Last Updated on March 29, 2021 by Larious

Best Samsung Phones To Buy In 2018 – The main valid reason Samsung is the leading smartphone vendor in the world is that it makes a lot of awesome smartphones. Lots of them, actually! And it’s understandable if you are unable to keep track of them all, so we’ll handle the dirty panky work of finding the best Samsung phones to buy in 2018 just for you.

Samsung’s popularity in the smartphone industry is not by fluke. Rather, the Korean company has some of the best-built, slick smartphones the market has to offer. Whether you want something from the high-end Galaxy S or Note series, the mid-range Galaxy A lineup or even the budget Galaxy J series, we have your back!

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

It’s only a few weeks ago that Samsung Galaxy S8 was topping the list of the best Samsung phones to buy, but now that the Galaxy S9 is here, tables have been turned, for obvious reasons. The S9 expertly combines the perfect hardware and software in a superbly built body that delivers an all-round experience for all types of users.

Despite everything, many will agree that the Galaxy S9 brings subtle improvements to the Galaxy S8, which, in fact, might leave current S8 owners with no major reason for ditching their phone in favor of the S9. 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 and Features

So, if you love size and the trending dual-lens cameras, the Galaxy S9+ is what you should get, but if you want the best small device in the market without spending that extra $100 or so, the standard S9 is worth every penny.

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Samsung 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 last year’s Note 8 and the new Galaxy Note 9 continues this tradition by packing some punch alongside a flurry of firsts. 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.

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 if you don’t want anything to do with the stylus or have no interest in the extra 0.2 inches of display on offer or maybe the hefty price tag isn’t your match, the Galaxy S9+ should be your next stop. Although a year older, the Galaxy Note 8 should also be a compelling alternative to the Note 9, especially now that it has been discounted following the launch of its successor.

Specs and Features

• 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.
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Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

Now that the Galaxy S9 and S9+ are here, the Galaxy S8 and S8+ are already seeing massive discounts. Given the subtle improvements the S9 pair brings over the S8 twins, this might be the perfect opportunity to grab a 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 Oreo and still has one more major OS upgrade. 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 and Features

So, if you want a cheaper, flagship Samsung phone, the Galaxy S8 is great, but the S8+ 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 2016 Galaxy S7 is still a great option, especially if you want a compact flagship phone. But you’ll be getting a flat screen, the older micro USB port, what is still a decent camera and unfortunately, the last major OS upgrade in Android Oreo.

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Samsung Galaxy S8 Active

We’ll have to wait for several weeks before the Galaxy S9 Active comes out, but until then, 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 S8, but for this, you get a device that is by far 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. And now, even the Oreo update is available for the S8 Active, at least with the AT&T variant while other variants are expected to receive it before the end of April 2018.

Specs and Features

• 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.
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Samsung Galaxy A7 2018

For a moment, we thought it was over for the Galaxy A7 family and then came the Galaxy A7 2018. The first from Samsung with a tri-lens camera on the back, the A7 2018 picks up from where the A7 2017 left off and adds plenty of touches to the design as well as internals, coming in with what arguably looks like an upgrade to the Galaxy A8 2018 family.

Specs and Features

• 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 2018 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.

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Samsung Galaxy A8 and A8+

Samsung’s A range is the closest you can get to the flagship S or Note series and with the Galaxy A8 and A8+, things got even better. Even though we didn’t find the Galaxy A8+ as compelling as we expected during our review, especially when price matters come into play, you’ll still be getting one of the best handsets on the market.

Like the Galaxy S and Note flagships, Samsung went for a near bezel-less design, but the Galaxy A8 and A8+ don’t feature the beautiful curves you see on the flagships, rather, the screen is flatter, much like what appears on the Galaxy S8 Active.

Samsung spiced things up by including features like IP68 dust and water resistance, Samsung Pay, Always on Display, USB-C and even a dual-lens selfie camera, just to name but a few.

Specs and Features

As you can see, the only difference between the Galaxy A8 and A8+ is the screen size and battery capacity, otherwise, everything else is the same. So, if you want a compact midranger, the former is the best, but if the term phablets interests you, the A8+ is your safest bet in this category.

Given their near-premium price tags, getting either of the two phones may still prove an uphill task for some enthusiasts. If this is you and you still want to get as close as possible to the Galaxy S8 or S9, you might want to check out the 2017 editions of the Galaxy A5 and even the budget Galaxy A3. However, note that these two are coming from the age of bezels, single-lens cameras and Android Marshmallow, but you still get features like IP68, Samsung Pay, Always on Display, USB-C, and 3.5mm audio jack, among others.

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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 mid range Samsung phones are concerned.

Priced between €309 and €370 in Europe, 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 2017.

Specs and Features

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 micro USB 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.

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Samsung Galaxy 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.

Specs and Features

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.

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Samsung Galaxy J7 Duo

The Galaxy J7 Duo takes up the place that was held by the Galaxy J7 2017 and you are about to see why. First is the presence of a dual-lens camera that promises superior photography and then there’s Android Oreo out of the box, which means you are getting support for Project Treble out of the box.

The Galaxy J7 2017’s non-US variant came with an Exynos 7870 chipset and given that the Galaxy J7 Duo gets an Exynos 7885, you can see why it has taken up the place of the 2017 handset. Just so you know, this is the same chipset used in the Galaxy A8 and A8+.

Specs and Features

• 5.5-inch 16:9 Super AMOLED display (720p)
• 4GB RAM, 32GB internal storage
• Exynos 7885 (Octa-core)
• Android 8.0 Oreo
• Dual 13MP + 5MP main camera, 8MP selfie shooter
• 3000mAh battery
• Extras: Front-mounted fingerprint reader, facial recognition, Bluetooth 4.2, 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB, Bixby, etc.

The Galaxy J7 Duo has already been released in several markets including India and some parts of Asia and Africa, but we cannot guarantee that it will be sold in all markets. If anything, this is only meant to usher in the upcoming Galaxy J7 2018, whose release date is still unclear.

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Samsung Galaxy J4

While the Galaxy J3 2017 is still a great device, there’s no reason you’d prefer it to the new kid on the block dubbed Samsung Galaxy J4. The first of its kind, 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+ that takes things a notch higher, coming in with a bigger Infinity Display, twice the storage, and a bigger battery, but so far, it has only been unveiled in India.

Specs and Features

Samsung Galaxy J4 and J4+ are still new on the market and have so far been launched only in a handful of countries. 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 2018 if in the market for a good budget smartphone from Samsung.

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Which of these Samsung phones would you buy?

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 2018 family, well, their successors should be unveiled in 2019, which means they’ll probably remain on this list until next year.

Also, the huge smartphone collection means that it’s possible this list doesn’t have your favorite Samsung Galaxy phone. If true, feel free to let us know what your best Samsung phone is at the moment via the comments section below.