is easily the best foldable Samsung phone out there. It may be a little pricey, but if you're looking to splash out a bit more on an exciting form factor phone, this is worth the bang for your buck.

Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, plus plentiful RAM and storage to hold your games, photos, and apps, the Z Fold 6 doesn't falter when it comes to catering to your needs. We're also a fan of the tablet-style screen it features that can fold away into a neat package. It means you can still wield it like any other phone out there, but the added size allows you to carry out tasks like video editing, movie watching, and more with some extra real estate.

There are drawbacks, of course. The price is high. And foldable screens don't offer the same durability as standard ones so that investment isn't as long-term as a flagship. Oh, and then there are little niggles, like the weird aspect ratio of the big screen, the width of the handset when folded, and the mediocre battery life. That last point is especially grating, and the Z Fold 6 could learn a thing or two from the OnePlus Open about battery life.

These drawbacks, such as a lower IP rating than your standard Samsung phone and a visible crease are pretty inevitable right now in the foldable market, so you need to make sure you need a foldable before diving in. If you are set on getting in on the hinge action, this is definitely a great choice - if not the best.

If your budget is flexible, and you like what its predecessor has to offer, then the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 could be for you. Backed by Samsung's refined Galaxy AI software, you'll unlock a whole legion of possibilities, whether you're snapping photos or personalizing your setup.

Samsung has been stepping up to the plate in the flip market for a while now, and the Z Flip 6 is a premium option that sits at the top of the stack.

Accompanied by a stunning display and heaps of storage, the only caveat is this handset's considerable price. Still, it's more affordable than the Z Flip 7.

If you're looking for the might of the S24, but would prefer to save some cash, then the Samsung S23 Ultra is a great compromise. Backed by an impressive camera and performance that still holds up, this sleek smartphone is still a worthy contender in the market.

Its bigger form factor can be off-putting, and you'll likely need to adjust if you're used to smaller handsets from Apple or Google in the past.

Nevertheless, the handset's gorgeous display still reigns as one of the sharpest out there, despite the phone taking a backseat to newer models. You can read our Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review for a more in-depth breakdown.