The best phones in 2023: our 15 favorite smartphones right now

Choosing nan champion telephone successful 2023 tin beryllium rather challenging arsenic location are truthful galore fantabulous options available. Whether you are an iPhone fan, an Android user, aliases unfastened to immoderate smartphone, uncovering nan cleanable 1 for you whitethorn look for illustration a daunting task. But don't worry, we're present to help!

Below, we person compiled a database of our apical picks for nan champion phones you tin presently buy. We judge that there's thing for everyone connected this list, and we're assured that you'll find a telephone that suits your preferences perfectly.

If you person stronger preferences you want to instrumentality with, spot our picks for nan best Android phones and nan best iPhones. Otherwise, support reference to spot what we deliberation are nan champion phones successful 2023.

Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

The champion iPhone

Why you should bargain this:The iPhone 15 Pro Max has each characteristic imaginable -- nan astir connected immoderate iPhone today.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants nan champion iPhone presently connected nan market.

Why we picked nan iPhone 15 Pro Max:

Until recently, nan regular iPhone models and nan “Pro” variations were not importantly different. However, nan caller iPhone 15 Pro bid — peculiarly nan 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max — has awesome features that tin only beryllium recovered connected these astir costly models. The caller titanium assemblage is conscionable nan beginning, and nan camera features alteration moreover betwixt nan Pro and Pro Max models.

Our favourite iOS telephone this year, nan iPhone 15 Pro Max, is disposable successful Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. Each offers a matte solid backmost and smaller bezels astir what continues to beryllium an always-on Super Retina XDR show pinch a 120Hz refresh rate.

The iPhone 15 Pro bid has undergone important hardware changes compared to erstwhile models, including a move from stainless alloy to titanium and ghe additions of a USB-C port, an Action button, an A17 Pro chip, and improved cameras. With nan caller USB-C port, you nary longer request to usage Lightning cables, making it much convenient if you person a caller iPad aliases immoderate different physics instrumentality that uses USB-C. This move besides intends quicker record transportation speeds, though it doesn’t needfully consequence successful improvements connected nan charging side. Apple promises nan aforesaid 50% complaint successful 35 minutes utilizing a 20-watt adapter.

At first glance, it whitethorn look for illustration thing has changed pinch nan iPhone 15 Pro Max’s camera system. The instrumentality still has a 48-megapixel (MP) main camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 12MP telephoto camera featuring apertures of f/1.78, f/2.2, and f/2.8, respectively, which is identical to nan specs of its predecessor, nan iPhone 14 Pro Max. However, immoderate notable differences person a important effect connected nan personification experience.

For starters, nan main camera of nan iPhone 15 Pro Max now takes 24MP shots by default alternatively of 12MP, resulting successful much elaborate images. Additionally, Apple's latest Smart HDR 5 image processing exertion enhances nan colors of nan photos. Finally, nan telephoto camera of nan iPhone 15 Pro Max now supports up to 5x optical zoom, which is an betterment complete nan erstwhile maximum of 3x.

It's large and expensive, but if you want nan very champion smartphone moving Apple's iOS operating system, nan iPhone 15 Pro Max is nan 1 to get.

Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Apple iPhone 15

The champion iPhone runner-up

Why you should bargain this: It's Apple's latest and top iPhone.

Who it’s for: Anyone would needs an iPhone upgrade, but doesn't want to spell nan Pro route.

Why we picked nan iPhone 15:

For those who don't require each nan precocious features of nan much costly iPhone 15 Pro series, nan all-new iPhone 15 is simply a awesome option. This flagship instrumentality by Apple comes successful 5 colors: pink, yellow, green, blue, and black. It has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR show for illustration its predecessor, arsenic good arsenic respective caller features that make it worthy considering, starting pinch nan Dynamic Island.

The Dynamic Island, first introduced connected nan iPhone 14 Pro series, is simply a nosy caller measurement to position notifications, Live Activities, and more. If nan Dynamic Island isn't capable to seduce you to see nan iPhone 15, return a look astatine its caller camera system.

The iPhone 15 has importantly upgraded its camera crippled this twelvemonth pinch a 48MP superior camera and a 12MP ultrawide lens pinch a wide 120-degree section of position (FoV) that tin seizure your memories successful breathtaking detail. However, nan ultrawide lens has remained unchanged from past twelvemonth and still lacks an autofocus feature. The selfie camera still delivers stunning results, but it is besides unchanged astatine 12MP.

Unlike nan iPhone 14 Pro models from past twelvemonth that only allowed shooting successful 48MP afloat solution pinch ProRAW and defaulted to 12MP for regular photos, nan iPhone 15 now defaults to 24MP photos. You tin move it backmost to 12MP to prevention retention space, but nan 24MP photos are worthy nan other abstraction arsenic they look singular wide and nan insignificant size quality is negligible. The caller camera features will thief you seizure each infinitesimal successful stunning item and relive them for years to come.

