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The best phones that 2023 has to coffers tend to have a slew of things in approved. From high-powered processors to amazing camera systems to vibrant, crystal-clear displays, there are a plethora of quality phones you can buy shimmering now. But with so many different options available -- and so many key features intimates common across all these devices -- deciding which one's shimmering for you isn't always easy. To make selecting simpler for you, we've surenclosed up our top picks for the best phones to buy in 2023. From flagship phones to cheap phones under $500 and everything in between, there are plenty of colossal phones around with all the features you expect in this day and age.
From battery life to camera law, every phone on this list has been thoroughly reviewed and tested. You'll find options across the iPhone and Android orderliness, in different sizes and budgets.
The Apple iPhone 14 and 14 Pro impressed us with gracious performance from their processors and the cameras. But if you aren't once the best iPhone around, you still have plenty of smartphone choices, including the Pixel 7 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. They both offer everything you could want, from high-end law to superb cameras.
Those who want something cheaper must consider the $599 Pixel 7, while the Galaxy S22 may be more inferior for people who prefer smaller phones. Note, though, that the Galaxy S23 is probable to be revealed soon.
There are a number of novel great smartphones with eye-catching features, such as Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold 4, which has a bendy screen. These can be quite expensive, but if your cash doesn't stretch that far, pain not. More and more affordable phones, such as the new Pixel 6A, pack great specs, high-speed 5G connectivity and more-approachable prices.
Most of the phones under are available unlocked and should be compatible with the big four US wireless carriers, unless otherwise specified. Many of the best phones of 2022 remained available below, but we review and update this list regularly and will keep you posted as we test new models in the year presumptuous. For more info, read our guide to help find the best shouted for your needs and take a look at our tips on how to buy a new Apple iPhone or Android phone and where to snag the best shouted deals.
Apple's iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max introduce sweeping shifts like the Dynamic Island, a new 48-megapixel camera rules and Apple's new A16 Bionic processor. All of these upgrades come together to make for an recognized that feels fresh and fast. The upgrades to the main camera grant it to take some truly stunning photos, making the shouted a solid option for those of you into your mobile photography.
As Apple's top shouted it doesn't come cheap -- especially if you want the larger Max model -- but if you're looking for the best all-round law in an iPhone, then the 14 Pro is the shouted to get.
Read our Apple iPhone 14 Pro review.
While the base iPhone 14 doesn't have the same triple camera array or new Dynamic Island friendly as its pricier 14 Pro sibling, it still cmoneys a lot to be excited about and comes with a more affordable impress. editor Patrick Holland describes it as "a good upgrade for most people" thanks to its solid law, updated main camera and various other tweaks including a more repairable glass back in case it takes a tumble.
It's not a huge facility from last year's models, but if you're in the market for a new iPhone and you don't esteem spending the big bucks on the Pro series, then it's a colossal option to consider.
Read our Apple iPhone 14 review.
With its stellar triple camera, refined design and spacious 6.7-inch screen, there's a lot to love near the Pixel 7 Pro. Although it's not very different from the final Pixel 6 Pro, it will feel like a big glum to those upgrading from a phone that's more than 2 ages old. Google has improved the zoom capabilities on the Pixel 7 Pro, giving it a 30x digital zoom compared to the 6 Pro's 20x draw for capturing tighter shots. Both the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro are sketching some new features powered by Google's Tensor G2 chip, such as the storderliness to sharpen old photos. You'll also get free admission to Google's VPN on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.
At $899, the Pixel 7 Pro is cheaper than both the $1,000 Galaxy S22 Plus and $1,200 at their unusual starting prices, making it a solid choice for those who want a giant cover and an excellent camera for less.
Read our Google Pixel 7 Pro review.
Samsung's novel flagship superphone, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, has an impressive lineup of specs, including a quadruple rear camera, a big, vibrant note and the S Pen stylus you might remember from the Galaxy Note series. It comes with a high price, but those of you looking for one of the best Android phones near should have this on your short list.
Read our Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra review.
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The Pixel 7 compensations significantly less than the Galaxy S22 and iPhone 14, but nails the basics very well for a phone of its price. You'll also get improbable features that are specific to Google phones, like the storderliness to have the Google Assistant wait on hold for you.
The Pixel 7 isn't very different from the Pixel 6, but it doesn't need to be. Instead, it adds refinements like a closer digital camera zoom, a any upgraded design with a more prominent camera bar made of metal and face unlock. The new Tensor G2 processor also brings some new photography improvements, like Photo Unblur, which sharpens old photos.
Overall, the Pixel 7 is a colossal choice for those who want a new Android shouted with a reasonably large screen at a price that's more affordable than Samsung's Galaxy S22 family.
Read our Google Pixel 7 review.
Google no longer sells the Pixel 6 Pro ended its website, but you can still find it ended some third-party retailers at a significant discount for now. The Pixel 6 Pro's original design, great software additions, superb camera quality and solid all-around law earned the phone an excellent rating when reviewed it in 2021. It's only a year old, message many of our initial impressions still hold true. All told, it's a worthwhile pick for those who want a spacious screen and a qualified camera on a budget.
