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Key Points
- The Samsung S23 Ultra is our choice for the #1 Best Overall Phone of 2023.
- Today’s smartphones are surprisingly well-packed; you may not need a laptop or tablet for work or school-related tasks.
- With a pocket-sized smartphone, you can call, chat, browse, game, and connect with people worldwide.
- When looking for the best phone, keep the following criteria in mind: display, camera, battery longevity, design, and performance.
The best phones provide the perfect blend of design, display, performance, and other unique features to ensure you get everything you need from this pocket-sized device. Samsung and Apple have consistently attacked the market with some neat products.
Google, Motorola, and OnePlus are fighting back with advanced yet very pocket-friendly devices. Most of these competitors know that the key to remaining at the top of the heap, besides design, is manufacturing a phone with high processing power.
Some have even surpassed our expectations and released faster smartphones than some laptops and tablets. So, after weeks of researching and analyzing, our ranking for the best phones of 2023 is as follows:
- SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 200MP camera
- Video stabilization
- Built-in S Pen can convert handwriting to text
- 5G cellular technology
- Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
- 5G cellular with A16 Bionic
- 256GB storage
- 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display featuring Always-On and ProMotion
- Dynamic Island capability
- 48MP main camera for up to 4x greater resolution
- Cinematic mode now in 4K Dolby Vision up to 30 FPS
- SAMSUNG Galaxy Z Flip4
- 6.7" Dynamic AMOLED
- 10x Digital Zoom
- 3,700mAh battery
- 10MP front camera
- Android 12 OS
- Motorola Moto G62
- Android 12 OS
- 128 GB storage, 4 GB RAM
- Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G
- 6.5-inch screen (1080 x 2400 resolution)
- Google Pixel 7 Pro
- Unlocked 5G
- Google Tensor G2 and the Titan M2 security chip
- Pixel's Adaptive Battery
- 6.7-inch display
- Intelligently adjusts to 120Hz for smoother, more responsive performance
- 5x telephoto lens
- 128 GB memory
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We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
#1 Best Overall Phone of 2023: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- 200MP camera
- Video stabilization
- Built-in S Pen can convert handwriting to text
- 5G cellular technology
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra kicks off our list because it perfectly combines design and performance, making it our choice for the #1 best phone of 2023. This phone has an expansive working area with a 6.8-inch touchscreen display protected by the Armor Aluminum frame.
Besides the phone’s wide viewing angle, movie enthusiasts will love the S23 Ultra’s 1750 nits of brightness paired with the phone’s 3088 x 1440 HD resolution. Running on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 super-fast processor, this phone has enough power to generate a 3.36 GHz speed, making it ideal for gaming.
Moreover, with a 120Hz refresh rate, this Samsung S23 phone will handle all fast-paced games without budging. Adding to the phone’s specs is a 12MP selfie camera sufficient for your Zoom meetings.
But where this phone shines the most is its 200MP wide-angle camera, which content creators will love due to its impressive image sharpness. Furthermore, Samsung packed this phone with a 256 GB storage space that you can expand to 1TB for housing all your content.
In addition, the S23 Ultra’s 5000 mAh battery gives you 26 hours of usage time for taking photographs. And with a stylus pen, you can edit your videos and photographs confidently; even near your swimming pool, because the phone is water-resistant. This near-perfect phone’s only drawback is that it is expensive.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It has a sufficient storage space of up to 1TB. | Very expensive as it costs upwards of $1,000. |
| It has a super-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. | |
| Astonishing 200MP wide-angle camera. | |
| Its expansive 5000 mAh battery will serve you for many hours. | |
| It has premium features like a stylus pen and water resistance. |
Best iPhone: iPhone 14 Pro Max
- 5G cellular with A16 Bionic
- 256GB storage
- 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display featuring Always-On and ProMotion
- Dynamic Island capability
- 48MP main camera for up to 4x greater resolution
- Cinematic mode now in 4K Dolby Vision up to 30 FPS
Next on our list is the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the best iPhone in 2023. Weighing 240 grams and with a 6.7-inch screen, you can comfortably carry this pocket-sized smartphone to work or school.
Moreover, thanks to the phone’s OLED display paired with the Super Retina XDR display, you can comfortably binge-watch TV shows on Netflix due to its wide viewing angles and superb color display.
