The best iPhone available right now
PhoneArena Rating: 8.7/10
The iPhone 15 Pro Max looks stunning in Natural Titanium
If you're looking for the best phone and you don't have a preference between iOS and Android, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the your only option at the moment (at least until the next Galaxy flagship family launches). This model checks all the boxes, and except for the somewhat higher price, it doesn't have any real drawbacks.
Apple decided to change things around a bit with the Pro lineup this year, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max now comes with a titanium frame! The phone also features the next-gen A17 Pro chipset, poised to climb on the top of every mobile benchmark. Another big change is the newly developed Tetraprism camera system. It more or less exploits the same concept as a periscope zoom lens but uses one prism to bounce light around and offer longer focal length, in the case of the iPhone 15 Pro Max it is 120mm or 5x optical zoom.
Of course, this year marks the big transition from Lightning to USB-C, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max features the faster USB 3.0 (10 Gbps) standard. Last but not least, there's a brand-new Action button replacing the Mute switch. It's a programmable button and you can do a lot of things with it, check out our dedicated Action Button explainer article to learn more about it.
All in all, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best phone you can get at the moment, and it's reflected in its price tag. The phone starts at $1,199 - the most expensive iPhone to date (although the base storage is now 256GB, so the price remains the same if we compare it to the same storage option last year).
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The best Android phone
PhoneArena Rating: 9.2/10 (Legacy rating)
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best Android phone at the moment
If you're in the Android camp, your best phone bet is the Galaxy S23 Ultra. This phone has an updated, next-generation Dynamic OLED screen that can reach a record-breaking peak brightness of 1750 nits. The screen is an LTPO OLED that can switch between 1 Hz and 120 Hz to save battery life and still show smooth animations when needed.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra also has something the iPhone is missing: the mighty S Pen stylus. Thanks to this little pen, the S23 Ultra is a productivity champion. You can also use it for drawing and writing; it's super sensitive and also has its own slot inside the phone.
If you were impressed with the camera system on the Galaxy S22 Ultra, prepare to be blown away by the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The phone has a huge 200 MP sensor, which gives it a lot of flexibility. You can combine pixels to make 50 MP photos, or you can take 12 MP photos that work well at night.
Also, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has the newest and most powerful Qualcomm chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which has been overclocked for Galaxy phones. It's one of the fastest Android phone we've ever tested, and by far the fastest Galaxy phone out there.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has the same 5000 mAh battery as the S22 Ultra and maintains the 1440p resolution. You can count on the battery life, and there are several ways to save it if you need to. In our tests the Galaxy S23 Ultra showed a clear improvement in the battery life department compared to its predecessor. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is without a doubt the best phone Android can offer at the moment, and also the best phone to buy if you're a Samsung fan. For a more detailed look, you can check out our full Galaxy S23 Ultra review.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
The flagship Android with the purest Google experience and AI magic onboard
PhoneArena Rating: 7.9/10
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The Pixel 8 Pro is full of AI magic
Phones are so similar nowadays that you'd be hard pressed to find a single original feature that stands out from one brand to another. But there are exceptions to this. Behold the Pixel 8 Pro! The latest Google flagship not only continues to expand Pixel's arsenal of cool software and hardware features, but also bets heavily on AI.
If you want something different, with clever tricks such as the ability to erase objects from photos, manipulate audio, unblur faces in images and videos, alongside generative AI wallpapers, a thermometer, a custom built SoC, and SEVEN years of software support, the Pixel 8 Pro is the right phone for you.
The Pixel 8 Pro offers the cleanest and most genuine Android experience that you won't get with other Android flagships. There are things to improve, for sure, but Google is closer and closer to the big guys, Samsung and Apple, and they will have to pay attention. Competition is a great thing, and kudos to Google for bringing the fight to the veterans in the business.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Simply the best foldable phone out there
PhoneArena Rating: 9.0/10 (Legacy rating)
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is at the forefront of the foldable revolution
The Galaxy Z Fold 5 may not have a significant upgrade compared to its predecessor, but it is arguably the ultimate smartphone for tech enthusiasts who want a device that can do it all. It can function as a phone, tablet, or even emulate a desktop PC. This year's model comes with a new and revised hinge, that closes with almost zero gap.
