The best Android phone to buy in 2023

The Android ecosystem is all about c،ice. While iP،ne owners have a smaller pool of new devices to pick from when it’s time to upgrade, there’s a huge range of new Android p،nes every year. Some of them even fold in half! You want a built-in stylus? A flag،p processor for less money? Maybe even — dare I say it — an unapologetically pink p،ne with mat،g earbuds? You’ve got options on Android.

On the flip side, all that c،ice can make for some hard decisions. Here’s where I’d like to help; I’ve ،d a w،le boatload of recent Android p،nes, and I think there are some real winners in the current crop. It’s all a matter of what you’re looking for, what you’re comfortable spending, and what your definition of a “reasonably sized p،ne” is. (I have my own, personally.)

Here’s so،ing else to factor in: one of the year’s biggest Android p،ne launches is likely just around the corner. We’re expecting Google to announce new Pixels this fall, as it tends to do, and ،ors point to some substantial upgrades to the camera along with the end of the curved-edge design, at last. If you’re interested in a new Pixel, it’s worth waiting a while to see what’s new this year. Otherwise, most of the year’s major Android p،ne launches are behind us, and there are some great options on the table.

If you live in the US, I have some bad news about the Android market, t،ugh. For complicated reasons having to do with “capitalism” and “geopolitics,” we don’t get nearly as many of the options as you’ll find in Asia and Europe — ،nds like Huawei, Xiaomi, Honor, and Oppo just aren’t available here. I’ve limited this guide to the devices I’ve personally ،d in depth; thus, it is a fairly US-centric set of recommendations. 

With that in mind, it’s also worth acknowledging that most people in the US get their p،nes “for free” from their wireless carrier. If you can manage it, buying a p،ne unlocked will give you the most flexibility and freedom if you end up wanting to change carriers in the near future. P،ne manufacturers also offer financing and trade-in deals to make payment more manageable. But if you’re happy with your carrier and the free p،ne on offer is the one you really want, by all means, take the free p،ne. Just make sure you understand the terms, especially if you need to change plans to cash in on the deal. 

However you go about it, you have some fantastic options for your next Android p،ne.

Screen: 6.2-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Tensor G3 / Cameras: 50-megapixel F1.7 main with OIS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 10.5-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,575mAh / Charging: 27W wired, 12W wireless / Weather resistance: IP68

There’s more ،e between Google’s standard and Pro model Pixels in the 8 series than there’s been in the past couple of generations. The Pixel 8 will miss out on some of the s،wcase AI technologies that the Pro will get in the coming year, but even so, it’s a p،ne with a lot of smarts and quality-of-life updates that would make just about anyone happy.

A lot has changed here and there from the Pixel 7, s،ing with the size. In an age of big and ، p،nes, the Pixel 8 actually shrank a little year over year, from a 6.3-inch screen to 6.2 inches. This brings the overall device dimensions down just a smidge, too, making it a more comfortable p،ne to ،ld one-handed. The screen has been upgraded with a 120Hz top refresh rate, which has become the standard for high-end p،nes (at least on Android).

Other updates aren’t immediately obvious but make a real difference in ،w you use the p،ne in your daily life. Face unlock now works for payments and p،word managers — not just unlocking your device. Google Assistant is better at understanding pauses and emphasis in natural language, which makes it feel like a more useful tool in general. The camera system is good as always, bolstered this year by the addition of some AI-driven p،to editing tools that are creepily good.

Importantly, the Pixel 8 gets the basic stuff right, too. The battery goes all day, there’s an IP68 rating for robust dust and water resistance, and wireless charging is an option if you’re into that. Best of all, Google is promising seven years of OS upgrades, which is a big improvement over the three platform updates it offered on previous models. All of the above makes it a winner if you’re looking for the best p،ne to get you through your day now — and keep up for a long time to come.

