Technology is an ever-dynamic sector, as nothing stays the same for long. There’s always design to improve on, software to update, and new gadgets to build. And to keep customers coming for more, smartphone companies release new updates and versions of their products almost yearly.
Even though new releases are mostly based on the limitations of the previous versions, it’s hard to know beforehand the kind of updates phone industries plan to achieve. But fortunately, predictions have been more accurate and easier with leaks from analysts like Ming Chi Kuo and Hemmerstoffer.
Based on the specs that have been unofficially announced, we have compiled a list of the best smartphones that are coming out in 2023 and the updates they’re coming with. Check them out!
OnePlus 11 5G
Possible Release Date: February 2023
Projected Price: $799+
Expected Specifications:
- Dimensions: (6.42 × 2.92 × 0.33) inches
- Display size: 6.7 inches
- Resolution: 1440 × 3216 pixels
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- RAM: 12GB, 16GB
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB
- Back Camera: 50MP (f/1.8) wide, 32MP (f/2.0) telephoto, 48MP (f/2.2) ultrawide
- Selfie Camera: 16 MP (f/2.4) wide
- Battery life: 5000mAh
- Weight: 7.23 oz
Why We Are Excited:
- Faster charging rate of 100w
Flaws We Expect:
- Lower selfie camera resolution
- Slower USB
The OnePlus 11 5G global launch will be done by February, but it has already been released in China. According to OnePlus China’s site, the phone will have a bigger screen of 6.7 inches.
Like most Android phones, OnePlus 11 5G has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The charging rate will also increase from 80 to 100 watts. Some of the other things that are going to increase in the OnePlus 11 5G are the RAM and ROM storage
The OnePlus 11 5G has high-end features that could rival the iPhone 15, and its price makes it quite a steal. However, the front camera’s resolution may be lower than in the previous versions.
Also, charging the phone can be slower than before, as the OnePlus 11 5G might come with a USB 2.0 instead of the 3.2 of last year. In all, this is one flagship phone to look out for. It is sure to end up among the best Android phones in 2023.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Possible Release Date: February 2023
Projected Price: $1200+
Expected Specifications
- Dimensions: (6.43 × 3.07 × 0.35) inches
- Display size: 6.8 inches
- Resolution: 1440 × 3088 pixels
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- RAM: 8GB, 12GB
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
- Back Cameras: 200MP (f/1.7) wide, 10MP (f/4.9) periscope telescope, 10MP (f/2.4) telephoto, 12 MP (f/2.2) ultrawide
- Selfie Camera; 12 MP (f/2.2) wide
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Weight: 8.22 oz
Why We Are Excited:
- Improved camera resolution
- Increased RAM and storage
Flaws We Expect:
- Expensive
- Heavier
Coming out by spring, the latest version of the Samsung S Series would be the best phone you can get your hands on in 2023.
According to predictions, Samsung is dumping its usual Exynos chips and will use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This will allow the phone to display your pictures and videos more realistically using ray tracing.
The best highlight of this phone is the resolution. The Korean company plans to increase it from 108MP(in the S22 Ultra) to 200MP. If you already have an S22 and the pictures you take with it amaze you all the time, imagine how incredible the S23 Ultra would be with this improved feature.
But then, good stuff comes with a price. So, you should expect to pay more for the S23 because of inflation and rising material costs. Find more information about the truths, rumors, and expectations of the Samsung Galaxy S23.
Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro
Possible Release Date: February 2023
Projected Price: $700+, $800+ (Pro)
Expected Specifications
- Dimensions: 6.02 × 2.81 × 0.31 inches, 6.41 × 2.94 × 0.33 inches (Pro)
- Display size: 6.36 inches, 6.73 inches (Pro)
- Resolution: 1080 × 2400 pixels, 1440 × 3200 pixels (Pro)
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- OS: Android 13
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Back Camera: (50+12+10) MP, Three 50MP lenses (Pro)
- Selfie Camera: 32MP
- Battery: 4500mAh, 4820mAh (Pro), Li-Polymer battery
- Weight: 6.67 oz, 8.08 oz (Pro)
Why We Are Excited:
- Fast refresh rates (120Hz)
- High resolutions in cameras
Flaws We Expect:
- Not really different from the Xiaomi 12 series
The Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro was initially released in China last December, so there’s more specific information about them online. The global release has been slated for February 2023.
