The Top 5 Smartphones To Purchase in 2023
Written by Ferhat Topuz
It seems that new smartphone launches have become a ritual; every year, we anxiously await for the big smartphone companies to release their new flagship model. As the launch events are booked in advance, questions and rumours swirl the internet. What features are they adding? Is there anything revolutionary? How much will they charge? Is it really better than the last one?
Along with all of the revolutionary new features each new model brings comes the question: should I upgrade my phone? The answer is not so straightforward - there are multiple things to consider such as the age of your current smartphone, what you use your phone for, the state of your current phone and even how resistant you are to FOMO. If you are still on the fence about upgrading your smartphone, or if you are not sure you want to spend over €1000 on a brand new phone, we have compiled this list of the top 5 smartphones to purchase in 2023 to make your choice a bit easier.
To trade in or not to trade in?
If you’re thinking about buying a new phone, chances are you are also considering trading in your old phone either directly with the smartphone manufacturer or at a retailer. This practice is great to earn back a couple hundred euros if you are trading in a somewhat recent model, and it’s like a direct discount on your brand new smartphone. The traded in phones usually get refurbished and sold, with many being then shipped overseas.
However, you may also consider selling your old device. As opposed to trading it in, you could sell it as a used electronic, as a refurbished phone or as a Certified Pre-owned electronic - to find out the difference between these, check out our previous blog. Selling your old device instead of trading it in oftentimes earns you a better bang for your buck, is more sustainable and it doesn’t have to be a troublesome task. With Valyuu, you could sell your old iPhone 13 Pro 128GB for up to €549; all you have to do is fill out our online form about its condition and send it our way. We will then thoroughly test it and resell it as a Certified Pre-owned electronic, getting you your money within 7 days. In comparison, trading it in at Apple would grant you a maximum cashback of €520.
Which smartphones are worth it in 2023?
As we near the end of 2023, with all major new releases already out, what smartphones are worth upgrading to in 2023? We looked at the main releases for this year and compiled a list for you of the current top performers in the market. Don’t worry, none of these phones crack under pressure.
1. Samsung S23 Ultra
The Samsung S23 Ultra was released in February 2023 and it is currently the best Android around with extremely high-powered specs. It comes with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, which ensures every action you take with your smartphone will be quick and smooth. It also comes with a 6.8” AMOLED display, with a 1440x3088 resolution and 500 pixels per inch (ppi). The specs on this display make any photos or videos look stunning, with bright colours and high contrast, also making your user experience more enjoyable.
The S23 Ultra is also the best in the market when it comes to camera quality, with a quad-camera set up on the back which make any photos or video taken look professional-level. It comes with a 200MP wide lens, a 10MP telephoto camera for better zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide camera and a TOP 3D sensor which provides better depth to your photos than a regular camera lens. The battery life of the S23 Ultra isn’t bad either, lasting up to 22 hours of video playback on a single charge.
All these specs also come with a hefty price tag - the Samsung S23 Ultra starts at €1399.
2. iPhone 15 Pro
A lot has been said about the newly released iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max since their release. As we promised none of the smartphones in our list would snap under pressure, our recommendation for the best current device from Apple is the iPhone 15 Pro. The new iPhone 15 Pro came with a list of new specs from Apple - a more resistant titanium frame, an easy to replace back glass (which had previously been a problem for most iPhones) and a USB-C charger instead of the Lightning port.
The iPhone 15 Pro comes equipped with the A17 Pro chip, which greatly enhances the processing speed of the phone compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro. The 6.1” OLED display in the iPhone 15 Pro comes with a 2556x1179 resolution and 460ppi, which makes the visual and user experience of the phone more pleasant.
The cameras are where the iPhone 15 Pro shines over the cheaper iPhone 15. For professional quality photos, the iPhone 15 Pro comes with three back cameras: a 48MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide lens (so your 0.5x photos can be of even higher quality) and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The battery life is also an improvement, lasting up to 23 hours of video playback.
As with the Samsung S23 Ultra, all this power comes with a price tag: the iPhone 15 Pro starts at €1229.
3. Google Pixel 8 Pro
In the beginning of October, Google launched their brand new Google Pixel 8 line, which includes the Google Pixel 8 Pro. The top performer of the new devices, the Google Pixel 8 Pro competes closely with the Apple and Samsung giants. The device comes with interesting features such as a temperature sensor on its back, which you can use to scan an object and get its temperature, and their Best Shot feature, which allows you to choose the best frame for each individual person in a group photo.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro comes equipped with the new Google Tensor G3 chip, designed especially by Google AI to ensure your daily phone use is fast and efficient. The 6.7” LTPO OLED display comes with a 1344x2992 resolution and 489ppi, making the visuals pop onscreen.
