Should you’re making an attempt to determine that are the perfect smartphones to purchase in 2023, we have now the solutions.
We have ranked and rated the highest performers from our extensive phone reviews in a single definitive checklist. Whether or not you usually favor Apple’s iPhone, need to take a look at the newest Samsung flagship or fancy one thing completely different from the Android realm, this information may also help you determine which cellphone ought to be on the prime of your wishlist.
As with each purchaser’s information, the picks beneath are the results of numerous hours of testing by the Pocket-lint group. Nevertheless, a cellphone’s efficiency is not the one factor that we take into account when placing collectively these rankings; we place a powerful emphasis on the value tag and total worth of a tool, too.
Our picks change repeatedly, provided that new telephones launch on a regular basis, however beneath yow will discover the newest rankings.
These are the most effective telephones you should buy in 2023
Apple / Pocket-lint
Apple iPhone 14 Professional
1. Greatest total
The perfect cellphone for most individuals
Apple’s newest premium cellphone will get every part proper. From the luxurious and sturdy end, to cameras and show, it’s Apple’s greatest cellphone to this point.
- Dynamic Island may be very cool
- Wonderful digicam system
- Distinctive construct and design
- ProRAW seize is laggy
- Costly
- Nonetheless lacks USB-C
With the iPhone 14 Pro you get Apple’s common excessive ranges of expertise, design and finishes, however this yr you get one thing a little bit further: Dynamic Island.
Fairly than the cutouts for the cameras simply getting in the way in which, Apple designed the software program round it and turned it right into a characteristic. It reveals animations when you’ve got timers, music or different dwell information within the background, and you’ll work together with it too.
As at all times, the Professional and Professional Max are the costliest variations of iPhone 14, however that extra cash will get you a extra highly effective processor, an always-on OLED show, higher cameras and a premium design.
Apple continues to be avoiding USB-C on its telephones, although, making the switch of its huge ProRes and ProRAW recordsdata a bit gradual, and the facility customers on the market will seemingly must cough up further money for the Max model to make sure they’ve a very all-day battery.
Google Pixel 7 Professional
2. Greatest Android cellphone
An in depth-to-perfect Android expertise
Pixel 7 Professional builds on the muse of the Pixel 6 Professional, providing a extra refined design, gorgeous digicam efficiency and clear software program.
- Wonderful digicam efficiency
- Clear software program expertise
- Lovely, crisp show
- Aggressive worth level
- Face unlock is insecure
- Few modifications over Pixel 6 Professional
- Solely three promised platform updates
The Pixel 7 Pro is a surprising cellphone, and it greater than justified its place as runner-up in the most effective smartphone class within the Pocket-lint Awards for 2022.
Finally there’s not an enormous change from the Pixel 6 Professional, but it surely does have a extra refined design, an ideal huge show and a clear software program expertise which brings all of the Pixel goodness to the floor with none bloat or useless additions.
The digicam continues to be what defines this cellphone, taking it a step additional than earlier Pixel units by extending the zoom vary and giving entry to nearer macro photographs too.
It delivers a wonderful all-around expertise and would not value over a grand.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely
3. All-round digicam king
The head of Android telephones
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely is the most important, baddest, and most costly of the S-series flagships in 2023. With an enormous 6.8-inch, 120Hz-capable show, a 5,000mAh battery, a model new 200MP digicam, and an included S Pen, the S23 Extremely is not an enormous improve over its S22 Extremely predecessor, however the improved effectivity of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC will give it a big battery enhance — excellent for gaming or engaged on the go.
- Gorgeous giant show
- Nice design with IP68 water/mud resistant
- Actually versatile digicam system
- S Pen included
- It is costly
- Numerous software program bloat
So far as uncooked energy and software program capabilities go, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra is the top of Android telephones. It is actually extra of a refinement than a reinvention, but it surely’s a heck of a refinement, providing gorgeous construct high quality and a beautiful, giant show with quick, easy refresh charges and assist for the S Pen (which is included within the bundle).
OneUI software program provides so much on prime of the usual Android bundle, delivering a lot of probably very helpful options to the cellphone, but additionally means the cellphone comes with an enormous quantity of bloatware and pre-installed duplicate/redundant apps.
We love almost every part in regards to the Extremely although. It is a great-looking system, with excessive ranges of water and dirt resistance and wi-fi charging thrown in for enjoyable. It delivers just about every part you could possibly need from a cellphone, and it would be increased up the checklist if it wasn’t so costly
Samsung Galaxy S23+
4. On a regular basis energy
The ‘does every part’ cellphone
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ is the middle-ground flagship cellphone for early 2023, and because of this takes a extra compromising strategy to its specs. For instance, whereas it appears similar to the smaller S23, it shares the bigger storage and battery sizes of its bigger S23 Extremely counterpart. And although it lacks an S Pen, its bigger 6.7-inch show is ideal for getting work carried out on the go. This could be the most effective cellphone for most individuals.
