The Best Smartphones of 2023: A Comprehensive Categorized Review

The year 2023 has been a remarkable one for the smartphone industry, with many new innovations, features, and designs that have pushed the boundaries of mobile technology. Whether you are looking for a budget-friendly device, a powerful performer, a camera beast, a gaming monster, or something else, there is a smartphone for you in 2023. In this article, I will share my personal opinion on the best smartphones of 2023 in different categories, based on the available information and reviews from various sources. Note that this article is not based on any hands-on experience, but only on research.

Best Affordable Phone: Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

If you are looking for a smartphone that offers 5G connectivity, a decent performance, a good battery life, and a nice design, without breaking the bank, then the Samsung Galaxy A14 5G is a great choice. This phone was launched in January 2023, and it is priced at $199.99. It features a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD display, a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a 48MP main camera, a 5MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro camera, a 2MP depth camera, a 13MP selfie camera, a 5000mAh battery, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. It runs on Android 12 with One UI 4.0 on top. The Galaxy A14 5G is a solid mid-range phone that can handle most tasks and apps smoothly, and it supports 15W fast charging. It also has a sleek design with a gradient back and a punch-hole display. The Galaxy A14 5G competes with other affordable 5G phones such as the Motorola Moto G Power 5G, the OnePlus Nord N200 5G, and the TCL 20 5G.

Best Performance Phone: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

When it comes to performance, no other phone can match the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, which was launched in September 2023. This phone is powered by the Apple A16 Bionic chip, which is the most advanced processor in the market, with a 5nm+ process, a six-core CPU, a five-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, and 8GB of RAM. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has a stunning 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 2778×1284 resolution, and HDR10 support. It has 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage options, and it runs on iOS 17. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has an impressive camera system, with a 12MP wide-angle camera, a 12MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a LiDAR scanner. It can record 4K video at 60fps, and it supports Dolby Vision, ProRAW, and Cinematic mode. The front camera is also a 12MP sensor with Face ID and Animoji support. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 4500mAh battery that supports 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. It also has stereo speakers, IP68 water and dust resistance, MagSafe accessories, and 5G connectivity. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the ultimate performance phone that can handle any task or game with ease, and it offers a smooth and fluid user experience. It is priced at $1,199, and it faces competition from other flagship phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Google Pixel 8 Pro, and the OnePlus 12 Pro.

Phone with the Best Camera: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

If you are a photography enthusiast, or you just want to capture the best moments of your life, then the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the phone for you. This phone was launched in February 2023, and it has a remarkable camera system that consists of a 108MP main camera, a 12MP periscope telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom, a 12MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a laser autofocus sensor. It can record 8K video at 30fps, and it supports HDR10+, Super Steady mode, and Director’s View. The front camera is a 40MP sensor that can record 4K video at 60fps, and it supports Night mode and Live Focus. The Galaxy S23 Ultra also has a gorgeous 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 1440×3200 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection. It is powered by the Exynos 2200 chipset in some regions, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in others, both of which are based on a 4nm process and have an integrated AMD GPU. It has 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card. It runs on Android 12 with One UI 4.0 on top. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 5000mAh battery that supports 45W wired charging, 25W wireless charging, and 15W reverse wireless charging. It also has stereo speakers, IP68 water and dust resistance, an in-display fingerprint scanner, an S Pen support, and 5G connectivity. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best camera phone of 2023, as it offers a versatile and powerful camera system that can capture stunning photos and videos in any situation. It is priced at $1,199.99, and it rivals other camera phones such as the Huawei P60 Pro, the Xiaomi 13 Pro, and the Oppo Find X5 Pro.

Best Gaming Phone: Asus ROG Phone 7

If you are a hardcore gamer, or you just want to enjoy the best mobile gaming experience, then the Asus ROG Phone 7 is the phone for you. This phone was launched in July 2023, and it is a gaming beast that has a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 1440×3200 resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, a 300Hz touch sampling rate, and HDR10+ support. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which is the most powerful processor for Android phones, with a 4nm process, an octa-core CPU, an Adreno 730 GPU, and a Snapdragon Elite Gaming suite. It has 12GB, 16GB, or 18GB of RAM, and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage. It runs on Android 12 with ROG UI on top. The ROG Phone 7 also has a massive 6000mAh battery that supports 65W wired charging, 30W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging. It also has dual front-facing speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a quad-microphone system, an RGB logo, an AeroActive Cooler 7 accessory, and a side-mounted port for other accessories. The ROG Phone 7 also has a decent camera system, with a 64MP main camera, a 13MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro camera, and an 8K video recording support. The front camera is a 24MP sensor that can record 1080p video at 60fps. The ROG Phone 7 is the best gaming phone of 2023, as it offers a superb performance, a smooth and responsive display, a long-lasting battery, a loud and clear sound, and a range of gaming features and accessories. It is priced at $999, and it competes with other gaming phones such as the Lenovo Legion Phone 3, the Nubia Red Magic 7, and the Black Shark 5.

