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
-
Samsung:
10 Smartphones
(#1 is Samsung Galaxy A42 5G )
-
Apple:
8 Smartphones
(#1 is iPhone 13 Pro )
-
Google:
4 Smartphones
(#1 is Google Pixel 6 Pro )
-
OnePlus:
2 Smartphones
(#1 is OnePlus 10 Pro )
-
Asus:
2 Smartphones
(#1 is Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro )
Price breakdown
At a glance - March 2023 Ranking
| 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.
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
|
TechRadar
Apple's top iPhones
|
Pros
Familiar design
Improved cameras over last year
|
Cons
No USB-C
Limited zoom photography
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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.
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
|
TechRadar
The best Samsung phone
|
Pros
Phenomenal cameras
Bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
|
Cons
Faster charging would have been nice
Seriously expensive
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
Tom's Guide
The Verge
TechRadar
Consumer Reports
Creative Bloq
Pocket-lint
T3
Digital Trends
Laptop Mag
IGN
We ranked Google Pixel 6a #3 in March 2023 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
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
|
TechRadar
The best on a budget
|
Pros
Relatively compact size
Clean software
|
Cons
Poor battery life
Slow charging
|
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
|
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
|
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.
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked OnePlus 11 #5 in March 2023 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The Android flagship value to beat
|
Pros
Insanely good battery life
Excellent performance
Killer price
Great cameras
|
Cons
No wireless charging
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
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.
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
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked Google Pixel 7 Pro #7 in March 2023 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
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
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 #8 in March 2023 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
TechRadar
The best clamshell foldable
|
Pros
Larger battery & faster charging
Excellent performance
|
Cons
Occasional camera inconsistencies
Minor year-on-year upgrades
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 #9 in March 2023 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
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
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked iPhone SE #10 in March 2023 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
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
|
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
|
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
|
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.
TechRadar
Among the most versatile phones
|
Pros
Incredible cameras and zoom
Excellent little S Pen
|
Cons
No microSD slot
Battery life could be better
|
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
|
We ranked iPhone 14 #12 in March 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
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
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked Oppo Find X5 Pro #13 in March 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Creative Bloq
A sleek camera phone with Hasselblad filters
|
Pros
Elegant design
Hasselblad colour enhancements
|
Cons
Poor zoom
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy S23 #14 in March 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
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
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy S22 #15 in March 2023 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
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
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra #16 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
- S Pen support
- Impressive optical zoom capability
- Large AMOLED screen
- Extended battery life
- No microSD card support
- Charger not included
- Very expensive
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.
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
|
We ranked iPhone 14 Plus #17 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
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
|
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
|
We ranked Realme GT 2 Pro #18 in March 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Smartphones” rankings.
Creative Bloq
The best camera phone for microscopic photography
|
Pros
Fantastic microscope camera
Pretty affordable
|
Cons
No telephoto camera
Bloated software
|
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
|