Finding the best phones for 2023 really depends on your usage of it and what you want it to be good at. Generally, the best smartphones for 2023 are the most expensive ones, with iPhone 14 Pro Max being the top pick.
The best phone available on the market currently is the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is polished, reliable but expensive. Although Samsung’s best model is the Galaxy S22 Ultra, we have put it fourth on the list of the best phones for 2023 as it is too expensive for a phone and has a lot of features that might not be for everyone. However, we put the Samsung Galaxy A53 the second on the list as it is a wonderful bargain. When buying a phone, you have to take some features into consideration; for example, the batteries, cameras, and many more. The list below has mostly Apple and Samsung models since these two brands offer incredible phones and support. Without further ado, let’s get to the list.
Best Phones for 2023
There have been some major changes in the phone industry in the last couple of years. Although we do not know what phones will be introduced in 2023, or whether they are the best, we have made a list of the best phones for 2023 available on the market at the moment.
- iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max: Apple’s top iPhones
- Samsung Galaxy A53: The best budget Samsung phone
- Google Pixel 7 Pro: The best Pixel phone
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: The most versatile phone
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: The best clamshell foldable
- Google Pixel 7: The best Pixel for less
- OnePlus 10 Pro: The best phone for fast charging
1. iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max
Specifications:
- Release date: September 2022
- Weight: 206g / 240g
- Dimensions: 5 x 71.5 x 7.9mm / 160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9mm
- OS: iOS 16
- Screen size: 1-inch / 6.7-inch
- Resolution: 1170 x 2532 / 1284 x 2778
- CPU: A16 Bionic
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
- Battery: 3,200mAh / 4,323mAh
- Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP
- Front camera: 12MP
If you are looking for the best camera, display and battery life, you need to opt for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The latest additions to iPhone series are an incredible 48-megapixel camera, Dynamic Island and always-on screen, which have made this phone the best one on the market at the moment. It is well-designed and intuitive. Apple added a lot of excellent features to this phone such as the Dynamic Island, which is very useful. The screen of this phone is pretty bright and it is very sharp and fast, with a refresh rate of 120Hz. In addition, the battery life is improved and the iOS 16 runs by default. It adds a lot of options to the lock screen, such as widgets and customizable time and date. When it comes to camera, the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s resolution is pretty high and the optical zoom is 3x. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is an incredible phone that is very powerful and a joy to use. It is the best phone you can buy at the moment. Therefore, it is the top one on the list of the best phones for 2023.
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2. Samsung Galaxy A53
Specifications:
- Release date: March 2022
- Weight: 189g
- Dimensions: 6 x 74.8 x 8.1mm
- OS: Android 12
- Screen size: 5-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400
- CPU: Exynos 1280
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB + support for a microSD card up to 1TB
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Rear camera: 64MP + 12MP + 5MP + 5MP
- Front camera: 32MP
Galaxy S from Samsung have the best cutting-edge phones on the market and we have picked one that has many features but comes at a very reasonable price. The Galaxy A53 is the best iPhone you can buy with a good price but not compromise on many features. Not only does it have advanced cameras, but a great screen and a premium design. We are taking budget into consideration and this phone has the priorities straight. The camera has four lenses and gives plenty of options. The screen is great and attractive, with the same refresh rate and resolution as S22 and the battery life is solid. Moreover, it is water resistant. Not considering the size, many people cannot see the difference between the display of this phone and that of the S22.
The battery life is decent, 5,000mAh, it has 5G connectivity and it has a bright screen. Although it runs for a day with that battery, it takes two hours to be fully charged. In addition, this phone has some incredible photo-taking prowess, with a 64MP f/1.8 main camera that has a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens, a 5MP f/2.4 macro, and a 5MP f/2.4 depth sensor. You might find more expensive phones that have fewer options in their cameras compared with this phone. Therefore, it is one of the best phones for 2023.
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3. Google Pixel 7 Pro
Specifications:
- Release date: October 2022
- Weight: 212g
- Dimensions: 9 x 76.6 x 8.9mm
- OS: Android 13
- Screen size: 7-inch
- Resolution: 1440 x 3120
- CPU: Google Tensor G2
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Rear camera: 50MP + 48MP + 12MP
- Front camera: 8MP
Not only is the Google Pixel 7 the best Pixel, it is one of the best phones for 2023. Google changed many of the basics for the better and promised more to come. Therefore, Android appears as a mature system after all, while being easy to use. It is among the best Android phones right now but it is a little expensive. The cameras are terrific and there are a couple of advanced software features that cannot be found on other devices, which makes this a top choice. The display is 6.7 inches and it has LTPO OLED technology like the iPhone 14 Pro. In other words, it can have always-on display without the battery being drained. The resolution is 1440 x 3120 and the 512ppi is better than the iPhone or Galaxy S22 Ultra.