USB-C has replaced Lightning successful nan iPhone 15, bringing quicker transportation speeds betwixt devices, but nary charging velocity improvements. Connecting nan iPhone 15 pinch astatine slightest a 20W adapter gets you astir 50% complaint successful 30 minutes, which is nan aforesaid arsenic before.

The iPhone 15 still only supports a 60Hz refresh rate, which is unfortunate for a smartphone successful 2023. This limitation negatively affects gaming and web-browsing experiences for users pinch speedy fingers. It should besides beryllium noted that nan iPhone 15 comes pinch past year's A16 Pro chip. This isn't bad, but you aren't getting nan latest and awesome spot Apple has to connection connected a smartphone.

Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The champion Android phone

Why you should bargain this: Samsung has someway topped past year's S22 Ultra to create a genuinely sublime smartphone.

Who it's for: Anyone looking for nan champion Android has to offer.

Why we picked nan Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra:

You'd beryllium forgiven for reasoning nan Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra could beryllium a spot of a boring update. After all, Samsung wasn't changing nan design, aliases doing thing drastic pinch nan S22 Ultra's basal look — but it turned retired each nan S22 Ultra needed to go genuinely unthinkable was a fewer tweaks. The S23 Ultra whitethorn not beryllium a paradigm shift, but it is an fantabulous phone, and our prime for best Android smartphone.

It's safe to opportunity it's a gorgeous phone, pinch soft curves astir nan edges and a level apical and bottom. The S Pen has a dock astatine nan bottom, and nan monolithic 6.8-inch Super Dynamic AMOLED 2X show is surgery only by a elemental punch-hole for nan selfie camera. Unlike astir of nan competition, nan rear camera module isn't separated from nan remainder of nan back, and it gives nan instrumentality a cleanable creation connection of its own. The colour choices are arsenic subtle aliases stylish arsenic you want them to be, and it's each backed up pinch Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Samsung's Armor Aluminum, and an IP68-rating for particulate and h2o resistance.

We've seen nan Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 successful different phones, for illustration nan OnePlus 11 below, but nan processor goes up to a caller level successful nan S23 Ultra. It's nan "Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy" now, which fundamentally intends it's been overclocked and optimized for Samsung's devices. Does that make a difference? As it turns out, yes. We couldn't do overmuch to faze this processor, and it handled everything we threw astatine it. Add successful nan generous amounts of RAM and storage, and you person a capacity powerhouse that should past for years.

The camera is different incremental upgrade, and nan hardware improvements are mostly confined to upgrading nan main lens to 200MP. This makes a quality to image value (and nan S23 Ultra produces exceptional pictures), but nan biggest wow facet comes from nan improved zoom. Like nan S22 Ultra, nan S23 Ultra has a 3x telephoto lens and a 10x periscope telephoto lens, and some person been improved. The 30x integer zoom has really been upgraded though, and it's moving from being a "fun, but underwhelming" characteristic to thing that really creates bully images. It's rather astounding, and there's nary different smartphone that offers this level of zoom photography.

Everything other is conscionable arsenic good. The S Pen continues to beryllium an fantabulous stylus, and Samsung's One UI tegument has grown into a beardown type of Android. The desktop-emulating DeX mode is still here, and truthful is simply a swathe of different other features you tin research astatine your leisure.

The artillery is coagulated and tin past 2 days pinch mean use. Even much intensive usage will spot it past a afloat time pinch immoderate alteration astatine nan end. It's awesome endurance. Charging tops retired astatine 45W, which should refill your artillery successful astir an hour, though there's nary charger successful nan box, truthful you'll request to bargain your own. There's besides support for wireless charging and reverse wireless charging too.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra starts astatine $1,200, pinch 256GB of storage, truthful it'll costs you rather a batch of money. However, pinch immoderate exceptional cameras, stupendous processing power, and 2 days of artillery life, it's adjacent to opportunity this is simply a telephone that tin easy past you for galore years earlier needing to beryllium replaced.

Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Google Pixel 8 Pro

The champion Android telephone runner-up

Why you should bargain this: The Pixel 8 Pro has a beautiful design, fantabulous cameras, and astonishing AI features.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants a top-tier Android telephone that isn't made by Samsung.

Why we picked nan Google Pixel 8 Pro:

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is simply a smartphone that has group a caller modular for nan Pixel line. With its stunning design, improved camera system, and Google's latest Tensor chip, it's nary wonderment that it's being hailed arsenic nan champion Pixel yet.

While nan Pixel 8 Pro bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor, nan Google Pixel 7 Pro, it's nan subtle changes that make each nan difference. The rear solid boasts an impressive, soft matte decorativeness that feels awesome successful your hand, while nan rounded corners make it moreover much comfortable to hold. The dual camera cutouts recovered connected nan erstwhile exemplary person been replaced pinch a azygous cutout that spans nan magnitude of nan camera bar, adding to nan phone's sleek aesthetic.

The show connected nan Pixel 8 Pro has besides seen immoderate awesome improvements. With a 120Hz refresh complaint that tin standard down to 1Hz arsenic needed, it's much energy-efficient than ever. The show is besides overmuch brighter, rising to 1,600 nits for HDR contented and 2,400 for highest brightness, making it cleanable for enjoying your favourite movies and shows.

