The Best Smartphones for 2023

Samsung has announced the Galaxy S23 family of devices. We’ve added more information to the What to look forward to section.

There's no one smartphone that is best for everyone, but we’ve spent hundreds of hours testing scores of phones so that you can find the best one for you. The phone you buy will depend on your budget, your wireless carrier, and which of the major smartphone platforms—Apple's iOS or Google's Android—you’re already invested in. But whether you want a top-of-the-line phone or something more affordable, we have recommendations for iPhone and Android, and all of our picks are available for all the major US carriers.

The iPhone 14 has a fantastic two-lens camera that can use Night Mode for better low-light photos, a fast iPhone processor, long battery life, and a large edge-to-edge OLED screen.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $800.

Who it's for: Someone who wants an iPhone and values getting the latest screen, camera, and processor so that it will look and feel good for years.

Why we like it: Apple's iPhone 14 is as fast as any other iPhone, including the more-expensive Pro models, and the battery will get almost anyone through a full day on a single charge. The camera has two lenses and yields excellent photos, offers better low-light performance, superb 4K video recording, Action mode stabilization, and even better selfies.

The iPhone 14 has the same 6.1-inch screen size as the iPhone 12 and 13, as well as the same body height and width. Much like the iPhone 4 and 5, the edges are squared off, and we find it a lot easier to grip the iPhone 14 even when the phone isn't in a case. Like all modern iPhones, the iPhone 14 is water-resistant up to 6 meters for up to 30 minutes, so it should survive an accidental dunk in the pool. A new addition for the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus (but not the Pro or Pro Max) is improved repairability—Apple made it easier to open up and fix the display and the back glass, according to iFixIt. And the iPhone 14 lineup offers satellite SOS and car crash detection so you can more easily call for help in emergencies.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Apple made the move to eSIMs for the iPhone 14 lineup, eliminating support for physical SIM cards. If you have a physical SIM, you’ll need to convert it to an eSIM, which can present issues. And those of you who want to zoom in on your photos will have to pay more for the telephoto lens on the iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max.

To see if the iPhone 14 is right for you, read our full guide to which iPhone you should get.

The iPhone SE has a faster processor than you might expect in such a comparatively inexpensive phone, as well as a good camera—and it costs half the price of the iPhone 14. Its low price, small screen, and Touch ID fingerprint reader make it an easy upgrade for people who have older iPhones or for anyone wanting to spend less, but its battery doesn't last as long.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $480.

Who it's for: Those who prefer smaller screens, want to spend less on a phone, or would rather have a fingerprint reader than Face ID.

Why we like it: The Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) is the ideal choice if you want a small phone, prefer a fingerprint reader to Face ID, or don't want to pay as much for a new smartphone as you would for a decent laptop. The iPhone SE is significantly cheaper than the iPhone 14, but in many situations it feels just as fast. It lacks the iPhone 14's second ultrawide lens and Night Mode camera setting, so capturing good photos in dark environments is harder. And whereas cheap Android phones often stop getting software updates soon after purchase, even the least expensive iPhones, including the SE, will receive iOS support for many years.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: If you use your phone for more power-hungry activities such as games, video, or voice or FaceTime calls over LTE/5G, the smaller battery in this model may not last all day. If you’re not a heavy phone user, it should survive throughout the day without having to recharge, but otherwise you may want to keep a charger or wireless charging pad handy.

If neither the iPhone SE nor the iPhone 14 sounds right for you, or if you’d just like to know more about the full range of iPhones that Apple currently sells, read our full guide to which iPhone you should get.

The Pixel 7 is better than phones that cost several times as much, and it has the best version of Android and one of the best Android smartphone cameras we’ve ever tested.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $600.

Who it's for: People who want a fast, secure Android phone with the best camera and guaranteed software updates, but don't want to spend a thousand dollars.

Why we like it: The Google Pixel 7 offers the high-quality software and cameras that have made all of Google's Pixel phones great, and it costs just $600. This phone comes with Google's clean, responsive version of Android 13, and it's guaranteed to get updates through fall 2027. The Pixel 7 has a dual-camera setup that takes better photos than almost any other Android phone..

Though it has only two camera lenses, Google's amazing photo processing is borderline magical. It uses True Tone technology to accurately render darker skin tones, which can be a problem on other phones, and the Pixel camera app offers options to tweak exposure and color temperature live in the viewfinder. The Pixel 7 also has Google's Magic Eraser feature, which can remove distractions and unwanted background objects in photos.

