The best old phones in 2023: 10 smartphones you should still buy

A top-of-the-line, brand-new smartphone is simply a beautiful thing, and trading firms activity difficult to make judge we're each drooling complete nan latest and top releases — and arsenic good we should be. But inquire yourself: Do you really request that somewhat improved camera system, that slight redesign, that caller processor pinch a little spot much power? It's usually only been a matter of months since we were each drooling complete nan past procreation of smartphones, and successful a batch of cases, you tin get yourself a likewise fantabulous smartphone for a batch little by picking a somewhat older device.

Since flagship smartphones don't ever supply large upgrades year-over-year, past year's exemplary is often conscionable arsenic bully arsenic this year's — pinch nan prize of often coming astatine a important discount. Here are immoderate of nan champion older smartphones that are still worthy your money.

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Apple iPhone 13

The champion older iPhone

The Apple iPhone 13 is astir apt nan easiest proposal to make connected this list. The iPhone 14 is simply a awesome phone, but it's not difficult to opportunity it's hardly an betterment complete 2021's iPhone 13. The iPhone 13 has nan aforesaid A15 Bionic processor arsenic nan newer iPhone, pinch only flimsy improvements having been made for nan iPhone 14. The iPhone 13 has nan aforesaid retention options arsenic nan newer iPhone, truthful you're not missing retired there, and you'll moreover find nan aforesaid dual-lens camera setup connected nan older iPhone too.

The creation is fundamentally identical, truthful nary 1 will cognize you've opted for an older model, and some person a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED sheet moving a 2532 x 1170 resolution. The iPhone 14's artillery is simply a teensy spot larger than this model, but it's not a quality you're going to announcement astatine all, arsenic nan iPhone 13 has fantabulous artillery life.

Really, nan iPhone 13 is still truthful bully that there's not overmuch logic to bargain an iPhone 14. Perhaps nan only logic is if you're overly suspicious astir nan number 13 — and moreover then, you should conscionable mentally rename it to nan "iPhone 12S", conscionable truthful you tin use from nan further savings. The savings connected connection for nan iPhone 13 aren't huge, pinch Apple only offering a $100 discount complete nan newer model, but if you shop astir (especially during income periods), you're judge to find much robust savings.

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

The champion premium older iPhone

The iPhone 13 and 14 are fundamentally nan aforesaid phone, but that can't beryllium said for nan iPhone 14 Pro and its predecessor, nan Apple iPhone 13 Pro. Apple made immoderate large changes to nan Pro statement for nan iPhone 14, and that meant getting free of nan notch successful favour of nan Dynamic Island, positive upping nan camera megapixel count. But moreover pinch that successful mind, nan iPhone 13 Pro is still worthy buying successful 2023.

Sure, you'd beryllium missing retired connected nan Dynamic Island and nan A16 Bionic processor, but those are some mini sacrifices to make. The Dynamic Island, while cool, hasn't really proven its usefulness yet, while nan iPhone 13 Pro isn't precisely missing retired connected powerfulness pinch nan very powerful A15 Bionic down nan wheel. You besides get a Super Retina XDR OLED show pinch a 120Hz refresh rate, truthful you're surely not missing retired connected ocular fidelity.

What astir nan cameras? Yes, there's nary main 48MP lens for illustration you'd get connected nan iPhone 14 Pro, but that's not a immense rumor erstwhile nan 13 Pro's camera is already arsenic bully arsenic it is. You're ne'er going to consciousness for illustration you're missing retired connected megapixels erstwhile shooting pinch nan iPhone 13 Pro, and that emotion stretches complete into nan artillery life. The 3,095mAh artillery tin agelong to 2 days pinch mean use, which is simply a bully artillery life for anyone. The only rumor present is nan comparatively slow 20W wired charging, but that's an rumor pinch nan iPhone 14 Pro too.

So really overmuch are you saving? Apple doesn't waste this exemplary anymore, truthful readiness is simply a spot of an issue. Grabbing it renewed will prevention you a 100 dollars aliases so, but support successful mind this telephone still seems to beryllium successful demand, truthful prices aren't arsenic debased arsenic they could be. That's surely a ballot of assurance successful its abilities, though.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

The champion older Samsung Galaxy phone

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is simply a masterpiece of a phone, but there's still a beardown statement for buying nan Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, its predecessor. While Samsung threw successful a batch of other upgrades to this year's model, that doesn't mean 2022's Ultra is lacking. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is simply a very powerful processor that tin grip perfectly everything you tin propulsion astatine it and has years of life near successful it, moreover if bought today.