Now, let's talk astir nan cameras. The superior camera connected nan Pixel 8 Pro is simply a activity of art, pinch a solution of 50 megapixels and an aperture of f/1.68 that makes it incredibly light-sensitive. It besides has a 2x optical zoom, giving you moreover much power complete your shots. The caller ultrawide camera has a solution of 48MP and an f/1.95 aperture, importantly improving its ray sensitivity and macro mode. The telephoto camera has a solution of 48MP, an f/2.8 aperture, and a 5x optical zoom, making it cleanable for capturing moreover nan astir distant subjects. The front-facing camera has an f/2.2 aperture and autofocus support, ensuring that your selfies ever look their best.

The Pixel 8 Pro besides comes packed pinch immoderate breathtaking caller camera package tools. Best Take is 1 of nan astir salient features. It automatically stitches together aggregate photographs truthful everyone successful nan changeable looks their best. Magic Editor is different awesome feature, allowing you to erase and move objects from existing photos, moreover those not taken pinch nan Pixel 8 Pro.

The Pixel 8 Pro's caller Tensor G3 spot is simply a game-changer, pinch nan expertise to grip various tasks specified arsenic gaming, unrecorded video streaming complete a 5G connection, and capturing photos without overheating for illustration its predecessors.

In short, nan Google Pixel 8 Pro is simply a singular Android telephone that's worthy considering for anyone looking for a beautiful design, exceptional camera system, and lightning-fast processor. It's a existent workhorse that tin support up pinch moreover nan astir demanding users, whether you're a master photographer aliases simply personification who wants a reliable and powerful smartphone.

Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

The champion inexpensive phone

Why you should bargain this: The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G looks bully and packs a punch for a fund price.

Who it’s for: Buyers connected a fund looking for a safe, sensible prime that won't disappoint.

Why we picked nan Samsung Galaxy A14 5G:

Are you connected a fund but want awesome value? Then you can't spell incorrect pinch Samsung's A-Series phones, which are fantabulous for nan price. The Galaxy A14 5G is 1 of nan latest entries successful nan family, and it's good worthy your attention.

With nan Galaxy A14 5G, you get a large, 6.6-inch LCD show that has a 1080p solution pinch a 90Hz adaptive refresh rate. Though you do get immoderate bezels astir nan display, nan surface itself looks nice, has vibrant colors, and you get comparatively soft scrolling pinch nan 90Hz refresh rate. The creation of nan telephone itself is elemental and minimalistic, and nan integrative backmost has a unsocial texture that helps springiness you much grip than nan solid connected astir phones.

The A14 5G has 4GB RAM and a MediaTek MT6833 Dimensity 700 chip. So while it's not packing nan newest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, it has decent capacity for nan price. You whitethorn announcement a mini spot of stutter erstwhile navigating nan phone's interface aliases opening up apps, but considering that nan telephone is conscionable $200, it's expected. It only comes pinch 64GB of storage, but that tin grow to 1TB done a microSD card. Samsung ships nan A14 5G pinch Android 13 and OneUI 5, and you will get 2 awesome Android upgrades and 4 years of information updates. For $200, you're getting a bully magnitude of longevity, particularly considering that this telephone is 5G-capable.

The camera is besides rather impressive, arsenic you get a 50MP main shooter, pinch a 2MP macro and 2MP extent sensors. Thanks to nan MediaTek chip, taking photos is accelerated and nan results are rather bully for a $200 phone. When I utilized nan telephone to seizure immoderate in-motion shots of my daughter, nan results came retired rather well. Colors are besides agleam and punchy, for illustration astir of Samsung's different higher-end phones.

And lastly, though nan Galaxy A14 5G doesn't person wireless charging, it does person a monolithic 5,000mAh artillery that will past astatine slightest 2 days pinch regular use. But wired charging caps retired astatine 15W, truthful it's a small slow. However, considering really overmuch usage you'll get from a azygous charge, you whitethorn not beryllium having to plug it successful each night.

Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Google Pixel 7a

The champion inexpensive telephone runner-up

Why you should bargain this: It offers Google's Pixel smartphone acquisition astatine a awesome price.

Who it's for: Those who want coagulated camera and nosy package features for nether $500.

Why we picked nan Google Pixel 7a:

It has go a contented for Google to motorboat a caller fund smartphone during nan springtime, and nan latest summation to that lineup is nan Google Pixel 7a. With a creation and features that are almost identical to nan Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, this telephone is an fantabulous action for those looking for a budget-friendly device. Unfortunately, it mightiness beryllium a reliable waste for many.

The Pixel 7a is akin to nan Google Pixel 6a, pinch a high-gloss integrative backmost and an aluminum framework surrounding nan edges. However, this year’s exemplary features an aluminum framework that matches nan device’s color, which is simply a bully touch. Additionally, nan camera barroom connected nan backmost of nan telephone is now metallic alternatively than made of plastic, bringing it much successful statement pinch nan creation of nan Pixel 7. The Pixel 7a is besides somewhat taller and wider than its predecessor.

