Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
120Hz, 3200 × 1400 display for smooth scrolling and detailed viewing battery-life reports vary despite the 5,000mAh capacity
Read reviewTop 5 best value smartphones (October 2026)
Best overall: Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. We compared 5 smartphones using current price, editorial assessment, and buyer feedback.
The ranking weighs current price, editorial assessment, useful technical data, and buyer feedback.
Value winners
Nothing Phone (3a) 256GB
5,000 mAh battery and 50 W charging make it practical as a full-day phone. The no-frills box experience may disappoint buyers expecting a charger in the package.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
6.9-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate suits media and smooth scrolling. The 6.9-inch size can be awkward for compact pockets and quick use on the move
Read reviewValue comparison table
| Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra | 6.9 inches | Exynos 990 S5E9830 | 12 GB | 8.3 | 8.1 | £289 |
| Nothing (4a) | 6.78 inch | MediaTek Dimensity 9000 | 8 GB | 8.8 | 7.5 | £330.65 |
| Nothing Phone (3a) 256GB | 6.77 inches | Snapdragon | 12 GB | 8.8 | 7.1 | £306.78 |
| Samsung Galaxy A37 | 6.7 inches | Exynos 1580 S5E8855 | 8 GB | 8.7 | 8.4 | £419 |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | 6.9 inches | Snapdragon 8 Elite | 12 GB | 8.8 | 8.6 | £845 |
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Score86.1Price£289
Axis map#1#2
#1Axis#2
- 8.6Score8.6
- 7.6Performance8.012 GBRAM8 GB128 GBStorage256 GBExynos 990 S5E9830ChipsetMediaTek Dimensity 9000
- 8.4Screen8.06.9″Screen size6.78″
- 6.2Battery7.15000 mAhBattery5080 mAh
- 6.8Connectivity6.25GConnectivityapp/Bluetooth connectivity
- 10.0Price9.2£289PriceΔ £41.65 · 14.4%£330.65
Nothing (4a)
Score85.5Price£330.65
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra wins on Screen size and Price value; the final gap is 0.6 points over 100.
Nothing (4a) pushes back on Battery and charging and Daily performance, but it does not offset the overall score gap.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra stays first because it combines the ranking score, current price, and comparable category signals better than Nothing (4a).
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Score86.1Price£289
Axis map#1#2
#1Axis#2
- 8.6Score8.5
- 7.6Performance6.8128 GBStorage256 GBExynos 990 S5E9830ChipsetSnapdragon12 GBRAM12 GB
- 8.4Screen8.33200 × 1400 · FHDResolutionFHD6.9″Screen size6.77″
- 6.8Connectivity6.25GConnectivityapp/Bluetooth connectivity
- 10.0Price9.7£289PriceΔ £17.78 · 6.2%£306.78
- 6.2Battery7.6
Nothing Phone (3a) 256GB
Score85.4Price£306.78
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra wins on Daily performance and Screen size; the final gap is 0.6 points over 100.
Nothing Phone (3a) 256GB pushes back on Battery and charging and Screen and hand feel, but it does not offset the overall score gap.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra stays first because it combines the ranking score, current price, and comparable category signals better than Nothing Phone (3a) 256GB.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Score86.1Price£289
Axis map#1#2
#1Axis#2
- 8.6Score5.4
- 7.6Performance8.7128 GBStorage512 GBExynos 990 S5E9830ChipsetSnapdragon 8 Elite12 GBRAM12 GB
- 8.4Screen7.8120 HzRefresh rate120 Hz
- 6.2Battery7.45000 mAhBattery5000 mAh
- 6.8Connectivity7.25GConnectivityapp/Bluetooth connectivity
- 10.0Price0.0£289PriceΔ £556 · 192.4%£845
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Score54.3Price£845
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra wins on Ranking score and Screen and hand feel; the final gap is 31.8 points over 100.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra pushes back on Battery and charging and Daily performance, but it does not offset the overall score gap.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra stays first because it combines the ranking score, current price, and comparable category signals better than Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Score86.1Price£289
Axis map#1#2
#1Axis#2
- 8.6Score7.1
- 7.6Performance7.812 GBRAM8 GB128 GBStorage256 GBExynos 990 S5E9830ChipsetExynos 1580 S5E8855
- 8.4Screen7.86.9″Screen size6.7″120 HzRefresh rate120 Hz
- 6.8Connectivity8.15GConnectivity5G
- 10.0Price7.3£289PriceΔ £130 · 45.0%£419
- 6.2Battery8.2
Samsung Galaxy A37
Score71.1Price£419
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra wins on Ranking score and Screen and hand feel; the final gap is 14.9 points over 100.
