September 2023
Smartphones: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of smartphones rankings posted by key online experts, as of September 2023.
Summary
On 2 Sep 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 94 smartphone endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
40 smartphones were endorsed in total, only 21 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 2 Sep 2023, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed smartphone with 10 expert endorsements. 3 experts out of 10 recommended it as the '#1 smartphone' this month.
Brand breakdown
-
Samsung: 13 smartphones
(#1 is Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra)
-
Apple: 7 smartphones
(#1 is iPhone 14 Pro)
-
Google: 5 smartphones
(#1 is Google Pixel 7 Pro)
-
Motorola: 3 smartphones
(#1 is Motorola Edge Plus)
-
Asus: 3 smartphones
(#1 is Asus Rog Phone 5S)
Price breakdown
At a glance - September Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Smartphone |
The Verge
|
IGN
|
Digital Trends
|
Consumer Reports
|
Tom's Guide
|
TechRadar
|
Pocket-lint
|
T3
|
Creative Bloq
|
Laptop Mag
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $1160 |
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a flagship smartphone that offers a unique design, advanced camera capabilities, impressive performance, reliable battery life, and excellent speaker quality, making it a top choice for those seeking a high-performance smartphone.
|
4
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
3
|
|
2
|
- | Check price |
iPhone 14 Pro
The iPhone 14 Pro has received positive feedback for its design, camera capabilities, display, performance, battery life, and speakers, making it a top-notch device for various use cases.
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
-
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
6
|
|
3
|
- | Check price |
iPhone 14 Pro Max
The iPhone 14 Pro Max has received positive reviews for its premium design, exceptional camera capabilities, high-resolution display, powerful performance, impressive battery life, and good speakers, making it a top performer in various use cases.
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
|
4
|
+1 | $645 |
Google Pixel 7 Pro
The Google Pixel 7 Pro is a highly praised smartphone with a sleek design, excellent camera performance, and a high-quality display, making it ideal for photography, multimedia consumption, and everyday tasks.
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
-
|
|
5
|
-1 | $600 |
OnePlus 11
The OnePlus 11 receives positive reviews for its sleek design, premium materials, unique camera placement, exceptional performance, solid battery life, and good speaker quality, making it a recommended choice for users who value aesthetics, camera capabilities, smooth performance, and a high-quality display.
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
5
|
8
|
5
|
6
|
-
|
4
|
|
6
|
- | Check price |
Google Pixel 7a
The Google Pixel 7a has received positive reviews for its design, camera capabilities, display, performance, battery life, and speakers, making it a suitable choice for users who prioritize these features.
|
6
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
|
7
|
New * | $1799 |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a highly praised smartphone with a sleek design, impressive display, powerful performance, and good battery life, making it a recommended choice for users who value these features.
|
8
|
7
|
13
|
-
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
8
|
-1 | $449 |
Google Pixel 7
The Google Pixel 7 impresses with its sleek design, exceptional low light photography, and powerful AI capabilities, making it a top choice for users seeking a high-quality smartphone.
|
-
|
1
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
9
|
-1 | $829 |
iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 has received positive reviews for its sleek design, advanced camera capabilities, high-quality display, powerful performance, long-lasting battery life, and decent speakers, making it a reliable choice for users.
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
10
|
-1 | $345 |
Google Pixel 6a
The Google Pixel 6a is a compact and sleek smartphone with impressive camera capabilities, powerful performance, and a vibrant display, making it a solid choice for users who prioritize a compact size, high-quality camera, and smooth performance.
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
3
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
11
|
-1 | Check price |
iPhone 14
The iPhone 14 has received positive reviews for its familiar design, impressive camera performance, high-resolution display, powerful performance, long battery life, and exceptional audio quality, making it a highly recommended device for various use cases.
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
|
12
|
-1 | $429 |
iPhone SE
The iPhone SE (2020) is a compact and well-designed smartphone that offers excellent performance and functionality, making it a suitable choice for users who prefer a smaller device.