The device comes equipped with numerous polished power user features, including split-screen and windowed multitasking, a fixed taskbar with up to 4 recent apps, Samsung DeX, and stylus support, giving users the ability to do everything they desire with Android. Plus, this year's model comes equipped with the latest Snapdragon chipset, so you won't lack power.
Even if you just want to enjoy media or play games on a larger screen that is still comfortable to hold, the Z Fold 5 is an excellent choice. This is the best phone for people who want to be on the forefront of technology, and also do some serious work on their phones.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
The best flip phone
PhoneArena Rating: 8.0/10 (Legacy rating)
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the best clamshell phone out there, now with functional cover screen
In 2020, the Galaxy Flip series was introduced, offering a fresh take on the classic clamshell flip phone, which had been popular during the 2000s. This new style of foldable phone was a major technological achievement. Samsung had to solve a lot of engineering problems to come up with this new shape.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the latest iteration of this clamshell idea, and it features the flexible OLED screens that are at the forefront of the foldable revolution. This phone is all about refinement; it takes everything its predecessor did well, and amplifies it.
It's faster, it can last longer, and its cover screen can now do a lot more stuff, plus it's bigger at 3.4 inches, and better. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is now a true flagship that's not hampered by its innovative design. If you want to get a taste of the foldable phone, but don't like the huge Galaxy Z Fold (and its price tag), the Z Flip 5 is the best phone for you. It's even cheaper than some more "rigid" and non-folding Android phones out there.
Asus Zenfone 10
PhoneArena Rating: 8.5/10 (Legacy rating)
The best compact Android phone on the market
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The Asus Zenfone 10 sticks to the winning formula of its predecessor
The compact Android flagship is dead! Wait, Asus doesn't think so. If you long for the old Xperia Compact days, there's an alternative, and it is just great. Asus has been perfecting its Zenfone line in the past couple of years, and the Zenfone 10 is the pinnacle of all that effort.
Despite being criticized for its derivative design (it looks identical to the Zenfone 9), this little fellow sticks to the winning formula of its predecessor. There are some upgrades, don't get us wrong, the phone now comes with wireless charging support, which is a feet in and of itself, given that Asus has managed to keep the same exact size.
There are almost no cons to this model, and if you want to nitpick, there's no microSD card slot, and no telephoto camera, but these are absolutely not necessary. The user experience with the Zenfone 10 is just great, and the only drawback here is that the phone is not more widely available. The Zenfone 10 is the best phone for compact enthusiasts and one of the best Android phones out there. Period.
Sony Xperia 1 V
The first phone with a revolutionary mobile camera sensor
PhoneArena Rating: 8.0/10 (Legacy rating)
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The Xperia 1 V is the best Sony can deliver
Do you like notches and cutouts in your smartphone display? You don't? Well, there's one brand that stubbornly sticks to its guns and keeps on designing 21:9 phones with great displays, professional-grade software, innovative hardware, and a ton of features that are lacking from other phones. That's right, Sony!
Sony's Xperia 1 V is the pinnacle of what Sony could do in 2023. It's a very camera-focused phone, with three different apps that can either turn it into a manual shooter, a vlogging camera, or a cinematic mini rig. It still features the impressive telephoto lens from last year that moves physically to offer true optical zoom between 3.5x and 5.2x (85 mm and 125 mm). The biggest innovation here is the all-new Exmor T sensor that uses dual-layer transistor-pixel technology to offer low levels of noise and better light gathering capabilities.
This phone has it all: a 3.5mm audio jack, a microSD card slot, great battery life, wireless charging, premium design—the list just goes on and on. The only real drawback is the price. Sony is still asking a hefty $1,399 for this phone at launch (much better than the $1,599 price tag of its predecessor), but the good news is that just a few months later the price dropped significantly to a more pleasant level.
OnePlus 11
Back to the flagship-killer roots of OnePlus
PhoneArena Rating: 6.8/10
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The OnePlus 11 could be the phoenix rising from the ashes for OnePlus
OnePlus used to be great, but then it became greedy. The flagship-killer days of the great OnePlus One are long gone. But are they really? The company is taking a sharp turn with the OnePlus 11 in a bid to return the brand to its flagship-killing glory.