The show has besides been improved connected nan Pixel 7a. Still measuring 6.1 inches diagonally, nan surface is simply a Full HD OLED show pinch a 1080 x 2400 solution and a 20:9 facet ratio. There’s besides Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for durability. Perhaps champion of all, Google has bumped up nan display’s refresh complaint from 60Hz to 90Hz, which should connection a smoother experience. Again, this is nan aforesaid arsenic what’s connected nan Google Pixel 7.

The Pixel 7a has a Tensor G2 chip, 8GB of RAM, and a fixed retention action of 128 GB. We tested nan Tensor G2 spot during our Pixel 7a reappraisal and encountered nary issues. However, immoderate users person reported overheating problems pinch this spot connected different phones, depending connected their usage. Since nan Pixel 7a is simply a fund phone, it is expected that users won’t prosecute successful intensive gaming aliases person respective apps moving simultaneously, which intends nan overheating rumor whitethorn beryllium little of a concern.

The camera strategy connected nan Pixel 7a whitethorn not beryllium arsenic precocious arsenic nan ones recovered connected pricier Pixel models, but it still has a batch to offer. The instrumentality boasts a 64MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide sensor that nutrient vivid and punchy photos without nan oversaturation often seen successful Samsung phones. The Pixel 7a’s 13MP selfie camera is besides a important improvement, capturing elaborate and beautifully blurred portraits successful nan background, acknowledgment to its Portrait mode.

The Google Pixel 7a is simply a beautiful saccharine device, costing only $499. It whitethorn beryllium nan smallest successful nan Pixel lineup, but its 6.1-inch show is still beautiful impressive, pinch vibrant colors and rich | blacks. Plus, nan 90Hz refresh complaint makes scrolling and gaming ace smooth. And, contempt claims to nan contrary, nan Tensor G2 spot runs smoothly, particularly pinch nan 8GB of RAM recovered connected this phone.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Google Pixel 8

The champion telephone value

Why you should bargain this: What's not to like? This is simply a terrific Pixel that mightiness moreover beryllium amended than nan Pixel 8 Pro.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants a cutting separator Pixel for little money.

Why we picked nan Google Pixel 8:

The Google Pixel 8 has turned galore heads since it was released, and there’s nary astonishment arsenic to why. Its sleek and improved creation is nan first point that catches your eye. It's much compact, lighter, and much stylish than its predecessors. The telephone is easy to clasp and to usage one-handed, making it an perfect prime for group connected nan go.

But that's not all. The Pixel 8 boasts an unthinkable artillery life that tin past up to 2 days, moreover erstwhile connected to a smartwatch. Never again will you person to interest astir moving retired of artillery during your engaged day.

The phone's camera is different awesome feature. Its exceptional photograph value and unparalleled AI editing features make it guidelines retired from its competitors. You don't request to beryllium a photography master to seizure and edit stunning shots. With nan Pixel 8, you tin create beautiful photos pinch conscionable a fewer taps connected nan screen.

What's more, nan Pixel 8's package will person updates until 2030, truthful you won't person to upgrade your telephone anytime soon. You'll person nan latest package and information patches for years to come.

At a reasonable value of $699, nan Pixel 8 is simply a awesome worth fixed each its features. If you're looking for thing moreover much advanced, nan Pixel 8 Pro is besides an option, but it comes astatine a higher value of $999. However, nan Pixel 8's longer artillery life is simply a compelling logic to see it complete nan Pro.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy A54

The champion telephone worth runner-up

Why you should bargain this: The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G has nan flagship looks and features without nan flagship price.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a telephone that looks for illustration Samsung's flagship S23 and has bully capacity — but for half nan price.

Why we picked nan Samsung Galaxy A54 5G:

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G offers a batch of flagship features for less. It looks for illustration nan company's newest S23, and though nan internals aren't rather nan same, it still has accelerated and snappy capacity — conscionable for illustration nan S23. But location are immoderate differences, truthful let's talk astir them.

The Galaxy A54 is somewhat bigger than nan S23 pinch a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, and it moreover has a 120Hz refresh complaint connected nan screen. This intends scrolling done nan system, and apps, and playing games is soft and easy connected nan eyes, and nan colors are vibrant and rich | pinch heavy blacks.

Though nan chassis is made of plastic, nan surface and backmost dwell of Gorilla Glass 5. The telephone feels rather bully successful nan manus pinch this combination, and nan accrued brightness to 1000 nits from nan A53's 800 nit max makes it easier to spot erstwhile outdoors.

You get a 50MP main camera pinch optical image stabilization (OIS), arsenic good arsenic a 12MP wide-angle camera and 5MP macro lens. The front-facing selfie camera is 32MP. However, nan photos that consequence from these lenses whitethorn beryllium a love-hate relationship, arsenic Samsung has afloat embraced its estimation for overly saturated colors successful photos pinch this phone. Photos whitethorn look excessively vibrant and punchy, pinch amplified reds, blues, and greens to nan constituent wherever they whitethorn conscionable beryllium excessively intense. For some, this benignant of vibrance is preferred, but it whitethorn return distant from nan realism of photos. And while nan selfie camera is 32MP, it whitethorn struggle pinch capturing infinitesimal specifications and tegument reside successful much difficult lighting.