The device also comes with a triple-camera set up which they promise delivers extremely high quality images: a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide lens and a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. With this set up, along with their Best Shot feature, your group photos should always look good. The battery life is also great, lasting up to 24 hours of regular use.
The Google Pixel 8 Pro comes at a slightly lower price than the past two: starting from €1099.
4. Huawei P60 Pro
The Huawei P60 Pro was released earlier in March 2023, as the new best phone for Huawei. Its features make it a great phone with an excellent camera quality - although, it is the only phone on this list without a 5G connection. This is not a major issue if you live in an area with good 4G coverage, but it is something to keep mind nevertheless.
The P60 Pro comes with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, which performs well ensuring a smooth experience, but falls behind in performance compared to phones with newer generation chips like the S23 Ultra. As its predecessor the Huawei P50 Pro and all other Huawei phones, you do not have access to Google Services directly on the phone, although you can fix this by installing GBox. The 6.67” LTPO OLED display comes with a 1220x2700 resolution and 444ppi, making the colors and visuals on the display look amazing.
The device comes with a triple camera set up (one fewer cameras than its predecessor), which still delivers extremely high quality images: 48MP main camera, a 13MP ultrawide lens and a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. The Huawei P60 Pro also comes with a great battery life, lasting up to 29 hours with regular use.
The phone comes at an average price: starting from €1199.
5. Xiaomi 13 Pro
The Xiaomi 13 Pro, released in December 2022, is the oldest phone on our list but nevertheless comes with similar high-level specs. It is second to only the Xiaomi 13 Pro Ultra in power for the Chinese company, making it an excellent phone all-around. If you’re urgently looking for a new phone and you love Xiaomi, this is a good option - if you can afford to wait, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is rumoured to launch in December 2023, making it a great Christmas gift (to yourself).
💡 Tip: if you’re looking for a slightly cheaper Xiaomi phone, the newly released Xiaomi 13T Pro is a good alternative. If you want a smartphone with a top performance and perhaps cameras aren’t a main concern for you, the Xiaomi 13T Pro can be a great alternative to the pricey Xiaomi 13 Pro (Ultra).
The Xiaomi 13 Pro comes with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, ensuring an ultra fast processing and smooth experience. It also comes with a 6.73” LTPO E6 AMOLED display, with a 3200x1440 resolution and 522ppi, making it one of the best displays available in the market and a certain top-level visual experience.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro also shines in its camera set up with three high quality back cameras with triple 50MP: a 50MP main camera, a 50MP ultrawide lens and a 50MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. With these cameras, any photos or videos you take will be of extreme high, professional level quality. Its battery life is also top level, lasting up to 48 hours with regular use.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro also comes with a top level price tag for its top level performance: starting from €1299.
6. BONUS: A Certified Pre-Owned iPhone 14 Pro
If you’re looking for a great performing phone, but you’re not sure if you need to invest in the brand new phones, you could also go for a Certified Pre-owned iPhone 14 Pro. Until very recently, the iPhone 14 Pro was Apple’s flagship smartphone and its performance remains comparable to some phones on this list. By opting for a Certified Pre-owned device, you get the assurance that your phone has been professionally tested and that the condition is as reported.
The iPhone 14 Pro is equipped with the A16 Bionic chip, which is just the last edition as its predecessor iPhone 15 Pro - meaning, its performance is still in top shape and it’s currently used in the newly release iPhone 15. It boasts a 6.1” OLED display with a 2556x1179 resolution and 460 ppi - making its display pretty much as stunning as the iPhone 15 Pro.
As its successor, the iPhone 14 Pro comes with a triple back camera set up: a 48MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide lens and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The high level camera performance of the 14 Pro was a huge leap from the iPhone 13, and it is still taking professional quality photos. The battery life is as good as the iPhone 15 Pro, lasting up to 23 hours of video playback.
So, if you’re looking to spend less on a barely older model with a performance that surpasses other newer flagship phones and you don’t need the iPhone 15 Pro’s titanium frame, the iPhone 14 Pro could be a great choice for you. To buy it second hand for less than €1000 as a pre-owned electronic and keep the peace of mind that it will work, check out Valyuu’s smartphone marketplace.
Conclusion
Since they’re so prevalent to our everyday lives, getting a new smartphone is seemingly a big task. Hopefully the above list of the top phones in the market has made it somewhat simpler - including a cheaper, more sustainable option of buying a Certified Pre-owned iPhone 14 Pro. It’s important to remember that the best phone for you is the phone that works with your preferences and needs - keep those in mind when finally making your decision.