The Pixel 7 has a 6.34-inch OLED screen that stretches nearly edge to edge with minimal borders. It's bright enough for outdoor use, and it also has an extra-dim feature that makes the brightness easier on the eyes in dark rooms. In addition, there's an optical fingerprint scanner under the screen; it's not as fast or accurate as Samsung's ultrasonic sensor, but it's much better than the one in the Pixel 6a or in last year's Pixel 6.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: We can't find many flaws in the Google Pixel 7, especially given its price—we wouldn't expect to see most of its "missing" features in a $600 phone anyway. We do wish it could charge faster; at best, it gets a little less than half a charge in 30 minutes.

To read more about the Pixel 7 and other Android phones we’ve tested, read our full guide to the best Android phones.

The Pixel 7 Pro takes the amazing Pixel 7 and adds a bigger, better screen and a zoom camera—and it's still cheaper than the competition.

You save $100 (13%)

Who it's for: People who want a huge phone that doesn't cost $1,000 or more.

Why we like it: The Google Pixel 7 Pro is a bigger, better version of the Pixel 7, and it includes a 6.7-inch, 1440p OLED screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate. It also includes a fantastic 5x optical-zoom lens on the back.

The Pixel 7 Pro is one of the fastest phones you can buy. Scrolling and navigating apps is exceptionally smooth, and certain tasks, like Google Assistant responses, are much faster than on other phones thanks to Google's second-generation Tensor processor.

The Pixel 7 Pro is an upgrade over the Pixel 7 with an additional camera lens—it has a third, 48-megapixel lens on the back with a 5x zoom that retains detail even when fully zoomed in. It takes the best photos of any Android phone we’ve tested, and you don't have to tinker with settings to get stunning images.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Google Pixel 7 Pro's large size may be unwieldy even if you have large hands, and without a case, it's slippery and hard to grasp. But Google moved the power and volume buttons lower on the phone in this model, making them easier to reach than on previous Pixel phones.

For more information on the Google Pixel 7 Pro, read our full guide to the best Android phones.

The OnePlus Nord N20 5G offers solid performance and a sharp 1080p OLED screen with an in-display fingerprint reader, but it doesn't function on Verizon's network.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $250.

Who it's for: People on a budget who still want a phone that does more than the bare minimum.

Why we like it: Although the OnePlus Nord N20 5G costs less than half the price of a modern high-end smartphone, it resembles a more expensive phone in its screen, performance, and long battery life. The Nord N20 includes an in-display fingerprint sensor and a 1080p OLED display—features that set it apart from most other budget Android phones, which usually have 720p LCD screens and no fingerprint sensor. It also loads complex websites, runs games, and installs and launches apps faster than most other budget phones we’ve tested.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Nord N20 is available with 4G LTE support through any carrier, but its 5G connectivity is limited to T-Mobile. Its camera is also weak even for a budget phone, and low-light photos come out grainy and dim. It also runs Android 11 out of the box, but OnePlus promises an upgrade to Android 12 in the coming months. If you want a budget Android phone with the latest software, a better camera, and an excellent screen, consider the Pixel 6a.

For more information on the OnePlus Nord N20 5G, read our full guide to the best budget Android phones.

The Samsung Galaxy A03s offers much better performance than other ultra-budget phones, and it works on all cellular networks.

Why we like it: The Samsung Galaxy A03s is the best phone available right now for people on a strict budget. It offers acceptable performance, good software, and four years of security-update support. Although its 6.5-inch 720p LCD screen is sharp enough for regular use, it has narrow viewing angles, so the picture can appear washed out if you’re not looking at the screen head-on. This also makes the phone harder to view outdoors. We like that the Galaxy A03s includes a USB-C port (rather than the older micro-USB connection that many ultra-budget phones still use), a headphone jack, and a fingerprint sensor.

Samsung didn't overload the A03s with too many extra apps or slow, cluttered software, but it does include features such as pop-up view for notifications and one-handed mode. It has a 13-megapixel primary camera that's okay for casual snapshots, and its battery life is long enough to last for the better part of a week.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Samsung Galaxy A03s isn't a fast phone, and it can't run graphically intensive games or multiple apps in split-screen. But simpler apps and tasks, like messaging and web browsing, work fine. It also has three cameras on the back, but none of them will take keepsake photos, and most images we captured came out grainy and blurry in all but the most perfect lighting.

For more information on the Samsung Galaxy A03s, read our full guide to the best budget Android phones.

Samsung just announced its 2023 flagship Android phone lineup, the Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra, all of which go on sale February 17. Samsung is promising advanced cameras—including a 200-megapixel lens in the $1,200 S23 Ultra—and powerful performance. We plan to put them to the test soon to see how they compare to our current picks from Google and Apple.

Ryan Whitwam

Roderick Scott

Roderick Scott is Wirecutter's staff writer reporting on smartphones, tablets, and accessories. He is the former publisher of TechGuySmartBuy, where he reviewed everything from phones to headphones to smart speakers to cars. He is also a former aspiring songwriter, music producer, and A&R working with local talent.

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