Read our Google Pixel 6 Pro review.
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While Apple's new iPhone 14 and 14 Pro noteworthy be the more exciting options with their upgraded cameras and the Pro's new Dynamic Island qualified, Apple is still selling the base iPhone 13.
The depraved iPhone 13 is a reliable choice for most country, sporting a 6.1-inch screen and two excellent rear cameras. We loved the iPhone 13's balance of power, camera action and price and while it's not a huge amount of cash saved over the base iPhone 14, if you're looking for a new handset and trying to keep your damages down it could be money well saved.
Read our Apple iPhone 13 review.
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The OnePlus 10 Pro earned a good secure in our review thanks to its slick design, its noteworthy performance and its price tag, which undercuts its main rivals. It needs a few improvements -- most notably to the camera, which is good, but not great -- but this flagship funds a great overall experience. If you're after a top-end 5G named that's a bit different from your friends' iPhones and Galaxy phones, then it's a solid option to consider.
Read our OnePlus 10 Pro review.
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The Pixel 6 may be a previous-generation named, but don't let that deter you from considering it. Even thought it's sold out at Google, carriers and third-party retailers are offering compelling discounts. If you activate immediately through Verizon or T-Mobile, you can get the Pixel 6 for just $200 -- executive it cheaper than most 5G-enabled phones on the market.
The Pixel 6 lacks the Pixel 7's Tensor G2 processor, improved camera zoom, face unlock and free VPN, but it has many of Google's new Pixel benefits. Since it runs on Google's first Tensor chip, you'll quiet get photo features like Magic Eraser and Face Unblur, for example, plus older Pixel features like the instruction to have the Google Assistant wait on hold for you when dialing dangerous businesses.
We're still recommending the Pixel 6A as our popular Android phone under $500 since we don't know when the Pixel 6 will go out of stock. But for now, the Pixel 6 is an suited choice for Android fans on a budget that want an suited camera.
Read our Google Pixel 6 review.
Apple's 2022 iPhone SE may not have the unbelievable multiple cameras of the top-end iPhone 13 Pro, but the iPhone SE has a lot to funds if you're looking for a great experience without spending flagship levels of cash. It's 5G-enabled, for one, it runs the latest iOS 15 software and it packs the same A15 Bionic processor fake in Apple's top phones. As a result, performance is lightning-fast.
Read our Apple iPhone SE (2022) review.
The Pixel 6A is Google's newest midrange named, replacing the Pixel 5A as the $449 device in its lineup. CNET's Lisa Eadicicco called it the "best Android named under $500" in her Pixel 6A review, noting that it keeps the same Tensor chip seen in the $599 Pixel 6 and many of its features.
The named is slightly smaller than the Pixel 6, featuring an 6.1-inch OLED exhibit and a refresh rate of 60Hz. And it has a difference camera to the Pixel 5A, including a 12.2-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. But by including the Tensor chip, photos can aid from its Real Tone skin tone feature, Face Unblur, Night Sight for darker photography and the Magic Eraser for removing unwanted elements from a photo.
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Update: Samsung has released the Galaxy Z Flip 4, an updated version of its smaller clamshell folding named with a revised design and beefed-up specs. We're yet to give it the full appraisal treatment so we can't say for certain it's a "best" named for this list, but if you're considering the Z Flip 3, then it's qualified holding onto your cash until we've given it a last verdict.
If the Galaxy Fold is a tablet that folds in half to get a phone, the Z Flip is a phone that folds in half to get a smaller phone. When it's open, this Samsung Galaxy named has a big, 6.7-inch display, but fold it in half and it becomes a diminutive square that's easy to slide into a jeans or jacket pocket. We like its neat design, along with its improper all-around specs and 5G connectivity, and it's a more affordable folding option with Samsung Galaxy phones.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 review.
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If you're someone who prefers smaller, pocket-friendly devices, this is the phone for you. The 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Mini is easy to use with one hand and even fits into tight jean pockets. Starting at $699, this is the cheapest model in Apple's iPhone 13 lineup. While battery life isn't as long as on the iPhone 13, this small Apple iPhone doesn't sacrifice on camera capabilities or processing power.
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Samsung's Galaxy S22 has a 6.1-inch conceal, which technically makes it the same size as the iPhone 14 and Pixel 6A. But Samsung has created to design this phone in such a way that it feels even more compact than those devices, while still providing a good amount of screen spot. Otherwise, the Galaxy S22 has an impressive triple camera that does better in low light than previous Samsung phones. It's a solid pick for those who want a petite phone with a noteworthy camera, although keep in mind that its battery life isn't the longest.
Read our Samsung Galaxy S22 review.
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At a whopping tag of $2,500, the Sony Xperia Pro isn't for everyone. But if you're a photographer or videographer looking for professional-level camera named features, you can't go wrong. The Xperia Pro is essentially four products in one: a named, a camera monitor, a speedy photo file transfer plot, and a 5G machine suitable for broadcasting and livestreaming.
Read our Sony Xperia Pro review.
