Foreign Media Rates the Best 8 Mobile Phones in 2023 Samsung Takes First Place, Google’s 3 Models Make the Cut

Foreign media rates the top 8 mobile phones in 2023, with Samsung taking first place and Google's 3 models making the list

【phoneauto】Unconsciously, three-quarters of 2023 have passed. Although there are nearly three months left until the end of the year, some foreign media have already started to review the best smartphones of 2023. Recently, the foreign media techradar published such an article. Based on the website’s previous phone reviews and ratings, they compiled and ranked the top 8 best smartphones of 2023. However, the latest iPhone 15 series and the newly released Google Pixel 8 series have not been reviewed yet, so they are not included in this ranking.

Samsung S23 Ultra

From the list published by the media, it can be seen that the Android flagship Samsung S23 Ultra surpassed Apple to win the first place, becoming the best smartphone of 2023 so far. Apple has two phones on the list. Surprisingly, Google, which has almost no presence in China, actually has three phones on the list. However, considering that this list is mainly targeted at the US smartphone market, this situation is not too surprising. As a result, only two domestic models, OnePlus 11 and Motorola Razr Plus, appeared on the list (Motorola, being acquired by Lenovo, can also be considered a domestic brand). Next, phoneauto will provide detailed introductions of the 8 smartphones brought by the foreign media, and analyze their features and target audience.

The difference between Samsung S23 Ultra and its predecessor S22 Ultra doesn’t seem to be significant, but the new phone has made improvements in many aspects. It has a more powerful chipset, more durable materials, and a new camera sensor.

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Samsung S23 Ultra

The front and back of the Samsung S23 Ultra are made of smooth glass material. The front uses a slightly curved display, which can be said to have one of the best display effects in the current mobile phone industry, with good performance parameters. The device is equipped with an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen2 chip, which has the most powerful performance on the Android platform. Its back is also equipped with a 10x optical zoom lens, making it one of the best phones for long-range shooting. In addition, the device can also be used as a mini computer host. In desktop mode, it can be connected to a monitor and keyboard, or multiple applications can be opened in desktop mode.

Samsung S23 Ultra

Suitable for: those who want a versatile smartphone; those who want a phone that can capture distant objects clearly; those who want a phone that can be used as a pocket computer.

Not suitable for: people with limited budgets; people who don’t like large phones; people who don’t like One UI.

Phoneauto review: In today’s market, the Samsung S23 Ultra can be called the Android flagship with its comprehensive features.

Although Apple has released the iPhone 15 series, the media has not yet conducted an in-depth review of the new phone, so the new iPhone does not appear in the list. Therefore, the best Apple phone is still considered to be the iPhone 14 Pro.

iPhone 14 Pro

The iPhone 14 Pro has almost no significant differences in appearance from the previous generation, and the only noticeable distinction on the back may be the addition of new colors. However, the front of the iPhone 14 Pro features innovative Liquid Retina display, and although the aesthetic appeal of this design varies from person to person, Apple has indeed added some interesting features.

iPhone 14 Pro

The camera is a major upgrade for the iPhone 14 Pro, with its main camera finally using a 48-megapixel lens, which has a higher resolution compared to the previous generation. Apple’s A16 Bionic chip is also at the forefront of current mobile phone performance. However, if you want a version with larger capacity, Apple also offers the most expensive capacity upgrade cost in the mobile phone industry.

iPhone 14 Pro

Target audience: People who want to try the Apple ecosystem; people who want a better gaming experience; people who have a demand for iOS.

Not suitable for: People who want faster charging speed; people who have higher requirements for photography; people who need more storage space on their phones.

Phoneauto review: The introduction of the iPhone 15 Pro may replace the iPhone 14 Pro as the best iPhone.

Similar to the iPhone 14 Pro, Google recently released its latest Google Pixel 8 series. However, as the media did not test the new phone, it did not make it into the list. Therefore, the previous flagship, the Pixel 7 Pro, remains the best Google phone in their opinion.

Google Pixel 7 Pro

As the flagship model of Google, the Pixel 7 Pro can be said to have impressive specifications. It features a 6.7-inch, 1440P resolution LTPO OLED display and uses the Google Tensor G2 self-developed processor. Although it may not have the peak performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 of the same generation, thanks to Google’s deep optimization in software and hardware, its user experience is even smoother than that of a typical Android phone.

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Imaging is also one of Google’s strengths. Equipped with a 50-megapixel rear triple camera and assisted by Google Camera, the Pixel 7 Pro has a good performance in photography, with decent contrast and dynamic visuals. In addition, the device also supports a new technology called PhotoUnblur, which Google claims can make blurry old photos clearer.

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Suitable for: People who want a flagship phone at a relatively affordable price; people who want good camera performance; people who need to fix old photos.

Not suitable for: People who want a versatile phone; people with higher performance requirements; people who don’t need the Google ecosystem.

Phoneauto review: The Pixel series is still relatively rare in China.

As a small foldable screen phone, the Motorola Razr Plus 2023 has a large 6.9-inch main screen and a 3.6-inch square secondary screen, giving it a larger display area than other phones. The device can be fully closed and has improved in terms of appearance compared to the previous generation.

Motorola Razr Plus 2023

The Motorola Razr Plus 2023 is equipped with the first-generation Snapdragon 8+ mobile platform. Although its performance is not top-tier, it is sufficient for daily use. However, in order to achieve a weight of 185g and a thickness of at least 6.99mm, the camera aspect has been compromised, with only a 12-megapixel dual rear camera, so don’t have too high expectations for photography.

Motorola Razr Plus 2023

Suitable for: people who want a large screen folding phone; people who pursue fashion trends; people who want a slim and lightweight feel.