There's no Pro version here; the OnePlus 11 is the only model in the lineup, and it aims to do what the original first model did back then. Offer a ton of features at a great price. This phone starts at $699, and there's little to no competition at that price range, if you want the latest hardware (and software).
The OnePlus 11 is one of the cheapest phones with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, and the only thing that comes close is the vanilla Galaxy S22, but at $100 more. The OnePlus 11 comes with a new design, a Hasselblad stamped camera system, and a super-fast charging. It might be the best budget flagship out there.
Google Pixel 7a
The best budget Android flagship
PhoneArena Rating: 8.5/10 (Legacy rating)
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The Pixel 7a is just as good as its full-fledged siblings but much more affordable
The A series in the Google Pixel range has always brought a great value for the money, and the Pixel 7a is no exception. Granted, it's a tad more expensive than the Pixel 6a but also brings onboard some flagship features, such as the Tensor G2 chipset (the same ticks inside the vanilla Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro), Face unlock, wireless charging, and a 90Hz display refresh rate.
All these goodies come in a similar design package to the core Pixel 7, but cost just $499. And even though this is a $50 bump compared to the predecessor, the deal is still very sweet. If you already have the Pixel 6a, then there's no need to worry about upgrading. But if you're coming from an older Pixel, this phone is a great deal - the best affordable Android flagship at the moment.
Apple iPhone 13 mini
The best (and last) compact iPhone
PhoneArena Rating:9.0/10 (Legacy rating)
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The iPhone 13 mini is the last compact iPhone
The Apple iPhone 12 mini was pretty good and all, but it kind of lacked in the battery department. The 13 series remedied that issue. So the iPhone 13 mini has the same powerful processor as the 13 Pro, but is a tiny little phone that stays out of the way most of the time.
And, for $600, it's pretty hard to beat — a 5.4-inch display is OLED with excellent colors and brightness, a thin and compact body, superb performance, and pretty respectable cameras. There's no alternative on that front - the iPhone SE is terribly outdated, and aims to capitalize on nostagia, and the iPhone 12 mini has terrible battery life.
If you tend to two-thumb type on your phone often, the 13 mini is probably not your cup of tea. If you want a phone that can fit any pocket and can bring the power and performance if you happen to need it throughout your day — that's the contender right here.
Honorable mentions
It's hard to pick just top 10 phones as the best ones, especially in 2023. There are some pretty niche devices that are worth mentioning, and that's what we're going to do in the next few lines. These are top phones that for some reason couldn't make it into our top 10 list but they absolutely deserve your attention.
OnePlus Open
The best foldable debut of the year
PhoneArena Rating: 7.5/10
(Image credit - PhoneArena) Could this be the Galaxy Z fold killer?
When OnePlus teased the public that it's been working on a foldable everyone got excited. And for good reason. Even though the company practically own the Oppo brand and probably has access to some really cool foldable designs and blueprints, the OnePlus Open is a great debut and a feat in and of itself.
OnePlus' first foldable comes with a lot of bells and whistles, actually - all of them. There are two 2K screens that are super-bright and can do adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, the latest Snapdragon chipset is onboard coupled with 16GB of RAM, the design is super streamlined with minimal crease, and last but not least, the camera system is one of the best in a foldable to date.
To top it all up, OnePlus offers a great trade-in option: you can return ANY phone in ANY condition and receive a minimum $200 off the $1,699.99 list price of the OnePlus Open.
Google Pixel Fold
Google's attempt to make a competitive foldable phone
PhoneArena Rating: 8.5/10 (Legacy rating)
The Google Pixel Fold has a very interesting aspect ratio
In a foldable smartphone world dominated by Samsung devices, it's refreshing to see another big company deciding to step in and take some chances. The Pixel Fold is a great first generation device, and it gets many things right. The strange 6:5 aspect ratio of the main display may seem odd at first, but it contributes not only to a very tablet-like experience when the phone is unfolded, but also gives Google the chance to equip the Pixel Fold with a very usable cover screen.
