The best phone 2023: top smartphones in the US right now
We rank the best phones from Samsung, Apple, Google and more
• The list in brief
1. Best for most people
2. Best overall
3. Best iPhone
4. Best Pixel
5. Best budget
6. Best value
7. Best camera phone
8. Best clamshell foldable
9. Best tablet foldable
• FAQs
• How we test
The best phone needs to be a great communicator, an excellent camera, a fun gaming machine, and much more. It needs to have a battery that can last all day, and the ability to charge quickly to get you going without delay. It needs to be durable enough to withstand drops, even if it's not wearing a case, and a quick dunk in the sink shouldn't present a problem.
2023 has been a great year for foldable phones, with fascinating options from new and old companies alike. Of course, we've seen reliable updates from the usual suspects, too, including a titanium iPhone 15 Pro Max and a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra that literally shoots for the moon.
We've gotten our hands on just about every new phone in 2023, with the OnePlus Open marking the last flagship release of the year (incidentally, it replaces the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 as the best tablet foldable on this list). The Google Pixel 8 Pro is now available, too, and it replaces the Pixel 7 Pro on our list as the best Pixel phone. Google says it'll support the latest Pixels with a record-setting seven years of updates, which is a commitment we hope to see replicated by other mobile manufacturers in the future.
In this guide, we've ranked the best phones money can buy in 2023. Our current favorite is the iPhone 15, a super fast phone that's as fun to use as it is to show off. We love Android phones just as much, and if you want a Google-powered device that can do just about everything, then the Galaxy S23 Ultra is still our best phone overall.
If you don't find a model that takes your fancy, check out our brand-specific rankings instead. We’ve reviewed all the latest handsets, and detailed the best Samsung phones, best iPhones, and best Google Pixel phones elsewhere on TechRadar.
Quick List
A superfast A16 Bionic chipset, USB-C port, 48MP main camera and the Dynamic Island ensure that, for the first time in a long while, Apple’s latest standard iPhone offers cracking value for money.
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The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra does everything, and then a bit more. It’s packed with features (and a hidden pen) that rivals simply can’t match, and its cameras are the best money can buy.
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If you want a big iPhone and can meet the hefty asking price, then the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s A17 Pro chipset, titanium design and 5x periscope zoom lens make it the best overall choice.
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The Google Pixel 8 Pro is more phone than Google has ever given us. It has the best cameras ever on a Pixel, but it's the machine learning features like a call screener and magic photo editor that set this phone apart.
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