Best phones in the world 2023

Daily routines in this decade would be impossible to imagine without our smartphones. In 2023, there is a profusion of reasons to pick the best phone in the world, ranging from its function as a fundamental means of communication to its role as a source of livelihood to its status symbolism.

In compiling this list of the best phones in the world in 2023, we have limited our picks to smartphones launched worldwide. Although the majority of the best phones in the world are premium-valued, their prices pale compared to the world's most expensive phones.

According to this criteria, the Vivo X90 Pro+, which is, by all accounts, one of the best smartphones of 2023, does not make the cut since it has only been released in select regions.

Based on pure quality after consideration of camera, performance, memory and user interface, these are the best phones in the world in 2023:

In 2023, the three smartphones comprising the Asus ROG Phone 6 line, the 6, 6 Pro, and 6D, are the most powerful Android phones in the world. The Asus ROG Phone 6D's SoC Dimensity 9000+ is not only the most efficient but also exhibits higher autonomy, making the device an obvious pick for the best phone in the world in 2023. 

However, this surplus power takes its toll, causing the gadget to heat up. Therefore, engaging the AeroActive Cooler 6 fan is recommended during extended gaming sessions.

Unsurprisingly, the ROG Phone 6 smartphones are not camera phones, as even though they perform well during the day, their picture quality is inferior to that of the best camera phones, with the absence of telezoom being the most glaring shortcoming, although not a deal breaker.

As the current No. 1 phone in the world, the enormous OLED display of the Asus ROG Phone 6 is a visual delight with nearly no discernible flaws.

Ultimately, this model is for individuals who want to play games in the best circumstances while also benefiting from a durable mobile device for daily use.

Despite its brilliance and status as the best phone in the world in 2023, the Asus ROG Phone 6 lacks a wireless charging option and better water and dust resistance.

A characteristic that propels the Asus ROG Phone 6 to the top of the global smartphone ranking is its enormous, high-performing display.

While the screen may not be the best-calibrated panel on the market, it is still extremely nice and will always impress colour enthusiasts.

Being the best phone in the world, the Asus ROG Phone 6 has superior finishes, an eye-catching design, and a functional ecosystem of accessories.

However, it remains hefty and imposing in size, a flaw associated with its origins as a gaming smartphone.

The Asus ROG Phone 6 smartphones have an obvious emphasis on gaming, making them more than adequate. This feature enables them to provide a successful multimedia experience and supplant the iPhone as the best phone in the world in 2023.

The iPhone 14 Pro & Pro Max, which tie for second place on our list of the best phones in the world in 2023, are amazing smartphones that cannot disappoint. If their inherent capabilities were evaluated in isolation from the rest of the market, it would undoubtedly get a score of 99 per cent.

Nonetheless, this generation is penalised by a chasmic quality-to-price ratio, a lack of innovations, and an obvious price rise. The 13 Pro Max was Clacified's best phone of 2022, and we recommend it to anyone seeking an Apple mobile device.

However, it is vital to consider the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max's new features, like the 48-megapixel sensor, before making this choice. Apple still does not fully utilise this sharp mobile camera since its algorithms sometimes lack rigour. Conversely, there are few, if any, mobile devices that outperform the world's second-best phone for video.

Despite exuding robustness and superior materials, the design of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max would be ideal if it were 10 to 20 grammes lighter since there are very capable smartphones of this size. 

Despite the fact that it could cover more of the DCI-P3 spectrum, the screen of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the second-best phone in the world, is excellent and awe-inspiringly brilliant, especially in direct sunlight.

More than any other smartphone, the OnePlus 10T symbolises the power duo that OnePlus and Oppo will become after their merger. OxygenOS may initially surprise even seasoned Android users, but it improves with time and does not prevent the 10T from ranking as the third-best phone in the world.

The OnePlus 10T lays a claim as the best overall smartphone owing to its perfect balance while also emphasising key features that will appeal to OnePlus' youthful target market.

As one of the best smartphones in the world, the 10T excels in two categories:

• Load, which allows users to go on the road without worrying too much about its average autonomy, and
• Graphics power, which allows users to launch nearly everything that exists on a smartphone, including 3D games, without hesitation.

Although the OnePlus 10T is the world's best phone under $500, it lacks IP certification but attempts to compensate with Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

It offers a stunning, huge 120 Hz OLED panel for watching movies and television shows with high viewing comfort or even playing Fortnite. Despite the display's clarity, it has poor brightness in direct sunlight and a slight lack of accuracy.

The OnePlus 10T camera produces high-quality, completely usable images and understands all the foundations of smartphone photography but misses a small amount of accuracy in portrait or HDR handling in selfies. In this price range, the lack of a telephoto lens is not an uncommon occurrence.

It is the performance of the OnePlus 10T that makes it one of the best phones in the world. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 combines power with acceptable thermal conditions, making it a wonderful delight for those wanting to use their smartphone as a gaming machine.

For the remainder of the 10T's features, OnePlus seems to have struck a balance that should please most consumers without driving up the price of the third-best phone in the world. Photos ooze quality while not being the most stunning, and the phone's economical design provides prominence to its enormous 6.7-inch OLED display. 