The battery is great for such a compact and light foldable, the Tensor chip performs well, and the camera is a typical Pixel affair. This phone is here to stay, and there will be a Pixel Fold 2. Meanwhile, the original Pixel Fold will receive timely updates and become a corner stone for Google's attempt at the foldable smartphone. Granted, this device is not cheap, but of you want the clean Android experience with a lot of features, tailored specifically for this form factor, the Pixel Fold is a great choice.
Sony Xperia Pro-I
Pro camera in a smartphone
PhoneArena Rating: 8.0/10 (Legacy rating)
(Image credit - PhoneArena) There can be only one Camera phone!
There's much talk about camera phones nowadays, and many manufacturers want to coin their models as DSLR equivalents. There's only one phone that does it right, though: the Sony Xperia Pro-I. This model comes with a 1-inch sensor taken from Sony's compact RX-100VII camera, and if you're into photography, this is one of the best phones for you.
Perhaps it's the phone's impressive camera capabilities, its surprisingly user-friendly design, or the overall unconventional concept behind it. The Sony Xperia Pro-I is unlike any other phone released in 2021.
Smartphones have replaced traditional cameras as the most popular way for most people to take photos. However, there have been surprisingly few phones made for professionals that offer the level of fine-tuning that is needed for essential features. The Sony Xperia Pro-I occupies that niche.
Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate
The best gaming phone
PhoneArena Rating: 9.0/10 (Legacy rating)
(Image credit - PhoneArena) Asus ROG 7 Ultimate - The best gaming phone on the market
Gaming phones are a bit of a meme, but it’s nice to see Asus fully embracing it. The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is just what it says on the tin - the ultimate gaming phone.
It wouldn’t be a “gaming phone” if it didn’t have absolutely silly specs, too, and the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate delivers. 16 GB of RAM on a smartphone? 165 Hz screen? External cooler? Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2? Yes, yes, yes, and how else would you have it?
It’s a niche phone, absolutely, but it’s hard to keep it away from a “best” selection. After all, it is probably the (or among the) most powerful Android phone(s) out on the market right now. It could be world's best phone, if you ask the avid gamer. Even if you don’t need all the power — you definitely get the bragging rights.
If the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is a bit too much for you, go for a more toned-down version - there are quite a few iterations in the ROG universe. They're all just as good, there are also limited editions for Diablo fans, a Batman Edition, so if you want, you can go full-nerd with this.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
The best midrange phone
PhoneArena Rating: 8.5/10 (Legacy rating)
(Image credit - PhoneArena) The Galaxy A54 offers amazing bang for your bucks and a premium design
Samsung perfected one of the best-selling midrange phones and made it even better. The Galaxy A54 5G now looks like a flagship, borrowing its design from the Galaxy S23 series. It boasts a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display that delivers vivid colors and sharp details, making it a joy to use for entertainment, gaming, and work. And it boasts a 120 Hz display refresh rate!
The phone is powered by an octa-core processor and 6GB of RAM, which provides sufficient power for most everyday tasks, including multitasking and running multiple apps simultaneously. There's also 128GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card. (There's a 8GB/256GB version available outside of the US as well).
This Samsung mid-range phone is one of the best budget phones you can buy. That's because it doesn't really make you compromise with anything. The Galaxy A54 is a great value-for-money device, and that's why it is even Samsung's best selling phone worldwide. You can find one on a deal for much lower than the $450 MSRP these days. It's a steal!
- Best best mid-range phones right now
Best phones - benchmarks and test results
Below you'll find all the benchmarks and nerdy stuff, if you want to compare those phones but don't want to be bothered to check out each and every individual review. Let's start with the display tests.
- Screen measurements
- Color charts
Now moving to performance, let's see which one is the fastest out there.
And finally, the battery. A phone can be amazing on all fronts but if the battery dies prematurely, it's as good as a door stopper, right? Here are all the battery tests for the best phones you can get.
