ZDNET tested the best Android smartphones money can buy, from premium flagships to ones that can fold in half.
Android users have been eating well this year. Virtually every major manufacturer has made notable refinements to their flagship smartphones, the mid-range market continues to be a gold mine for value-driven customers, and, in case you didn’t know, foldables are back (and still expensive).
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Best Android phone overall
Last year’s Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra took the crown for best Android phone overall, and its newly-released successor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, is on track to earn back-to-back titles for the Korean giant in 2023. From testing, it’s clear that Samsung is once again taking the « everything but the kitchen sink » approach with the new Ultra flagship — and it still works.
The device comes with arguably the best-looking display on the market with excellent brightness and a quad-camera setup on the rear that’s headlined by a high-resolution 200MP camera. Plus, it still features an integrated S Pen stylus for notetaking, sketching, and more. That’s only the tip of the iceberg, of course.
Review: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Best foldable Android phone
Foldables are inching closer and closer to mainstream acceptance, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to hop on the innovation wagon. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the company’s most polished 2-in-1 smartphone yet, and it’s also the best one on the market, though Google’s Pixel Fold is a competitor. (You can also make the argument that its Galaxy Z Flip 5 sibling is better with its smaller learning curve and practical design.)
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Motorola Razr Plus Best compact Android phone
Phones are getting faster and more powerful, but they’re also taking up more space in our pockets. That’s why the Motorola Razr Plus shines in the sea of 2023 smartphones. This is a clamshell-style foldable, to be clear, meaning it shape-shifts from a smaller 3.6-inch display figure to a larger 6.9-inch size when you need it. Naturally, when folded, the phone is no larger than a card slot wallet.
Despite its small stature, the Motorola Razr Plus packs a lot of features and performance. It’s powered by an older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor but is still capable of running the typical slew of apps and services like Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, games, and more. Thanks to the large external display, you can run the same programs without ever needing to flip open the phone. It feels like a two-phones-in-one device in that sense.
This quote from my full review sums up my main thoughts: « Razr Plus is Motorola’s return to form, modernizing a classic flip phone into one of today’s best foldables. » While the aforementioned Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 remains the best in its class, the Razr Plus is just as considerable if you want a dual-screen handset for a fraction of the price.
Review: Motorola Razr Plus (2023)
Google Pixel 8 Pro Best camera Android phone
It’s this focus on « accessible creativity » that gives the Google phone a wonder that’s absent from almost every other smartphone brand. To the Pixel 8 Pro’s credit, the triple camera array, paired with the company’s computational chops, is what puts it ahead of the competition. From the natural-colored photo and video capture to the HDR-enhanced low-light capturing, the flagship Pixel’s camera system is more capable than ever before.
And, if you’re not satisfied with your shots, more AI features like Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser, and Magic Editor allow you to tweak the faces of subjects, remove distracting background noises from videos, and even change the lighting and ambiance of a photo in post.
Nothing Phone 2 Best designed Android phone
Nothing is easily the hottest Android maker in recent years, with a flashy transparent design language that tugs the heartstrings of retro-tech enthusiasts. It’s also one of the few, if not only, new entrants in the smartphone market, joining the fray at a time when others have pulled out.
The key selling point of the Phone 2 is what Nothing calls Glyph Interface, an assembly of LED strips on the back of the phone that blinks in unique patterns depending on incoming alerts and notifications.
