Best Android Smartphones in 2023

Android users have plenty of options to choose from. I already covered cheap but reliable smartphones in another post, but here I want to talk about the definitive best models you can purchase in 2023.

Galaxy S22 Ultra

The Galaxy S22 Ultra is a hybrid of the Galaxy S and Note lines. However, its look is much more reminiscent of the latter’s latest model than the Galaxy S21 Ultra, considered its direct predecessor. The idea is to integrate the Note line into the S22 Ultra, and the device already comes with the S Pen.

And what is most reminiscent of the Galaxy Note 20 is precisely the rectangular shape, with straighter corners, especially the lower and upper parts. In addition, the sides are curved, following the screen, which “leaks” to the sides.

You will only find mobile signal antennas and their volume and power buttons. At the bottom, it has more elements: S Pen, sound output, USB-C connector, microphone, and chip drawer, with space for only two nano SIM.

On the front, you have a front-end benefit of more than 90%, with tiny edges and a discreet hole centered at the top for the selfie camera. At the back, in the upper left, is frosted glass with six holes, three large, two smaller, and one very small for cameras and flash.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra is finished in aluminum on the sides and glass on the front and back. And it arrived in Brazil in four color options: white, black, green, or wine. All this in an IP68-certified body offers protection against dust and submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.

Samsung kept the same panel type and resolution as in past models. It’s an excellent display, with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and touch response of 240 Hz.

Samsung chose to repeat the 6.8-inch size, but now the device has a curious 19.3:9 aspect ratio instead of the more common 19:9 or 19.5:9. It won’t affect your experience.

Only the intensity of the maximum brightness has changed, which can now reach 1,750 nits. And it is, in fact, a very bright display, which guarantees great viewing in any environment, even under sunlight. I didn’t see any problems in this regard with the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Regarding the resolution, it is important to note that Quad HD is the maximum, not the default. When setting up the phone, you get a Full HD screen, which is already excellent for the device’s 6.8 inches.

Google Pixel 6a

With an appearance full of charisma, the Pixel 6a offers very rounded metal edges that greatly facilitate grip. Its back is made of plastic (it imitates glass so well that even the touch deceived me).

What about the strip for the rear cameras? It is the most distinctive element of the family. This strip protrudes much less than in the Google Pixel (below the millimeter). And it is quite exposed to scratches.

Google keeps the physical buttons on the right side with the order altered from what is usual in Android: volume down and power up. I find it somewhat annoying, although it’s all a matter of getting used to it.

Clean sides as well as the upper edge (one of the phone’s microphones is located here; it has two), very generous frames around the screen (the upper and lower areas are not symmetrical to each other), the hole for the front camera in the area center top of the panel and a bottom edge with the USB C and the main output of the dual stereo speakers (the nano-SIM tray is on the right side). The other speaker is located above the call receiver.

It offers an AMOLED panel that reduces the dimensions to 6.1 inches. In addition, it maintains Full HD + resolution, the hole for the front camera, offers HDR10 +, is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, and the refresh rate stays at 60 Hz.

The screen flows seamlessly and offers a maximum brightness suitable for most situations (in the sun, I miss a little more brightness).

The minimum brightness is annoying in full darkness, although it can always be reduced by going to the accessibility settings.

OnePlus 10 Pro

The front of the phone is Gorilla Glass Victus, while the back is Gorilla Glass 5, and the bezel is matte aluminum. The phone is comfortable in hand, its weight is great, and, although the equipment renders even made us suspicious, the truth is that when we picked it up and walked around for several days with the smartphone, we were won over by it its build quality.

OnePlus kept the predictable buttons and ports on the 10 Pro. There’s a USB-C port on the base, a notification slider, a power button on the right, and a volume button on the left.

The front of the phone has a pre-installed screen protector, and there’s a case in the box for added protection, which I think is a good decision, and I don’t understand why other manufacturers still don’t.

Interestingly, almost all Chinese manufacturers include a protective cover. However, it should be noted that this top-of-the-range model does not have water resistance, in line with the Xiaomi 12 Pro.

OnePlus’ displays have always impressed, especially on their Pro models. For example, the OnePlus 10 Pro features a 6.7-inch QHD+ display and LTPO2 Fluid AMOLED technology.

The smartphone has a dynamic refresh rate, which makes it super smooth. So the 10 Pro can hold an image with a refresh rate as low as 1 Hz and shoot up to 120 Hz for super smooth scrolling to preserve power without compromising visual performance.

The phone’s performance is top-notch, as you would expect. With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, it supports the latest games. Although the benchmark scores are lower than some competitors like the Xiaomi 12 Pro, we’ve found that the device doesn’t get too hot when we use it in intensive situations.

The phone starts with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. However, there are also 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM options. Unfortunately, onePlus does not allow an SD card, so it is advisable to consider the best storage when purchasing the equipment.