The Galaxy S24 series has arrived. All three new models, the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus and S24 Ultra, get new AI features in addition to the regular slew of performance, camera and battery upgrades.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra -- priced at $1,300 -- comes packed with maximum features, which, for most people, are more than necessary. For the rest of us, the $800 Galaxy S24 is a standout among its Galaxy counterparts.

Deciding which Samsung phone is right for you comes down to what you want in a phone and how much you're willing to spend. If you want the largest screen available on a standard Samsung phone, enjoy note-taking with a stylus and need a camera with a significantly closer zoom, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the right choice. You'll also have to spend more than $1,100 unless you score a trade-in deal.

Those who don't need the stylus, prefer more compact devices and still want a top-notch camera should consider the Galaxy S24. And if you just want the basics, like a spacious screen, 5G and a decent camera, consider the Galaxy A54 5G.

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Best premium Android phone

CNET TAKE: With a sharper 5x optical zoom, a faster new processor and that familiar giant display and 100x digital zoom, the Samsung’s "Ultra" phone remains a top choice for mobile photographers that want plenty of screen space. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is also one of the first phones with Samsung’s new Galaxy AI features, which include tools for translating text messages and phone calls instantly and Circle to Search, which lets you launch a Google search for almost anything simply by drawing a circle around it. Like the previous two generations, the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with an embedded S Pen for those who like jotting down notes or doodling. But perhaps best of all, Samsung has committed to updating these devices with new versions of Android for seven years, meaning it shouldn’t feel out of date anytime soon.

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Samsung Galaxy S24

Best Android phone for most people

CNET TAKE: What impresses us the most about the Samsung Galaxy S24 isn't the new Galaxy AI features, brighter screens or solid cameras. It's the battery life. After testing, we can say the larger battery in the Galaxy S24 has no trouble plowing through a long day of use on a single charge.

The S24 is a wonderful, well-built phone that is excellent right out of the box just as the nearly identical S22 and S23 were before it. This similarity to the S22 and S23 can be viewed as either a strength, because the design reflects three years of refinements, or a weakness, because features like the camera hardware are essentially identical to what came out in 2022. But all of this is overshadowed by the great battery life. You'll never hear anyone complain about getting too much battery life.

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Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

A great, affordable Samsung Galaxy phone

CNET TAKE: Although it's one of the cheapest phones you can buy from Samsung, the Galaxy A54 still packs great features, like 5G connectivity, a decent multiple rear camera setup, solid battery life and power enough for your everyday essentials. It looks pretty, and it's one of the few remaining phones that let you expand the built-in storage using microSD cards.

It's a great all-round budget phone, although generally, we found that the Pixel 6A offers better camera and processor performance and costs less than the Samsung.

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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Senior Editor Lisa Eadicicco, Editor at Large Andrew Lanxon and Copy Editor Jim Hoffman. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.

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