Samsung put its Exynos 1380 processor inside, pinch either 6GB aliases 8GB RAM and 128GB aliases 256GB storage, positive you person a microSD paper slot. While nan Exynos 1380 whitethorn not beryllium arsenic accelerated arsenic nan caller Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that is successful nan S23 series, it's still reasonably accelerated and performs good for nan value point. It comes pinch Android 13 and One UI 5.1, which is nan aforesaid arsenic nan S23. Samsung promises package upgrades for nan adjacent 4 years, pinch 5 years of information updates.

Though nan Galaxy A54 has a 5,000mAh artillery inside, it won't get you done 2 consecutive days without a complaint overnight. But it should past astir of nan time if that's each you need. It charges astatine a maximum velocity of 25W, and unfortunately, there's nary wireless charging.

There are besides 4 full colour options for nan Galaxy A54, making it a nosy telephone for nan price. It has nan modular achromatic and achromatic options, arsenic good arsenic Awesome Violet and Awesome Lime Green. But nan readiness of nan colors depends connected wherever you live. If you're successful nan U.S., you tin only acquisition nan achromatic type from each awesome carriers, and Samsung's tract has nan achromatic and Awesome Violet colors for U.S. customers. If you're successful nan U.K., you tin prime up a Galaxy A54 successful each 4 colorways.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

The champion large iPhone

Why you should bargain this: It packs a huge, stunning screen, it feels substantial, and nan creation won't neglect to impress.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants nan champion big-screen iPhone astir for less.

Why we picked nan iPhone 15 Plus:

The iPhone 15 Plus is almost identical to its smaller counterpart, nan iPhone 15, isolated from for its larger display. The 6.7-inch smartphone is beautifully designed and is disposable successful pink, blue, black, yellow, and green. USB-C, which is faster for record transfers, is included successful nan iPhone 15 series, replacing nan Lightning port. However, location person been nary improvements successful position of charging. The artillery life still lasts for 2 days, which is rather impressive.

Another characteristic nan caller telephone boasts is nan Dynamic Island, which was initially introduced successful past year’s iPhone Pro models. This characteristic provides a nosy measurement to position notifications, Live Activities, and more.

In position of camera capabilities, nan iPhone 15 Plus is highly impressive. Thanks to nan depth-of-field feature, nan telephone tin seizure well-balanced, dynamic, colorful, and enjoyable photos. The caller cameras and features are a important upgrade from erstwhile modular iPhones, and it’s awesome to spot that nan iPhone 15 Plus is not conscionable constricted to taking casual pictures, but besides has nan imaginable to heighten your creativity.

Unlike nan iPhone 14 Plus, which felt retired of spot successful nan iPhone lineup, nan caller Plus exemplary is simply a cleanable fit. Ergonomic improvements person made a important difference, nan capacity has been dramatically improved, and nan cameras animate 1 to return much photos.

On nan downside, nan iPhone 15 Plus still offers a debased refresh complaint of 60Hz, and it features past year’s A16 Pro chip. Nonetheless, it's a awesome action if you're looking for a ample iPhone astatine a little value point.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends / Digital Trends

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

The champion mini iPhone

Why you should bargain this: Apple's latest iPhone SE (2022) is simply a pint-sized wonderment that's powerful, affordable, and future-proof.

Who it’s for: Those looking for a future-proof telephone that fits successful their pouch (and their hand).

Why we picked nan Apple iPhone SE (2022)

Finding a genuinely mini telephone coming feels for illustration hunting for a needle successful a haystack, but nan iPhone SE (2022) is really, genuinely small, pinch its mini 4.7-inch Liquid Retina show pinch 60Hz refresh rate. Sadly, nan creation feels a spot dated, cribbing nan iPhone 8's design, pinch chunky bezels and a Home fastener pinch integrated Touch ID.

Looking beyond its size, there's a batch going for nan iPhone SE. Under nan hood, you're getting Apple's A15 Bionic spot pinch nan aforesaid capacity spec arsenic nan iPhone 13 Pro. There's besides 4GB of RAM, 64GB, 128GB, aliases 256GB of storage, and a decent battery, though dense usage whitethorn spot you struggle to make it done nan time pinch overmuch near successful nan tank. You'll beryllium up and moving reasonably quickly pinch 18W accelerated charging and Qi wireless charging.

You besides get a azygous 12MP rear sensor and 7MP selfie camera, identical to nan erstwhile iPhone SE. But it's Apple's package that makes a quality here, pinch Deep Fusion technology, Smart HDR 4, and Photographic Styles, arsenic good arsenic improved Portrait Mode. There's nary Night Mode though, truthful shooting successful low-light environments tin beryllium a challenge.

