Finest Android telephones in 2023

If you happen to’re looking for an Android telephone proper now, the Pixel 7 Professional is our present favorite choose. It’s not higher in all respects than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely, nonetheless it does are available at a extra reasonably priced value and packs a load of intelligent software program options our reviewer truly used.

As with every Pixel telephone, the 7 Professional is generally about two issues – the Google software program and the digicam. The cameras stay pretty just like what we noticed on the Pixel 6 Professional, however the ultrawide is a bit wider and the telephoto a bit extra zoomed. There are software program tweaks too, together with a bunch of up to date modes – together with a intelligent Unblur choice that does precisely what it suggests  – you’ll truly wish to use.

Pictures from the telephone are nice. They’re richer and extra immersive than these from the Galaxy S23 collection and sometimes higher in darker conditions too. The zoom may not match as much as Samsung’s Extremely efforts, however in the event you preserve to round 5x the outcomes are nice.

Powering the telephone is Google’s Tensor G2 chipset. It’s not the quickest round – many telephones on this record will publish higher benchmark scores – with the main target being AI intelligence. There are a lot of software program additions right here which might be made higher by this chip, together with voice transcription, and the whole lot works very nicely.

The telephone impresses elsewhere too. The display screen is on par with the Oppo Discover X5 Professional and Galaxy S23 Extremely whereas the battery life matches up principally too. The charging may very well be sooner, however that’s a minor situation.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full assessment: Google Pixel 7 Professional Assessment

The perfect Samsung Android telephone we’ve reviewed is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely. It’s the choice to decide on if you would like a very high-end, luxurious expertise – and are comfortable to pay for the privilege.

The S23 Extremely is probably not a totally totally different beast from final yr’s wonderful S22 Extremely, however small however significant upgrades to efficiency and digicam permit it to face aside from most different flagships in 2023.

Let’s begin with efficiency. The S23 Extremely ditches the Exynos/Snapdragon break up for the previous few years and labored with Qualcomm on an unique model of its newest top-end chipset dubbed the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, permitting the S23 Extremely to stay barely sooner and extra highly effective than different 2023 flagships just like the OnePlus 11.

The most important improve of all needs to be the inclusion of a brand new 200MP rear digicam. The upgraded digicam presents an all-around enchancment on the already-capable 108MP digicam of the S22 Extremely, notably in low gentle, with this yr’s mannequin in a position to seize extra gentle, extra element and extra color by way of 16-in-1 pixel binning tech. It additionally permits you to take photographs of the celebs within the telephone’s astrophoto mode, and it advantages low-light video too.

The opposite cameras, together with a 12MP ultrawide and two 10MP telephoto lenses at 3x and 10x, stay largely unchanged, however the latter nonetheless presents a few of the highest quality 10x photos round. There’s additionally Samsung’s 100x Area Zoom that’ll allow you to take photographs of the moon however not a lot else.

Cameras apart, the opposite huge motive to get the Galaxy S23 Extremely is the spectacular 6.8-inch dynamic AMOLED 2X show with its WQHD+ decision, dynamic 120Hz refresh price and assist for HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient delivering a shocking viewing expertise whether or not you’re scrolling via TikTok or watching the most recent Hollywood blockbuster on Netflix. It’s a lot brilliant, and boasts assist for the S23 Extremely’s built-in S Pen that permits you to doodle on-screen with an impressively low latency of two.3ms.

Throw in all-day battery life with a 5,000mAh battery and also you’ve received a succesful premium smartphone. It’s not good, with comparatively gradual 45W charging, a big, cumbersome design that makes it arduous to make use of one-handed and an especially high-end price ticket, nevertheless it’s actually probably the most succesful Samsung smartphone round.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full assessment: Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely Assessment

The S23 Extremely could also be the perfect handset in Samsung’s locker, nevertheless it’s removed from the one one in there vying to your consideration; the usual Galaxy S23 can be a standout smartphone with a extra compact design than many competing flagships.

