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Best Samsung Phones 2026: Flagship to Budget (Refurbished)
Quick answer: The best Samsung phone in Australia is the Galaxy S26 Ultra, for its world-first Privacy Display, 200MP f/1.4 camera, and built-in S Pen — it hasn't reached the refurbished range yet, so the Galaxy S25 Ultra is the in-stock flagship pick. The best value is the Galaxy S23, which gives you a flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and a telephoto lens for mid-range money and is currently the cheapest phone on this list. If zoom is your priority, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the last Samsung with a true 10x optical periscope, and the Galaxy A55 is the budget A-series pick. Every phone is refurbished, professionally graded, and backed by a 12-month warranty from Phonebot, an Australian refurbished-phone retailer based in Melbourne. Live prices are on the product cards below.
Looking for the best Samsung phone? You've probably already decided you want more than just a phone; you want a device that works as hard as you do. Samsung packs its phones with sharp cameras, fast processors, and batteries that won't quit before you do. Android has plenty of options, but Samsung consistently comes out on top.
Choosing the right model comes down to how you use your phone and your budget. We've tested and reviewed the latest Samsung phones, then sorted them by what each one does best, so you can pick a device that fits your lifestyle without the guesswork.
What is the Best Samsung Phone?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the flagship everyone talks about, and for good reason. It's loaded with just about everything you could ask for: a world-first Privacy Display, an upgraded 200MP camera, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, and the built-in S Pen. For most people, it's overkill, but if you want the absolute best, nothing else in the Samsung lineup comes close. One note: it hasn't landed in our refurbished range yet, so the S25 Ultra below is the in-stock way to get closest.
That said, "best" depends on you. Want the Ultra experience for less? The S25 Ultra, S24 Ultra, and S23 Ultra are the value picks, all three with a 200MP camera and a built-in S Pen. Want flagship power in a phone you can actually use one-handed? The Galaxy S25, or the far cheaper Galaxy S23. Love foldables? The Z Fold 6 is the foldable pick here, and the last Fold that works with an S Pen; if you just want the form factor for less, the Z Fold 5 and Z Fold 4 on our Fold grid are cheaper ways in. Watching your spend? The Galaxy S23 and the A55 are the two to weigh up. The table further down breaks down which Samsung suits which buyer.
Best Samsung Phones in 2026
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra from A$1,299
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra from A$1,029
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 from A$879
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra from A$769
- Samsung Galaxy S25 from A$719
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra from A$619
- Samsung Galaxy S23 from A$419
- Samsung Galaxy A55 from A$419
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Best Samsung Phones at a Glance
Not sure where to start? Here's the quick version, so you can jump straight to the Samsung that matches your priority and your budget.
Phone | Best For |
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Best overall flagship (not yet refurbished) |
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | Best value flagship, in stock |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 | Best foldable |
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | Best camera & S Pen value |
Samsung Galaxy S25 | Best compact flagship |
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | Best zoom, 10x optical |
Samsung Galaxy S23 | Best value overall |
Samsung Galaxy A55 | Best budget A-series |
Samsung Galaxy S Series: Flagship Power
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung's crown jewel, and it shows. This is the phone for people who want the absolute best and aren't willing to settle. Bigger screen, elite cameras, the built-in S Pen, and a world-first Privacy Display that narrows your screen's viewing angle so the person next to you sees nothing while you see everything perfectly.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, it handles anything you throw at it. The 200MP main camera with a wider f/1.4 aperture pulls in stunning shots even in low light, and Samsung finally bumped wired charging on the Ultra. S25 Ultra owners may not feel the urgency to upgrade, but anyone coming from an S23 Ultra or older will notice the difference immediately.
One note before you buy: the S26 Ultra hasn't reached our refurbished range yet. The button below shows live Galaxy S26 series stock as trade-ins land, and the in-stock Galaxy S25 Ultra below shares most of what makes it great.
Pros:
- World-first Privacy Display that actually works
- Outstanding low-light camera performance
- Blazing fast performance with the latest Snapdragon chip
- Built-in S Pen plus seven years of updates
Cons:
- Not yet available refurbished, so for now it's a full-retail purchase
- S25 Ultra owners won't see a dramatic leap
- Battery capacity unchanged for years running, and no charger in the box
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Want the full Ultra experience without paying the newest-model premium? The Galaxy S25 Ultra is the smart buy, and unlike the S26 Ultra, it's in the refurbished range right now. It keeps everything that matters: the 200MP quad camera, the built-in S Pen, a titanium frame, and a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X that hits 2,600 nits behind tough Gorilla Armor 2 glass.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy is still enormously fast, chewing through gaming, editing, and heavy multitasking without breaking a sweat. The quad camera setup pairs the 200MP main with a 50MP ultrawide plus dual telephoto lenses at 3x and 5x, giving you the most versatile zoom range Samsung makes. Add a 5,000mAh battery good for 31 hours of video, 45W charging, IP68, and seven years of updates, and it's arguably the best value flagship in the lineup.
