Already in 2023, we’ve examined and added some of the year’s greatest phones to our top ten list.

This article ranks the finest 2022 phones against the newest ones. Our top 10 phones provide performance, camera smarts, and value. Some prices will delight you.

Check out all 10 phones since the top one may not be right for you. Camera, battery life, design, specifications, pricing, and more determine the perfect phone for you.

Samsung and Apple are here, but OnePlus, Google, Oppo, and Xiaomi may be your perfect pocket mate. These phones deliver—just in different ways, which is amazing. Competition improves phones for everyone!

1. Google Pixel 7: Best for most

Most individuals should get the Google Pixel 7. It boasts plenty of premium features at $599/£599/€649.

For less than any iPhone 14 or Galaxy S23 model, you get a beautiful 6.3in 90Hz OLED display, brilliant and customizable Android 13 OS, a premium glass finish with wireless charging, and outstanding primary and ultrawide rear cameras. The 50Mp sensor and Google’s picture processing make the primary camera the greatest point-and-shoot phone camera.

You also get amusing software tricks like Magic Eraser to remove unpleasant persons or objects from images, and Pixel-exclusive features like call screening and call holding to avoid long wait times with companies, albeit some of these call benefits are US-only.

The Pixel 7 Pro has a larger screen, greater battery life, and an optical telephoto zoom lens.

2. Best iPhone 14 Pro

It’s a nice surprise that the iPhone 14 Pro is so much better than the iPhone 14, which was a small improvement. The Dynamic Island is a visual upgrade that stands out.

Apple has shrunk its famous screen notch into a pill and circular shape below the top bezel, filled the blank space with black pixels, and used animations to have app notifications and updates originate from the space, making use of the camera cutouts on most phone screens. This innovative feature lets you view music, timers, weather, and more at the top of the screen without opening the app.

The first 48Mp iPhone sensor allows for 2x zoom cropping in addition to the 3x telephoto lens and is capable of being ultrawide. Apple has finally released an always-on display that dims your lock screen and doesn’t reduce battery life, according to our research. If your phone is three or four years old, this iPhone will seem like lightyears ahead.

3. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: All-in-one phone

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the most feature-packed phone available. It’s a big, expensive phone, but it has great triple cameras, long battery life, fast performance, and the now-unique S-Pen stylus.

It’s one of the few phones with a squared body and screen, but its build quality and tapered corners make it comfortable to carry. This design gives you the greatest phone screen for viewing movies and using any software.

If you enjoy somewhat oversaturated hues, the 200 Mp primary camera is great. The ultrawide and two exceptional 3x and 10 optical telephoto lenses make them seem natural. The selfie camera’s low-light performance is bad.

4. Pixel 7a: Best bargain phone

Google Pixel 7a improves on 2022’s Pixel 6a by adding a better 90Hz screen and a more expensive style.

Compared to the $899/£849/€899 Pixel 7 Pro, this phone is one of the greatest values at $499/£449/€509. The Pixel 7a features the same Tensor G2 processor as the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro with a smaller 6.1in display, making it simpler to use and carry.

Amazing 64Mp primary camera. At this price, no phone camera takes better still photographs. The phone is available in white, black, coral, and blue.

Wireless charging was unstable and sluggish. If you want a solid all-around Android phone with five years of software support and a great camera, this is it.

5. OnePlus 11—Best value flagship phone

The OnePlus 11 strikes the right mix between premium features and pricing. It lacks wireless charging and complete waterproofing for $699/£729/€849.

If you can overlook those nice-to-haves, you’ll get a phone with remarkable speed, a brilliant display, powerful cameras, including a 50Mp primary lens, and four years of Android upgrades and five security updates. Only Samsung and Fairphone equal that in Android (iPhones receive more than five years of software support).

Unlike other big phones, the OnePlus 11 is sleek and elegant despite its 6.7in screen. The green glossy model or the black variant with a matte, almost-silk rear glass are available. It has no fingerprints yet is one of the slipperiest phones.

If you don’t mind the somewhat laboured newer version of OxygenOS that frequently modifies Android for change’s sake, this is a terrific phone at a price that guarantees you’ll get your money’s worth if it lasts five years.

6. iPhone 14: Great all-arounder

The iPhone 14 isn’t as excellent as the iPhone 14 Pro, but it’s cheaper. It solely improves the 13’s primary camera and Action feature, a video stabilisation feature.

There’s also automobile collision detection, which you hopefully won’t need. Don’t upgrade from an iPhone 13, because this is most people’s current iPhone. Despite lacking a telephoto lens, the cameras and battery life are fantastic.

