March 2023

Smartphones: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of Smartphone rankings posted by key online experts, as of March 2023.

Summary

Between 2 Mar 2023 and 4 Mar 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 91 Smartphone endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

32 Smartphones were endorsed in total, only 18 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).

As of 4 Mar 2023, iPhone 14 Pro takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed smartphone with 8 expert endorsements. 3 experts out of 8 recommended it as the '#1 smartphone' this month. It is followed by Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Google Pixel 6a , with 7 and 7 expert endorsements respectively.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking smartphones start at $119.95 (Samsung Galaxy A42 5G) and go up to $1469.99 (Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4). Median smartphone costs $699.99 (OnePlus 11).
$119.95
$1469.99

At a glance - March 2023 Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Smartphone
Tom's Guide
The Verge
TechRadar
Consumer Reports
Creative Bloq
Pocket-lint
T3
Digital Trends
Laptop Mag
IGN
1
- Check price
iPhone 14 Pro
3
3
1
-
2
1
-
1
2
3
2
New * Check price
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
1
4
3
-
-
3
2
3
-
6
3
+2 $359
Google Pixel 6a
4
6
2
3
-
-
-
7
4
2
4
-1 Check price
iPhone 14 Pro Max
2
-
-
1
-
-
1
8
6
-
5
New * $700
OnePlus 11
5
9
9
-
-
5
4
4
3
-
6
+3 Check price
Google Pixel 7
-
-
8
-
-
-
-
6
1
1
7
-3 Check price
Google Pixel 7 Pro
7
-
4
-
-
2
3
-
-
4
8
+2 $929
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
-
7
10
-
-
7
-
12
7
-
9
-1 $1470
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
12
8
-
-
8
-
-
11
-
7
10
-3 $429
iPhone SE
10
-
-
4
-
-
-
9
5
-
11
-9 $990
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
-
-
5
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
12
-1 Check price
iPhone 14
8
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
8
-
13
-1 $889
Oppo Find X5 Pro
-
-
-
-
6
4
5
-
-
-
14
New * Check price
Samsung Galaxy S23
6
-
7
-
-
-
-
10
-
-
15
+6 Check price
Samsung Galaxy S22
11
-
-
-
-
-
9
-
9
-
17
-2 $1250
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
-
-
-
2
9
-
-
-
-
-
18
- Check price
iPhone 14 Plus
9
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
19
- $599
Realme GT 2 Pro
-
-
-
-
7
-
10
-
-
-

Sorted by price:

Position in ranking Price Smartphone
#3 $359.50 Google Pixel 6a [buy] [more info]
#15 $426.93 Samsung Galaxy S22 [buy] [more info]
#10 $429 iPhone SE [buy] [more info]
#19 $599 Realme GT 2 Pro [buy] [more info]
#12 $652.07 iPhone 14 [buy] [more info]
#5 $699.99 OnePlus 11 [buy] [more info]
#18 $709.97 iPhone 14 Plus [buy] [more info]
#13 $889 Oppo Find X5 Pro [buy] [more info]
#8 $929.50 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 [buy] [more info]
#1 $962.72 iPhone 14 Pro [buy] [more info]
#11 $989.97 Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra [buy] [more info]
#4 $1049 iPhone 14 Pro Max [buy] [more info]
#17 $1249.99 Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra [buy] [more info]
#9 $1469.99 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 [buy] [more info]

We ranked iPhone 14 Pro #1 in March 2023 because:

  • 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
  • Out of those, 3 experts ranked iPhone 14 Pro as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best smaller phone ever

Pros
Best-in-class cameras
A16 Bionic blows away Android phones
Brighter display
Cool Action mode

Cons
Charging could be faster

Go to ranking

The Verge

Best high-end iPhone

Go to ranking

TechRadar

Apple's top iPhones

Pros
Familiar design
Improved cameras over last year

Cons
No USB-C
Limited zoom photography

Go to ranking

Creative Bloq

The best camera phone for Apple fans

Pros
Fantastic processing
Great macro photography mode inherited from the iPhone Pro 13
Resolution upgrade on main camera

Cons
One of the most expensive camera phones
Underwhelming selfie mode
No major design changes from the 13

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

The best phone for most people

Pros
Dynamic Island is very cool
Excellent camera system
Exceptional build/design

Cons
No USB-C
ProRAW capture is laggy
Expensive

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best phone for iOS

Pros
Camera improvements mean great photos
Always-on display looks fantastic
Powerful A16 Bionic processor
Vibrant screen and clear speakers
Long-term software support

Cons
One-day battery life
Modest charging speed

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Best iPhone for most people

Pros
Bright 120Hz display
Excellent camera performance
Unmatched software support
Outstanding battery life
Untouchable performance