In comparison with the cumbersome S23 Extremely, the Galaxy S23 is way smaller and simpler to handle. That’s largely all the way down to using a smaller 6.1in show, nevertheless it’s nonetheless very a lot top-end with a dynamic AMOLED 2x 120Hz panel that delivers crisp, brilliant and vibrant visuals, and it’s completely serviceable for watching YouTube movies and TikTok. In addition to, people who demand a bigger display screen might all the time go for the near-identical (however bigger) Galaxy S23 Plus.

Elsewhere, it boasts top-end efficiency by way of the unique Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy unique to the S23 vary, a flexible digicam system consisting of a large, ultrawide and 3x telephoto lens, and it fixes one of many largest points with its predecessor; battery life.

Regardless of having a smaller battery than a lot of the competitors, the improved vitality effectivity of the Galaxy S23 means it’s a snug all-day gadget, nonetheless managing to succeed in the top of the day with 30-40% cost on most days.

After all, it doesn’t have the large 200MP digicam improve of the S23 Extremely, photos can look a bit over-saturated and charging is fairly gradual at simply 25W, so it’s removed from good, nevertheless it’s a superb compact handset that it’s best to critically contemplate.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full assessment: Samsung Galaxy S23 Assessment

Realme may not be a model recognized to many, because it’s pretty new within the smartphone house, but that doesn’t cease the GT 2 Professional from being a telephone we’d fortunately advocate to somebody on the lookout for a top-tier Android telephone at a extra reasonably priced value. 

Our reviewer was completely impressed with it in the course of the testing course of, noting how nicely it carried out every day and the way good the battery life was. It additionally has a few of the very quickest charging speeds you’ll get proper now, with a full cost taking simply over half-hour throughout our checks. This can be a lot sooner than the S22 Extremely and Pixel 6 Professional, each of which want a full hour to get to 100%.

It’s not simply within the charging stakes the place the GT 2 Professional outperforms its modest value, however the high-end Qualcomm 8 Gen 1 chipset inside is simply as snappy because the chip contained in the Galaxy S22 and sooner than the one within the Pixel 6 Professional based mostly on our benchmarks and expertise utilizing the telephones. 

We additionally preferred the somewhat distinctive, paper-textured plastic physique which is available in each white and inexperienced hues. It’s a pleasant change of tempo from all of the glass-backed (and really delicate) telephones we assessment.

Some sacrifices have been made to hit the specified value, though none of them is a dealbreaker. There’s no IP ranking for defense in opposition to mud and water, no handy wi-fi charging, and no telephoto digicam for the added versatility. If these three options are a should, the Oppo Discover X5 Professional, Galaxy S22 Plus and Pixel 6 Professional are higher picks.

Reviewer: Tom Morgan
Full assessment: Realme GT 2 Professional Assessment

The Pixel 6a is a stripped-down model of the bottom Pixel 6 that impressed us in 2021. Getting it in for testing, whereas it’s lacking a number of top-end options like a excessive refresh price display screen, it stays the very best worth Android telephone, based mostly on our expertise utilizing it.

Highlights embody the identical digicam setup and Tensor silicon that allow the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional earn locations among the many finest digicam telephones presently obtainable. Throughout our checks the combo labored simply as nicely on the 6a with it delivering best-in-class picture high quality for a telephone at its value, which incorporates tough low-light conditions.

This plus its small design, stable construct high quality make it a straightforward suggestion at a {hardware} stage. However what actually differentiates it from a lot of the telephones we take a look at at this value is its future proof software program. The Pixel 6a is made by Google and runs an unskinned model of the corporate’s Android software program. This implies it’s one of many solely telephones you’ll discover at this value that’s assured to get long-term software program assist from Google and be upgraded to a couple of new model of Android.

