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Samsung has announced the Galaxy S23 family of devices. We’ve added more information to the What to Expect section.
Good Smartphone Recommendations
There’s no one smartphone that’s best for everyone, but we’ve spent hundreds of hours comparing phones to find the best one for you. The phone you buy will depend on your budget, your wireless carrier, and which major smartphone platform — Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android — you’ve already invested in. But whether you want a premium phone or something more affordable, we have recommendations for iPhone and Android, and all of our selections are available on all major US carriers.
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IPhone 14 has an amazing dual-lens camera that can use night mode for better low-light photos, a fast iPhone processor, long battery life, and a large OLED screen.
Who’s it for: Anyone who wants an iPhone and appreciates getting the latest screen, camera and processor to keep it looking and feeling great for years to come.
Why we like it: Apple’s iPhone 14 is as fast as any other iPhone, including the more expensive Pro models, and the battery will last almost anything all day on a single charge. The camera has two lenses and takes great photos, offers better low-light performance, great 4K video recording, action mode stabilization and even better selfies.
The iPhone 14 has the same 6.1-inch screen size as the iPhone 12 and 13, as well as the same body height and width. Like the iPhone 4 and 5, the edges are square, and we found it easier to hold the iPhone 14 even when the phone is not in the case. Like all modern iPhones, the iPhone 14 is waterproof up to 6 meters for 30 minutes, so it should survive an accidental dip in the pool. A new addition to the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus (but not the Pro or Pro Max) is improved repairability — Apple has made it easier to open and fix the screen and back glass, according to iFixIt. And the iPhone 14 series offers satellite SOS and car crash detection, making it easier to call for help in an emergency.
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From left: iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max. Photo: Michael Hession
Holes, but not deals: Apple has switched to eSIMs for the iPhone 14 line, eliminating support for physical SIM cards. If you have a physical SIM card, you need to convert it to an eSIM, which can cause problems. And those of you who want to zoom in on your photos will have to pay more for a telephoto lens on the iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max.
To find out if the iPhone 14 is right for you, read our full guide on which iPhone to buy.
The iPhone SE has a faster processor than you might expect in such a relatively cheap phone, as well as a good camera – and costs half the price of the iPhone 14. The low price, the small screen and the Touch ID fingerprint reader make it. An easy upgrade for those who have an older iPhone or those who want to spend less, but the battery doesn’t last long.
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Who’s it for: People who prefer smaller screens, want to spend less on a phone, or prefer to have a fingerprint reader over Face ID.
Why we like it: The Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) is the perfect choice if you want a smaller phone, prefer a fingerprint reader over Face ID, or don’t want to pay as much for a new smartphone as you’d like. A decent laptop. The iPhone SE is significantly cheaper than the iPhone 14, but in many situations it is just as fast. It lacks the iPhone 14’s second ultra-wide lens and the night mode camera setting, so it’s harder to take good photos in dark environments. And while inexpensive Android phones often stop receiving software updates soon after purchase, even the cheapest iPhones, including the SE, will receive iOS support for years.
Flaws, but don’t criticize: If you use the phone for power-intensive activities like gaming, video or voice or FaceTime calls over LTE/5G, the small battery in this model may not last all day. Unless you’re a heavy phone user, it should last all day without charging, but otherwise you might want to keep a charger or wireless charging pad handy.
If neither the iPhone SE nor the iPhone 14 sounds like you, or if you want to know more about the full range of iPhones Apple currently sells, read our complete guide to which iPhone you should get.
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Better than phones costing several times the price, the Pixel 7 has the best version of Android and one of the best Android smartphone cameras we’ve ever tested.
Who’s it for: People who want a fast, secure Android phone with the best camera and guaranteed software updates, but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars.
Why we like it: The Google Pixel 7 offers the high-quality software and cameras that have made all of Google’s Pixel phones great, and it’s only $600. This phone comes with a clean, responsive version of Google’s Android 13 and is sure to receive updates until fall 2027. The Pixel 7 has a dual-camera setup that takes better photos than almost any other Android phone.
Although it only has two camera lenses, Google’s amazing image processing is borderline magical. It uses True Tone technology to accurately reproduce dark skin tones, which can be a problem on other phones, and the Pixel camera app offers exposure and color temperature adjustment options in the viewfinder. The Pixel 7 also has Google’s Magic Eraser feature, which can remove distractions and unwanted background objects in photos.
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The Pixel 7 has a 6.34-inch OLED display that stretches almost to the edge with minimal bezels. It is bright enough for outdoor use and also has an additional glow function that makes it easy on the eyes in dark rooms. In addition, there is an optical fingerprint scanner under the screen; It’s not as fast or accurate as Samsung’s ultrasonic sensor, but it’s a lot better than the Pixel 6a or last year’s Pixel 6.
Flaws, but not deals: We can’t find many faults with the Google Pixel 7, especially considering the price – we wouldn’t expect to see most of its “missing” features in a $600 phone anyway. We wish it could charge faster; At best, a little less than half is charged in 30 minutes.
To read more about the Pixel 7 and other Android phones we’ve tested, read our full guide to the best Android phones.
The Pixel 7 Pro takes the amazing Pixel 7 and adds a bigger, better screen and zoom camera – and it’s still cheaper than the competition.
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Why we like it: The Google Pixel 7 Pro is a bigger, better version of the Pixel 7 and includes a 6.7-inch, 1440p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also has an amazing 5x optical zoom lens on the back.
The Pixel 7 Pro is one of the fastest phones you can buy. Scrolling and navigating through apps is particularly smooth, and certain tasks like Google Assistant responses are much faster than on other phones, thanks to Google’s second-generation Tensor processor.
The Pixel 7 Pro is an upgrade to the Pixel 7 with an additional camera lens – it has a third 48-megapixel lens on the back with 5x zoom that preserves detail even when zoomed all the way. It takes the best photos of any Android. The phone we tested, and you don’t need to change the settings to get amazing photos.
Faulty, but not crushing: The Google Pixel 7 Pro’s large size can be unwieldy, even if you have large hands, and without a case it’s slippery and hard to grip. But Google moved the power and volume buttons lower on the phone in this model, making them easier to access than on previous Pixel phones.
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For more information on the Google Pixel 7 Pro, read our full guide to the best Android phones.
The OnePlus Nord N20 5G offers solid performance and a sharp 1080p OLED display with an in-display fingerprint reader, but it doesn’t work on Verizon’s network.
Who’s it for: People on a budget who still want a phone that does more than the bare minimum.
Why we like it: Even though the OnePlus Nord N20 5G costs less than half the price of a modern high-end smartphone, it feels like a more expensive phone with its screen, features and battery life. The Nord N20 includes an in-display fingerprint sensor and a 1080p OLED display – features that set it apart from other budget Android phones that typically have 720p LCDs and lack a fingerprint sensor. It also loads complex websites, runs games, and installs and launches apps faster than most other budget phones we’ve tested.
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Flaws, but not dealbreakers: Nord