- Loads of energy
- Nice show
- Lengthy software program assist and fast updates
- Nice design and construct
- Charging speeds aren’t thrilling
- Not a lot has modified from the S22+
It is simple to see why Samsung stays on prime of loads of patrons’ lists when in search of the most effective smartphone, notably with the S23+. It is received the display house that the common S23 lacks, together with an even bigger battery and a worth that is extra engaging than the S23 Extremely. You get flagship energy and efficiency, and its solely weaknesses are its battery and charging speeds.
Samsung stays probably the greatest Android producers at preserving its telephones updated with the newest safety patches and helps its telephones for as much as 4 years with main software program updates, making certain you may have the newest options and software program even when your cellphone is 3-4 years outdated.
Cameras ship colour-rich pictures with a lot of element, nighttime mode is even higher than earlier than and its design is glossy, slim and fashionable. That is with out mentioning the water and dirt resistance. At IP68 you may get safety towards any widespread causes of water injury.
OnePlus
OnePlus 11 5G
5. Worth flagship
A robust cellphone with out the cost
OnePlus went again to its roots for the newest flagship cellphone, delivering a quick, easy cellphone that does not break the bank.
- Gorgeous QHD show with quick refresh charges
- Bloat-free software program with a lot of customisation
- Quick efficiency
- Actually fast battery refills
- No wi-fi charging
- Water proofing and sturdiness not the best
With the OnePlus 11, the corporate took a brief step again to give attention to what actually issues within the OnePlus cellphone. Fairly than attempt to pack in completely every part – Samsung-style – it opted to present us the most effective of an important issues: efficiency and show. In these two areas, specifically, the OnePlus 11 completely delivers. It is received one of many nicest shows in the marketplace, is tremendous speedy and responsive, and options the signature customisable software program we have come to count on from OnePlus. Though, in its present type, it is a barely tweaked model of the Oppo ColorOS 13 software program.
OnePlus additionally noticed match to implement actually quick wired charging, together with the facility adapter within the field with 100W SuperVOOC charges to present you a full refill from 1-100 per cent in below 25 minutes, which is not dangerous in any respect given the 5000mAh battery capability. Cameras are respectable sufficient too, though arguably nonetheless the one space it would not fairly compete with Samsung or Google.
In the long run, although, while you’re paying this little for a correct flagship cellphone, there are at all times going to be areas it will not match as much as its big-name competitors. On this occasion, we predict it is a compromise price making.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi 13 Professional
6. Quickest charging cellphone
The Xiaomi 13 Professional is a robust flagship cellphone with probably the greatest main cameras we have ever seen in a smartphone. Mixed with a luxurious ceramic again, a 19 minute full cost and a surprising show, it makes for an ideal system.
- Stupendously fast battery charging speeds
- Main 1-inch digicam sensor delivers nice pictures
- Huge, vibrant QHD+ 120Hz show
- Quick, responsive efficiency
- MIUI introduces pointless obstacles in software program expertise
- Ultrawide and telephoto cameras aren’t as robust as main
- It is costly
With the Xiaomi 13 Pro, the smartphone maker has delivered one thing of a diamond within the smartphone market. It is received the brightest QHD+ decision show we have seen in a smartphone, delivers distinctive velocity and fluidity and has the quickest wired charging at the moment out there by means of a single port. With its 100W wired charger you may get a full cost from empty in simply 19 minutes. Whenever you mix these components with a tool constructed from ceramic, you get a premium, luxurious expertise.
The digicam expertise actually makes this cellphone although, with the 1-inch sensor delivering pictures with nice low-light efficiency, robust particulars and lifelike textures. If the ultrawide and telephoto lens had been as robust, it will be higher, and the MIUI software program expertise introduces some very unnecessarily unintuitive components to the interface. It may be tamed, fortunately, but it surely takes a little bit work. The costly price ticket cannot be ignored both.
Nonetheless, its foibles did not cease us from genuinely having fun with utilizing the cellphone and wanting to maintain going again to it. If solely due to the speedy refills and the instruments out there within the digicam.
Asus/Pocket-lint
Asus ROG Telephone 7
7. Greatest gaming/multimedia cellphone
A beast of a cellphone, from gaming to media
Asus ROG Telephone 7 is the highest gaming handset for 2023, delivering market-leading efficiency, glorious gaming software program and dependable, all-day velocity and battery life.
- Quick, constant efficiency for lengthy intervals
- Huge, vibrant and vibrant show
- The perfect smartphone audio system round
- Lengthy battery life
- Huge and heavy system
- Costly
- Second and third cameras aren’t nice
Gaming telephones have traditionally been one thing of a distinct segment product, however with the ROG Phone 7, Asus has improved an already profitable system. A lot so, that we would advocate it to anybody whose foremost precedence is a superb media and gaming expertise.