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
|
13
|
New * | $949 |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is a sleek and compact smartphone with a unique folding mechanism, decent camera, high-quality display, excellent performance, and good speakers, but its battery life may not be as long-lasting as some other smartphones.
|
7
|
8
|
14
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
14
|
New * | Check price |
Nothing Phone (2)
The Nothing Phone (2) is a sleek and powerful device with a great display and battery life, but falls short in low light photography and audio quality.
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
|
15
|
- | $909 |
Oppo Find X5 Pro
The Oppo Find X5 Pro is a flagship smartphone praised for its sleek design, impressive camera performance, smooth display, powerful performance, and long-lasting battery life, but its audio quality may not meet the standards of some users.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
7
|
-
|
|
16
|
+1 | $1100 |
Xiaomi 13 Pro
The Xiaomi 13 Pro is a flagship smartphone praised for its design, camera capabilities, display quality, performance, battery life, and audio experience, making it suitable for power users and multimedia enthusiasts.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
|
17
|
+1 | Check price |
iPhone 14 Plus
The iPhone 14 Plus has received positive reviews for its solid design, impressive camera capabilities, high-quality display, powerful performance, strong battery life, and excellent speaker performance, making it a highly recommended choice for users who prioritize aesthetics, photography, multimedia experiences, and overall performance.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
12
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
|
18
|
-6 | $880 |
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a foldable smartphone with a sleek design, powerful performance, excellent camera capabilities, and improved battery life, making it a great choice for users who prioritize portability and a premium look and feel.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
|
19
|
- | $317 |
Samsung Galaxy A54
The Samsung Galaxy A54 has received positive reviews for its design, camera performance, display, performance, battery life, and speakers, making it a reliable and capable smartphone for various use cases.
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
20
|
- | Check price |
Samsung Galaxy S23
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is a compact and lightweight smartphone with impressive camera capabilities, a high-quality display, powerful performance, reliable battery life, and satisfactory audio quality.
|
-
|
-
|
12
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
21
|
- | $800 |
Motorola Edge Plus
The Motorola Edge Plus is a flagship smartphone with a sleek design, powerful performance, excellent battery life, and a vibrant display, making it suitable for media consumption, gaming, and multitasking.
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra #1 in September 2023 because:
- 10 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 3 experts ranked Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra as #1.
Digital Trends
Best phone for Android
|
Incredibly powerful processor
Versatile telephoto zoom camera
S Pen adds value
Water-resistant and durable
Long software update commitment
Many interesting features to explore
Large, bright, detailed screen
|
Wired charging is complicated, and only 45W
Big and heavy
|
Tom's Guide
The best phone you can buy right now
|
Powerful 200MP camera
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip beats iPhone on graphics
Excellent battery life
|
Very expensive
Curved screen can make typing difficult
|
TechRadar
The best phone overall
|
Phenomenal cameras
Bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
|
Faster charging would have been nice
Seriously expensive
|
Pocket-lint
The pinnacle of Android phones
|
Stunning large display
Great design with IP68 water/dust resistant
Really versatile camera system
S Pen included
|
It's expensive
Lots of software bloat
|
T3
The best flagship Android phone right now
|
Seriously powerful hardware experience
Versatile camera system, including zoom
S Pen stylus comes in a handy slot
|
It's really pricey
S Pen stylus won't be for all
|
Creative Bloq
The new gold standard for Android camera phones.
|
Stunning shots in all conditions
Very good low-light performance
Gorgeous display
|
100x zoom is mostly a gimmick
Inevitably expensive
|
Laptop Mag
The best Android flagship phone
|
Qualcomm's 8 Gen 2 chip is a game-changer
Excellent battery life
Impressive 200MP camera
Bright, vivid display
Seamless ecosystem between smartphone and Samsung PC
|
Minimal design changes
Starts at $1,199
|
We ranked iPhone 14 Pro #2 in September 2023 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked iPhone 14 Pro as #1.
