The Best Phones You Can Buy in 2023

The smartphone audience is so wide that it’s difficult to settle on just one best phone of 2023. Some of us want huge screens, fast processors, and tons of memory. Other people want the very best camera so they can share photos on social media. And then there are the folks who want the best budget phone and/or best small phone (they’re often the same thing), just something simple and cheap that will easily fit in a pocket.

Your personal decision about what smartphone to buy starts, like many things, with picking a side: Android or iOS? The Google-backed Android operating system is the world’s most popular, with more than 70% market share around the globe, in large part because it’s cheap and used by lots of small companies in developing markets. But Android’s market share is trailing behind Apple in the U.S. and Canada, and iPhones recently scored more than 50% of the total US market for the first time ever.

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What phone should I buy?

New hardware lines have complicated the buying decision. In the Android world, Samsung gave up on its Galaxy Note line but doubled down on foldables with the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5. Non-folding options like the Galaxy S23 Ultra are exciting, too. Google’s Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and even its mid-range Pixel 7a feature some of the best smartphone cameras we’ve ever tested. They also pack Google’s third-generation Tensor chip, unlocking sophisticated AI-powered features. Last year’s chip is also in the Pixel 7a, offering budget users a great option that won’t leave them behind.

Meanwhile, on the iOS side, the first-tier iPhone 15 is worth the upgrade. Apple also switched the lineup to USB-C, along with the iPhone 15 Pro. Don’t expect to buy an updated iPhone SE, as that was not on this year’s list of refreshed models.

The editorial staff of Gizmodo independently tests and reviews each product found in our Buyer’s Guides. If you purchase something using our affiliate links, G/O Media may earn a commission. Affiliate linking does not influence our editorial content.


The Best Android Phone

Google Pixel 8 Pro in Bay.
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo

Our Pick: Google Pixel 8 Pro ($1,000)

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is the one to get, even if Google did bump up the price from last year’s release. It ships with the latest version of Android and the third-generation Google Tensor G3, which is the key to some of the Pro’s unique AI smarts.

The Best Apple Phone

A photo of the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 pro Max

The iPhone 15 Pro (left) and the iPhone 15 Pro Max (right).
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo

Our Pick: iPhone 15 Pro ($1,000)

The iPhone 15 Pro pairs nicely with the new features on display in iOS 17. It features Apple’s new Bionic A17, which outperformed every smartphone Gizmodo reviewed this year in synthetic benchmark tests. The Pro is also part of the iPhone 15 family, which is the first iPhone line to offer roadside assistance via satellite. And don’t forget that this is the first flagship iPhone with USB-C connectivity.


The Best Value Phone

A photo of the Pixel 7a

A good, solid blue phone.
Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo

Our pick: Google Pixel 7a ($500)

There isn’t a better deal for Android users right now than the Google Pixel 7a. Not only does it boast the new look of the other Tensor-powered Pixels, but it uses the same chip as the excellent Pixel 7, too. That makes the Pixel 7a a steal: it has all the best parts of a Google flagship without the price tag. It’s stylish, offers unique features facilitated by the Tensor chip, and will receive timely software updates directly from Android headquarters—that’s not something third-party Android devices can flaunt.

The Pixel 7a also has a surprisingly strong camera for its price point. It’s almost on par with last year’s Pixel 7 flagship series. You’ll notice the most difference between price points as you’re taking night shots, as the Pixel 7a doesn’t have the glass to capture quite as much light as its pricier counterparts. If you’re looking for a smaller Android phone, the Pixel 7a has a 6.1-inch screen in a category typically dominated by giant devices.

Despite its attractive pricing, there are some drawbacks to the Pixel 7a. For one, the meager 128GB of storage will fill up fast if you shoot lots of videos. The phone’s display is also limited to a 90Hz refresh rate, which is plenty smooth and is great for battery life, though isn’t quite top-of-the-stack. If the phone’s refresh rate is a concern, the Samsung Galaxy A54 is also in this price range and features a punched-up display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

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