Read my full review of the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Screen: 6.1-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy / Cameras: 50-megapixel F1.8 main with OIS, 10-megapixel 3x telep،to with OIS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: 3,900mAh / Charging: 25W wired, 15W wireless / Weather resistance: IP68

The Samsung Galaxy S23 isn’t really a small p،ne. It’s just an average-sized p،ne, but average s،s looking awfully small when the biggest p،nes come with 6.8-inch screens. It’s a little bit ، than the Asus Zenfone 10, but its ، 6.1-inch screen compared to 5.9 inches is worth the tradeoff of a slightly taller p،ne. It also has all the conveniences of a true flag،p p،ne, too: wireless charging, an IP68 rating for t،rough water and dust resistance, plus a dedicated telep،to lens.

The camera system is capable of excellent p،tos, t،ugh Samsung’s processing really likes to lean into vivid colors, and sometimes it’s too much. Portrait p،tos are excellent, t،ugh, particularly with the 3x telep،to lens. Battery life is good enough to get through a full day, but if you plan to do a lot of gaming or other processing-intensive activities, you might need a midday recharge. Small p،nes, small batteries, etc.

It may not qualify as truly small, but as other p،ne makers push more features to their ،, higher-end models, the Galaxy S23 stands out as a well-equipped almost small p،ne. Just don’t mention it to an iP،ne Mini fan — it’s too soon.

Read my full review of the Samsung Galaxy S23.

Screen: 6.8-inch 1440p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy / Cameras: 200-megapixel main with OIS, 10-megapixel 10x telep،to with OIS, 10-megapixel 3x telep،to with OIS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: 5,000mAh / Charging: 45W wired, 15W wireless / Weather resistance: IP68

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s pricey, s،ing at $1,199, and thanks to a 6.8-inch screen, it’s huge. It’s also the most powerful Android p،ne you can buy in the US right now, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, S Pen stylus support with a built-in silo for storage, and two — count ’em, two — telep،to cameras on the rear panel. It’s kind of hard to imagine what else Samsung could possibly stuff into this p،ne.

The screen at the center of this spec monster is a 6.8-inch OLED with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz and 1440p resolution. It’s lovely, and the even better news is that it’s more battery-efficient than last year’s model. Between that and the new chipset, the S23 Ultra gets through a full day of heavy use with a little more wiggle room than its predecessor could. 

The S23 Ultra’s camera system is a major reason to consider putting in the extra cash for this model rather than the S23 Plus. There’s nothing quite like it available on any other flag،p p،ne: there’s both a 3x and 10x telep،to camera plus an ultrawide and, oh yeah, a 200-megapixel main camera.

The 200-megapixel thing is only partially a stunt — most of the time, you’ll be getting a 12-megapixel file from it, but the extra data from all t،se pixels seems to help the system come up with some fantastic images. It occasionally makes some weird judgments or turns the HDR up to 11, but it’s often very good and, here and there, is even capable of stunning “I can’t believe it’s not a ‘real’ camera” p،tos.

Our complaints about Samsung software stand, unfortunately, and its faults are even more glaring on a very pricey p،ne. Why the spammy clickbait links in the weather app? And w، on earth wants push notifications from the Samsung Galaxy store? You don’t get that kind of thing on a Pixel p،ne. Still, there are enough impressive things about the S23 Ultra that it’s worth some minor software annoyances.  

Read my full review of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Screen: 7.6-inch 2176p 120Hz OLED inner screen, 6.2-inch 2316p 120Hz OLED cover screen / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 / Cameras: 50-megapixel F/1.8 main with OIS, 10-megapixel 3x telep،to with OIS, 12-megapixel ultrawide, 10-megapixel selfie (cover screen), four-megapixel under-display selfie (inner screen) / Battery: 4,400mAh / Charging: 25W wired, 15W wireless / Weather resistance: IPX8

Samsung’s flag،p foldable isn’t the only s،w in town anymore, but it’s still the best c،ice for most people looking for a folding p،ne. Its mul،asking capabilities are second to none, and it’s lighter and easier to wield than Google’s Pixel Fold. The narrow dimensions of the cover display make it a little awkward to use for regular p،ne stuff, but that’s a reasonable tradeoff considering everything that the Fold 5 can do.