Operating on the A16 bionic chip with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores, the iPhone 14 Pro Max justifies its popularity among content creators; it has sufficient power to edit videos and songs. Also, Apple packed this phone with a 48MP main camera and a 12MP selfie camera, so vloggers can rely on it to capture every moment of their travels.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max also allows 4K video recording. Its macro video recording feature stands out the most, allowing videographers to take macro photographs and videos of tiny objects.
In addition, this phone has a built-in lithium-ion battery that will give you 20 hours of video playback time when streaming movies on Netflix. Also, it has a Haptic Touch feature, water and splash resistance, and a 15-watt wireless phone charger, which all add to its value.
Still, this phone has its drawbacks. Its main shortcoming is that it lacks a stylus pen, which is underwhelming, considering it sets you back $986.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It has an OLED display with Super Retina XDR. | It’s costly. |
| It has an impressive camera that supports 4K video recording. | It lacks a stylus pen. |
| The phone’s 20 hours of playback time is remarkable. | |
| It supports wireless charging. | |
| The phone’s 6.7-inch display is suitable for an iPhone. |
Most Portable: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
- 6.7" Dynamic AMOLED
- 10x Digital Zoom
- 3,700mAh battery
- 10MP front camera
- Android 12 OS
The Galaxy Z Flip4 makes it to our list of the best phones of 2023 for its convenience and portability. This smartphone weighs 187 grams and is usually 84.9 mm long when folded, thus resembling a pocket mirror.
But the phone’s most exciting feature is the 1.9-inch cover screen with a super AMOLED display. It gives you better picture quality than the typical LCD screens in most phones. Moreover, when unfolded, this Galaxy phone has a 6.7-inch FHD screen that allows you to watch your content at 1080p without any scaling issues.
Samsung packed this phone with the Android 12 operating system and paired it with a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes the phone feel alive due to its smooth and fast response. You can also easily multitask with the phone’s 8GB RAM by having various floating menus.
Let’s now talk about the camera. Samsung added a 10MP selfie camera to the Galaxy Z Flip4. The company paired it with a 12MP ultra-wide camera and a 12MP wide-angle camera to ensure you take top-notch pictures on road trips.
Moreover, thanks to the phone’s 128 GB storage that you can expand to 512 GB, you can take multiple 4K videos at 30 fps and 60 fps without worrying about storage. Unfortunately, the Galaxy Flip 4’s 3700 mAh battery is where this phone fails because we expected such a premium phone to have more juice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The phone’s 120Hz refresh rate makes the screen appear smooth to the eye. | The phone’s 3700 mAh battery is disappointing. |
| You get good cameras that allow 4K video recording. | |
| The Galaxy Z Flip4’s 8GB RAM supports multitasking. |
Best Budget Phone: Motorola Moto G62
- Android 12 OS
- 128 GB storage, 4 GB RAM
- Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G
- 6.5-inch screen (1080 x 2400 resolution)
Next on our list is the Motorola Moto G62, one of the best budget phones on the market. For such a cheap phone, it’s surprising that it uses the Android 12 operating system, which is easily customizable and personified.
Moreover, with the 460 CPU and 619 GPU Snapdragon processor, you don’t have to worry about lag performance when navigating the phone. Unfortunately, Motorola packed this phone with 4GB RAM that expands to 6GB RAM, which isn’t impressive. But, then again, we don’t expect much RAM from such a budget-friendly device.
The G62’s 6.5-inch HD display and 120Hz refresh rate allow you to enjoy 1080p content. And with the phone’s 20:09 aspect ratio, you’ll get a broader viewing experience when watching your HD videos on Netflix.
Adding to the G26’s specs is a 50MP quad-pixel rear camera that Motorola paired with an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera for content creators.
Also, thanks to the phone’s 16MP selfie camera and 5000 mAh battery, you can use it for hours in Zoom meetings without worrying about video clarity. Ultimately, the Moto G62’s superior specs at a pocket-friendly price qualify it as one of the best phones of 2023.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Moto G62 is very affordable. | The RAM could be better. |
| Its 120Hz refresh rate supports gaming and watching HD content. | The G62’s camera is good but not mind-blowing. |
| The phone’s 5000 mAh battery is impressive. |
Best Android Phone: Google Pixel 7 Pro
- Unlocked 5G
- Google Tensor G2 and the Titan M2 security chip
- Pixel's Adaptive Battery
- 6.7-inch display
- Intelligently adjusts to 120Hz for smoother, more responsive performance
- 5x telephoto lens
- 128 GB memory
Lastly, we have the Google Pixel 7 Pro, one of the best Android phones on the market. It is a suitable alternative if you cannot afford the Galaxy S23 Ultra. For example, it has a 6.7-inch display, slightly less than the S23 Ultra’s screen.