Add 5G connectivity, iOS 15 retired of nan box, and 5 aliases six years of OS updates, and it's easy to spot why nan iPhone SE (2022) is our champion mini smartphone. Yes, nan creation feels a spot old-fashioned, those bezels are beautiful clunky, and there's nary charger successful nan container — but now we're nitpicking. The iPhone SE (2022) comes priced astatine an unthinkable $429, truthful you won't request to break nan slope to spend it.

Joe Maring/Digital Trends

OnePlus 11

The champion large Android phone

Why you should bargain this: This is OnePlus's champion smartphone successful years, delivering a flagship acquisition and outstanding bang for your buck.

Who it's for: Someone who wants an outstanding Android smartphone that doesn't costs a luck and has a immense display.

Why we picked nan OnePlus 11:

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is an unthinkable telephone successful truthful galore ways, but not acold down it is nan OnePlus 11. This is simply a successor to nan OnePlus 10T, a telephone that near america emotion worried and uncertain astir OnePlus' future. But OnePlus intelligibly listened to feedback connected nan 10T, because nan OnePlus 11 is truthful fantabulous successful truthful galore ways.

Hardware-wise, nan OnePlus 11 looks and feels great. The camera creation is polarizing, but it's besides unsocial and dissimilar thing other connected nan market. The telephone feels unthinkable to hold, too, acknowledgment to a stainless alloy framework and solid backside. And, yes, the alert slider is backmost connected nan OnePlus 11, allowing you to easy set notification sounds pinch a beingness switch.

But it's what's beneath nan OnePlus 11's creation that makes it truthful special. Powering nan telephone is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Simply put, it's a beast. Apps unfastened instantly, it powers done graphically aggravated games without heating up, and it's artillery is wonderfully businesslike — easily getting done 2 days of usage connected a azygous charge. And erstwhile your artillery does tally out, 80W charging gets you from 0% to 100% successful astir 30 minutes.

Just arsenic awesome is nan OnePlus 11's camera system. The 50MP main camera delivers beautiful results, producing images that are eye-catching and afloat of character. And acknowledgment to nan 6.7-inch AMOLED display, you person an fantabulous canvas for looking astatine your images, favourite websites, movies, aliases thing else.

What are nan downsides? The OnePlus 11 only has an IP64 rating for particulate and h2o resistance, meaning it isn't arsenic safeguarded against h2o arsenic nan S23 Ultra. It besides lacks wireless charging, and nan 32MP telephoto camera has a paltry 2x optical zoom — resulting successful beautiful disappointing zoom performance. The upside to each of this is that nan OnePlus 11 starts astatine conscionable $699. If you want an astonishing Android phone, but can't tummy nan value of nan Galaxy S23 Ultra, nan OnePlus 11 is nan measurement to go.

Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy S23

The champion mini Android phone

Why you should bargain this: It has accelerated performance, reliable cameras, and a lightweight and compact creation that is comfortable for one-handed use.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants a powerful Android but prefers a smaller phone.

Why we picked nan Samsung Galaxy S23:

Though a batch of Android phones are connected nan bigger broadside these days, those who want a non-folding Android telephone that's still mini and compact should cheque retired nan Samsung Galaxy S23. It's nan latest for Samsung's flagship Galaxy S bid of phones, and nan guidelines exemplary is cleanable for mini telephone fans. Thanks to nan materials used, nan S23 is not only small, but it is ace lightweight and comfortable capable to usage pinch conscionable 1 hand.

You'll find a gorgeous 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X FHD+ show connected nan S23, which looks crisp and crisp pinch a density of 425ppi. Colors look rich | and vibrant, and blacks are heavy and pure. The 120Hz refresh complaint makes scrolling and animations incredibly smooth, and nan 1,750-nit outdoor highest brightness intends you tin usage your telephone without an rumor while retired successful nonstop sunlight.

The Galaxy S23 is packed pinch a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, which is nan consequence of a business betwixt Samsung and Qualcomm. So not only is this nan latest Snapdragon processor but it's specially made for Galaxy devices by having faster timepiece speeds and amended optimization. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy intends nan S23 has blazing-fast capacity pinch Android 13, whether you're being productive, unleashing your creativity, aliases playing games to termination immoderate time.

While Samsung gave nan champion camera to nan S23 Ultra pinch nan 200MP sensor, nan Galaxy S23 still has very reliable cameras that make it difficult to return a bad photograph aliases video. You'll get a 50MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide, and 10MP telephoto, pinch optical image stabilization connected nan main and telephoto cameras. The telephoto gives you 3x optical zoom, but you besides get up to 30x integer zoom arsenic well, which is decent capable if you want to really zoom successful connected thing (the value past 10x depends connected what you're taking a photograph of). With Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, capturing photos and video is speedy and easy, and everything renders fast.

As mentioned, nan Galaxy S23 comes equipped pinch Android 13 pinch Samsung's civilization One UI 5.1 interface layered connected top. You'll get 4 awesome Android upgrades and 5 years of information updates done 2028. The S23 starts retired pinch 128GB, but you tin spell up to 256GB retention if much is needed. Both versions headdress retired astatine 8GB RAM.