In conclusion, the OnePlus 10T is an easy-to-use phone without significant flaws.

Featuring a well-optimised CPU that enables users to launch nearly anything quickly, a primary sensor with remarkable clarity, and a gorgeous curved screen, the Magic4 Pro is the fourth best phone in the world.

The screen of the Honor Magic 4 Pro is a visual delight; in gameplay, the feeling of smoothness, the given size (6.8 inches), and the millions of colours prove to be great advantages, encouraging users to utilise the video's high resolution to the fullest extent possible.

With a 10x optical zoom, which appeals to everyone desiring a flexible picture experience, the Honor Magic 4 Pro demonstrates why it is regarded as one of the best phones in the world. Even though the camera does not reach the heights of the competition, its night mode and portrait mode perform well.

Despite its global reputation, the Honor Magic4 Pro has a few flaws, beginning with its UI, which, despite being based on Android 12, seems to be a few steps behind. Additionally, Honor only provides two years of Android and security updates.

Nonetheless, the Magic4 Pro is equipped with raw power but suffers from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1's characteristic overheating.

Among the devices on our list of the best phones in the world, the exclusive Magic UI 6.0 is one of the distinguishing specs that returned Honor to the Android smartphone battle, as it provides all the Google features anticipated from a 2023 smartphone.

However, the autonomy is a bit too short, allowing for a day of use without intensive use, but the 100 W charging capabilities save the device.

Despite being one of the best phones in the world, the Honor Magic4 Pro lacks Corning Gorilla Glass, an abnormality for a phone that costs over $1,000. However, it compensates for this with an IP68 rating.

Ultimately, the Honor Magic 4 Pro promises to be a pretty solid standard for the best smartphones in the world in 2023, devoid of severe flaws but also devoid of excessive ostentation.

In conclusion, Honour again produces a highly recommended smartphone with all the promised features while avoiding the pitfalls plaguing parent company Huawei.

A small, high-end smartphone that is both very powerful and durable, the Asus Zenfone 9 is the fifth best phone in the world. With a battery that lasts one and a half days and a CPU that can operate everything, it easily defeats some of its rivals.

The Zenfone 9's small form factor, risk-taking camouflage coating, and jack socket at this price point all contribute to its exceptional handling.

The Taiwanese manufacturer did an excellent job with the Asus Zenfone 9's screen, which is highly calibrated, enjoyable to use on a daily basis, and very fluid due to its 120 Hz refresh rate.

As a consequence of the lack of optical zoom, the phone's photo capabilities are a big detriment to its standing as one of the best phones in the world. Camera-wise, the Samsung Galaxy S22+, also included on this list of the best phones in the world, is much superior at this price.

Nonetheless, its high-quality display and scrumptious handling owing to its compact size increase the benchmark, all of which are complemented by a user-friendly, if somewhat imperfect, software interface. The Asus Zenfone 9 catches attention and wins its place as one of the best phones in the world thanks to a fantastic promotional campaign.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is undeniably the pinnacle of folding mobile devices. In other words, if this format is just what you're seeking, it's really easy to propose this device, which ranks as the sixth best phone in the world.

With the Fold4, Samsung has perfected a recipe for folding smartphones with an emphasis on productivity and a clean appearance.

Even the two major disadvantages—the inside screen's crease and the S Pen's lack of storage, are not prohibitive.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is a gadget that is easy to unfold, water-resistant, well-built, perfect for everyday usage, and one of the best phones in the world.

While the design of the Galaxy Z Fold4 is elegant and well-executed, it remains bulky and does not eliminate the crease in the centre of the large display.

The two OLED panels are of premium quality and calibrated to perfection, and the software experience is quite well-thought-out, but users must make several tweaks to get the most out of it.

The two displays of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 are very user-friendly due to the manufacturer's efforts to create a brilliant display with high contrast and the ability to show an array of colours.

Samsung's software experience is really brimming with promise, as it offers a plethora of choices and opportunities to fully leverage the enormous screen provided by one of the best smartphones in the world.

In addition to its versatility, the Galaxy Z Fold4 has become excellent by improving its photographic capabilities. Despite a few minor flaws in low light and on the ultra-wide-angle lens, the camera is still extremely good overall.

Even with resource-intensive titles, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 performs quite well in gaming. It ascends to a throne among the best mobile phones in the world without taking the crown. When pushed to its maximum, the gentle warmth becomes quite noticeable.

Finally, the autonomy provides some peace of mind, but the 25 W charging rate is insufficient for an ultra-premium smartphone.

The seventh best phone in the world, the Galaxy Z Flip4 is an exciting smartphone with a 22:9 screen that is ideal for watching movies, compactness, and the ability to manage notifications without opening the phone's display.

The reasons to love the Flip4 are undoubtedly more significant than those that will lead users to choose a more conventional smartphone.

The Galaxy Z Flip4's flaws begin with its photography, which, although decent, is not worth what is available in the same price range from the competition or even from its sister device, the S22.

As one of the best phones in the world, the Galaxy Z Flip4 camera continues to wow with its impressive colours, excellent clarity, top portrait mode, and perfected night mode, but its lack of a telephoto lens makes it inferior to similarly priced rivals.