Apple builds the greatest products, and iOS is very reliable software. You can fix at any Apple Store and obtain software upgrades for five years. The iPhone 14 Plus has a bigger screen and battery, but we prefer this smaller model.

7. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4—Best foldable phone

The Z Flip 4 boasts the same primary and ultrawide cameras as the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus and is an all-day phone.

This is the greatest foldable phone available now, priced similarly to premium slab smartphones. Samsung claims the Flip will withstand at least 200,000 open and shut actions, or five years of typical usage.

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset’s energy efficiency may explain why the Flip’s battery lasts all day. 8GB RAM is adequate, but 256GB storage may be worth it. We adore the side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

This S22 with a better CPU folds down to half its size. It’s a great phone.

8. Moto G62: Best cheap phone

Our greatest affordable phone is also one of the finest phones overall.

The Moto G62, a sub-£200 phone, has a 120Hz screen, pleasantly simple Android software, a two-day battery life, and a chipset with a CPU powerful enough to do standard phone chores.

At this price, a 50Mp primary camera is excellent, but there’s no stabilisation, and the ultrawide and macro lenses aren’t great. At this budget, a camera that captures bright, clear photographs in daytime is plenty.

Though we don’t anticipate many software upgrades, the G62’s 5G will last for years on new networks. Motorola offers several great Moto phones for $200 in the US, but not this one.

9. Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus—Goldilocks Android phone

If you don’t want a huge Samsung phone with a pen (S23 Ultra), the Galaxy S23 Plus has a good display, outstanding battery life, and five years of the greatest Android software support.

The phone worked well in testing and has three decent back cameras without the bulk of comparable triple-camera phones. Once in a case, you won’t dislike the basic design. Samsung’s OneUI is more customizable than Android, while Pixel phones need more customising.

The phone feels expensive in metal and glass, the display is outstanding with exceptional outside visibility, and if it’s too huge, there’s a standard Galaxy S23 with a smaller display.

10. Xiaomi 13 Pro: Latest phone camera tech

This phone would rank higher if Xiaomi’s MIUI software was better and more user-friendly. Unfortunately, the Xiaomi 13 Pro boasts some of the best smartphone hardware.

Xiaomi is one of the first phones outside of China with a 1in camera sensor, which is expected to improve smartphone photography in the next years. In our tests, the bigger sensor area took in more light, leading in amazing low-light pictures and detail not available on smaller sensors. Despite the big camera bulge, the 50Mp ultrawide and telephoto sensors make for a superb setup.

With its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU and long battery life, the phone can handle any work.

Without that annoying programme…

Phones to purchase in 2023.

Consider build quality, design, simplicity of use, features, performance, and value while purchasing a phone. 

In 2023, flagship phones start at $700/£700 and may cost over $1,000/£1,000. UK contracts cost between £30 and £50 a month, but you can spend much more if you want an expensive phone and plenty of mobile data.

The US has better phone contract offers than the UK and Europe.

Although flagships dominate our list, it doesn’t always imply they’re the greatest smartphones. There are entries that cross over with our mid-range and budget phone charts, but they earned their position here due to their capabilities and quality.

Buying a phone outright normally offers the greatest value, but we understand that real-world budgets don’t often allow such large expenditures. If you can, you need a SIM card, plan, and phone. Check out our top SIM-only offers.

FAQ

1. iPhone or Android?

Only Android and iOS are worth discussing.

Most phones use Android, including the current version, 13. Developers deploy applications initially for iOS, presently on iOS 16. This method yields one of the greatest app shops.

Transferring contacts and other data from an Android or iPhone to a phone using the other OS is straightforward. Keep in mind that you can’t migrate premium applications or app data like WhatsApp backups if you’re switching platforms, and explore any issues you may have.

2.Why purchase an unlocked phone?

Unlocked phones are not linked to Vodafone or EE. Unlocked phones are sold without SIM cards or contracts.

If you can afford it, an unlocked phone is usually cheaper than a contract phone.

Because of their popularity, operators typically subsidise the cost of purchasing an iPhone to lock you into a profitable long-term commitment.

Unlocked phones cost cheaper over time if you can afford the initial fee.

You are not bound by a contract. You may buy a new phone anytime without up-purchasing or committing to another two years. 

Make sure the phone isn’t network-locked.

3. Which SIM or cell plan should you get?

Consider your phone’s SIM size and shape. Get a nano-SIM if your phone needs one.

All of these phones use nano-SIMs.

Every network will deliver a different-sized SIM if you get it incorrect. Simply snap out the SIM card you need.

If you want a SIM-free or unlocked phone, you probably already have one.

Getting a 5G-enabled phone and SIM is more critical.