BEST SAMSUNG PHONES OF 2023: A GUIDE TO THE LATEST GALAXY MODELS

Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra is the phone to get if you want the latest and greatest in hardware specs and camera performance — if it fits your budget.

It has a bigger, sharper screen, a more distinctive design with sharper angles, a larger battery, and a superior camera setup than other Galaxy S23 iterations. The integrated S Pen stylus sets the Ultra apart from the rest of the Galaxy S23 family, making the big-screen phone capable of a whole new world of creativity and productivity tasks.

The Ultra's camera hardware includes a high-resolution 200MP sensor and dual telephoto snapper with incredible capabilities. The primary snapper has the highest resolution in the business, making it an instant contender for the best camera phone of 2023. Curiously, the 12MP selfie camera of the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a lower resolution than its predecessor's.

You can order the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in black, cream, green, or lavender. Additional blue, graphite, lime, and red options will be available exclusively from Samsung.

The A54 5G is the midrange Samsung Galaxy to get and one of the best phones $500 can buy.

It offers a sleek design similar to the pricier Galaxy S23, a sturdy waterproof build, a capable chipset with 5-nanometer architecture, a large and vibrant display, a versatile camera setup, and long battery life. I also tip my hat to Samsung for launching the product with a $450 sticker identical to the one of the Galaxy A53 5G it replaces.

Similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy A54 5G has a fully waterproof build and stereo speakers. Unlike top-shelf Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel smartphones, the midrange product has a card slot for cheap and easy memory upgrades.

The phone’s triple camera is one of the best in its price range, and so is its selfie camera with a high-resolution sensor. You can order the Galaxy A54 5G in black or violet. Each color option rocks an “awesome” moniker.

The entry-level Samsung Galaxy S23 is the best option for buyers on an under-$1,000 budget. Available in several colors, it has an elegant design, a powerful chip, a capable camera setup, and a beautiful AMOLED display. The product also has an agreeable price, despite its cutting-edge specs.

Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 has a sleeker design that ditches the camera bump on the device’s back for a more minimalist layout and a tougher, more eco-friendly build with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The newcomer also packs a slightly bigger battery and a selfie camera with a higher-resolution sensor.

If you need a bigger screen and larger battery with faster charging speeds, consider the $200 pricier Galaxy S23+ instead. The rest of its hardware specs are identical.

The sub-$200 Galaxy A14 5G is the best Samsung phone for thrifty shoppers. It has a cool design, 5G, a large and crisp display with a high refresh rate, a multisensor camera setup, excellent battery life, expandable storage, and a standard audio jack.

Powered by a gigantic 5,000 mAh battery— the same capacity as the Galaxy Ultra phones — the Galaxy A14 5G can effortlessly deliver days of use between charges.

It’s important to note that the A14 5G’s LCD panel display is not as sharp and vibrant as the AMOLED ones found in pricier Galaxy phones. The phone also lacks water resistance and stereo speakers.

The Galaxy Z Flip5 is a follow-up to the most popular foldable phone in the business and, again, a more futuristic alternative to today's best smartphones. Compared to the Galaxy Z Flip4, the new iteration has a more refined design with an upgraded hinge, a larger external display, a beefier chip, and a superior camera.

Dubbed Flex Window, the big external display of the Z Flip5 brings more interactive widgets and a whole new set of more elaborate customization options. Its ample size also makes answering texts easy because it can display a full keyboard.

Better yet, the screen also makes capturing selfies with the main camera of the phone even more effortless. And because of its unique form, the Galaxy Z Flip5 offers an equally memorable user experience. When open, it can split an app's interface and place its controls on the bottom half of the display.

Samsung offers the Galaxy Z Flip5 in several colors: mint, graphite, cream, and lavender. You can spec the device with 256 or 512GB of onboard storage.

The Galaxy Z Fold5 follows the tradition its predecessors began by being Samsung's most avant-garde and expensive smartphone. It can transform from a phone to a tablet, so it's more attention-commanding and versatile than any other Galaxy.

Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold4 it replaces, the Fold5 has a more powerful chip and hinge that allows it to close almost completely flat. The minor tweak makes the hefty gadget noticeably easier to handle.

Of course, Samsung also equipped the Z Fold5 with a stellar triple camera, whose primary image sensor resolution and optical zoom capabilities are on par with those of the Galaxy S23 snapper. This means you don’t have to compromise on camera performance to have the most design-forward Galaxy. Its selfie cameras feature a snapper hidden underneath the foldable display.

The range-topping Samsung Galaxy supports the S Pen stylus, too. You can order it in Phantom icy blue, phantom black, and cream color options, with up to 1TB of onboard storage.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (Fan Edition) is packed with top-tier specs at an incredibly agreeable under-$700 price point. Its colorful polycarbonate housing rocks a stellar triple camera and smooth Super AMOLED display.

Compared to the pricier Galaxy S21, the FE has a bigger screen and battery but a more understated design. It has less RAM in its entry-level guise and no 8K video recording. The rest of the device’s specs are similar, making it one of the best in its price range.

You can order the S21 FE in several colors: graphite, white, lavender, and olive.