Pros:
- Full 200MP quad camera with dual 3x and 5x telephoto lenses
- Built-in S Pen and premium titanium frame
- Snapdragon 8 Elite performance that still feels flagship
- 5,000mAh battery with 31 hours of video playback
- Shares most of what matters with the S26 Ultra, at a far lower price — and it's in stock refurbished
Cons:
- Snapdragon 8 Elite is a generation behind the S26 Ultra's chip
- 45W charging is unchanged and middling by 2026 standards
- Large and heavy compared with the compact Galaxy S25
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Galaxy S24 Ultra brings the full Ultra experience, including the built-in S Pen and a 200MP camera, at a price that now makes serious sense. Its 6.8-inch flat QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X reaches 2,600 nits behind tough Gorilla Armor glass, and the titanium frame gives it a genuinely premium, durable feel.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy with 12GB of RAM, it still flies through anything you ask of it. The standout is that quad camera: a 200MP main, a 50MP 5x periscope, a 10MP 3x telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide, backed by up to 100x Space Zoom. With a 5,000mAh battery, 45W charging, IP68, and seven years of updates, it's the smart way to own a flagship Ultra for less.
It's also worth weighing directly against the Galaxy S25 below, which sits close by on price. The S24 Ultra gives you the 200MP quad camera, the S Pen, a QHD+ panel, and a 5,000mAh battery. The S25 gives you a newer chip, a much lighter body, and a longer update runway.
Pros:
- 200MP quad camera with 5x periscope and 100x Space Zoom
- Built-in S Pen for notes and productivity
- Premium titanium frame with tough Gorilla Armor
- 5,000mAh battery and seven years of updates
- Considerably more camera hardware than the similarly priced Galaxy S25
Cons:
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a couple of generations behind the newest chips
- 45W charging is unchanged and middling by 2026 standards
- Large and heavy for one-handed use
Samsung Galaxy S25
Want true flagship power without a phone that dominates your pocket? The Galaxy S25 is the compact pick that doesn't feel like a compromise. Its 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X runs at 120Hz and hits 2,600 nits, so it stays sharp and readable even in direct sunlight, and at 162g it's the lightest phone on this entire list.
Under the hood sits the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy with 12GB of RAM, the same chip family as the S25 Ultra, so nothing about gaming or multitasking feels dialled back. The triple camera pairs a 50MP main with a 12MP ultrawide and a proper 10MP 3x telephoto, which is more than most compact phones offer. IP68, an ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint reader, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and seven years of updates round it out.
The trade-off is straightforward. It sits just below the S24 Ultra on price, so you're choosing a newer chip and a genuinely pocketable body over the 200MP camera, the S Pen, and the bigger battery. The 4,000mAh cell is the one real compromise.
Pros:
- Lightest phone on this list at 162g, and genuinely usable one-handed at 6.2 inches
- Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, the same chip family as the S25 Ultra
- Proper 10MP 3x telephoto lens, rare on a compact phone at this price
- IP68, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and seven years of updates
Cons:
- 4,000mAh battery is small for a flagship, and 25W charging is slow
- 50MP main camera rather than the Ultra models' 200MP sensor, and no S Pen
- FHD+ rather than the QHD+ panels on the Ultras
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the zoom specialist of this list, and it holds a distinction no newer Samsung can claim: it is the last Ultra with a genuine 10x optical periscope. Samsung swapped that lens for a 50MP 5x unit from the S24 Ultra onwards, so if you photograph wildlife, sport, or anything genuinely distant, this is the only Samsung here that reaches that far optically.
The rest is still very much a flagship. A 200MP main sensor, a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 120Hz, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, a 5,000mAh battery, 45W charging, and the built-in S Pen. It is the cheapest way into the full Ultra experience on this list.
Pros:
- True 10x optical periscope, the longest optical zoom Samsung has ever shipped
- 200MP main camera with a dedicated 3x telephoto as well
- Built-in S Pen at the lowest price of any Ultra here
- 5,000mAh battery and QHD+ 120Hz display
- Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68
Cons:
- 10x periscope is only 10MP, so it has less cropping headroom than the S24 Ultra's 50MP 5x
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is three generations behind the S26 Ultra
- Heaviest phone on this list at 234g
- Shorter remaining update window than the newer Ultras
Samsung Galaxy S23
The Galaxy S23 is the best value on this entire list, and right now it's also the cheapest phone here. You get genuine flagship silicon, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, which still outruns every mid-range chip Samsung sells today, in a compact 6.1-inch body weighing just 168g.
It also keeps the things mid-rangers cut. There's a proper 10MP 3x telephoto lens alongside the 50MP main and 12MP ultrawide, an IP68 rating rather than IP67, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides, and a 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X that reaches 1,750 nits. The 3,900mAh battery is the main compromise, and 25W charging is slow, but for the money nothing else here comes close.