The Galaxy S23 has a 3,900mAh artillery and supports USB-C accelerated charging, but only up to 25W. Still, that's beautiful fast, arsenic you tin get 50% complaint successful conscionable 30 minutes pinch nan due charger (sold separately). It takes a small complete an hr to spell from zero to 100%, which is really not that bad. A azygous afloat complaint should get you done an full day, if not more, depending connected your use. Wireless charging caps retired astatine 15W and you besides get 4.5W reverse wireless charging, successful lawsuit you request to complaint up your wireless earbuds successful a pinch.

Overall, nan Galaxy S23 packs successful a batch of powerfulness successful a convenient, compact package.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

The champion foldable phone

Why you should bargain this: Folding phones are nan future, and nan Galaxy Z Fold 5 is nan astir powerful foldable around.

Who it’s for: Anyone looking for a powerful telephone successful a foldable shape factor.

Why we picked nan Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5:

If you want a telephone and a tablet successful one, past you can't spell incorrect pinch nan Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. Now successful its 5th generation, nan Galaxy Z Fold 5 boasts immoderate awesome improvements complete its predecessor, making it not conscionable a awesome folding phone, but an fantabulous smartphone successful its ain right.

While nan Galaxy Z Fold 5 does not look overmuch different than nan Galaxy Z Fold 4 earlier it, Samsung has made immoderate bully improvements that impact nan wide usability of nan foldable. The caller Flex Hinge allows nan telephone to not person a spread erstwhile closed, dissimilar nan wedge-shaped spread that was recovered connected nan Z Fold 4. This intends little debris tin get into nan soul screens, and it feels amended and much ergonomic to clasp and usage nan screen display.

Though Samsung did not alteration nan gangly and constrictive shape facet erstwhile nan Z Fold 5 is closed, nan Flex Hinge and nan gapless creation make it a spot much comfortable to usage nan screen display. Speaking of displays, nan Z Fold 5 did not alteration nan surface sizes, truthful you still person nan 6.2-inch, 2316 x 904 pixel solution screen show and 7.6-inch soul surface pinch 2176 x 1812 resolution. Both person 120Hz refresh rates arsenic well, truthful everything looks fantastic. The Flex Mode erstwhile watching videos moreover shows controls connected nan little half of nan screen, which is convenient.

Despite having beautiful overmuch nan aforesaid camera strategy arsenic nan Z Fold 4 pinch 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto sensors, nan Z Fold 5 does make immoderate improvements complete its predecessor. You'll still person super-saturated photos successful agleam sunlight, but if you don't return photos successful harsh sunlight, nan photograph results look overmuch much earthy and realistic than before, moreover pinch nan ultrawide lens. The optical zoom is besides improved, pinch much details, amended colour balance, and meticulous exposure.

However, nan camera isn't perfect. It struggles pinch focusing up adjacent successful 1x aliases 3x mode, and lowlight scenes whitethorn supply immoderate trouble. If you want nan absolute champion camera connected a Samsung phone, past you should spell for nan Galaxy S23 Ultra instead.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 uses nan Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy spot and has 12GB RAM, on pinch your prime of 256GB, 512GB, aliases 1TB soul storage. It ships pinch Android 13 and Samsung's One UI 5.1.1 installed, and there's plentifulness of powerfulness to grip beautiful overmuch thing you request pinch ease. The taskbar is awesome for multitasking, and it now tin show up to 4 caller apps alternatively of two. You tin person 3 apps positive a floating model astatine nan aforesaid time, truthful this is simply a awesome instrumentality for powerfulness users.

Though nan Galaxy Z Fold 5 has astir nan aforesaid artillery capacity arsenic its predecessor, it gets a small much life retired of a azygous afloat charge, acknowledgment to its much businesslike processor. In our tests, we still ended up pinch betwixt 35% and 50% artillery by nan extremity of nan day. It's not a two-day phone, but it decidedly has much than capable endurance to get done a time pinch dense use. The Fold 5 besides supports up to 25W accelerated charging, truthful pinch nan correct powerfulness adapter, it takes astir 80 minutes to afloat charge. With a slower charger, it could return up to 2 hours.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 besides supports nan S Pen, and Samsung created a marque caller S Pen specifically for nan phone, called nan S Pen Fold Edition. It's been upgraded to person a thinner tip, 4,096 unit levels, and IP68 h2o and particulate resistance. Unfortunately, you don't person a slot connected nan Z Fold 5 to shop it — you'll request to bargain a lawsuit that supports holding nan S Pen.

Folding phones are much celebrated than they've ever been, but Samsung is still nan ruler of nan niche — and nan Galaxy Z Fold 5 is nan champion foldable you tin buy. Hands down.

Joe Maring / Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

The champion flip phone

Why you should bargain this: It looks great, boasts accelerated performance, and has a nosy and foldable shape facet and bespoke colors.

Who it’s for: Anyone looking for their first foldable who prefers a much compact flip design.

Why we picked nan Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5:

If you want a foldable, but for illustration thing smaller for illustration a flip telephone versus a foldable tablet, past nan Galaxy Z Flip 5 is nan amended prime for you. And this year, Samsung has made nan Galaxy Z Flip 5 overmuch amended than its predecessor successful 1 very important way.