Also, the need to open the phone each time interaction is required, the minor delays of One UI 4.1.1, and its sluggish load time call into question its status as one of the best phones in the world.

Apart from its shortcomings, the Z Flip4's design is unquestionably its greatest asset. The external screen and Flex mode are as enjoyable to use as ever, while IPX8 on a folding phone is a genuine strength, and the new flat edges strengthen the overall feeling of durability.

All of these features make it a candidate for the title of "best phone in the world" in 2023; however, the centre crease prevents it from being flawless.

The Z Flip4's 3700 mAh autonomy is a significant improvement over its predecessor's 3300 mAh capacity. The result is a phone that is never flashy but is better than the S22 Ultra, for instance, in that regard. Still too sluggish; it takes more than an hour to recharge.

The Xiaomi 12 Pro has strong attributes, and due to them, it might be satisfied with being only a good smartphone. However, its high-performance processor, which provides excellent usability, completes the process of making it the eigth-best phone in the world. It can thus be an excellent alternative to conventional top-tier heavyweights due to its everyday appeal.

In addition to its AMOLED display, reasonably lightweight design for a flagship, very rapid charging, and two highly effective wide-angle and telephoto cameras, the Xiaomi 12 Pro also has a competitive night mode.

A few shortcomings, such as a brittle back that necessitates the use of a casing and a battery that gets rather light in the absence of a charge, prevent it from reaching the top tier of the best phones in the world.

If users can get past these minor issues, the Xiaomi 12 Pro is a fantastic pick, as well as a dependable, efficient, no-frills mobile device that easily rates among the world's best phones.

The Xiaomi 12 Pro is comfortable to hold since it is neither too heavy nor too thick, but the lack of IP certification necessitates extreme care.

The Xiaomi 12 Pro's camera is pleasant and consistent, giving an experience befitting of one of the best phones in the world. The primary sensor and the X2 are excellent, but the ultra-wide-angle lens is rather lacking in colourimetry but still useful. 

The night mode performs well but is inconsistent at times, while the portrait mode should be enhanced, and the selfie sensor smooths the skin a little too much.

In terms of performance, the Xiaomi 12 Pro is a racing beast capable of devouring anything with ease. It runs similarly well in-game, with just occasional archetypal overheating.

It is impossible to assess the autonomy of a smartphone in 2023 due to the insane charging speed of a 120W block present on this device, which may make autonomy appear secondary.

However, the Xiaomi 12 Pro, the ninth-best smartphone in the world, is not the most durable smartphone if a user must spend more than a day away from a power source.

The OnePlus 10 Pro is ranked as the ninth best phone in the world as a result of its sleek design, amazing screen, good fluid interface, extensive photo advantages, and extremely strong performance.

It does have a little problem in that it heats up a bit too soon, and its autonomy is not the best, but a rapid charging system compensates for this last shortcoming.

Additionally, despite the fact that OnePlus seems to have undertaken the essential preparations for the smartphone to be water resistant, there is no IP68 certification.

Even though its camera module may confuse some users, the OnePlus 10 Pro features a well-finished, comfortable design. Rather, the main cause for concern is the product's poor performance in durability tests conducted by independent experts.

The OnePlus 10 Pro sports an exceptional AMOLED screen that stands out for the accuracy of the colours it shows, making it one of the best phones in the world.

The OnePlus 10 Pro's camera provides decent image quality and a degree of adaptability. Aside from its display, the OnePlus 10 Pro is an amazing powerhouse unperturbed by the most demanding 3D mobile games.

As mentioned earlier, the rear of the smartphone tends to heat up a little too rapidly, which is the only drawback to be mentioned. This characteristic flaw of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 has no effect on the phone's position as one of the best in the world.

The Galaxy S22+ falls between the Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S22 Ultra in terms of price, but its regulated balance makes it one of the best phones in the world. It is tough to consider it a step down from the Ultra since no fatal flaws exist.

The S22+'s high autonomy and 45 W charge (not included in the package) remedy the Galaxy S22's primary shortcoming without sublimating it.

The Galaxy S22+, like the Galaxy S22, is a beautiful smartphone with an immaculate finish. Its greater bulk and weight inevitably affect its grip, so users may need to like large phones to appreciate it. Nonetheless, it remains one of the most attractive devices on our list of the best phones in the world.

The S22+ offers a Full HD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, OLED technology, and vibrant colours. In practice, it is a delight, but tests show its calibration might have benefited from greater attention.

Featuring the Android 12-based One UI 4, the S22+ performs commendably as one of the best phones in the world and is practical due to its 6.6-inch screen's one-handed use. A promised four years of significant updates assure its longevity.

The triple photo sensor (wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, and x3) on the S22+ provides fascinating photographic diversity and generally effective photos.

In terms of performance, the Exynos 2200 CPU delivers on its claims of raw power for relatively traditional everyday usage but again falls short in the graphics department. There is, for example, a visual problem in Fortnite and severe overheating while playing games, all of which account for the S22+'s lowly 10th position on our list of the best phones in the world.