Samsung Galaxy A37 pushes back on Battery and charging and Daily performance, but it does not offset the overall score gap.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra stays first because it combines the ranking score, current price, and comparable category signals better than Samsung Galaxy A37.
Value matrix: price vs satisfaction
Buyer satisfaction
2894285677068458.38.48.68.78.8
PriceSamsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Nothing (4a)
Nothing Phone (3a) 256GB
Samsung Galaxy A37
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Final Value ranking
#1Best overall pick
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Is the Galaxy S20 Ultra still a sensible camera-led buy, or does its ambitious zoom come at too much cost in everyday practicality? Its 108MP main camera, 48MP telephoto camera and 40MP front camera give photography a clear role, while 12GB RAM and 5G support a capable primary-phone setup. The catch is the combination of a very large 6.9-inch screen and mixed reports of battery life and breakages: this suits buyers who want a big-screen camera phone, not anyone prioritising easy one-handed use or proven toughness.
Buyers: 8.3
Chipset: Exynos 990 S5E9830
Price: £289
RAM: 12 GB
Screen size: 6.9 inches
Pros
- High-resolution camera system spanning wide, telephoto and front cameras
- 120Hz, 3200 × 1400 display for smooth scrolling and detailed viewing
- 12GB RAM and 5G support for a capable everyday setup.
Cons
- Large 6.9-inch size is awkward for buyers who want compact, one-handed use
- battery-life reports vary despite the 5,000mAh capacity
#2Strong finalist
Nothing (4a)
The Nothing Phone (4a) is aimed at the person who wants a mid-range Android that feels more distinctive than the usual black slab, but still covers the basics of daily life properly: a big AMOLED screen, 5G, fast charging and a camera setup that pushes harder than the average value handset. Its strongest appeal is the mix of design and camera ambition. The clearest trade-off is that battery life is not equally convincing for everyone, so this is easier to recommend for normal full-day use than for heavy days far from a charger.
Buyers: 8.8
Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 9000
Price: £330.65
RAM: 8 GB
Screen size: 6.78 inch
Pros
- Distinctive transparent design with a practical Glyph Bar twist
- Large 6.78-inch AMOLED display with adaptive 120 Hz refresh
- Camera setup includes OIS telephoto, 3.5x optical zoom and a strong 32 MP selfie camera
Cons
- Battery life is mixed rather than class-leading for heavy users
- Large screen size will not suit buyers who want easy one-handed use
#3Best-fit alternative
Nothing Phone (3a) 256GB
The Nothing Phone (3a) 256GB is aimed at the buyer who wants a mid-range Android that feels distinctive rather than generic, but still covers the basics properly: a large 120 Hz AMOLED display, a 5,000 mAh battery, fast charging, plenty of memory and a camera setup that goes beyond the usual token extra lens. The real trade-off is size and weight. This is a big 6.77-inch phone, and that makes it better for media, browsing and photography than for anyone who wants a compact handset.
Buyers: 8.8
Chipset: Snapdragon
Price: £306.78
RAM: 12 GB
Screen size: 6.77 inches
Pros
- Distinctive design backed by a genuinely strong 120 Hz AMOLED display.
- Useful camera setup with OIS main camera, telephoto lens and a solid 32 MP front camera.
- 5,000 mAh battery and 50 W charging make it practical as a full-day phone.
Cons
- Large size makes one-handed use less comfortable than on smaller rivals.
- Heavy gaming is not its sweet spot, with more heat and faster battery drain under load.