Digital Trends
Best phone for iOS
|
Camera improvements mean great photos
Always-on display looks fantastic
Powerful A16 Bionic processor
Vibrant screen and clear speakers
Long-term software support
|
One-day battery life
Modest charging speed
|
Tom's Guide
Apple's Pro features in a more compact device
|
Best-in-class cameras
A16 Bionic blows away Android phones
Brighter display
Cool Action mode
|
Charging could be faster
|
TechRadar
The best iPhone
|
Incredible cameras and zoom
Excellent little S Pen
|
No microSD slot
Battery life could be better
|
Pocket-lint
The best phone for most people
|
Dynamic Island is very cool
Excellent camera system
Exceptional build/design
|
ProRAW capture is laggy
Expensive
Still lacks USB-C
|
Creative Bloq
The best iPhone camera available.
|
Fantastic processing
Great macro photography mode inherited from the iPhone Pro 13
Resolution upgrade on main camera
|
One of the most expensive camera phones
Underwhelming selfie mode
No major design changes from the 13
|
Laptop Mag
Best iPhone if you don't want the Pro Max
|
Bright 120Hz display
Excellent camera performance
Unmatched software support
Outstanding battery life
Untouchable performance
|
Slow charging
Telephoto needs more reach
Dynamic Island is a notch with a new name
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend smartphones.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of smartphones, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for September 2023 ranking
The Verge
IGN
Digital Trends
Consumer Reports
Tom's Guide
TechRadar
Pocket-lint
T3
Creative Bloq
Laptop Mag
We ranked iPhone 14 Pro Max #3 in September 2023 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked iPhone 14 Pro Max as #1.
Digital Trends
Best big iPhone
|
Exquisitely premium design
Beautiful 120Hz display
Dynamic Island is a joy
Always-on screen is gorgeous
Incredible camera system
Blistering performance
Outstanding battery life
Robust iOS 16 software
|
One of the heaviest phones you can buy
Expensive
|
Tom's Guide
The best phone overall
|
Superb 48MP camera
Very smart Dynamic Island
Best-in-class battery life
Impressive Action mode
|
Still 20W charging
|
T3
The best Apple phone you can buy
|
48MP camera is the best yet
Dynamic Island rather than notch
New always-on display
|
Most expensive option
Always-on display costs battery
Still no USB-C or fast charging
|
Laptop Mag
Best iPhone
|
Sleek, refined design
Gorgeous display
Strong battery life
Unmatched performance
Incredible cameras (for video)
|
Photos are over-processed
Dynamic Island is a little pointless (for now)
Still slow to charge
|
We ranked Google Pixel 7 Pro #4 in September 2023 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The best cameras for Android phones
|
Incredible cameras
Even more useful software features
Excellent value
|
Underwhelming battery life
Galaxy S23 has better software support
|
TechRadar
The best ultraphone bargain
|
Intuitive and easy to use
Snappy and responsive interface
|
Battery and charging time could be better
Lacks the deep feature set of best competition
|
Pocket-lint
A close-to-perfect Android experience
|
Excellent camera performance
Clean software experience
Strong display
Competitive price point
|
Face unlock is insecure
Few changes over Pixel 6 Pro
Only three promised platform updates
|
T3
The best phone for most people
|
Great camera experience
Bold and distinctive design
Savvily priced
|
Not the fastest charging tech
Aluminium finish scuffs too easily
|
Creative Bloq
The best camera phone for chances of a great deal
|
Useful camera software tools
Top camera hardware
Good deals available
|
Battery life isn't impressive
The ultrawide lens is fixed focus
|
We ranked OnePlus 11 #5 in September 2023 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
Best phone for Android runner-up
|
Eye-catching design
Two-day battery life
25 minute battery charging
Characterful camera
Long software update commitment
|
No wireless charging
Portrait camera disappoints
|
Tom's Guide
The most affordable Android flagship
|
Insanely good battery life
Excellent performance
Killer price
Great cameras
|
No wireless charging
|
TechRadar
The best unique features
|
5x camera zoom crushes it
New useful S Pen features
|
‘Ultra’ expensive
Slower charging
|
Pocket-lint
A powerful phone without the pricetag
|
Stunning QHD display with fast refresh rates
Bloat-free software with lots of customisation
Fast performance
Really quick battery refills
|
No wireless charging
Water proofing and durability not the greatest
|
T3
A great Android phone without a massive price
|
6.7-inch QHD+, 120Hz display
Powerful efficient performance
Seriously fast charging
|
Other phones have a better battery life
Weak zoom on the camera
|
Laptop Mag
Best affordable flagship phone
|
Improved camera performance
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
Vibrant 120Hz adaptive display
Class-leading battery life and fast charging
|
Lacks water resistance
Cameras still don't match top flagships
No wireless charging
|
We ranked Google Pixel 7a #6 in September 2023 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Google Pixel 7a as #1.