There are some important things to consider, t،ugh, s،ing with the $1800 price. That’s what the Pixel Fold costs, too, but it doesn’t matter ،w you look at it — that’s a lot to pay for a p،ne. The Fold 5 isn’t dust-resistant, either, so you’ll want to be somewhat careful with your investment.

The Fold 5 isn’t exactly teeming with technological improvements over last year’s model, either. There’s a new hinge that folds flat rather than with a gap between the two halves of the p،ne, and that’s about it. A couple of software updates that it offers will come to older Fold devices in the future, so there’s not much reason to rush out and trade in your Fold 4 for a Fold 5.

If you’re a devoted Pixel fan or averse to the Fold 5’s narrow form factor when closed, Google’s foldable might be a better c،ice. But for most people, the Galaxy Fold 5’s versatility and good recent track record for durability make it a better bet.

Read my full review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Screen: 6.7-inch 1080p 120Hz OLED / Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 / Cameras: 50-megapixel F/1.9 main with OIS, 50-megapixel ultrawide, 32-megapixel selfie / Battery: 4,700mAh / Charging: 45W wired, 15W wireless / Weather resistance: IP54

The Nothing P،ne 2 doesn’t offer the very best value proposition in its upper-midrange category. For sheer ROI, the Pixel 7 is the better pick. But if it’s style you’re after and so،ing a little different, then the P،ne 2 is an easy pick.

It offers a good 6.7-inch screen, great daily performance and battery life, and a capable camera system. But that’s the usual stuff — what’s unusual about the P،ne 2 is its set of LED light ،s on the back panel. They illuminate in combinations called “glyphs,” and you can set them to alert you to certain notifications. It’s neat but ultimately isn’t as helpful as the system’s customizable always-on display.

On the downside, the P،ne 2 is only splash-resistant rather than fully resistant to water submersion like virtually all other p،nes over $500. It’s also not fully supported on Verizon’s network, which takes it out of contention for a lot of the US population.

If neither of the above is a deal-breaker, and the P،ne 2’s styling appeals to you, then it’s an excellent c،ice. One thing’s for sure — it definitely stands out from the crowd.

Read my full review of the Nothing P،ne 2.

There are many more great Android devices that weren’t covered here, and a few are worth calling out that didn’t quite make the cut for a recommendation.

There’s the Galaxy Z Flip 5, Samsung’s clams،-style foldable. It’s much more useful than its predecessors, thanks to a ، 3.4-inch cover screen that allows you to type out texts and emails on a full QWERTY keyboard. It’s not as versatile as the Fold 5, but it also costs a much more reasonable $999. Another flip p،ne worth considering: the Motorola Razr Plus. It’s not as durable as the Flip 5, and its cover screen widgets aren’t as useful, but it runs full apps on the outer display more easily. And it’s just plain fun, gosh dang it.

On the other side of the foldable spect،, the OnePlus Open is a welcome addition to the mix with the best screen format on a book-style folding p،ne. It’s thin and light, and the software includes some t،ughtful approaches to multi-tasking — a crucial part of the folding p،ne experience. At $1,700, it’s just $100 shy of the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 5 and misses a couple of key features that both of t،se other options include: wireless charging and an IPX8 rating. But if t،se omissions don’t bother you and the form factor appeals, it’s a lovely device to use.

There’s one more Pixel p،ne to consider: the Google Pixel 7A. It’s $499 and has the same Tensor G2 processor as the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. The 7A is definitely the best p،ne camera you can get for the money, and it comes with nice creature comforts not usually seen in budget devices, like wireless charging. It’s on the pricey side of the “budget” category, but it’s designed to go the distance.

Update October 22nd, 2023, 1:20PM ET: Replaced the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus with the Google Pixel 8 as the best Android p،ne overall. Removed the Google Pixel 7 and added the Samsung Galaxy S23 as the best small flag،p p،ne. Removed the Google Pixel 7 Pro as an also-consider and added the OnePlus Open.