It’s this future proofing, plus its stable {hardware}, that makes it the very best worth Android telephone we’ve examined presently available on the market.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full assessment: Google Pixel 6a Assessment

The Oppo Discover X5 Professional is a telephone that tries to instantly tackle the Galaxy S22 Extremely, each when it comes to options and value. This can be a nice alternative for somebody who desires one thing a bit totally different to what Samsung is providing, with extra of a deal with quick charging and a extra standout design.

In lots of areas, the Discover X5 Professional is simply nearly as good a telephone as our primary choose. It’s simply as quick in each real-world and benchmark checks and has a display screen that’s brilliant, clear and sharp. The photographs we took from the Oppo Discover X5 Professional are reliably robust too, particularly in the case of pulling out heat and wealthy colors. 

The place the digicam falls down although is with zoom, because the telephoto digicam right here simply can’t examine to what’s on supply with the Galaxy S22 Extremely. Whenever you zoom in shut with the Discover X5 Professional photos are inclined to get blurry and lose element quick – one thing that simply doesn’t occur if you push the Samsung.

That’s to not say the Discover X5 Professional doesn’t come out on high in sure areas. Charging is way faster right here, taking round half-hour to get to 100% somewhat than round an hour on the Galaxy S22 Extremely and the Pixel 6 Professional – and the X5 Professional even has its charger included within the field. The design can be a bit extra distinctive, although we’d counsel going for the white model except you’re proud of rigourously cleansing the telephone each jiffy to rid it of swathes of fingerprints.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full assessment: Oppo Discover X5 Professional Assessment

After years of Samsung dominating the clamshell foldable market with its Galaxy Z Flip vary, Oppo has knocked Samsung off its perch with the Discover N2 Flip. It’s the very best clamshell foldable obtainable for the time being, fixing most of the complaints with clamshells generally, in addition to boasting key enhancements in comparison with Samsung’s foldable.

For these unaware, a clamshell foldable is designed very like an old-school flip telephone. When open, you may expertise a 6.8-inch AMOLED show with a dynamic 120Hz refresh price and assist for HDR10+, and when it’s closed, it’s about half the dimensions of a typical big-screen smartphone, making it simple to hold and slip right into a pocket.

The crease attributable to foldables has all the time been a difficulty, and whereas it gained’t be going away anytime quickly, Oppo’s second-gen Flexion hinge system actually does minimise how noticeable it’s, each when taking a look at it and when operating your finger over it. There’s nonetheless a delicate change in really feel, however nowhere close to as noticeable as different foldables.

The Discover N2 Flip’s 3.26-inch outer show is the biggest on the market, offering a lot extra display screen house for notifications than the Galaxy Z Flip 4 whereas providing a extra curated expertise than the Motorola Razr with customized widgets designed for Oppo’s foldable. It permits you to reply to incoming messages, take photographs utilizing the high-quality rear lenses with a stay preview, verify the climate and extra with out having to really open the telephone.

It additionally fixes one of many huge complaints about clamshell foldables, battery life. The Discover N2 Flip boasts true all-day battery life with a 4300mAh battery, and 45W quick charging means it’ll go from flat to full in below an hour.

Throw in nice efficiency from a customized Dimensity 9000+ chipset, succesful cameras within the type of a 50MP important, 8MP ultrawide and 32MP selfie digicam with autofocus, a shocking design with no seen hole when closed and a price ticket cheaper than every other clamshell foldable available on the market and also you’ve received the very best foldable clamshell round.

Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full assessment: Oppo Discover N2 Flip Assessment

If you need a superb, and really reasonably priced, Android telephone then the Redmi Be aware 11 is a robust choose and among the finest low-cost telephones round. Contemplating the a lot cheaper price, it’d be unfair to check this to the far pricier telephones on this record; nonetheless it nonetheless stands out in sure areas.

We notably preferred the show, which makes use of the identical OLED tech as all the opposite telephones above. It measures 6.43-inches, has a easy 90Hz refresh price and nice color copy that makes this show simply entrancing if you’re watching movies or taking part in video games.