- Web Browsing
- Video Streaming
- 3D Gaming
- Charging time
PhoneArena Charging Test Results:
Why should you trust this buying guide
The Author
Mariyan Slavov is a technology enthusiast and expert in mobile phones. With a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, Mariyan is the former Editor-in-Chief of PCWorld Bulgaria and currently writes for PhoneArena. He enjoys writing about emerging technologies such as graphene batteries, holographic smartphone displays, smart contact lenses, and nanotechnology. In his free time, Mariyan can be found playing guitar, practicing Japanese, or hitting the running track.
The Publisher
PhoneArena has been around since 2001 and, as the name suggests, was intended as a platform where phones can be explored, compared, and pitted against each other. We never stopped building and evolving our expertise and with our 20-some years of experience we serve an audience of over 5 million monthly US readers.
The Approach
We believe that there is not one true phone that is “the best” as each user has their unique needs and preferences. Through our wide range of testing procedures and review approaches, we try to find where each phone shines and what it lacks, and we strictly follow our rating guidelines. We spice it up with our professional opinion and empower you to make an informed decision on which phone is “the best” for you!
How to choose the best phone for you in 2023
So, which is the best cell phone? After all of the devices you've seen on these list, you're probably wondering how do you pick the best one for you? Well, as you should know, everyone has different needs from their smartphones. Some are into photography and need the best camera smartphone there is. Some want the best screen and performance. And some are more modest and want a more affordable, yet all around good and reliable smartphone. On this list there are great camera phones, like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the Sony Xperia 1 V. The best performance and screens are once again found in the Samsung and Apple.
When it comes to functionality or quirkiness, you will find it in Samsung's foldable Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 phones. Example of an affordable, yet good smartphone, are the Galaxy A54 5G, the iPhone 13 mini, and the OnePlus 11. The 13 mini is one of the few compact phones left, and it is actually an excellent device to have, as long as you're not looking for a battery champ.
Consider all we've spoken about in this list carefully, and when you're wondering which phone to pick, ask yourself what are the main features I need daily. That mentality should make your decision a lot easier.
How we test the best phones
We won't lie, we're putting our review phones through many, many tests. The include display, performance, and battery life tests, among others. We are checking every screen's color temperatures, brightness, we are checking the performance of its processor and memory, and we are running days worth of tests to determine how much the battery lasts in different conditions.
Still, real-life conditions are just as, if not even more important. That's why we make sure that we always spend enough time with the devices we review so we can say with certainty what are their strengths and weaknesses. Cameras are very important in phones too, so we put these to the test in many conditions in our goal to determine which one wins and which one is still behind in the smartphone photography race.
Should you go for Android or iOS when choosing the best phone
Android or iOS - this is the question! (Image credit - PhoneArena)
The safe answer to this question is to go for a platform that is familiar to you. For example, if you've been using an Android phone your whole life, an iPhone will be quite an adjustment, and vice versa. Still, you should consider what phones your close friends and family, the people that you're going to text and share files with, are using. If most of them are using an iPhone, AirDrop will be a very missed feature once you switch to Android. If you have a MacBook or an iPad, getting an iPhone is the most logical thing, as it will allow you to stay in the 'ecosystem'. But Apple's iOS doesn't let you share files via Bluetooth-only to any device, so if that's a feature you use often, then an iPhone is a no no.
When it comes to customization and freedom, Android was and still is king. iOS 17 is set to allow for more iPhone customization by the user, but we doubt it will go to the lengths Android has gone. Android also allows you to download and open files more easily, and supports more types of these. That's another important feature if you're either a gaming or app enthusiast.
But the elephant in the room is the fact that iPhone users tend to hold onto their phones much longer than people with Android phones. That's mainly because the long-term software optimization of iOS phones is superior to Android phones. Also, iPhones get major OS updates for many years, while most Android brands only give you two to three years of software updates. Apple's phones also tend to stay fast and unproblematic for longer, which as you may have heard isn't the case with most Android-running phones.
However, you should also consider what you get for the money you spend. Here, the mid-range Android phone market is offering you phones with many flagship features for much cheaper than Apple. That's a fact that shouldn't be overlooked. Of course there's also a downside to this lower class and lower price tag type of phones. These tend to loose their value with time much quicker than iPhones.
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