2023 hasn’t been very exciting for me as far as phone releases go. Last year, there were some midrange phones that got me really interested, but this time, I couldn’t find any that stood out to me. Even the premium phones didn’t impress me much, so I’ve narrowed down my top list to just four phones.
One major absence from my list is Samsung. I’ve never been a huge fan, but I usually like the S Ultra series. However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra seems like more of the same to me. The same goes for the Galaxy Z Fold5 – it’s good, but not very thrilling.
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
Let’s start with the phone I use every day – the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. After using the Xiaomi 11 Ultra and the 12S Ultra, the 13 Ultra feels much more polished than its predecessors. Despite the unique design with all the slopes on the back, the 13 Ultra is, for me, the closest thing to a “zero compromise” smartphone you can get in 2023.
The first things I look for in a phone are the software and the latest versions of MIUI are great. All three Ultras I’ve used have provided an exceptionally smooth and snappy experience from day one. It reminds me of my first few years using OnePlus phones – a seamless experience from start to finish.
The second thing is the cameras, and the Ultra definitely delivers on that front. For me, the perfect telephoto combo is 3x + 5x or 3x + 6x, and fortunately, the Ultra added a very capable 3.2x telephoto camera, giving me every reason to upgrade from the 12S Ultra.
There’s no need to go through the specs sheet again because, let’s face it – the chipset, display, fingerprint reader, charging, battery, etc. are all fairly similar across all flagship phones. It’s a great phone with very little to complain about.
Xiaomi 13
I’ve always had a soft spot for small premium phones and I keep an eye on this rather niche segment in 2023. In my opinion, the vanilla Xiaomi 13 is by far the best small flagship smartphone this year.
Most of what I said about the 13 Ultra applies to the vanilla 13 as well. It has all the features and doesn’t skimp on the telephoto lens, which is a rare find in compact phones. The Galaxy S23 is another exception to the rule.
The Asus Zenfone 10 and the Pixel 7, for example, both lack proper telephoto cameras.
There’s something about holding a small and powerful phone, especially if it’s well-built. And the Xiaomi 13 certainly feels great in the hand.
OnePlus 11
As a long-time fan of OnePlus, I haven’t been impressed by a phone from the company in quite a while, especially after they decided to phase out OxygenOS. The company also lost its competitive edge to some extent.
However, the OnePlus 11 felt somewhat different. I had the chance to review it, and apart from the unimpressive 2x zoom camera, the device turned out to be an excellent all-rounder.
It could be due to the rising smartphone prices throughout 2023 in general, but the fact is, the OnePlus 11 was a great deal even at launch. In fact, the camera performance is impressive, and the hardware is as good as any flagship phone.
Even the software felt responsive, feature-rich, and welcoming. We were disappointed to see many of the older OxygenOS features go, but as they say – you win some, you lose some.
vivo X Fold2
I felt compelled to choose the best foldable phone for me this year, as it’s clearly the future we are heading toward. As I mentioned earlier, 2023 felt underwhelming even in the foldable segment. However, the vivo X Fold2 stood out to me. The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 also deserves an honorable mention for its exceptional design and powerful camera setup.
What I liked most about the vivo was the design (I really appreciate faux leather backs), the almost crease-less inner screen, the usable outer screen (it didn’t feel like an afterthought), and perhaps the best feature to have on a horizontally-folding smartphone is the dual ultrasonic fingerprint reader.
I personally dislike side-mounted fingerprint readers as they force you to use the phone with your right hand and it’s tough to unlock when it’s placed on the desk, for example. The vivo X Fold2 addresses all these issues with two fingerprint readers – one on the cover screen and one on the main folding screen. You can unlock the device whichever way you like, and the two scanners make it much easier to use. I wonder why no other manufacturer is doing this with its foldables, as it makes so much sense.
That’s all from me this year, and I hope we see more exciting advancements in 2024. I’d like to see more midrange phones with better cameras (I’m tired of the outdated 8MP ultrawide shooters) and new chipsets that make more sense in 2024. I would also like to see a significant leap forward in the foldable segment.
