The Best Phones of 2023: A Year of Game Changers and Major Flops

The Smartphone Market in 2023: A Mix of Lows and Highs

The smartphone market in 2023 has definitely had its lows and its highs. There's a large proportion of companies who've just carried on doing their own thing, making slight, fairly unambitious improvements to what they know already works. But at the same time, we've also had both a couple of pretty major flops and some of the biggest game changers we've seen in years. New phones from emerging companies just came in and dropped bombshells that we never saw coming. So, with all of this in mind, who makes the best phone for you and who's made straight up the best phone of the year?

The Best Foldable Phone: OnePlus Open

Samsung has been the winner by default for the last 5 years, being the only company to actually make a top-tier foldable that's also globally available. While Samsung has made good phones, you can also sense the complacency with how quickly the company's foldables went from the future of computing to just slight improvements. However, OnePlus has finally entered the foldable market with the OnePlus Open. It has a more competitive price, better cameras, nicer construction, longer battery life, and most importantly, unique software that makes the big screen useful. It's the first-ever foldable to actually compete with Samsung and has come out on top. OnePlus gets the award for the best foldable of 2023.

The Best Compact Phone: Sony Xperia 5 Mark 5

For the best compact phone of 2023, the award goes to the Sony Xperia 5 Mark 5. It is high-spec, with cameras that have a high ceiling if you take the time to learn how to properly use them. The battery life is impressive, lasting much longer than Samsung's phones. The tall narrow ratio of this phone makes it feel smaller than it actually is. While it doesn't offer four full years of software upgrades like Samsung, it does come with a headphone jack, top shelf audio quality, a Micro SD card slot, and even a physical camera button.

The Best Battery Life: Sony Xperia 10 Mark 5

When it comes to the best battery life, the Sony Xperia 10 Mark 5 takes the crown. It keeps up one-to-one with the battery life of the Xperia 5 Mark 5 but at a more affordable price. Despite some scaled-back features like weaker cameras and a slightly weaker screen, having the option for insane battery life in both flagship and mid-range configurations is something worth recognizing. Sony deserves the award for the best battery life.

The Most Improved Phone: Motorola Edge 30 Ultra

The most improved phone of the year goes to Motorola for their Edge 30 Ultra. It is the company's first-ever Ultra phone and offers top-of-the-line specifications at a more affordable price compared to other flagship phones. While it still needs improvement in terms of camera image processing, the Edge 30 Ultra is a game-changer for Motorola and deserves recognition for their efforts.

The Best Gaming Phone: Asus ROG Phone 7

Gaming phones are gaining popularity as smartphones become more powerful and capable of playing console games. There are three top contenders in the gaming phone category: Red Magic 8S Pro, Asus ROG Phone 7, and Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. While the Ultimate version offers additional features like a rear display, the ROG Phone 7 provides top-shelf performance, excellent battery life, and an ecosystem of accessories that make it more than just a gaming phone. The ROG Phone 7 wins the award for the best gaming phone of 2023.

The Best Camera Phone: iPhone 15 Pro Max

The question of which phone currently has the best camera is subjective, as different people have their preferences. However, for the author, the iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out with its improvements in zoom, higher megapixels, and the ability to convert any photo into a portrait mode shot. The iPhone 15 Pro Max takes the title for the best camera phone.

The Best Budget Phone: Poco X5 Pro

When it comes to budget phones, the Poco X5 Pro offers the best value for money. With its Snapdragon 778G chipset, flagship-like screen, and respectable camera, the Poco X5 Pro provides good core hardware at an affordable price. Xiaomi and their spin-off brands, Redmi and Poco, have consistently delivered budget phones with impressive specs, and the Poco X5 Pro is no exception.

The Best Mid-Range Phone: Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus

In the mid-range category, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus takes the crown. With its Snapdragon chipset, excellent camera, and affordable price, it offers great value for money. Xiaomi continues to impress with their Redmi line, providing mid-range phones with flagship-like features.

The Best Flagship Phone: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

For the best flagship phone of 2023, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes out on top. It ticks all the boxes with its impressive cameras, top-of-the-line screen, continuous software support, and customization options. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a masterclass in smartphone technology and deserves the title of the best flagship phone of the year.