Cons
Slow charging
Telephoto needs more reach
Dynamic Island is a notch with a new name

Go to ranking

IGN

Best iPhone

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra #2 in March 2023 because:

  • 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best Android phone

Pros
Killer 200MP camera
Stellar display
Super fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip
Awesome battery life

Cons
Very expensive
Charging could be faster

Go to ranking

The Verge

Best high-end Android phone

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best Samsung phone

Pros
Phenomenal cameras
Bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset

Cons
Faster charging would have been nice
Seriously expensive

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

The pinnacle of Android phones

Pros
Stunning large display
Great design with IP68 water/dust resistant
Really versatile camera system
S Pen included

Cons
It's expensive
Lots of software bloat

Go to ranking

T3

The best flagship Android phone right now

Pros
Seriously powerful hardware experience
Versatile camera system, including zoom
S Pen stylus comes in a handy slot

Cons
It's really pricey
S Pen stylus won't be for all

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best phone for Android

Pros
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

Cons
Wired charging is complicated, and only 45W
Big and heavy

Go to ranking

IGN

Best Phablet

Go to ranking

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 March 2023 ranking

We ranked Google Pixel 6a #3 in March 2023 because:

  • 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best phone under $500

Pros
Excellent cameras
Bright display
Tensor-powered features for a low price

Cons
Subpar battery life
Noticeably cheap materials

Go to ranking

The Verge

The best phone under $500

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best on a budget

Pros
Relatively compact size
Clean software

Cons
Poor battery life
Slow charging

Go to ranking

Consumer Reports

Best Low-Priced (Under $500) Android Phone

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best phone value runner-up

Pros
Compact, lightweight design
IP67 water resistance
Flagship-grade performance
Excellent cameras
Clean software
Years of guaranteed updates

Cons
Display is only 60Hz
Tensor chip runs hot
Lacking battery life

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Best affordable Android smartphone

Pros
Excellent software support
Unique AI software features
Bright and colorful display
Affordable $449 price
Solid performance

Cons
Older camera sensors
Lacks wireless and true fast charging
60Hz display

Go to ranking

IGN

Best Budget Smartphone

Go to ranking

We ranked iPhone 14 Pro Max #4 in March 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked iPhone 14 Pro Max as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best phone overall

Pros
Superb 48MP camera
Very smart Dynamic Island
Best-in-class battery life
Impressive Action mode

Cons
Still 20W charging

Go to ranking

Consumer Reports

Best iPhone

Go to ranking

T3

The best Apple phone you can buy

Pros
48MP camera is the best yet
Dynamic Island rather than notch
New always-on display

Cons
Most expensive option
Always-on display costs battery
Still no USB-C or fast charging

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best big iPhone

Pros
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

Cons
One of the heaviest phones you can buy
Expensive

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Best big screen iOS smartphone

Pros
Beautiful, premium chassis
Excellent performance
Great battery life
Gorgeous display with 120Hz refresh rate
Stellar cameras

Cons
Really expensive no matter the config

Go to ranking

We ranked OnePlus 11 #5 in March 2023 because:

  • 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The Android flagship value to beat

Pros
Insanely good battery life
Excellent performance
Killer price
Great cameras

Cons
No wireless charging

Go to ranking

The Verge

Flagship performance for a little less money

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best ultra-premium phone for budget-conscious buyers

Pros
Amazing performance
Dazzling display
Unique portrait photos

Cons
Cameras aren’t versatile
Not water resistant enough
No wireless charging

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

A powerful phone without the pricetag

Pros
Stunning QHD display with fast refresh rates
Bloat-free software with lots of customisation
Fast performance
Really quick battery refills

Cons
No wireless charging
Water proofing and durability not the greatest

Go to ranking

T3

A great Android phone without a massive price

Pros
6.7-inch QHD+, 120Hz display
Powerful efficient performance
Seriously fast charging

Cons
Other phones have a better battery life
Weak zoom on the camera

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best phone for Android runner-up

Pros
Eye-catching design
Two-day battery life
25 minute battery charging
Characterful camera
Long software update commitment

Cons
No wireless charging
Portrait camera disappoints

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Best affordable flagship phone

Pros
Improved camera performance
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
Vibrant 120Hz adaptive display
Class-leading battery life and fast charging

Cons
Lacks water resistance
Cameras still don't match top flagships
No wireless charging

Go to ranking

We ranked Google Pixel 7 #6 in March 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked Google Pixel 7 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best Pixel for less

Pros
Unique color options and design
Same Tensor G2 performance as Pixel 7 Pro
Great camera with creative features

Cons
90Hz display feels dated at this level
Lacks the zoom camera of the Pro
Faster charging would be nice

