Samsung Galaxy (; branded in Japan from 2015 to 2023 only as Galaxy) is a series of mobile computing devices designed, manufactured, and marketed by Samsung Electronics since 2009.
The product line includes the Galaxy S series of high-end smartphones, the Galaxy Z series of foldable smartphones, the Galaxy A, M, and F series of mid-range and budget smartphones, the Galaxy Tab series of tablets, and the Galaxy Watch series of smartwatches. The Galaxy TabPro S is the first Samsung Galaxy-branded Windows 10 device that was announced at CES 2016. In 2020, Samsung added the Galaxy Chromebook 2-in-1 laptop running ChromeOS to the Galaxy branding lineup. The Samsung Galaxy XR, first released on 21 October 2025, is one of the first major extended-reality devices to feature the Android XR operating system.
Samsung Galaxy devices come with a user interface called One UI (with previous versions being known as Samsung Experience and TouchWiz).
The Samsung Galaxy smartphones arguably brought Android into mainstream popularity in the early 2010s.
History The Samsung Galaxy was launched in June 2009 as Samsung's first Android powered device. At the time, the brand's flagship smartphone was the Samsung Omnia and its successor, powered by Windows Mobile. Omnia had been the second full-touch Samsung device running the TouchWiz user interface (after the Tocco), but the Galaxy had an unmodified Android interface; the TouchWiz UI made its way to the Galaxy series with the Galaxy S. The Galaxy S and its successor Galaxy S II became very successful, eclipsing the company's other lines and operating systems. During the decade, the Galaxy phones "became the company's most-praised products [and] also were among the best-selling smartphones in the world."
Products Current SeriesDescriptionSmartphonesGalaxy SFlagship phones also serving as the successors to the cell phones, which from 2006 to 2009 were branded as Samsung Ultra Edition.Galaxy ZFlagship foldable phones/devices, debuted in 2019Samsung WLuxury-based foldable devices (based on Galaxy Z series), primarily sold in China, formerly folder phones until SM-W2019Galaxy XCoverRugged business phones which have low-end specifications but with stronger build quality and durability, smartphone counterpart of Galaxy Tab ActiveGalaxy AMid-range phones, also includes entry-level phones, budget phones (formerly premium mid-range phones prior to 2023)Galaxy MA slightly more budget-friendly, online-exclusive alternative from the Galaxy A seriesGalaxy F Also a Galaxy A series alternative, but sold in developing countriesGalaxy CPremium mid-range versions of the Galaxy F series sold in Asian markets. Succeeded by the premium mid-range Galaxy A series devicesGalaxy BuddyLow-end devices based on the Galaxy A1x series sold only in South Korea by LG U+Galaxy WideLow-end devices based on Galaxy A1x, F1x and M1x series, sold only in South Korea by SK TelecomGalaxy JumpMid-range devices based on the Galaxy M3x and Galaxy A3x series, sold only in South KoreaGalaxy QuantumPremium mid-range devices based on Galaxy A5x and M5x series, sold only in South Korea by SK TelecomTabletsGalaxy Tab SMid-range to flagship tabletsGalaxy Tab ALow-end to mid-range tabletsGalaxy Tab ActiveMid-range rugged tabletsWearablesGalaxy WatchWear OS-based smartwatches, formerly Tizen-based smartwatches until Watch 3Galaxy FitActivity trackers positioned below the Galaxy Watch lineGalaxy BudsWireless earbuds, successor to the Gear IconXGalaxy RingSmart rings for sleep and activity tracking, introduced in 2024Galaxy XRExtended-reality headsetsGalaxy Glasses Smart glasses (Intelligent glasses)LaptopsGalaxy BookLineup of laptops and 2-in-1 PCs running WindowsGalaxy ChromebookLineup of Chromebooks Discontinued Samsung released multiple series of its devices, often overlapping with each other. Some of these series were dropped. SeriesDescriptionReplacement seriesSmartphonesGalaxy NoteDevices with a large screen and a built-in stylus, discontinued in 2021Galaxy S Ultra seriesGalaxy Z Fold seriesGalaxy NeoRefreshed versions of older Galaxy models with newer hardware but lower specs compared to the original models, discontinued in 2017Lite versions of S10 and Note 10, Fan Edition (FE) modelsGalaxy S ActiveRugged versions of base-model S series, discontinued in 2018Galaxy XCover seriesGalaxy S MiniMid-range versions of base-model S series, discontinued in 2014Galaxy Alpha and later the Galaxy A seriesGalaxy JEntry-level devices touted as a replacement for the Galaxy Core, Grand, E, Ace, Trend and Y lines; discontinued in 2019merged with the Galaxy A and M seriesGalaxy OnOnline-exclusive mid-range phones based on the Galaxy