Samsung is one of the most recognized brands in modern smartphones. It has a well-deserved reputation for offering a wide range of quality phones that are suitable for almost everyone. This means that if you’re looking for an Android phone, you’ll be hard pressed to find a Samsung model that isn’t worth considering for your needs and budget. In fact, the number of options may be a bit much, but the good news is that we’ve explored the entire range and highlighted the best Samsung smartphones you can buy in 2023.
Like its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra earns recognition as the best overall Samsung phone, and not just because it’s Samsung’s high-end flagship device. Sure, it’s the most expensive in the lineup, but with a large and gorgeous display, a great camera, and a new processor that offers unprecedented levels of performance, it gives you great value for your money. If you’re looking for something a little more unique, portable or affordable, you’ll find many other great options in each category on our list, with links to detailed reviews of each category.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Best overall Samsung phone
Why buy: You’ll get a powerful and well-made smartphone with a gorgeous screen, top-notch camera and great battery life.
Who it’s for: Anyone who’s looking for the most powerful Android phone on the market.
Why we chose the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra:
The Galaxy S23 Ultra may be one of the most expensive phones you can buy, but it has enough features and functionality to make it worth every penny. In fact, despite its high price, it offers incredible value because you get pretty much everything you want in a smartphone in a package that will serve you well for years to come.
Probably the biggest factor stopping you from buying the Galaxy S23 Ultra is actually its biggest factor: at 9mm thick, 78mm wide and weighing 233 grams, it’s certainly one of the largest smartphones available. The Galaxy S23 Ultra also makes up for it with its rounded edges and simple yet elegant styling.
On the front is a 6.8-inch dynamic AMOLED display that offers QHD+ resolution and a very sharp density of 550 pixels per inch (ppi). The screen’s impressive size and clarity is enough to justify a larger phone, and it reaches a peak brightness of 1,750 nits, so you won’t have any trouble reading it clearly outside on a sunny day.
Like its predecessor, the camera on the Galaxy S23 Ultra really sets it apart from its smaller sibling, and this year you’ll get a 200 megapixel (MP) primary camera with laser autofocus, and a pair of 10MP cameras connected to provide 3x and 10x optical zoom levels of telephoto. The combined camera system allows for outstanding 30x and 100x digital zoom, offering advanced photography technology that no other smartphone can offer.
Samsung is also using the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. Rather than using an off-the-shelf version of this already very powerful processor, Samsung has partnered with Qualcomm to create a custom chip that has taken performance to new heights. To say there’s extra performance here is an understatement. The chip is also very efficient, providing up to two days of battery life per charge.
Samsung’s S Pen is Samsung’s S Pen, which comes with the Galaxy S23 Ultra and lets you quickly jot down notes, annotate screenshots, or just jot down random shorthand anywhere on your phone without even opening the screen. It’s a great productivity tool, and you don’t have to worry about where you put it because when you’re not using it, it’s tucked away at the bottom of your phone.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is not only the best Samsung phone to buy, but it’s easily one of the best Android phones of 2023. It’s versatile, has a proven design, and will entice almost anyone willing to spend money on it to spend money on a phone with top-notch performance that will meet future needs.
Samsung Gaylord S23
Best Samsung Phone Runner-up
Reason to buy: It’s a pocket-sized and powerful smartphone that’s perfect for almost everyone.
Who it’s for: People who want a smaller Samsung phone, but don’t want to compromise on specs.
Why we chose the Samsung Galaxy S23:
It’s the smallest of the S23 series, but don’t let that rule it out. The Samsung Galaxy S23 is sleek, compact and powerful – making it the perfect runner-up and alternative to the aforementioned S23 Ultra. While the Galaxy S23 is technically a downgrade from the Ultra models in some specific areas, it’s still enough to justify its inclusion here.
The Galaxy S23’s design is very different from its larger counterpart. the 6.1-inch display and slim bezels mean it’s a smaller device, and therefore more comfortable to hold. The design is also different, including a flat screen and more rounded corners. Otherwise, everything else involving the display is roughly the same as a more expensive phone, including the incredible Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology with 120Hz refresh rate. It has the same amazing screen on a smaller frame, which is a huge win for those who don’t like larger phones.
The internal hardware is also very similar. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processors is just as powerful as the S23 Ultra, and the 8GB of RAM is the same as the Ultra’s base model. 128GB of base storage is a little disappointing, but unless you’re a major app junkie or media junkie, you You should be fine. The battery is also sturdy and will last for two days of conservative use. The charging speed of just 25W is a little disappointing, but still fast enough.
There’s a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with a 3x optical zoom. It’s no match for the S23 Ultra’s 200MP camera, but it’s still a great shooter that can take solid photos in a variety of lighting situations. It’s a camera you’ll be proud to use, and Samsung’s post-processing makes colors pop, even if it’s not natural.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is the cheapest of Samsung’s new flagship lineup, starting at $799. While you’ll lose some of the elements that make the S23 Ultra unique, including the S Pen, these compromises won
‘t have a major impact on the phone. That means it’s still a terrific piece of technology and a good choice if you want a small but powerful Samsung flagship.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
The best large Samsung phones
Why you should buy this: The S23 Plus is a big phone with a lot to offer that makes the Ultra amazing, but at a cheaper price.
Who it’s for: People who don’t want an Ultra, but still want a powerful Samsung flagship.
Why we chose the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus:
The S23 Ultra is a powerful flagship, but it’s not for everyone. If you don’t want or need all the features the Ultra has to offer, then the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is a great option. This big-screen smartphone looks great, is just as powerful as its larger sibling, has a great camera and more. If you’re looking for a large Samsung phone, then the Galaxy S23 Plus is a great choice for you.
The main reason you might want a big phone is for the big screen, and the S23 Plus certainly excels at it. the 6.6-inch display features Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, so it has a 120Hz refresh rate for incredible smoothness, and a crisp 393 pixels per inch 1080p resolution, all protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is protected. It’s stunning, with rich colors, deep blacks and a high refresh rate that makes using it feel like a dream.
This kind of performance wouldn’t be possible without powerful specs, and the S23 Plus does have powerful specs. It comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that is as powerful and powerful as any other recent smartphone. Storage also starts at 256GB, so a powerful processor and lots of storage means this phone can be used for years before it needs an upgrade. This is also reflected in Samsung’s generous update schedule, with the S23 Plus guaranteed four years of major Android updates and five years of security updates. That means you can still get Android updates before Android 17 – and it’s hard to argue with that value.
The battery is sturdy and will last a day and a half with regular use. Charging supports up to 45W charging in about an hour, and supports reverse wireless charging for accessories as well as regular wireless charging. The camera doesn’t have the Ultra’s 200MP sensor, but it’s still impressive, with a 50MP main lens, a 12MP wide-angle lens, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP selfie lens that wraps around the front. This is an excellent camera with all-around great performance and produces poor images. Edge detection is excellent, as are the night mode photos. The big difference between this camera and the incredible S23 Ultra is the zoom, and if that’s important to you, you may want to consider paying extra for the Ultra model. But even with that in mind, the
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus starts at $999 and totally justifies that price tag. If you’re looking for a Samsung flagship with a big, beautiful screen for less than the ultra-high-end S23 Ultra, then the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus is a great choice.