The loudspeakers on both facet of the show are merely the most effective on any cellphone at the moment in the marketplace. Every is individually powered and, mixed, they provide loud, well-balanced sound with a lot of bass and good stereo separation. Add that to a implausible, huge, vibrant show, and you’ll’t actually go flawed.
It is received a lot of energy too, delivering quick and lag-free efficiency no matter what sort of recreation you need to play on it. With the improved cooling and thermal effectivity, it should ship that efficiency for lengthy intervals with out choking.
There are a few downsides although, particularly: its hefty construct and the hefty price ticket that comes with it. It is received one good digicam, however the different two aren’t actually as much as scratch from a flagship viewpoint, but it surely’s been an absolute pleasure to make use of.
Honor/Pocket-lint
Honor Magic 5 Professional
8. The choice powerhouse
Energy, efficiency and digicam from an underdog
Honor’s new flagship cellphone is an actual transfer ahead for the corporate because it makes an attempt to tackle the large opponents on this house. Its show is beautiful, its cameras carry out properly throughout the board and it’s a lot highly effective for something you throw at it. Its design and UI should still divide opinion however total there’s so much to like right here.
- Good design and construct
- Unimaginable, vibrant show
- Highly effective {hardware}
- Spectacular digicam efficiency
- Some design selections will divide opinion
- 4K video is proscribed
- Nonetheless some bloat
The Honor Magic 5 Pro reveals – greater than something – that Honor is again within the recreation. Its makes an attempt at difficult the big-name Android producers have resulted in a cellphone which is massively highly effective, has a surprising show and three nice cameras that carry out properly throughout the board.
With its big digicam island on the again, and top-heavy really feel, the design will definitely divide opinion as will the marginally heavy-handed strategy to software program and bloat, however the Honor Magic 5 Professional will get much more proper than it will get flawed.
Given its specs and capabilities, the £949 worth places it comfortably below what related big-name units, making it nice worth for cash particularly when you think about the actual fact Honor will provide you with three main Android updates and as much as 5 years of safety patches.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
9. The perfect foldable cellphone
An lovable, sensible clamshell
$899 $999 Save $100
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 retains what works about its clamshell foldable type issue — its lovable, space-saving design and total versatility — and improves every part else. The show, cameras, and total resilience of the hinge are higher this yr, and the brand new colors are simply divine.
- Premium design and construct high quality
- Nice show
- IPX8 water resistance
- Improved hinge over earlier fashions
- Lengthy-term sturdiness continues to be a problem
- Underwhelming digicam system
- Battery life is not nice
Of all of the folding telephones in the marketplace, it is the Z Flip 4 which we predict delivers essentially the most compelling choice for patrons. It is as a lot a style merchandise as it’s a piece of tech, due to its cute design and plethora of color and magnificence choices. Add to that the stable aluminium body and IPX8 water resistance, and it is a cellphone that may final.
Our solely long-term concern from a sturdiness standpoint is the interior versatile show. Earlier generations have typically worn or peeled aside with months of use, and we’re but to see if that is the identical for the newest technology.
With the flagship processing energy, respectable battery life, a vibrant show, a lot of customisation within the software program and digicam efficiency, it is a very robust bundle and one that permits you to have your cake and eat it. You may have a folding cellphone, with out struggling any vital compromises on the characteristic/efficiency facet. Plus, it isn’t eye-wateringly costly.
How to decide on a cellphone
When in search of a brand new flagship cellphone, there’s so much to think about. Beneath, then, we’ll have some recommendation on what you need to be in search of in every of the important thing {hardware} areas, in addition to whether or not an iPhone or Android cellphone is best for you.
What’s the newest iPhone?
The 2022/23 household of Apple’s smartphone is the iPhone 14. Like in earlier generations, the iPhone has a number of fashions to select from – Plus, normal, Professional or Professional Max – however the expertise is pretty related throughout all of the units. That is true of older iPhone fashions, too, with robust assist on the software program entrance and constant use of design for a number of generations of units.
That signifies that in case you purchase the iPhone 14, for instance, you understand it will be supported for a few years. You additionally know that the {hardware} options on it aren’t going to vary drastically the following yr, as Apple appears for consistency throughout its units.
That additionally signifies that shopping for an older iPhone mannequin stays a superb choice, and why we thought-about each the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 collection for this information. Each will prevent cash and you will not miss out on many options in comparison with a more recent equal.
Is Android higher than iPhone and iOS?
Android’s huge benefit over Apple is the big variety of choices. There is a better vary of producers, that means many alternative worth factors and designs, however all with the familiarity of the underlying Android software program, so there is no actual studying curve on the subject of utilizing it.