Not suitable for: people with photography requirements; people with battery life requirements; people who do not like folding screens.

Phoneauto Comment: In fact, domestic small folding screens like OPPO Find N3 Flip are also good, but unfortunately, the American people are unable to enjoy them.

Google Pixel Fold is Google’s first folding phone, which is a very impressive start in the field of folding screens. Although the size of the internal display screen is the same as that of the Galaxy Z Fold 4, due to the different screen ratios, Google Pixel Fold has a larger internal screen area, plus Google’s excellent software tuning, its user experience is better than Samsung’s.

Google Pixel Fold

Google did not slack off in terms of cameras on Google Pixel Fold. Unlike Samsung’s folding phones, the foldable Pixel Fold can keep up with the same generation of Pixel in terms of photography. Although the photos taken are not the best ever, they look better than expected. In addition, Google has equipped the device with a true 5x optical zoom lens.

Google Pixel Fold

Suitable for: people who want a large screen device; people who have photography requirements for folding screen phones; people who want to experience the combination of a phone and a tablet.

Not suitable for: people with limited budget; people with performance requirements; people with thin and light requirements.

Phoneauto review: Google’s own Pixel Fold and Huawei’s own Mate X5, which one do you think will be smoother?

Pixel 6a can’t really be considered a cost-effective phone. However, considering that its price has been reduced by almost one-third in many regions (including the United States), it has become more competitive. Considering the exclusive features and performance provided by Google, as well as the excellent photo and Android experience, this phone has a good cost-performance ratio.

Google Pixel 6a

Pixel 6a is equipped with a 6.1-inch 1080P screen, with no major flaws in display resolution and display effect. However, its biggest shortcoming is that it only supports a 60Hz refresh rate, which can be said to be on par with the standard version of the iPhone. In terms of performance, it is equipped with the same Google Tensor G1 platform as the Pixel 6 Pro, and also supports unique features of the Tensor chip, such as automatic magic eraser and clear face.

Google Pixel 6a

However, Pixel 6a is only equipped with a 12.2-megapixel main camera + 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle dual camera, and the battery capacity is only 4410mAh, which has some shortcomings in terms of camera and battery life.

Google Pixel 6a

Suitable for: people who want a cost-effective phone; people with photo editing requirements; people who want to experience the native Android system.

Not suitable for: people who want a phone with good battery performance; people with high requirements for photography; people who need flagship models.

Phoneauto Review: When did Google Pixel become synonymous with cost-effectiveness?

As a phone released in September 2021, it is not surprising that the iPhone 13 is rated as the most affordable Apple phone. On the one hand, compared to the previous generation iPhone 14, the iPhone 13 does not have significant improvements in other aspects besides the changes in the chip. On the other hand, the current price of the iPhone 13 is much cheaper than two years ago, and it is not lagging behind in terms of performance. It can be said that it is currently the most cost-effective iPhone.

iPhone 13

The iPhone 14 does not differ much from the previous generation iPhone 13. The two have almost no difference in appearance, consistent screen configurations, and slightly upgraded cameras. However, in terms of performance configuration, the iPhone 14 has been upgraded to a certain extent, mainly in terms of running memory and GPU, and the battery life configuration is also similar. The key is that it is cheaper than the iPhone 14.

iPhone 13

Suitable for: people who want a cost-effective Apple phone; people who want a durable phone; people who are used to the iOS system.

Not suitable for: people who don’t like Apple phones; people with high requirements for photography; people who pursue the latest features in a phone.

Phoneauto Review: It might be difficult to buy the new iPhone 13 now.

As a high-end brand once launched by OPPO for overseas markets, OnePlus still has a considerable influence in the overseas market and has become the only “genuine” domestic phone on the list.

OnePlus 11

The reason why it is praised by foreign media as a phone with unique functions is that the OnePlus 11 has special features in terms of system, photography, and charging. In terms of the system, it is equipped with a customized version of Oxygen OS, and it also has some features that cannot be experienced on stock Android, such as game stability, front and rear dual-camera video recording, etc. In addition, it has also incorporated Hasselblad image tuning in the imaging part, making it more distinctive in terms of photography.

OnePlus 11

On the other hand, another major selling point of this phone is also very rare in the US mobile phone market, which is its super fast charging. It can be fully charged in less than half an hour, making it difficult for American media accustomed to slow charging like iPhone and Samsung to adapt. Although OnePlus 11’s 100W wired charging is already commonplace in China, it can definitely be called black technology across the ocean.

OnePlus 11

In other aspects, OnePlus 11 is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 mobile platform, and the screen also uses a 2K display. It performs well and is very balanced in other aspects. However, there are two shortcomings. One is that it has removed IP68 waterproof and dustproof compared to the previous generation, and the other is that it cannot be purchased through carrier contract channels in the US market.

OnePlus 11

Suitable for: people who want a unique Android phone experience; people who want a good-priced Android flagship; people who like to try new products.

Not suitable for: people who require IP68; people who want to buy carrier phones; people who have concerns about new brands.

PhoneAuto review: It seems that OnePlus 11 has received a lot of praise overseas.

The above are the 8 best phones brought by foreign media this time, which include representatives of both the Android and iOS camps, as well as top flagship and cost-effective models, and even include the domestic OnePlus 11 model.

However, overall, the American people still have a lack of choices in the mobile phone market, lacking truly competitive local brands. On the other hand, in the fiercely competitive domestic mobile phone market, Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, etc. are waiting for their turn on the stage, offering a more diverse selection of both flat-screen and foldable-screen phones. It has to be said that compared to American consumers, at least in terms of choosing a phone, Chinese consumers are much happier.

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