You're missing retired connected a 200MP main lens by opting for nan older model, but nan S22 Ultra's 108MP main lens is nary slouch. The camera setup produces excellent-looking images, and while nan S23 Ultra is better, it's not apt to beryllium a large capable quality to make you regret your savings. Other improvements, for illustration improved zoom astatine 10x and 30x zoom levels, are besides missing, but these features aren't bad connected nan S22 Ultra — they're conscionable better connected nan newer one.

Everything other is mostly nan same. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has a strong, two-day 5,000mAh artillery and a dedicated slot for Samsung's S Pen. You get 1 less twelvemonth of guaranteed updates, of course, but you're still covered up to Android 16 and will get information updates until 2027. You get a bully discount connected this telephone too. While nan 128GB version has been axed, that's a bully thing, arsenic nan 256GB exemplary is disposable for $150 little than nan aforesaid version of nan S23 Ultra. Look astatine places different than Samsung, and you tin find moreover little prices, pinch immoderate retailers offering hundreds of dollars nether MSRP — and you tin expect that to beryllium moreover little during sales.

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Samsung Galaxy S22

The champion mini older Samsung Galaxy phone

The Samsung Galaxy S22 is simply a overmuch easier waste than nan Ultra type above, because, for illustration nan iPhone 13 and 14, Samsung didn't alteration that overmuch betwixt nan S22 and Samsung Galaxy S23.

We'll commencement pinch nan creation and display. Samsung fundamentally took distant nan metallic shrouding astir nan cameras connected nan backmost of nan S22 erstwhile changing to nan S23, and that was astir it. It looks and feels great, and it's lightweight and mini capable to usage for agelong periods of clip without getting tired. There's a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, nan aforesaid arsenic nan S23, and it has nan aforesaid 120Hz refresh complaint too.

The processor is simply a mini downgrade, but nan quality betwixt nan Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and 8 Gen 2 is mini — and not thing you're apt to notice. The newer spot is much powerful, yes, but nan older 1 is still much than capable for thing disposable for your phone. The S22 does miss retired connected a 512GB variant, truthful support that successful mind if you for illustration to max retired your disposable storage.

The camera specs are precisely nan same, but you do get a somewhat larger artillery successful nan S23. Does it make a difference? Not enormously, arsenic nan Galaxy S22 is still an all-day smartphone pinch capable juice to get betwixt charges.

Discounts are besides good. Samsung is offering nan Galaxy S22 for $100 little than nan S23, pinch different retailers offering it for moreover lower. Shop savvy, and there's nary logic why you can't people nan Galaxy S22 for importantly little than nan Galaxy S23 and get astir of nan aforesaid features to boot.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Google Pixel 6

The champion older Google Pixel phone

If you're looking for a axenic Android smartphone, past only Google's Pixel statement will do. The latest Pixels, nan Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro, are fantabulous smartphones. But successful immoderate ways, nan Google Pixel 6 is nan amended buy, purely owed to nan discounts you tin get, weighed adjacent to nan benefits connected offer.

Differences successful creation are minimal. The Pixel 6 has nan aforesaid bezel-less creation you'll bask successful nan latest Pixels, and it was nan first of nan Pixels to debut nan now iconic Visor Bar for nan rear cameras, too, though it doesn't person nan metallic plating nan Pixel 7 scope uses. Those are insignificant differences, though, and location are moreover less differences successful nan displays. The Pixel 6's show is somewhat larger and sports nan aforesaid 1080p solution and 90Hz refresh complaint arsenic nan Pixel 7.

The camera is nan Pixel range's beardown point, and nan Pixel 6 is still a camera superstar. You get a 50MP main lens and a 12MP ultrawide lens, and it takes exceptional images and videos. Stills are existent to life, crisp, and still immoderate of nan champion you tin get. You're missing a telephoto zoom lens, but you'd beryllium missing that connected nan Pixel 7, too, arsenic only nan Pro models athletics telephoto cameras.

Battery life lasts astir a day, and it's present nan Pixel 7 becomes much tempting. The Tensor G2 processor successful nan Pixel 7 helps springiness that telephone amended artillery life than nan Pixel 6's first-generation Tensor chip, moreover if nan capacity boost isn't arsenic large. The spot successful nan Pixel 6 does suffer from power issues, truthful expect it to get lukewarm if you're playing demanding games.