Tom's Guide
The best phone value right now
|
Faster refresh rate on bright display
Excellent Tensor G2-powered features
Main camera offers more megapixels than before
|
Colors in photos skew toward darker tones
Phone gets warm when playing demanding games
|
Laptop Mag
Best phone smartphone for most people
|
$499 price point
Bright, vivid 90Hz display
Excellent photos
Exclusive Pixel features
Solid support
|
Mediocre speakers
Performance can’t match flagships
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 #7 in September 2023 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
Best Foldable Phone
|
Thinner and lighter than ever
Silent, high-quality hinge
Strong multitasking tools
Fun, social media-friendly camera
Inner screen is perfect for games and video
IPX8 and durable chassis
|
Battery life hasn't dramatically improved
Slow charging
|
Tom's Guide
The best foldable phone overall
|
Thinner and lighter design
Improved multitasking features
Longer battery life than before
|
Still expensive
Front display still narrow
|
We ranked Google Pixel 7 #8 in September 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Google Pixel 7 as #1.
Digital Trends
Best phone value
|
Superb camera
Long battery life
Eye-catching design
Vibrant screen
Years of software updates
Fantastic price
|
Slow charging
Software bugs
Poor gaming performance
|
We ranked iPhone 13 #9 in September 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked iPhone 13 as #1.
TechRadar
The best affordable iPhone
|
Performance for less money
Still uses SIM cards
|
Doesn't have tons of features
Not available in yellow
|
We ranked Google Pixel 6a #10 in September 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
Best cheap phone runner-up
|
Compact, lightweight design
IP67 water resistance
Flagship-grade performance
Excellent cameras
Clean software
Years of guaranteed updates
|
Display is only 60Hz
Tensor chip runs hot
Lacking battery life
|
TechRadar
The best value overall
|
Relatively compact size
Clean software
|
Poor battery life
Slow charging
|
We ranked iPhone 14 #11 in September 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
Best phone for iOS runner-up
|
Comfortable, high-end build
OLED screen looks fantastic
A15 chip performs great
Good camera upgrades
Dependable battery life
Helpful safety features
|
60Hz display
No telephoto camera
eSIM might be a pain for some
|
Tom's Guide
The iPhone most people can afford
|
Excellent cameras
Vibrant display
Fast A15 Bionic performance
|
Locked at 60Hz refresh rate
No optical zoom
|
Laptop Mag
Best mid-tier iPhone
|
New eSIM-only era
Upgraded wide lens and selfie camera
Better Night Mode performance
Action Mode is awesome
|
Battery life is a downgrade
|
We ranked iPhone SE #12 in September 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
Best small iPhone
|
Compact and light
Very powerful
Touch ID works really well
Wireless charging
IP67 water resistance
|
Poor battery life
60Hz screen
64GB won't be enough
|
Laptop Mag
Best budget iOS smartphone
|
Performance beast
Portable, compact form factor
Satisfying Touch ID
Decent price
|
Obsolete design
No Night mode
Middling battery life
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 #13 in September 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
Best flip phone
|
No more gap when folded shut
Extremely well-built
Hinge feels outstanding
Much more useful cover screen
Fantastic performance
Good and dependable cameras
5 years of updates
|
The crease is still there
Mediocre battery life
Cover screen requires lots of tweaking
|
We ranked Nothing Phone (2) #14 in September 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
T3
The best affordable yet powerful Android phone
|
Refined & lightweight design with unique aesthetic
Strong performance & battery life
Glyph lights are fun
|
Glyph lights won't be for everyone
Cameras won't outsmart Google Pixel
|
We ranked Oppo Find X5 Pro #15 in September 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