Phone with the Best Battery: Motorola Moto G Power 5G

If you are looking for a phone that can last for days on a single charge, then the Motorola Moto G Power 5G is the phone for you. I know you thought I was going to talk about an itel device, but no we’re with Motorola. This phone was launched in April 2023, and it has a huge 6000mAh battery that supports 20W wired charging. It also has a 6.8-inch LCD display with a 1080×2400 resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a punch-hole design. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, which is a 5G-enabled processor with a 7nm process, an octa-core CPU, and a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. It has 4GB or 6GB of RAM, and 64GB or 128GB of storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card. It runs on Android 12 with My UX on top. The Moto G Power 5G also has a decent camera system, with a 48MP main camera, a 5MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro camera, a 2MP depth camera, and a 1080p video recording support. The front camera is a 16MP sensor that can record 1080p video at 30fps. The Moto G Power 5G is the best battery phone of 2023, as it offers a phenomenal battery life, a large and smooth display, a 5G connectivity, and a clean and simple software. It is priced at $249.99, and it faces competition from yes, the itel S23+, P40 and P40+, it’s hard not to mention these two.

Best Foldable Phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

If you want a phone that can transform into a tablet, then the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the best foldable phone for you. This phone was launched in August 2023, and it has a stunning 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a 2208×1768 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an under-display camera. It also has a 6.2-inch cover display with a 2268×832 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which is the most powerful processor for Android phones, with a 4nm process, an octa-core CPU, an Adreno 730 GPU, and a Snapdragon Elite Gaming suite. It has 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and 256GB or 512GB of storage. It runs on Android 12 with One UI 4.0 on top. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 also has an impressive camera system, with a 12MP main camera, a 12MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8K video recording support. The cover camera is a 10MP sensor, and the under-display camera is a 4MP sensor. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a 4400mAh battery that supports 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. It also has stereo speakers, IPX8 water resistance, an in-display fingerprint scanner, an S Pen support, and 5G connectivity. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the best foldable phone of 2023, as it offers a versatile and powerful device that can switch between a phone and a tablet mode, with a seamless and smooth user experience. It is priced at $1,799.99, and it competes with other tablet-style foldable phones such as the Huawei Mate X3, the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold, and the Google Pixel Fold.

Best Customizable Phone: OnePlus Open

If you want a phone that you can customize to your liking, then the OnePlus Open is the best customizable phone for you. This phone was launched in October 2023, and it has a unique design that allows you to swap the back cover, the camera module, and the battery with different options. You can choose from various materials, colors, and styles for the back cover, such as leather, wood, metal, glass, or fabric. You can also choose from different camera modules, such as a 50MP main camera, a 12MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 16MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro camera, a 2MP depth camera, or a 48MP monochrome camera. You can also choose from different battery capacities, such as 4000mAh, 4500mAh, or 5000mAh, and different charging speeds, such as 30W, 50W, or 65W. The OnePlus Open also has a 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 1440×3216 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which is the most powerful processor for Android phones, with a 4nm process, an octa-core CPU, an Adreno 730 GPU, and a Snapdragon Elite Gaming suite. It has 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of storage. It runs on Android 12 with OxygenOS 13 on top. The OnePlus Open also has a 32MP selfie camera, an in-display fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, and 5G connectivity. The OnePlus Open is the best customizable phone of 2023, as it offers a modular and flexible device that you can personalize to your preference, with a premium and elegant design. It is priced at $1,699, and it faces competition from other customizable phones such as the Nothing Phone (2), Motorola Moto Z5, the LG Wing 2, and the Fairphone 4.

Best Selling Phone: Apple iPhone 15

If you want a phone that is popular and widely used, then the Apple iPhone 15 is the best selling phone for you. This phone was launched in September 2023, and it has sold over 100 million units worldwide as of November 2023, according to Counterpoint Research⁵. It features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 1170×2532 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and HDR10 support. It is powered by the Apple A17 Bionic chip, which is the most advanced processor in the market, with a 5nm+ process, a six-core CPU, a four-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, and 4GB of RAM. It has 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage options, and it runs on iOS 17. The iPhone 15 also has an Impressive camera system, with a 12MP wide-angle camera, a 12MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a LiDAR scanner. It can record 4K video at 60fps, and it supports Dolby Vision, ProRAW, and Cinematic mode. The front camera is also a 12MP sensor with Face ID and Animoji support. The iPhone 15 has a 3095mAh battery that supports 20W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. It also has stereo speakers, IP68 water and dust resistance, MagSafe accessories, and 5G connectivity. The iPhone 15 is the best selling phone of 2023, as it offers a reliable and smooth performance, a stunning and durable design, and a loyal and satisfied customer base. It is priced at $799, and it competes with other popular phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S23, the Google Pixel 8, and the OnePlus 12.