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best phone value

Pros
Superb camera
Long battery life
Eye-catching design
Vibrant screen
Years of software updates
Fantastic price

Cons
Slow charging
Software bugs
Poor gaming performance

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Best phone smartphone for most people

Pros
Excellent software support
Unique AI software features
Bright 90Hz display
Affordable price
30W fast charging

Cons
No telephoto lens
No charger in the box

Go to ranking

IGN

Best Smartphone

Go to ranking

We ranked Google Pixel 7 Pro #7 in March 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best Android cameras

Pros
Incredible cameras
Brighter display
More powerful chipset
Awesome Tensor features

Cons
Only 3 years of Android updates
Slightly dull colors on telephoto camera
Bad battery life

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best Pixel phone

Pros
Intuitive and easy to use
Photo Unblur truly fixes older photos
Snappy and responsive interface

Cons
Lacks the deep feature set of best competition
Battery and charging time could be better
Macro Focus didn’t blow us away

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

A close-to-perfect Android experience

Pros
Excellent camera performance
Clean software experience
Strong display
Competitive price point

Cons
Face unlock is insecure
Few changes over Pixel 6 Pro
Only three promised platform updates

Go to ranking

T3

The best phone for most people

Pros
Great camera experience
Bold and distinctive design
Savvily priced

Cons
Not the fastest charging tech
Aluminium finish scuffs too easily

Go to ranking

IGN

Best Android Phone

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 #8 in March 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
The Verge

Best flip phone

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best clamshell foldable

Pros
Larger battery & faster charging
Excellent performance

Cons
Occasional camera inconsistencies
Minor year-on-year upgrades

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

An adorable, practical clamshell

Pros
Premium design and build quality
Great display
IPX8 water resistance
Improved hinge over previous models

Cons
Long-term durability is still an issue
Underwhelming camera system
Battery life isn't great

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best flip phone

Pros
Flatter design looks and feels fantastic
Bespoke customization is unmatched
Excellent main display
Blazing fast performance
Good, fun cameras

Cons
Battery still only lasts a day
Limited cover screen functionality

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Best foldable phone you should actually consider buying

Pros
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)

Cons
Boring upgrades
Gets warm quickly
Power button annoyingly invokes Bixby

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 #9 in March 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best phone with a foldable screen

Pros
Better multitasking with task bar
Improved cameras
Brighter display
Slimmer hinge

Cons
Very expensive
Still heavy and bulky

Go to ranking

The Verge

Best folding phone

Go to ranking

Creative Bloq

The best foldable camera phone

Pros
Better multitasking with taskbar
Foldability can be handy as a tripod
S Pen support

Cons
More expensive than phones with better cameras
Lacklustre selfie camera

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best Foldable Phone

Pros
Usable cover screen
Excellent multitasking features
Inner screen is great for games and video
Reliable and fun camera
Water resistant and durable materials

Cons
Heavy use kills the battery
Slow charging

Go to ranking

IGN

Best Foldable Phone

Go to ranking

We ranked iPhone SE #10 in March 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The most affordable iPhone

Pros
Fastest performance for the money
Very good photo quality
More durable design

Cons
No Night mode for camera
No mmWave 5G support

Go to ranking

Consumer Reports

Best Low-Priced (Under $500) iPhone

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best small iPhone

Pros
Compact and light
Very powerful
Touch ID works really well
Wireless charging
IP67 water resistance

Cons
Poor battery life
60Hz screen
64GB won't be enough

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Best budget iOS smartphone

Pros
Performance beast
Portable, compact form factor
Satisfying Touch ID
Decent price

Cons
Obsolete design
No Night mode
Middling battery life

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra #11 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

Among the most versatile phones

Pros
Incredible cameras and zoom
Excellent little S Pen

Cons
No microSD slot
Battery life could be better

Go to ranking

Creative Bloq

The best camera phone overall

Pros
Useful S Pen stylus
8K video recording
The best zoom we've experienced on any camera phone

Cons
Costs over $1,000 in the US
Battery life suffers with 8K recording
Slippery case

Go to ranking

We ranked iPhone 14 #12 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best phone for the money

Pros
Excellent cameras
Vibrant display
Fast A15 Bionic performance
Impressive Action mode video

Cons
Still just 60Hz refresh rate

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best phone for iOS runner-up

Pros
Comfortable, high-end build
OLED screen looks fantastic
A15 chip performs great
Good camera upgrades
Dependable battery life
Helpful safety features

Cons
60Hz display
No telephoto camera
eSIM might be a pain for some

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Best affordable flagship phone

Pros
New eSIM-only era
Upgraded wide lens and selfie camera
Better Night Mode performance
Action Mode is awesome