T3
The best Android phone design
|
Stunning QHD+ screen with 120Hz refresh
Long-lasting battery and fast-charging
Impressive camera system
|
No MicroSD card slot or headphone jack
Expensive
|
Creative Bloq
A sleek camera phone with Hasselblad filters
|
Elegant design
Hasselblad colour enhancements
|
Poor zoom
|
We ranked Xiaomi 13 Pro #16 in September 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Pocket-lint
Best fast-charging phone
|
Stupendously quick battery charging speeds
Primary 1-inch camera sensor delivers great images
Big, bright QHD+ 120Hz display
Fast, responsive performance
|
MIUI introduces unnecessary obstacles in software experience
Ultrawide and telephoto cameras aren't as strong as primary
It's expensive
|
T3
One of the best camera phones
|
Stunning triple camera among the best of 2023
Display will rival the best of them
120W HyperCharge is crazy-fast
|
Strong competition at similar pricing
Below-average battery life
|
We ranked iPhone 14 Plus #17 in September 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Tom's Guide
Apple’s cheapest big-screen phone
|
Big screen for a good price
Long battery life
Great cameras with Action mode video
|
No 120Hz display
No telephoto lens
|
T3
A more affordable iPhone with a big screen
|
Great big screen
Easy-to-use and capable cameras system
Last-gen power but it's still highly capable
|
Not everyone wants a 6.7-inch screen
No always-on display
Still has a notch
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 #18 in September 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Pocket-lint
An adorable, practical clamshell
|
Premium design and build quality
Great display
IPX8 water resistance
Improved hinge over previous models
|
Long-term durability is still an issue
Underwhelming camera system
Battery life isn't great
|
Laptop Mag
Best foldable phone
|
Beautifully engineered phone
Great for content creators/solo travelers
Flex Mode is *chef’s kiss*
Compact and pocketable
Decent battery life (relative to other foldables)
|
Boring upgrades
Gets warm quickly
Power button annoyingly invokes Bixby
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy A54 #19 in September 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
Best phone value runner-up
|
Eye-catching colors
It looks like the Galaxy S23
Colorful screen
Speakers sound good
Long software commitment
|
Battery doesn't last two days
No wireless charging
Camera lacks realism
|
Tom's Guide
The best value for a Samsung phone
|
Improved 50MP main camera
Fun colors
Bright, colorful display
|
No telephoto lens
No wireless charging
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy S23 #20 in September 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
Best small Android phone
|
Sleek and compact design
Comfortable for one-handed use
Very fast performance
Reliable cameras take great photos
Long-lasting battery life
Five years of guaranteed updates
|
Base storage is still 128GB
Fast charging up to only 25W
Limited zoom quality past 10x
|
Tom's Guide
The Samsung phone most of us will buy
|
Bright display
Excellent performance powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Longer battery life than before
Still $799 in US
|
Disappointing front camera
Wired charging stuck at 25W
|
We ranked Motorola Edge Plus #21 in September 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best smartphones” rankings.
Digital Trends
Best big Android phone
|
Premium, comfortable design
Gorgeous OLED screen
Two-day battery life
68-watt wired charging
Motorola's Android interface
Good update policy
Very competitive price
|
Disappointing speakers
No always-on display
Limited telephoto camera
|
Tom's Guide
A long-lasting flagship phone
|
Epic battery life
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers top Android performance
165Hz display
|
Inconsistent camera performance
Curved edges on display can lead to accidental touches
|