Phone with the Best Speakers: Sony Xperia 1 V

If you want a phone that can deliver loud and clear sound, then the Sony Xperia 1 V is the best speakers phone for you. This phone was launched in June 2023, and it has a dual front-facing speaker system that consists of a top speaker and a bottom speaker. The speakers support Dolby Atmos, which enhances the sound quality and creates a surround sound effect. The speakers also have a dedicated amplifier, which boosts the volume and reduces distortion. The Xperia 1 V also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which supports high-resolution audio and LDAC. It also has a built-in DAC, which converts digital signals to analog signals for better sound quality. The Xperia 1 V also has a stunning 6.5-inch OLED display with a 4K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which is the most powerful processor for Android phones, with a 4nm process, an octa-core CPU, an Adreno 730 GPU, and a Snapdragon Elite Gaming suite. It has 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card. It runs on Android 12 with Xperia UI on top. The Xperia 1 V also has an impressive camera system, with a 12MP main camera, a 12MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 3D ToF sensor. It can record 4K video at 120fps, and it supports Cinema Pro, Photo Pro, and Real-time Eye AF. The front camera is an 8MP sensor that can record 1080p video at 30fps. The Xperia 1 V has a 4500mAh battery that supports 30W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging. It also has IP68 water and dust resistance, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and 5G connectivity. The Xperia 1 V is the best speakers phone of 2023, as it offers a superb sound quality, a high-resolution display, a powerful performance, and a professional camera system. It is priced at $1,399.99, and it competes with other phones with great speakers such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Google Pixel 7 Pro, and the Asus ROG Phone 7.

Best Dynamic Phone: Nothing Phone 2

If you want a phone that can adapt to your needs and preferences, then the Nothing Phone 2 is the best dynamic phone for you. This phone was launched in July 2023, and it has a unique design that features multiple LED lights on the back, which can be used for notifications, charging progress, camera fill light, and more. It also has a blinking red light on the back, which indicates video recording. The Phone 2 also has a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 1080×2412 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an under-display camera. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and has a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It has 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB or 512GB of storage. It runs on Android 13 with Nothing OS 2.0.2a on top. The Phone 2 also has a dual-camera system on the back, with a 50MP main sensor and a 50MP ultrawide sensor. It can record 4K video at 60fps, and it supports live HDR, OIS, and EIS. The front camera is a 32MP sensor that can record 1080p video at 30fps. The Phone 2 has a 4700mAh battery that supports 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging. It also has stereo speakers, NFC, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and 5G connectivity. The Phone 2 is the best dynamic phone of 2023, as it offers a novel and customizable device that can change its appearance and functionality according to your mood and situation. It is priced at $599, and it faces competition from other dynamic phones such as the OnePlus Open, the LG Wing 2, and the Fairphone 4.

Best Rugged Phone: CAT S63

If you want a phone that can survive harsh conditions and environments, then the CAT S63 is the best rugged phone for you. This phone was launched in October 2023, and it has a 5.7-inch LCD display with a 1080×2160 resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection. It is powered by the MediaTek Helio P95 chipset, which is a reliable and efficient processor with a 12nm process, an octa-core CPU, and a PowerVR GM9446 GPU. It has 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card. It runs on Android 12 with CAT UI on top. The CAT S63 also has a decent camera system, with a 16MP main camera, a 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro camera, a 2MP depth camera, and a FLIR thermal imaging camera. It can record 1080p video at 30fps, and it supports HDR and Panorama. The front camera is a 8MP sensor that can record 1080p video at 30fps. The CAT S63 has a 5000mAh battery that supports 18W wired charging, 10W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging. It also has dual speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, and 4G connectivity. The CAT S63 is the best rugged phone of 2023, as it offers a durable and tough device that can withstand drops, shocks, water, dust, extreme temperatures, and more. It also has a thermal imaging camera that can detect heat sources and measure temperatures. It is priced at $799, and it rivals other rugged phones such as the Blackview BV9900 Pro, the Ulefone Armor 13, and the Doogee S97 Pro.

Conclusion

These are some of the best smartphones of 2023, in my opinion, in different categories. Of course, there are many other great phones that I did not mention, and you may have your own preferences and opinions. However, I hope this article gave you some insight and information about the latest and greatest smartphones of 2023, and helped you decide which one suits you best. This article is part of a 2023 wrap up series, where I list the best tech gadgets made in the year. The series also includes laptops, tablets, electric cars, and audio devices. Stay tuned for more articles in this series, and feel free to share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below. Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful day!