Google nary longer sells nan Pixel 6, which intends you'll request to caput to 3rd parties to bargain one. You tin expect to prevention astir $100 connected nan Pixel 7, and fixed nan jump successful tech betwixt nan Tensor and Tensor G2, this is simply a little tempting proposition than immoderate different options. However, it's still a coagulated smartphone and worthy considering.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

OnePlus 9 Pro

The champion older OnePlus phone

OnePlus has had immoderate ups and downs recently, but you tin trust connected nan OnePlus 9 Pro arsenic an fantabulous phone, and that holds conscionable arsenic existent successful 2023 arsenic erstwhile it launched successful 2021. It's 1 of nan older phones connected this list, hardware-wise, but nan Snapdragon 888 is still a very tin chip. It's improbable to fto you down, arsenic it'll devour each app and crippled presently available. Storage options are a small disappointing, being capped astatine 256GB, but that's still a bully magnitude and should beryllium suitable for most.

The camera has traditionally been a mixed container connected OnePlus's phones, truthful it's bully to spot nan OnePlus 9 Pro doing good successful this area. While Hasselblad's engagement is simply a small underwhelming, it's still a coagulated shooter, and while it won't beryllium taking connected immoderate of nan best camera phones, nan 48MP main lens, 8MP telephoto lens, and 50MP ultrawide lens supply a versatile and tin camera.

The 4,500mAh lasts a day, but not overmuch more. Thankfully, charging is simply a item of this phone, pinch 65W Warp Charge included. It's not nan fastest charging astir now, but it still leaves astir different flagship phones successful nan dust, pinch OnePlus claiming it'll complaint from zero to afloat successful conscionable 28 minutes. That's an unthinkable feat. Software support mightiness springiness you pause, though. The OnePlus 9 Pro launched pinch Android 11, which intends it doesn't person galore afloat updates near successful nan vessel now. Keep that successful mind if getting nan latest type of Android is important to you.

It tin beryllium a small harder to find caller than different phones connected this list, but it tin beryllium done. The value was a sticking constituent erstwhile it first launched, truthful seeing this for a cheaper value makes it a tempting package.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

The champion inexpensive older Samsung Galaxy phone

Not each phones still worthy buying are flagships, and immoderate midrange phones are still good worthy your money. The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is decidedly 1 of these, and it shows Samsung's existent dedication to nan mediate of nan market.

While not overmuch of an upgrade complete its predecessor connected launch, nan Galaxy A53 5G stands gangly successful 2023 arsenic an awesome portion of kit that tin beryllium grabbed astatine a bargain price. The 6.5-inch show runs a 1080p resolution, and impressively, comes pinch a 120Hz refresh complaint that puts immoderate flagship phones to shame. The Exynos 1280 processor won't triumph immoderate prizes for power, and we did find it somewhat sluggish erstwhile booting apps, but weirdly, it handled moreover demanding games well.

It launched pinch Android 12, but Samsung has promised 4 years of package updates, truthful you've still sewage a fewer updates near to use from, and 5 years of information updates too. This is decidedly an older telephone you tin bargain without worrying astir support moving retired early, which isn't ever thing you tin guarantee astatine this value range. The artillery is likewise impressive, pinch nan imaginable for 2 days connected a azygous charge.

There are 4 lenses connected nan backmost of nan Galaxy A53 5G, and they create bully photos. Sure, it's not arsenic tin arsenic immoderate of nan options above, but Samsung's camera pedigree is strong, and nan A53 shows what it tin do moreover pinch lower-spec tech.

What astir nan price? Samsung nary longer sells nan Galaxy A53 5G, but you tin still find it for a awesome price, pinch immoderate retailers offering this antecedently $450 telephone for fund telephone levels. $300 is simply a bully target price, and sometimes you whitethorn spot it dip nether that.

Joe Maring/Digital Trends

Google Pixel 6a

The champion inexpensive older Google Pixel phone

Midrange smartphones person travel a agelong measurement successful caller years, and nan Pixel A scope is simply a good illustration of that. The Google Pixel 6a is nan low-cost accompaniment to nan Pixel 6 range, and contempt nan merchandise of nan Google Pixel 7a, nan 6a still stands gangly arsenic 1 of nan champion smartphones you tin bargain for a debased price.

It each starts wrong nan instrumentality itself: The Pixel 6a is powered by nan aforesaid Google Tensor processor you'll find successful nan Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, which intends you're getting flagship powerfulness astatine a overmuch little price. That's difficult to beat, moreover complete a twelvemonth aft release. But it doesn't extremity there, and nan modern, sleek creation intends it doesn't look retired of spot erstwhile placed down adjacent to flagship phones, while nan OLED show has a crisp 1080p solution that's nan adjacent of galore phones that costs hundreds of dollars more. It is constricted astatine 60Hz, and this is an area wherever nan Pixel 7a betters it, but it's still a coagulated showing.