Worth weighing against the A55 below, which trades the flagship chip, the telephoto lens, and the IP68 rating for a bigger screen, a bigger battery, and a microSD slot.
Pros:
- Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy at mid-range money
- Dedicated 3x telephoto lens at a price where most phones have none
- Compact 6.1-inch body at just 168g
- IP68 and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front and back
- 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 1,750 nits
Cons:
- 3,900mAh battery is the smallest on this list
- 25W charging is slow, and there's no microSD slot
- Shorter remaining update window than the newer models
Samsung Galaxy Z Series: Foldables
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Want a tablet-sized screen that folds into your pocket, without paying flagship-foldable money? The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the cheapest route into a big-screen foldable on this list, and it undercuts the S25 Ultra while giving you something no slab phone can. If you just want the folding form factor for even less, the older Z Fold 5 and Z Fold 4 on our Fold grid are worth a look too.
Open it and there's a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X at 120Hz and 2,600 nits, with a 6.3-inch cover screen for one-handed use when it's closed. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy with 12GB of RAM is still quick enough for anything short of the most demanding gaming, and Samsung backs it with seven years of updates.
It also has one advantage over the newer Fold: the Z Fold 6 works with the S Pen, which Samsung dropped from the Fold 7. If you want to write or sketch on a foldable, this is the newest Samsung that lets you.
Pros:
- Cheapest way into a book-style foldable on this list
- Large 7.6-inch inner display at 120Hz and 2,600 nits, with a usable 6.3-inch cover screen
- S Pen support, which the newer Galaxy Z Fold 7 removed
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy with seven years of updates
Cons:
- 4,400mAh battery is modest for the screen size, and 25W charging is slow
- IP48 rating protects against water but not fine dust, so the hinge needs some care
- Heaviest phone in this guide at 239g, and 12.1mm thick when folded
Samsung Galaxy A Series: Budget Value
Samsung Galaxy A55
If a big screen on a budget is the priority, the Galaxy A55 5G is the A-series pick of this list and a genuinely solid everyday phone. As the standout of the cheap Samsung phones range, it gets the essentials right: a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED at 120Hz, a 5,000mAh battery that clears a full day with room to spare, and a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilisation.
The build is better than the price suggests, with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and an aluminium frame. There's also a microSD slot for up to 1TB of extra storage, which none of the S-series phones above offer, and Samsung backs it with four Android upgrades and five years of security patches.
One thing to weigh: the Galaxy S23 above gives you a flagship chip and a telephoto lens, and right now it's the cheaper of the two. Choose the A55 if you want the bigger screen, the larger battery, and expandable storage.
Pros:
- Large 6.6-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display
- 5,000mAh battery with 25W charging
- microSD expansion up to 1TB, unique on this list
- Four Android upgrades and five years of security updates
Cons:
- Exynos 1480 is mid-tier and trails the Galaxy S23's flagship chip
- No telephoto lens, so all zoom is digital
- IP67 rather than IP68, and heavy at 213g
Best Samsung Mobiles in Australia – Feature Comparison Table
Phone / Feature | Processor | RAM + Storage | Cameras | Battery |
Galaxy S26 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | 12/16GB / 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 200MP + 50MP + 10MP + 50MP (Rear) / 12MP (Front) | 5000mAh |
Galaxy S25 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Elite | 12/16GB / 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 200MP + 50MP + 10MP + 50MP (Rear) / 12MP (Front) | 5000mAh |
Galaxy Z Fold 6 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 12GB / 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 50MP + 12MP + 10MP (Rear) / 10MP + 4MP (Front) | 4400mAh |
Galaxy S24 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 12GB / 256/512GB/1TB | 200MP + 12MP + 50MP + 10MP (Rear) / 12MP (Front) | 5000mAh |
Galaxy S25 | Snapdragon 8 Elite | 12GB / 128/256/512GB | 50MP + 12MP + 10MP (Rear) / 12MP (Front) | 4000mAh |
Galaxy S23 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | 8/12GB / 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 200MP + 12MP + 10MP (3x) + 10MP (10x) (Rear) / 12MP (Front) | 5000mAh |
Galaxy S23 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | 8GB / 128/256GB | 50MP + 12MP + 10MP (Rear) / 12MP (Front) | 3900mAh |
Galaxy A55 5G | Exynos 1480 | 6/8/12GB / 128/256GB + microSD | 50MP + 12MP + 5MP (Rear) / 32MP (Front) | 5000mAh |
Wrap Up
Samsung's 2026 lineup has something for every budget and every priority, from the powerhouse Galaxy S26 Ultra to the compact Galaxy S23 and the value-packed A55. Whether you're chasing the best camera, the longest zoom, the biggest screen, or simply cheap Samsung phones that deliver real value, there's a Samsung here that fits your lifestyle.
Posted by Liam Harris
Liam Harris
Liam Harris is a tech writer at Phonebot, covering refurbished phones, tablets and wearables since 2022. His buying guides and model comparisons draw on live Australian market pricing and Phonebot's experience rehoming over one million devices.
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