The two models are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, like most of the phones on this list. Apart from a few differences in weight, size, battery, screen resolution, and camera sensors, the phones are the same.
For instance, the Pro version of the Xiaomi 13 is heavier and has more quality camera sensors (three 50MP lenses) than the standard version. They will both have 8GB RAM and 128GB of memory storage. Also, the operating system for both phones will be Android 13.
It will be sold for around $700–$800, which makes it cheaper than other phone brands with the same features. However, Xiaomi didn’t do many updates on the previous version to create the Xiaomi 13 series, so they’re a bit similar. Still, it’s one of the best Android phones in 2023 to look out for.
Huawei Mate X3
Possible Release Date: February 2023
Projected Price: $2600+
Expected Specifications
- Display size: 8 inches
- Resolution: 2200 ×2480 pixels
- Chipset: Hisilicon Kirin 9000
- RAM & Storage: 12GB, 256GB (supports up to 256GB external memory)
- Back Cameras: 108 + 16 + 8MP
- Selfie Camera: 20MP
- Operating System: HarmonyOS 2.0
- Battery: 4520mAh, Li-Polymer battery
- Weight: 11.46 oz
Why We Are Excited:
- Super fast performance
- Powerful lens sensor
- Records 8k and 4k video
Flaws We Expect:
- Heavier
- Increase in price
- Might not work with Google services
Huawei has a reputation for creating phones with high-quality hardware, so the new foldable Mate X3 won’t be an exception. There’s not much information about the release date of the phone. But the Mate X2 was launched in February 2021, so we expect they will release the new month around that time.
Another thing about Huawei is the price of its phones. The last Huawei Mate was sold for $2600. And with the current global economic situation, the cost of the Huawei Mate X3 might increase.
We expect the length of the phone to be 8 inches when unfolded. Weighing 11.46 ounces, Huawei Mate X3 might be heavier than the previous version.
The screen resolution might remain at 2200 × 2480 pixels. There are rumors about the kind of chipset installed on the phone. Some say it will have a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, while others say it will be Hisilicon Kirin 9000.
We’re excited about the upgraded camera sensor resolution of 108MP. This will vastly improve the picture quality of the Mate X3. Also, this means it can record videos at 4k and 8k resolutions. The downside is the lack of support from Google, which goes as far back as 2019.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Possible Release Date: August 2023
Projected Price: Around $1800
Expected Specifications
- Dimensions: (158.5 × 128.5 × 6.5) inches
- Display size: 7.6 inches (outer display), 6.2 inches (inner display)
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (or improved version)
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 256GB
- Back Camera: 108MP (main), 64MP (telephoto), 12MP (wide)
- Selfie Camera: 12MP
- Battery: 4400mAh
- Weight: 9.7 oz
Why We Are Excited:
- Less obvious folding crease
- Stylus pen included
Flaws We Expect:
- Weak battery
Samsung released its first foldable smartphone in 2019 and has never looked back. The tech firm has been improving the model with every launch. And it also plans to continue on that upward glide with the release of Z Fold 5 in August.
Samsung likes equipping its products with the latest software. This means the Z Fold 5 will probably come with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s chipset or the improved version available before the launch date.
Another improvement we expect is the inclusion of a stylus pen with the phone. For the previous versions of Z Fold, you have to buy the pen separately. In this one, you probably won’t need to do that, making the gadget cost-effective.
One of the complaints people have about previous fold phones is the noticeable crease. The crease is inevitable because of the folding. Samsung plans to solve this issue by making the creaseless obvious in the Z Fold 5. Another complaint is that it is more expensive than other flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Possible Release Date: August 2023
Projected Price: $1000+
Expected Specifications:
- Dimensions: Yet unknown
- Display size: 6.7 inches
- Cover display: 3 inches
- Resolution: 2640 × 1080 pixels
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Camera: 12 MP f/1.8 (Wide Angle) 12 MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide) with autofocus
- Battery: 3700 mAh, Fast charging 45W
- Weight: 183 g (6.46 oz)
Why We Are Excited:
- Bigger cover display
Flaws We Expect:
- Not all the previous version’s issues might be solved
This is a more affordable version of the foldable phones, but the difference between this and the Z Fold is that it bends horizontally and is lighter. As part of the Samsung Z Fold series, it will be released by August.