You can comfortably use this phone in well-light rooms or in direct sunlight due to its 1500 nits of brightness. Moreover, with a 120Hz refresh rate, the Pixel 7 Pro’s smooth display is notable at first glance.
Running on the Google Tensor G2 processor chip, this phone can handle multiple active tabs on Chrome for your work. And if you add the phone’s 12 GB RAM, you can play most mobile games after a long day at work.
Moreover, with 128 GB storage that extends to 512 GB, you can store your favorite games without deleting some of your work files. Google packed this phone with a 50MP wide camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 48MP telephoto camera.
Furthermore, the 10.8MP front camera adds to the Pixel 7 Pro’s versatility as it’s clear enough for Zoom meetings. Also, the phone supports 4K video recording at 30 and 60 fps, so you can take clear and realistic videos. What’s more, the phone’s 5000 mAh battery is impressive.
It gives you 72 hours of usage time in Extreme Battery Saver mode. Our only criticism is that the Pixel 7 Pro is very expensive, and it doesn’t have exciting features, like a stylus, for its high price tag.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The Pixel 7 Pro’s 1500 nits of brightness is impressive. | It’s expensive. |
| The phone’s 50MP wide and 12MP ultra-wide camera is suitable for photography. | It doesn’t have a stylus, which would be an excellent additional feature. |
| This smartphone’s 5000 mAh gives you many hours of usage time. |
How to Pick the Best Phone in 2023: Step by Step
Choosing the best phones of 2023 is subjective, as there isn’t a perfect phone on the market. However, any premium-quality phone should meet the following criteria:
- Display
- Camera
- Performance
- Battery life
Let’s look at each one in more detail.
Display
We experience most things in the world through our eyes, and the bigger the smartphone’s display, the better viewing angle we get.
We are in the AMOLED era, so this should be your standard display measure, which you need to pair with a good refresh rate. A good smartphone should have a 120Hz display refresh rate for smooth navigation and lag-free gaming.
Camera
Your phone’s camera will capture all your important memories, so the number of megapixels is crucial. However, the aperture, field of view, image sensor size, video formats, and other camera features also matter, as they are integral to the final image and video quality.
Performance
Your phone’s performance mainly depends on its processor, RAM, and storage. A powerful phone should have a good chipset paired with expandable RAM and storage.
But don’t forget to check the phone’s operating software, as it impacts your user experience and the phone’s customization. Opt for a smartphone that uses the latest OS, as it guarantees regular updates and software support.
Battery Life
Even the highest-performance phone is meritless without a good battery. Moreover, battery longevity is key when choosing a smartphone if you use it for school or work. A 5000 mAh phone has sufficient juice to handle a day’s usage on a single charge.
What to Know Before Buying a Phone in 2023
Do research before buying a phone. We have noticed that many buyers do not know what they want in a phone. They often get confused, especially with the many phone brands that have saturated the market.
Additionally, though we are familiar with popular brands like Samsung, it’s worth checking out other phone brands like Motorola, Google, and Xiaomi, which have aggressively attacked the market with some neat devices.
The phone’s operating system matters. Our phone industry is divided between Android and iOS, so you must differentiate between the two and determine their pros and cons before narrowing the list down to specific phone models.
Price is king! Always account for price when shopping for a phone to get a device that gives you the most value for your money.
Using a Phone in 2023: What It’s Like
If you have been following the tech industry for years, you probably know that some recent smartphones are very advanced; some are even better than mid-range laptops and tablets.
For example, with the newly launched 5G network, smartphones with the requisite infrastructure can access high-speed internet that supports content streaming, online gaming, and remote work.
Moreover, most phones today have high storage and usually support Microsoft Word, so you can type and store your files without needing a laptop. Also, others have an AMOLED display and a high refresh rate, making them ideal for gaming and watching movies.
Overall, phones today are a must-have device, as they provide many services we get on TVs and laptops while allowing you to make calls and send messages.