Cons
Battery life is a downgrade

Go to ranking

We ranked Oppo Find X5 Pro #13 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Creative Bloq

A sleek camera phone with Hasselblad filters

Pros
Elegant design
Hasselblad colour enhancements

Cons
Poor zoom

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

An outstanding flagship phone

Pros
Durable, beautiful design
Incredible display
Excellent charging speeds

Cons
The punch-hole camera is quite stark
The camera software isn't that intuitive

Go to ranking

T3

The best Android phone design

Pros
Stunning QHD+ screen with 120Hz refresh
Long-lasting battery and fast-charging
Impressive camera system

Cons
No MicroSD card slot or headphone jack
Expensive

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy S23 #14 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best Samsung phone for most people

Pros
Bright display
Excellent performance powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Longer battery life than before
Still $799 in US

Cons
Disappointing front camera
Wired charging stuck at 25W

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best compact Samsung

Pros
Custom Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
May be the perfect size

Cons
Not different enough
Should have a 108MP sensor

Go to ranking

Digital Trends

Best small Android phone

Pros
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

Cons
Base storage is still 128GB
Fast charging up to only 25W
Limited zoom quality past 10x

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy S22 #15 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

Still around, with a lower price

Pros
Most affordable Galaxy S22 model
Improved zoom and low-light photos
Solid performance

Cons
Below-average battery life
Cameras still trail Pixel 6, iPhone 13

Go to ranking

T3

The best small-scale Android flagship phone

Pros
Stunning Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
Loads of new AI-based camera features
Powerful hardware

Cons
Not that different to the S21
S22 Plus and S22 Ultra exist

Go to ranking

Laptop Mag

Best mid-tier Android phone

Pros
Versatile triple camera array
Aggressively priced
Outstanding battery life and fast charging
Bright 120Hz display
Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor

Cons
Limited to 128GB of storage
Camera can't quite match top flagships

Go to ranking

We ranked Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra #16 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Expert Consensus
(as of 26 Jul 2021)
The most powerful Android smartphone available that exceeds expectations in terms of performance and features at a premium price.
Experts Praise For:
  • S Pen support
  • Impressive optical zoom capability
  • Large AMOLED screen
  • Extended battery life
Experts Criticise For:
  • No microSD card support
  • Charger not included
  • Very expensive
A more detailed summary:

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra was made to impress, and it doesn’t come short on features. It is a beast in terms of size and power. Its massive size is justified by a large 6.8-inch AMOLED display that delivers a great viewing experience, and with a 120Hz refresh rate, it is certainly smooth. Backed by a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor and a generous 12GB of RAM, it is responsive and will perform without much effort. The 888 happens to be the most powerful chip that Qualcomm has to offer. Of course, this needs a battery that can last. Thankfully, the 5,000mAh battery will do just that. The S21 Ultra runs on Android 11 and comes with S Pen support. However, the stylus is sold separately.

While all the features above make the S21 Ultra an exceptional smartphone, the camera is what sets it further apart from the flagship offerings of other brands. Its quad-camera system features wide-angle, ultra-wide, and two telephoto cameras that enable a whole range of capabilities for the device. Recording 8K video is effortless, and its 108MP wide-angle camera captures high-quality images that are crisp and clear. The system is capable of 3X, 10X, and 100X (Space Zoom) zoom. Taking pictures at 100X zoom surprisingly produces better images now.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is a premium smartphone that comes with a premium price. It does not include a charger nor an S Pen. However, if those things are not an issue for the user, then it is worth the price tag.

Critic endorsements:
Consumer Reports

Best Android Phone

Go to ranking

Creative Bloq

The best camera phone if you're looking for a discount on an older model

Pros
Wacom pen tech
Excellent camera zoom

Cons
Big and bulky
Expensive

Go to ranking

We ranked iPhone 14 Plus #17 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

Apple’s cheapest big-screen phone

Pros
Big screen for a good price
Long battery life
Great cameras with Action mode video

Cons
No 120Hz display
No telephoto lens

Go to ranking

T3

A more affordable iPhone with a big screen

Pros
Great big screen
Easy-to-use and capable cameras system
Last-gen power but it's still highly capable

Cons
Not everyone wants a 6.7-inch screen
No always-on display
Still has a notch

Go to ranking

We ranked Realme GT 2 Pro #18 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Creative Bloq

The best camera phone for microscopic photography

Pros
Fantastic microscope camera
Pretty affordable

Cons
No telephoto camera
Bloated software

Go to ranking

T3

The best affordable yet powerful Android phone

Pros
Incredible performance for the price
Unique eco-conscious design

Cons
Camera could be improved
Not all will love the design and logos

Go to ranking