J series, discontinued in 2019Galaxy M seriesGalaxy GrandMid-range devices that replaced the Galaxy R family, discontinued in 2016 as original models but continued production as rebranded models of Galaxy J series until 2019merged with the Galaxy A and M seriesGalaxy ELow-end devices, discontinued in 2016Galaxy J seriesGalaxy CoreLow-end devices, discontinued in 2016Galaxy J seriesGalaxy TrendLow-end devices, discontinued in 2016Galaxy J seriesGalaxy AceLow-end to mid-range devices, discontinued in 2015Galaxy J seriesGalaxy YSmall low-end devices, discontinued in 2015Galaxy J seriesGalaxy MegaLarge mid-range phablets, discontinued in 2015Galaxy A seriesGalaxy PocketSmall low-end devices, discontinued in 2015Galaxy J seriesGalaxy CameraCamera phones, discontinued in 2014Galaxy BeamPhones with built-in projectors, discontinued in 2014Galaxy MiniSmall low-end devices, discontinued in 2013Galaxy Pocket series and Galaxy Y seriesGalaxy RMid-range devices, discontinued in 2012Galaxy GrandTabletsGalaxy Tab series sold before 2017Included the original Galaxy Tab Series (Galaxy Tab/Tab 2/Tab 3/Tab 4), Galaxy Tab Education, Galaxy Tab E, Galaxy Note tablets, and Galaxy Tab/Note Pro series.Galaxy Tab S series (flagship models)Galaxy Tab A series (mid-range and low-end models)WearablesGalaxy GearLineup of wearable devices that included headsets, earbuds, smartwatches and activity trackers; Gear-branded earbuds discontinued in 2017 and the rest of the product lineup was discontinued in 2019Galaxy Watch (smartwatches)Galaxy Buds (earbuds)Galaxy Fit (activity trackers)Galaxy XR (successor to Gear VR)Galaxy Watch ActiveVariants of base model Galaxy Watches that focused more on fitness and wellnessmerged with the base models in 2021 starting with the Galaxy Watch 4 Other devices Phones
Media player Samsung Galaxy Player Cameras Samsung Galaxy Camera Samsung Galaxy NX Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 Projectors Samsung Galaxy Beam i8520 Samsung Galaxy Beam i8530
Software
Samsung Galaxy smartphones run the Android operating system under the Google Mobile Services platform, however Samsung and third-parties have bundled various other software in them too. The TouchWiz interface was used until 2017, replaced by Samsung Experience. This was then replaced by One UI in 2019.
The company has created many apps and services under the Galaxy brand specifically for these devices - many of which come preloaded - including the Galaxy Store which provides apps and customizations. Since late 2019, several Microsoft apps like Outlook also come preloaded on Galaxy as a result of a Samsung-Microsoft partnership.
Security Samsung has been reportedly caught quietly installing an Israeli bloatware application known as AppCloud in its phone lineup in the West Asian and North African regions. This app is known for collecting large amounts of sensitive personal data, without a chance to opt-out or uninstall the app without achieving root access due to it falling under the system app umbrella. This process of gaining root access would trip the Samsung Knox E-fuse and void the warranty in the event this is achieved by use of bootloader unlocking, which has recently become impossible on all Samsung devices running One UI 8 or above, as the code for unlocking the bootloader has been completely stripped from not only the settings app, but also the bootloader itself.
Interoperability
Samsung have made several tools for making various Galaxy devices like phones, tablets and watches, work closer together. Samsung Flow is an app allowing content to be synced with a PC, such as notifications, replying to messages and authenticating from a PC, and sharing content. It was announced in November 2014, released in a preview form in May 2015 with the final release in May 2016. Microsoft's Phone Link has been included on Galaxy smartphones since 2019.
Another feature named Multi Control allows Galaxy smartphones to be controlled with a Galaxy Book keyboard and mouse, and drag and drop file sharing between them. Device Control is another feature in the quick panel that can control SmartThings and other devices.
Samsung Smart Switch, preinstalled on recent Galaxy phones and tablets, copies contacts, messages, photographs, application data and settings from a user's previous device onto a Galaxy one. It takes iOS devices as well as other Android handsets as the source, working over a cable, a direct wireless connection, external storage or an iCloud backup, although applications themselves are not carried across from iOS.
Release history The following is a table showing the full initial release history of every Galaxy device since 2009.