Android producers are sometimes extra aggressive with new applied sciences, pushing new digicam options upfront of Apple, however typically solely maintain a design for one yr, earlier than releasing a brand new and completely different mannequin. Android additionally is not as per software program assist.
Though most units will get two or three variations of Android, the timescales are by no means as tight as they’re for Apple – however costs do fall quicker, so good offers on newer fashions are often out there.
Shows and sizes
The show will outline the scale of the system you get. Bigger shows are nice for consuming content material, best for watching TV or films and sometimes most popular by avid gamers.
However bigger shows imply a bulkier cellphone – and also you may discover it is simply not as sensible to make use of. Many producers, nevertheless, make the most important cellphone their greatest cellphone.
Not all flagship units supply prime resolutions of Quad HD or 4K, with some sticking to an ample decision, like 1080p. That is high quality, although, as you must look intently to see the distinction intimately. What’s extra necessary is show high quality.
With most flagship telephones providing an OLED show, there aren’t big variations, however some supply curved edges which may make a bigger cellphone simpler to make use of.
What’s emerged as a extra engaging choice just lately is the refresh charge. Prime telephones at the moment are pushing 120Hz in an try to make all content material look smoother. It isn’t nearly gaming, it is about supporting scrolling in apps and residential screens, too.
Core {hardware} and storage
Flagship telephones will usually have the newest {hardware} in them. Whereas Apple gives its personal {hardware}, Android chooses from a variety of suppliers – however many supply Qualcomm. Samsung will use Exynos and Qualcomm, and a few may vary into MediaTek – though that is normally reserved for mid-range or entry-level units.
Storage is necessary, too. Low storage will convey the value down, however fewer and fewer producers are providing microSD card enlargement today. Meaning that you must purchase a tool with sufficient storage – contemplating that the choice of 4K and now 8K video is utilizing up extra storage than ever.
After all, cloud storage is much more built-in today, however keep in mind that nothing is free – if you wish to retailer loads of images, you may should pay for it.
Cameras
Cameras are the place telephones can differ essentially the most, and, typically, the digicam is essentially the most mentioned facet of any cellphone. Flagship units have the most effective cameras. From Apple to ZTE, prime telephones have extra or higher cameras.
A very powerful factor to think about, nevertheless, is an effective foremost digicam. If the primary digicam takes good images, meaning most of your footage shall be good. If you cannot get a superb regular picture from it, it is no use having heaps extra cameras that additionally offer you weak images.
Extremely-wide angle is straightforward to make use of and creates nice results, telephoto lenses get you numerous nearer – however the high quality of telephoto cameras varies considerably.
Periscope lenses have gotten extra widespread, that means 5x and 10x zoom is now an ideal choice on some fashions, as properly.
But additionally keep in mind that megapixels do not mechanically make a greater digicam. Many mid-range telephones use a high-resolution foremost digicam which ends up in poor images. Extra necessary is how the photographs are processed, with AI and computational images now capable of make an enormous distinction over the core {hardware}.
There are at all times loads of gimmicks, too – professional modes you may by no means use, and seize choices you may by no means hassle with. A very powerful factor stays the point-and-shoot efficiency, as that is what you may use more often than not.
Battery life
Flagship telephones typically aren’t the most effective performers on the subject of battery life. Designed for efficiency, the intention is to ship the most effective expertise, to not maintain your cellphone alive for per week.
There’ll at all times be telephones within the mid-range that carry out higher – decrease energy, smaller show, decrease decision or decrease brightness – together with a bodily bigger battery, to outlast flagship telephones.
However quicker charging signifies that, with the appropriate charger (which you might need to purchase individually), you may get your cellphone again to full cost very quickly in any respect.
Is it straightforward to modify from iPhone to Android?
Switching between Android manufacturers is straightforward – so long as you are backing as much as Google – and switching between Apple and Android is not too arduous, both. Certain, there are some Apple companies you may’t get on an Android cellphone, like iMessage, however on the entire, most apps are the identical.
Should you’re already embedded throughout the Apple ecosystem, you may seemingly be satisfied to remain there, however, it is price taking a look at the place you save your knowledge and what companies you utilize, as third-party choices make switching platforms so much simpler.
You may also take a look at our information to Samsung Smart Switch, which helps you to simply bounce from iPhone, in addition to our wider Android v iPhone comparison. Apple then again has Transfer to iOS, an app that permits you to transfer from Android to iPhone.
Should you already know which cellphone working system you may be going with, it’s possible you’ll discover it simpler to zoom in on our best Android phone or best iPhone guides. And if the costs of the picks beneath are a little bit steep, it’s possible you’ll need to take into account testing a mid-range smartphone or entry-level mobile device.
Trending Merchandise
