13 best phones for 2023: We review impressive mobiles from Apple, Samsung, Google and more
You’re halfway to the train station when you realise you’ve left your smartphone at home. Do you turn round and hurry back for it, even if it’ll make you late? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone.
The smartphone has become an essential accessory, replacing our wallets, for a start. It means we can take great pictures without a standalone camera; upload those photos instantly to social media; provide video distraction during the commute; get directions in a strange city, and even (did you know?) make phone calls.
Mobile phones have grown in size over the years, with displays that, thanks to tiny bezels around the edges, can still fit in the hand (though only just, in some cases). So, it’s worth trying the phone in your hand before you buy. If you’ve had a large phone before, downsizing can make for more room in your pocket or bag, but you may find it hard to go back to a smaller display.
Meanwhile, smartphone cameras are now so advanced, you can safely leave your dedicated snapper behind in most situations – all the phones included in this round-up take decent pictures and some have advanced extra features, such as image stabilisation for great action shots or videos, or machine-learning that recognises what you’re taking a picture of and adjusts accordingly.
The phones in our list are also long-lasting, which helps offset the initial outlay, which isn’t always cheap.
How we tested
Every aspect of these phones has been put through its paces, from ease of setup to simplicity of day to day
