Difference between Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy A and Galaxy Z

Unlike Apple and Google, Samsung is known for releasing several smartphones each year under the “Galaxy” brand. While the Galaxy S models sell for thousands of dollars, the Galaxy A phones come in at a few hundred dollars, and the Galaxy Z phones end up being the most expensive of all. So what’s the difference between the Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy A, and Galaxy Z phones in a nutshell?

Difference between Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy A phones

Samsung tries to launch a different set of smartphones every year that belong to different price segments and are in line with the needs of different categories of users. You will find the Galaxy S phones targeting the high-end category and those with open budgets, while the Galaxy A series phones focus on the needs of basic users who do not want to spend a fortune on their smartphones. As we wait for the launch of the expected Galaxy S25 series to know its prices next January, most people are wondering about the notable differences between the Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy A phones and how they can choose the best one for their needs. This guide is an extension of our previous article comparing Samsung phones to help you choose the right phone .

The question of what is the difference between Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy A, and Galaxy Z stems from the fact that there are many versions of Samsung phones in the market, each of which falls under a completely different price range from the other. Therefore, knowing the differences between each other is essential if you are planning to buy a Samsung phone in the near future. We are happy to extend a helping hand to you and help you clarify the most prominent differences or differences between Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy A, and Galaxy Z phones in a simple and concise manner without any complications or unnecessary additions.

█ First: Galaxy S series

Samsung Galaxy S Series Highlights

This is the most popular Samsung Galaxy series ever, targeting professional users, creatives, and those with open budgets. In the past, Samsung has said that the letter “S” stands for “Super Smart.” And frankly, they didn’t make a mistake in choosing the appropriate title, as these phones feature some of the best and latest technologies that digital technology has reached in the modern era, from the most powerful processing chips, to advanced imaging systems, and even huge storage capacities that cover most of the needs of experienced content creators and fans of streaming movies and videos on the go.

The latest Galaxy S series is the Galaxy S24 series that is currently available in the market, but the next generation will come in January under the name Galaxy S25. This series usually includes three main phones. The basic models come under the name Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus, while the flagship model comes under the name Galaxy S24 Ultra. They are usually the most powerful Android phones, and therefore they have the latest and most powerful technical specifications, making them capable of running all modern games and providing a decent user experience in all scenarios.

The best thing that sets the Galaxy S series apart from other Android phones is the display and display technology. Samsung manufactures the displays themselves, and they make sure to launch the latest and greatest displays that meet the highest industry standards in the Galaxy S series. In fact, some other Android manufacturers get their smartphone displays from Samsung itself. But Samsung always keeps the best of the best for itself.

Most people might struggle to find a clear and tangible difference between Samsung screens and those of Android phones from competitors. But rest assured, Samsung screens are always the best. The only downside is that they sometimes lack support for Dolby Vision visuals, but they do have super-bright levels, and they are the best in terms of resistance to scratches, reflections, and glare – they even beat iPhones in this area.

Aside from the displays, while most Samsung phones have roughly the same battery capacities, the Galaxy S series is the only one that supports wireless charging, along with the Galaxy Z series (more on that later). The Galaxy S phones are always priced close to $1,000, while the Galaxy S Ultra comes in at $1,300 because it’s the only model in the Galaxy S series that includes the most advanced camera setup, including optical and digital zoom capabilities.

At the same time, Samsung usually releases an affordable version of the Galaxy S series called the Galaxy S FE, which comes in the $600 to $700 range. This phone falls into the “upper-midrange” category. That is, it borrows some of the technical specifications from the main Galaxy S models, but lacks others. If you are planning to buy a Galaxy S phone and you think your budget will not be enough to access the three main models in the Galaxy S series, you should wait for the Galaxy S FE.

█ Second: Galaxy A series

The most prominent differences between Samsung Galaxy A phones

The Galaxy A series is more popular than the Galaxy S series due to its lower prices. The Galaxy A series targets mid-range and budget users. Samsung releases four phones in the Galaxy A family every year, and while the cheapest version starts at $180, the most expensive version can be priced at $499.