Not much information has been released about the Z Flip 5. But the phone is expected to come with the latest Snapdragon chipset, like the Z Fold 5.
There are also talks about Samsung increasing the cover display to at least three inches. People complained that it was too small. Other currently available specifications include the 6.7 inches screen size, 8GB of RAM, and increased storage of 128GB.
Apple iPhone 15 (Pro & Ultra)
Possible Release Date: September 2023
Projected Price: $1200+
Expected Specifications
- Display size: 6.1 inches (Pro), 6.7 inches (Ultra)
- Resolution: 1170 x 2532 pixels (Pro), 1290 x 2796 pixels (Ultra)
- Chipset: Bionic A17 chip
- RAM & Storage: 8GB, 128GB
- Sim Size: Nano + eSim
- Cameras: 48/50MP (main camera), 12MP (ultrawide), 12MP (periscope telephoto)
- Operating System: iOS v15 (Pro), iOS v17 (Ultra)
- Battery: 4700/5000 mAh, Li-ion Battery
Why We Are Excited:
- USB-C charging port
- Speed in data transfer
- Periscope telephoto camera
- Dynamic Island for all models
Flaws We Expect:
- No touch ID
- Increase in price
September has been Apple’s iPhone series’ customary launch time for a while now, so we expect them to stick to it again this year. However, we are not expecting massive improvement in the iPhones that will be released this year.
One of the expected improvements is the extension of the Dynamic Island feature to all the variants of the iPhone 15 series. The Pro Max model’s name might also be changed to Ultra.
The EU has directed that all phones to be sold in the continent are to have USB-C charging ports by 2024. So Apple might start obeying this directive with the new series to be launched this year.
But the tech company could be reserving the fast recharge rate and USB-C ports for the Pro and Ultra models. The two models will also be the Bionic A17 chip with super-fast performance.
We estimate the Apple iPhone 15 (Pro & Ultra) to be over $1200+ based on previous and current prices. Read more about the iPhone 15 to understand its specifications better.
Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
Possible Release Date: October 2023
Projected Price: $600, $800+ (Pro)
Expected Specifications:
- Screen Resolution: 2268×1080, 2822×1344 (Pro)
- Camera: 50 +48 +12 MP
- Operating System: Android 14
- RAM: 8GB, 12GB (Pro)
- Performance: Google Tensor
- Storage: 128, 256GB (Pro)
- Battery: 4300mAh, 5000mAh (Pro)
Why We Are Excited:
- Next-gen tensor
- Staggered HDR technology
- Telephoto camera
Flaws We Expect:
- Smaller than the Pixel 7
- Slight price increase
The Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are highly anticipated phones for 2023. We expect the release to be in October 2023, and the prices to be around $600 for the Pixel 8 and $800+ for the Pro model. The Pro model is expected to come with better specifications.
Both phones should have a high-quality screen resolution, with the Pixel 8 having 2268×1080 and the 8 Pro having 2822×1344. We expect the camera setup to be 50 + 48 + 12 MP. The operating system for both phones will be Android 14, and the RAM will be 8GB for the Pixel 8 and 12GB for the Pro model.
Google’s Tensor technology will power the performance of both phones. The storage options will be 128GB for the Pixel 8 and 256GB for the Pro. The battery life of the phones is expected to be 4300mAh for the Pixel 8 and 5000mAh for the Pro.
We are excited about the next-gen tensor technology, the staggered HDR technology, and the telephoto camera. However, there are some flaws that we expect. The phone might be slightly smaller compared to the Pixel 7, and there might be a slight price increase.
Google has codenamed the phones “Husky” and “Shiba.” There are rumors that Google might be experimenting with a ceramic phone for the Pixel 8. We will have to wait for the official release to know for sure.
What Will Be the Best Phone in 2023?
In conclusion, 2023 promises to be an exciting year for the smartphone industry, with many companies expected to release new updates and versions of their products. These phones have improved features such as high-end cameras, increased RAM and storage, faster-charging rates, and better resolution. However, as with any new releases, there are also some flaws that consumers can expect, such as higher prices. Regardless, it is still an exciting time to be in the market for a new phone.