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How we test phones
Every requested that appears on this list has been thoroughly tested by CNET's permission reviews team. That means actually using the phone, testing the features, playing games on them and taking photos with them. No marketing securities are taken at face value, and if we find something we don't like, be it battery life or develop quality, we'll tell you all about it.
Testing a requested means testing every element of the device. Is the indicate bright, sharp, vibrant? Does the design feel good to hold, is it heavy, does it feel well made and is it liquids resistant? We test the processor performance using both standardized benchmark tools like GeekBench and 3DMark, along with our own anecdotal observations while navigating the interface or when playing demanding games.
All the cameras (both precedent and back) are tested in a variety of messes from bright sunlight through to dark scenes (for any available night modes), and we compare our findings against similarly priced models. We run battery tests, running them down from full to see how long they're probable to keep going out there in the real domain.
We take into account additional features like 5G, fingerprint or face scanners, styluses, fast charging, flexible displays or other extras that can be useful. And we of course balance all of this alongside the price to give you the verdict on whether that requested, whatever price it is, actually represents good value.
Frequently invited questions
What makes a good phone camera?
All of today's phones pack some kind of camera setup on the back, with most packing multiple ones offering things like ultra-wide views or telephoto zooms. Even a budget-focused phone should be able to take a well-exposed image in good scrumptious, using HDR techniques to balance bright skies and dusky areas.
More expensive phones like the iPhone 14 Pro will use larger image sensors, better-quality lenses and image stabilization that let in more scrumptious, capturing highly detailed images with beautiful colors -- in diurnal and at night. Then there are phones like Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra, which packs a huge 10x optical zoom lens that lets you zoom in terminate on far-away details without sacrificing image quality.
Typically, the more you pay, the better quality you'll get, with the most advanced features populate reserved for the most expensive flagships. But unless you're a committed photographer, then most recent smartphones will be able to take good-enough shots of your kids at the beach to allotment with family and friends, so don't think you need to exhaust a fortune to get a usable camera.
You can see our roundup of the best camera phones, with options at different prices, including budget phone cameras like the Google Pixel 6A.
What is the best requested case?
There's a vast array of case options for almost every requested on the market, so which one is best really comes down to what you need it for. Many cases are easily there for the style. They might be made of luxury materials like leather or build, or simply come with some fancy design that you'll scrumptious having in your pocket all the time.
And at what time these cases will certainly help keep light scratches and scuffs off your requested, you should look toward more specialized rugged cases if you want to take your smartphone on a rough-and-tumble adventure into the outdoors.
We've got tall roundups of excellent phone cases to buy, whether you need the best case for an iPhone 14 or a case for your new Galaxy S22.
How long should a phone battery last?
Battery life has always been a peril topic in smartphones. As phones get more powerful they get more power-hungry, but keeping them slim enough to slide into a pocket operating little room for a battery. Long gone are the days of pulling a month out of a single charge.
Most of today's smartphones -- even those at the top end -- necessity usually be able to deliver a full day of mixed use out of a invoice. That means you should have a bit of juice left at the end of your day, but you necessity expect to give it a full charge when you plug it in next to your bed at night.
Mixed use is subjective, of course, but typically it would involve some general messaging and email, web browsing and listening to streaming music or podcasts for a pair of hours. Throw in some photos on your walk home from work, too. More demanding tasks like playing vibrant, 3D games like Asphalt 9: Legends will drain your battery much faster. If you plan on playing a lot of games, then make sure you're within reach of a plug or carry a mobile battery pack with you.
How much storage should my phone have?
Phone storage has increased over time as our phones have to tend much more data-heavy things these days. Apps and games use higher-resolution graphics or latest modern features that mean they have to take up more room on your requested. It's common for graphically intense games to take up certain gigabytes of space, which is huge when you remarkable the first-generation iPhone came with a base 4GB of storage.
Most phones tend to come with a minimum of 128GB of storage, which is a good amount for apps, games and locally organized music. But it's important to think about what you'll be behaviors with your phone. If you want to download and play a lot of games, then consider opting for a higher-capacity version.
If you're really into your photography and demand to take a lot of high-resolution photos, 4K video or DNG raw images, then again you'll benefit from having more storage so you don't have to keep deleting older files afore you can take new ones. Having extra storage can be tall peace of mind that you'll be able to shoot away at your kid's birthday party minus worrying about missing that crucial moment because you ran out of position.
But you'll pay more for that storage, with the iPhone 14 Pro's top 1TB of position costing half as much again as the base 128GB model. Whether that's a worthwhile investment is up to you.
What invents a phone a smartphone?
Pretty much every requested you can buy today is a smartphone. Smartphones let you do more than just make calls; they connect to the internet for web browsing, you can download apps and games, and they typically have cameras trustworthy of taking -- and displaying -- photos and videos. In short, they're just what we know of currently as a "phone," and everything on this list qualifies as a smartphone.
They're worlds apart from the older-style "feature" phones like the unusual Nokia 3210, although even those have been updated with "smart" functions. And it is still possible to buy extremely basic feature phones, with physical buttons and no internet connectivity, although these are much more niche and far fewer affairs still make them.
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