2023 has been an exciting year in the mobile phone industry. We are now in the last quarter of the year, and it is a good time to look at all the latest Android flagship phones of the year.
If you are looking to purchase a premium Android flagship product this year, all the brands have now announced their top models for the year and you can confidently look at this list to see which is best for you.
As readers of MobilityArena are primarily from the United States, Canada, the UK, the European Union, and Australia, I shall be limiting this list to the latest Android flagship phones that are available in those markets. This means that many Chinese brands are left out.
Table of Contents
The Latest Android Flagship Phones By Brand
The mobile phone brands that make this list include Samsung Galaxy, Motorola, Google Pixel, and OnePlus. “What of Nokia?”, someone would ask. Nokia sells phones in the markets that this article targets, but unfortunately, the Finnish brand did not release any premium flagship product this year. Actually, there has not been a Nokia premium flagship release in some years.
Samsung
Straight off the block, Samsung Galaxy phones are the most widespread smartphones anywhere in the world. How many Android flagship phones did Samsung release in 2023? A total of 5.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Let’ kick things off with the apex device of the group, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Its signature features are the S Pen and the stunning 200MP camera, though as we have come to know, the photo it takes look anything but natural. Samsung’s camera processing still goes for the pop look. Performance is good, and thankfully, battery life is better than what its predecessor had, but the included fast charging is still in dinosaur territory. if you buy the S23 ultra, you will also get four years of Android OS updates.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus combines its smaller sibling’s impressive design, performance, and camera credentials into a larger and more expensive package. What the S23 Plus has going for it is that it has a bigger display than the S23. The performance is good, as it shares the same processor with all the other models in Samsung’s 2023 premium flagship line-up. A plus, if you are upgrading from the S22 Plus, is that battery life is better in this model.
Like the S23, the S23 Plus is not exciting in any way. It has a stated look, but with the good, big screen; versatile camera, and long battery life, it is dependable and there is little to complain about it. If you like the S23 but find it too small, the Samsung S23 Plus is what the doctor prescribed for you.
Samsung Galaxy S23
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is my favourite of the S23 series, and for one big reason – the compact size. In a world where being massive has become fashionable, the compact and handy nature of the S23 is a breath of fresh air. It is the most compact Android flagship smartphone that I know of.
Samsung has married excellent performance, great photography (there is a telephoto lens in it!), good battery life, in this handy smartphone. Like all the other Android flagship phones from Samsung, the slower fast charging is there, and a let dampener of sorts. See our detailed Samsung S23 review.
Samsung Galaxy V Fold5
Now that we have looked at the candy-bar latest Android flagship phones from Samsung, we cross over into foldable territory. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 has a new Flex hinge, thinner and lighter design, improved multitasking, strong cameras, and longer battery life. All of these make it a worthy upgrade if you have the Fold4 and are looking for a replacement. It is also IPX8-rated for water resistance, has outstanding OLEDs that are bright and color-accurate at 120Hz, impressive battery life in onscreen tests for a foldable, feature-rich software with unmatched multi-tasking functionality and S Pen support, and excellent photo and video quality across the board (under-display camera excluded).
Samsung Galaxy V Flip5
If you want a compact foldable smartphone, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 is one of the latest Android flagship phones of 2023 to explore. using the same top-of-the-range processor that the S23 series devices are using, the Flip5 offers solid performance in a beautiful design and finish, has sharp screens, and seems surprisingly well-built and more rugged than its predecessor. The larger cover display is more usable and useful. photography is great all-around, and battery life is better. Unexpectedly, the fast charging is on the slow side, a Samsung Galaxy signature
Google Pixel
Google Pixel 8
The Google Pixel 8 showed up to the fight with its the Pixel signature AI-powered cameras, brighter display, improved battery life, and…drums roll…seven years of Android software updates. I am tempted to get one for the exceptional long-term software support alone, if nothing else.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
The Google Pixel 8 Pro steps up ahead of the Pixel 8 with a bigger display and a superior camera system. The bigger display is also really good, so it isn’t just a matter of size. And the camera system includes new fun, helpful image editing features that you just might use and like. Google Pixel 8 Pro is likely the latest Android flagship phone of 2023 for photography. If you want an outstanding cameraphone, keep your eye on this one.
Google Pixel Fold
The Google Pixel Fold is the brand’s first foldable device and it looks good with the curvy design of the book-style folding mechanism. Holding it together is a stainless steel hinge that looks robust. The Pixel Fold will get software updates for five years. Some reviewers say that the Pixel fold has the most advanced camera on a foldable phone. Of course, the folks at Samsung might want to have a word about that.
Motorola
Motorola Moto Razr 40 Ultra
Some say that the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra represents the pinnacle of clamshell foldables in 2023 with a premium design, game-changing exterior display, great camera performance, and solid everyday use. There are others who disagree. But the Razr 40 ultra does look the part. However, it is hampered in part by the poor battery life and cameras that do not live up to the hype.
The updated hinge allows you to close the phone without leaving a huge gap between the two parts. And the outer display is very usable, compared to what some of the competition have.
Motorola Razr 40
The Motorola Razr 40 is a budget take on the 40 Ultra, but there are just too many sacrifices made for it to be a compelling attraction besides the lower price. Performance is good, battery life is better than on the Ultra, and the camera takes good photos. You will want the Razr 40 for the battery life and the price.
Motorola Edge 40 Pro
Moving away from Motorola’s 2023 foldables, we come to the Motorola Edge 40 Pro, the latest Android flagship phone from the brand. What experience does it bring to the table? A super-high refresh rate (165Hz), great performance, very fast charging. Motorola keeps dropping the ball in the camera department, and ity is the same thing here.
OnePlus
OnePlus 11 5G
OnePlus does not sell a lot of phones in North America (yet), but the brand maintains a presence with a limited catalog of devices and hopes that will change. The OnePlus 11 5G is the only Android flagship phone released this year that OnePlus is selling in the USA and Canada through the official OnePlus websites.
It has a vibrant display, good performance, rapid charging, good battery life, and good connectivity options. There is no wireless charging and ingress protection, though, and the otherwise decent camera lets down in some areas. There is also a small question mark on its durability mentioned in some quarters.