As ever, for a Pixel, nan camera is astir apt nan highlight. Google dipped backmost into its past for nan Pixel 6a and brought backmost nan 12.2MP lens, which had served it truthful good for truthful long, and paired it pinch a 12MP ultrawide lens. It's a awesome suite, and while it lacks immoderate of nan larger megapixel counts of different cameras, you'd beryllium hard-pressed to cognize it based connected its output. The Pixel 6a is simply a awesome camera phone, moreover successful 2023.

It suffers from akin issues to its stablemates, of course. The processor runs basking erstwhile nether pressure, and nan artillery life isn't nan best. But moreover pinch that successful mind, erstwhile you tin drawback this telephone for adjacent to $300, and moreover little during sales, it's easy to forgive its shortcomings.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

The champion older foldable phone

It feels weird to beryllium recommending a foldable telephone arsenic "old," but we're now 5 generations into Samsung's foldable Z-range, truthful that's precisely what we're doing. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is 1 of nan astir precocious pieces of mobile tech around, but since it's been succeeded by nan Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, you tin drawback nan Z Fold 4 for little than you mightiness expect.

It shouldn't astonishment you that nan fold is nan astir awesome portion of nan phone. A 6.2-inch screen surface unfolds into a elephantine 7.6-inch soul display, giving you nan cleanable blend betwixt a telephone and a tablet. It doesn't fold wholly flat, for illustration nan Z Fold 5, and that intends it does beryllium a small fatter than nan newer phone. But that's easy to forgive erstwhile dealing pinch a telephone of this type.

It's powerful, too, acknowledgment to nan Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 12GB of RAM, and starting astatine 256GB of storage. It's clear this telephone is meant to grip a batch of tasks, and it tin surely do that, keeping aggregate apps unfastened astatine erstwhile connected nan soul screen. The Z Fold 4 has nan aforesaid camera setup arsenic its successor, and while it's not arsenic beardown arsenic nan S23 Ultra successful this regard, it's still a very beardown camera system.

The artillery tin return a beating nether dense use, but astir of nan clip you should beryllium managing astatine slightest a time from this phone, and that's much than acceptable, fixed nan magnitude of surface abstraction it's powering. The package useful well, and while you're going to get 1 package update little than nan Z Fold 5, Samsung has still committed to 4 awesome Android updates and 5 years of information updates, truthful there's plentifulness left.

What astir nan price? Well, moreover though you tin get it for less, nan Galaxy Z Fold 4 is still not a inexpensive phone. Take advantage of offers for renewed phones, and you tin get nan value nether $1,000 astir of nan time. Other than that, expect a fewer 100 dollars little than nan Galaxy Z Fold 5. A mates 100 bucks is thing to beryllium sneezed at, though, and you're still getting a super-premium flagship telephone for overmuch little than you mightiness expect.

Joe Maring/Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

The champion older flip foldable phone

Flip phones are back, but arsenic a foldable phone, they're besides highly expensive. However, there's a cheaper measurement of getting clasp of a flip foldable telephone — buying an older one. The merchandise of nan Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 intends past year's model, nan Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, is now officially an older phone.

You mightiness presume that determination would travel pinch a batch of sacrifices, and you're benignant of right. The biggest and astir important sacrifice is nan nonaccomplishment of nan Z Flip 5's improved hinge. The Z Flip 4, for illustration nan Z Fold 4, doesn't fold wholly level adjacent nan hinge, and that intends it's somewhat thicker. The different is nan overmuch smaller screen screen. The Z Flip 4's screen surface only measures 1.7 inches and is mostly utilized for widgets, settings, and notifications, and not overmuch more. The Z Flip 5's 3.4-inch screen surface is overmuch much useful and supports much apps and information.

But really, that's each you're losing. As before, nan quality betwixt nan Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and nan 8 Gen 2 is minimal successful real-world use, and moreover nan camera suite is identical, extracurricular of immoderate insignificant image processing improvements. While nan improvements to nan Z Flip 5 are bully to have, everything that makes it an fantabulous smartphone is still coming successful nan Z Flip 4.

They do stock immoderate weaknesses arsenic a result, main amongst which is nan anemic battery. However, moreover pinch that successful mind, nan Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is an fantabulous telephone successful 2023. Is location a large quality successful price, though? Samsung offers an almost $200 quality betwixt nan Z Flip 4 and Z Flip 5, and that spread is moreover bigger if you commencement looking astatine renewed and refurbished models.

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