For example, in 2024, Samsung launched the Galaxy A15, Galaxy A25, Galaxy A35, and Galaxy A55. The former is the cheapest, while the latter is the most expensive. There are some commonalities between the flagship Galaxy S series and the mid-range Galaxy A series, such as years of support, display quality, and sometimes wired charging speeds.

There are, however, several differences between the two series. The Galaxy A series has mid-range processors from Samsung, which aren’t bad at gaming at all, but they’re nowhere near as powerful as the chips used in the Galaxy S series. And while it has excellent triple cameras, it doesn’t have the telephoto lens found on the Galaxy S series.

The Galaxy A series is known for its long-term support, which can go up to 5 years with the more expensive Galaxy A phones, such as the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55. These phones also include large batteries, perhaps even larger than those used with the basic Galaxy S phones. They aim to provide a decent but basic user experience for entry-level users who don’t want to spend a lot of money on their smartphones but want to make sure that they get sustainable software support and the latest versions of Android for a few years to come.

Samsung is also expected to launch four phones under the Galaxy A series in 2025, and they should come in the form of the Galaxy A16, Galaxy A26, Galaxy A36, and Galaxy A56. So in a nutshell, if you are planning to own a budget Samsung phone at a cheap price for basic needs like browsing the web, chatting, and playing some light puzzle games, then you can probably settle for one of the budget Galaxy A models like the Galaxy A15 or Galaxy A25.

If you want something more powerful but a bit closer in cost, you could consider the Galaxy A35 or the next version in 2025 called the Galaxy A36. If you want to get very close in specs to the Galaxy S FE, you should go with the Galaxy A55. That's basically the difference between the most popular Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy A phones on the market.

█ Third: Galaxy Z series

What is the difference between Samsung phones and each other?

The third and final series from Samsung is the Galaxy Z series, which has been Samsung's foldable phones since 2019. Basically, Samsung only releases two models of the Galaxy Z series each year: one is called the Galaxy Z Flip, which has a clamshell-type foldable screen, while the second model is called the Galaxy Z Fold, which folds into a book shape and is the most expensive Samsung phone ever, selling for around $1,700.

Foldable phones are a big challenge in the smartphone industry because they tend to break faster due to the way they work and are manufactured. It’s not easy to make a smart display that folds without making some compromises. For example, Samsung has to use a lower-quality camera setup on the Galaxy Z phones compared to the flagship camera setup on the Galaxy S phones, due to space constraints inside foldable phones.

Foldable phones also typically have lower battery capacities, but are thicker than regular phones when folded. Samsung is trying to improve and refine the technology as much as possible with its foldable phones every year to avoid the problem of screen wrinkles that occur over time due to folding operations, and it is trying to improve the hinge technology to make it stronger and able to withstand more folding operations, and it is also trying to improve the camera setup.

Earlier this year, Samsung launched an exclusive version of the Galaxy Z Fold in China and South Korea called the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition, which is thinner than the regular Galaxy Z Fold. However, there are no indications that Samsung will be rolling this version out globally. In short, the Samsung Galaxy Z phones are among the best foldable phones on the market in terms of durability, long-term software support, and durability.

█ How do you choose the best for your needs?

Choosing the perfect Samsung phone depends on your basic needs. The great thing about going with Samsung is that you’re bound to find a version that fits your needs and budget. If you prefer the latest technology in a small form factor, you might consider one of the Galaxy Z Flip models, although these phones are more aimed at women.

If you want the most powerful camera setup, long software support, high-resolution displays, and the ability to run the latest high-end games decently, you should consider one of the Galaxy S models. If your budget isn’t enough to buy any of them, you can consider the Galaxy S FE model. If you want a simple and practical Samsung phone that won’t limit your productivity while working, browsing the web, or playing games in your free time, you should go with the more expensive models in the Galaxy A series. This is exactly what the difference between the Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy A, and Galaxy Z phones is and how to choose between them.

In conclusion, this was the difference between the Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy A, and Galaxy Z phones in brief and simple. Of course, there are also Galaxy M phones, which do not differ much from the Galaxy A phones in terms of specifications except for the manufacturing materials and battery capacity, but they also fall under the economic and mid-range category.