#4Top 4
Samsung Galaxy A37
Is the Galaxy A37 the sensible step-up for a main phone, or does its camera and AI pitch distract from a more basic trade-off? The 256 GB version pairs 8 GB RAM with a 5,000 mAh battery, IP68 protection and long software support, making it a credible everyday 5G choice. Its weak point for buyers who keep a large photo or music library is the lack of a microSD slot.
Buyers: 8.7
Chipset: Exynos 1580 S5E8855
Price: £419
RAM: 8 GB
Screen size: 6.7 inches
Pros
- 256 GB storage and 8 GB RAM suit everyday apps and media
- 5,000 mAh battery with a stated up-to-two-day runtime
- IP68 rating and long-term software support
Cons
- No microSD slot for expanding storage
- The large 6.7-inch screen may be awkward for one-handed use
#5Top 5
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Is the S25 Ultra’s camera-and-pen package worth choosing over a more straightforward Android phone? It suits buyers who want a large-screen flagship for photos, video and note-taking, with 512GB storage and an S Pen included. The trade-off is its substantial 218 g body and a feature set that is excessive if you mainly message, browse and take occasional snapshots.
Buyers: 8.8
Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite
Price: £845
RAM: 12 GB
Screen size: 6.9 inches
Pros
- 12GB RAM and Snapdragon 8 Elite make a strong everyday performance combination
- 512GB storage gives substantial room for apps and media
- Built-in S Pen supports note-taking and precise edits
Cons
- At 218 g, it is a heavy phone for buyers who prioritise easy one-handed use
- The 6.9-inch size can be awkward for compact pockets and quick use on the move
How this ranking is calculated
Recommended evaluation framework
The ranking compares published products with a stable framework: editorial quality, buyer signals, current price when the preset requires it, and comparable category metrics. It does not claim original lab testing; it documents how available signals are weighted so the order remains auditable.
1
Candidate normalization
Setup: Collect published reviews, current product data, and comparable technical fields.
Measured variable: Coverage for current price, rating, local review URL, and primary category metrics.
Evaluation rule: Only updated products with enough comparable data can enter.
2
Relative value calculation
Setup: Cross editorial score, buyer signals, and price when the preset requires it.
Measured variable: Normalized ranking score on a traceable 0-100 scale.
Evaluation rule: The winner must sustain a stronger balance than the finalists, not just one isolated metric.
How we calculate this ranking
This ranking is refreshed from published reviews, current category catalog signals, editorial scoring, and current price. Scores are calculated against the eligible category universe; the visible top only shows the models that pass the final cut.
Descending order: the winner has the strongest balance of Q_final and normalized price against the eligible category universe.
Buyer signal uses the scoring v2 Bayesian score; it is not a simple stars times two conversion.
Computed against eligible comparable category candidates, not only against the visible top. P05=292.556; P95=759.8.
If a critical axis falls below the threshold, final quality is penalized so one weak product cannot win only on price.
- Published reviews on this site
- Current availability, rating, and current price signals
- Editorial scoring and category-level normalization
Evidence limits
- Exact live prices can change and are shown with an update timestamp.
- Models with incomplete or non-comparable signals can remain outside the visible top even when they are tracked in the category.
- Hands-on tests are cited only when available; power, noise, consumption, and availability are treated as spec, review, or catalog data when no published own measurement exists.
Ranking FAQ
What does best value mean in this ranking?
It does not mean choosing the cheapest product by default. The ranking crosses editorial score, buyer satisfaction, useful technical data, and updated price to identify the model with the most defensible balance.
Why can the exact price change after this ranking is refreshed?
The page prints the latest available refreshed price to make comparison clearer, but Amazon can change price and availability at any time. The live purchase link remains the final check before buying.
Can the winner change without rewriting the whole guide?
Yes. The preset ranking keeps the editorial frame, URL, and components stable while recalculating internal positions when comparable data changes or new models enter the catalogue.
Why are some category models missing from the ranking?
The ranking is not meant to list the whole catalogue. A model first needs a published review, a current price, and comparable signals; then only the set that clears the operational cut is ordered. A product can stay outside the visible top when its price is stale, it has no public URL, its useful data is incomplete, or its balance of quality, user signal, and price remains weaker. This keeps the same freshness gate used across the rest of the site.