In addition, the battery is 5000mAh, which can work a full day. It can be charged at 30W, which is not as fast as we would like. It has three cameras on the back, a 50MP f/1.9 main camera, a 48MP f/3.5 telephoto with 5X zoom, and a 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide lens. Above all of that, the greatest part is the software as it can use Google Photos to unblur old pictures, even if it isn’t taken by the Pixel.
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4. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Specifications:
- Release date: February 2022
- Weight: 228g
- Dimensions: 3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm
- OS: Android 12
- Screen size: 8-inch
- Resolution: 1440 x 3088
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 / Exynos 2200
- RAM: 8GB / 12GB
- Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Rear camera: 108MP + 10MP + 10MP + 12MP
- Front camera: 40MP
The next best phone to buy in 2023 according to TechTrends and many reviews is Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. For power users, this Samsung model is considered the ultimate Android phone. It presents a S pen that is built into the phone like a Galaxy Note. In addition, it delivers smoother performance by giving 70% less latency. Not to mention the 6.8-inch display, which is second to none. It provides users with the best brightness and color saturation in its class. Therefore, it is easy to read while you are outdoors in direct sunlight. Moreover, it is perfect for watching movies.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera improvements offer a big reason as to why you should buy this phone. Furthermore, with its larger main 108MP sensor, there will be lighter, meaning brighter pictures when not using Night mode. Compared to iPhone 13 Pro Max, when in Night Mode, Galaxy S22 Ultra has better pics in some scenarios. Including the faster 45W charging and a sleek design, you may have a winner. However, the battery life could have been longer.
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5. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Specifications:
- Release date: August 2022
- Weight: 187g
- Dimensions: 2 x 71.9 x 6.9mm / 84.9 x 71.9 x 15.9-17.1mm
- OS: Android 12
- Screen size: 9-inch / 6.7-inch
- Resolution: 260 x 512 / 1080 x 2640
- CPU: Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB
- Battery: 3,700mAh
- Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP
- Front camera: 10MP
If style was everything we looked at in the best phones for 2023, then the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 would be the top one. Not only does it have great performance and a huge display, but it is very capable and oozes style. The experience of using this phone that folds closed and can be snapped open is quite unique. It is very fun to use and a new way of using our phone. In addition, it has a bright screen with 1080 x 2640 resolution. The battery life is a little underwhelming since the foldable shape prevents a big battery being put inside. However, the cameras on this phone are disappointingly simple as it has two 12MP shooters. There is yet a secret which makes the shots way better than you might think; it is the main lens using very large pixels on the sensor. We recommend it as one of the best smartphones for 2023.
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6. Google Pixel 7
Specifications:
- Release date: October 2022
- Weight: 197g
- Dimensions: 6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm
- OS: Android 13
- Screen size: 7-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400
- CPU: Google Tensor G2
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB/256GB
- Battery: 4355mAh
- Rear camera: 50MP + 12MP
- Front camera: 8MP
The sixth one on the list of the best phones for 2023 has the same Google Tensor G2 chipset as in the Pixel 7 Pro. Therefore, it works as smoothly as Google’s best. In addition, it offers photo unblur, improved assistant, as well as other Google AI features that only Tensor phones have. It is less expensive than the iPhone 14 and the Samsung Galaxy S22. This phone is very capable and polished, with a good value. Although the screen is not as good as the Pixel 7 Pro, it is a joy to use. Its battery life is ok and will run for a day. It can be charged with 30W and according to Google, in 30 minutes, it can reach 50%. The camera is the same as Pro version, with the main lens being 50MP. It also has the photo unblur and editing features of the Pro, courtesy of the Tensor G2 chip.
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7. OnePlus 10 Pro
Specifications:
- Release date: April 2022
- Weight: 5g
- Dimensions: 163 x 73.9 x 8.55mm
- OS: Android 12
- Screen size: 7-inch
- Resolution: 3216 X 1440
- CPU: Snapdragon 8
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Rear camera: 48MP + 50MP + 8MP
- Front camera: 32MP
The OnePlus 10 Pro is one of the best phones for 2023 and a powerful Android handset. It offers a significant display and the greatest camera there has ever been on a OnePlus phone. Moreover, it has been a great couple of years for the Chinese phone maker as the photography power of its phones is sometimes able to keep up with giants like the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Pixel 6 Pro.
In addition, its cooling systems allow the phone to be a powerful choice when gaming is important in your decision-making. As for the battery life, in its adaptive 120Hz refresh rate mode, this phone passed 12 hours, which is more than the Galaxy S22 Ultra and close to iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Furthermore, it can fully charge within 30 minutes thanks to the 65W charging. And it is all for $899.