We have been impressed with the battery life and the audio system too, although have been much less enamoured with the digicam when it got here to taking photos in tough situations, and the mediocre efficiency was a tad disappointing too.

The telephone additionally misses 5G and the sooner obtain speeds that include the trendy community tech. This isn’t a dealbreaker for us, as we don’t suppose 5G is an important characteristic but, however it’s one thing obtainable at this value. The Moto G50, for instance, prices across the similar value and has 5G. However then that telephone sacrifices display screen high quality. If you need a telephone with an OLED show and 5G, we’d counsel the OnePlus Nord CE 2.

Reviewer: Andrew Williams
Full assessment: Xiaomi Redmi Be aware 11 Assessment

The Asus ROG Cellphone 7 Final just isn’t probably the most rounded Android telephone on this record, nevertheless it excels at its important focal point: gaming. 

There are oodles of gaming-centric options right here, from the AirTriggers that permit for gamepad-esque controls to the Armoury Crate software program that allows you to fiddle with the efficiency settings and show body price, temperature and GPU workload figures whilst you play your favorite mobiles video games. 

Due to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, this is likely one of the strongest Android telephones you should buy. The excellent cooling system additionally permits the telephone to take care of a excessive efficiency over lengthy stretches of heavy workloads, with our benchmark checks exhibiting it to have the slight benefit over the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely on that entrance. 

The colossal 6000mAh battery can be an vital inclusion, with our reviewer noting that it allowed the ROG Cellphone 7 Final to final nicely over a day from regular use. And in the event you fancied taking part in Name of Obligation Cell nonstop, our checks point out the telephone might final over seven hours on a single cost, which is outstanding. 

The one main stumbling block for this telephone is that it’s extremely costly, requiring a sum past the £1000/$1000 mark. Consequently, it might be price sacrificing a few options and choosing the cheaper Asus ROG Cellphone 7 as an alternative. However in the event you fancy probably the most full gaming telephone presently obtainable, then the Asus ROG Cellphone 7 Final is a no brainer. 

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full assessment: Asus ROG Cellphone 7 Final assessment

There are many telephones at various value factors included on this record, nonetheless none of them is kind of as dear because the Galaxy Z Fold 4. For the hefty outlay although you’re getting probably the most futuristic Android telephone round.

That is each a telephone and pill, making it preferrred for productive duties (you may add an S Pen for doodling and notes), gaming and even studying. No different presents the flexibility you’ll get with a foldable. Samsung has additionally added a taskbar so you may simply soar between apps with out all the time heading again to the homescreen – this can be a nice contact, and makes the Z Fold 4 really feel much more like a pill. It’s only a disgrace then that app assist remains to be pretty minimal.

The digicam system, which features a important 50MP sensor, isn’t the very best on this record however remains to be very succesful, whereas the 4400mAh battery received our reviewer via a full day. We weren’t as impressed with the gradual charging, although.

Sturdiness has typically let Samsung’s foldables down however this feels just like the strongest Z Fold but. The IPX8 water resistance stays, there’s stronger Gorilla Glas Victus on the entrance and the hinge feels sturdy. There’s even a satisfying thud if you shut it up.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full assessment: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 assessment

If you happen to’ve been on the lookout for a handset that’s barely smaller than the others on this record – one which you possibly can even use with only one hand as an illustration – then you may’t do a lot better than the wonderful Asus Zenfone 9.

This gadget presents some comparable qualities to the opposite Android smartphones above, together with packing a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset to offer you all of the muscle you want, and a robust twin digicam system as nicely, nevertheless it additionally is available in a smaller (albeit pretty thick) bundle.

If you happen to discover that your fingers aren’t fairly sufficiently big to wield a few of the cumbersome phablets which have been talked about above, then the 5.9-inch display screen on this gadget might go well with you proper all the way down to the bottom.

Reviewer: Andrew Williams

Full assessment: Asus Zenfone 9 assessment