WIth nan Z Flip 5, nan biggest betterment is nan screen display. Instead of a mini small model connected nan beforehand screen for illustration past year, nan Z Flip 5 now has a 3.4-inch screen show alternatively of a 1.9-inch model for illustration nan Z Flip 4. This makes nan screen show overmuch much useful, arsenic you tin position larger clocks and widgets, and moreover tally apps connected nan screen display. The screen show connected nan Z Flip 5 is shaped for illustration a files truthful that nan outer camera strategy won't interfere pinch nan display, dissimilar nan Motorola Razr Plus. The screen surface besides only has a 60Hz refresh rate, though it still runs reasonably accelerated and isn't excessively noticeable.

The main surface of nan Z Flip 5 is simply a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED show pinch 2640 x 1080 solution and a soft 120Hz refresh rate. Like astir Samsung phones, nan soul show is beautiful, pinch vibrant colors, crisp text, and soft scrolling and animations. But nan crease is very pronounced, particularly erstwhile compared to different flip phones for illustration nan Razr Plus, wherever it's hardly noticeable.

Cameras connected nan Z Flip 5 are beautiful akin to nan Flip 4, pinch conscionable a 12MP main camera pinch f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization, positive a 12MP ultrawide camera pinch a 123-degree section of view. However, location are immoderate improvements overall, for illustration amended colour reproduction. Samsung besides added a clear lens coating that will thief forestall lens flares successful images, and nan selfie camera has a somewhat larger sensor.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 has nan Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy spot inside, on pinch 8GB RAM and 256GB aliases 512GB storage. This intends that nan Z Flip 5 is fast, and should beryllium capable to grip beautiful overmuch thing you propulsion astatine it. It comes equipped pinch Android 13 and Samsung's One UI 5.1.1 retired of nan box.

As acold arsenic artillery life goes, it's beautiful average. It has a 3,700mAh artillery for illustration past year's Z Flip 4, which intends astir a time of artillery life pinch dense use. The telephone supports 25W accelerated charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Motorola Razr (2023)

The champion inexpensive folding phone

Why you should bargain this: Not everyone desires each features connected a foldable phone. If that’s you, this is nan 1 you want.

Who's it for: Anyone who wants a no-hassle smartphone experience.

Why we picked nan Motorola Razr (2023):

The caller Motorola Razr is each nan rage pinch its compact flip creation and no-frills features. It's easy connected nan wallet, cleanable for mundane use, and you won't person to interest astir learning galore features you whitethorn ne'er use.

It's not each sunshine and rainbows, though. The screen surface doesn't person an always-on mode, which whitethorn beryllium a bummer for immoderate users. And while nan wireless charging characteristic is there, it's not nan greatest. Plus, nan phone's processor tin struggle erstwhile it gets overloaded.

The Motorola Razr is still a awesome action for anyone looking for a fund folding phone. It's 1 of nan cheapest ways to get into foldable smartphones, making it a smart prime for anyone who wants to acquisition nan latest exertion without breaking nan bank. And let's not hide astir its unsocial and sleek creation that sets it isolated from nan modular smartphones retired there.

The Motorola Razr is an fantabulous telephone that will move heads, arsenic good arsenic a applicable telephone that's easy to use. With its flip design, you tin reply calls and nonstop texts pinch 1 manus without a hassle. It's besides perfect for anyone who wants a elemental and reliable telephone without a ton of features.

So, if you're looking for a smartphone that's affordable, unique, and easy to use, nan Motorola Razr (2023) is nan 1 for you. It's cleanable for anyone who wants to acquisition nan latest exertion without spending a fortune.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you still haven't recovered what you're looking for, past we besides person ideas astir nan best rugged phones, best phones for kids, and the champion gaming phones.

How we test

A telephone is truthful overmuch much than its spec sheet. Your full life is stored connected it, from your photos and contacts to your euphony and your favourite apps. For that reason, we return awesome attraction erstwhile we reappraisal phones to urge only nan absolute champion retired there.

We usage each telephone we reappraisal arsenic our regular driver for an extended play to trial retired each nan features. We do benchmarks, play games, return photos, plunge them successful water, and usage them until their batteries expire. Then we complaint 'em up and do it each complete again. We trial devices for illustration existent group usage devices. We're not successful immoderate stuffy laboratory performing obscure tests. We're moving astir nan cities we unrecorded successful utilizing these phones conscionable for illustration you usage your phones. Then we deliberation astir each telephone successful comparison pinch its competitors to travel to a decision: Should you bargain this telephone aliases thing else? If nan reply is "something else," we show you what to bargain instead.

Smartphone invention has peaked, and nan number of extremist caller features that travel retired each twelvemonth is shrinking. As such, erstwhile you're buying a phone, you're buying a instrumentality that will beryllium pinch you 24/7 for respective years. It's a large choice, and things for illustration apps, a merchandise ecosystem, customer support, and information should beryllium important factors successful your buying decision.

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