The best smartphones of autumn 2023 - Comparison of 26 reviewed phones ^↺

The release of the new iPhones in September was a highlight in the smartphone market this year. Similarly, companies like Samsung, Sony, Motorola and Xiaomi also showcased interesting devices. Read our overview to find out which phones received the best ratings from us and which devices are worth taking a closer look at.

Florian Schmitt, 👁 Florian Schmitt (translated by Zhiwei Zhuang), Published 11/09/2023 🇩🇪 🇷🇺

This article only features smartphones that we reviewed in the past three months. There are links to our in-depth reviews in the table at the end of this article. You can also find more exciting recommendations and possibly great deals in our previous best-of lists:

Highest rated devices: Here are the best smartphones right now!

The new Apple iPhones were unveiled on 12 September, and we have taken a comprehensive look at three of the four models. The iPhone 15 Pro Max (starting at €1,449 on Amazon, or US$1,200 with plan in the US) sits at the top of the best smartphone releases in the past three months. The phone is a great upgrade over its predecessor, offering a chassis with titanium finish, an even faster and more power-efficient processor as well as a 5x zoom camera that takes superb pictures.

The iPhone 15 Pro (starting at €1,199 on Amazon, or US$1,000 with plan) is next on the list with a slightly lower score. Despite having a shorter zoom and a marginally more compact body, it is just as premium and speedy as its bigger sibling.

Coming in at third place is the non-Pro iPhone 15 (starting at €949 on Amazon, or US$830 with plan). This model comes with the likewise very fast Apple A16 SoC as well as some meaningful upgrades, including a USB-C port and a telephoto lens (though it only offers 2x optical zoom).

We gave the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 (starting €1,399 on Amazon, or US$1,500) a “Very Good” rating. The foldable phone features pen input, an excellent OLED display and long update support and wowed us with its high-quality chassis. However, considering the rapid pace at which foldable devices are evolving, Samsung needs to strive to deliver slightly more improvements in the next generation.

The Sony Xperia 5 V (starting at €980 on Amazon, or US$850) likewise earned our Top Rated Award. It is after all extremely premium, lightweight and compact. The phone also has a fantastic camera that stands out with its rich feature set, especially for professional users. That said, Sony needs to keep the thick bezel in check so as not to get left behind.

The Nubia RedMagic 8S Pro (starting at €939 on Amazon, or US$899) similarly received a top rating from us. This gaming phone has a built-in fan that allows it to deliver high and consistent performance. True to its gaming nature, the RedMagic 8S Pro is equipped with a highly responsive screen and shoulder buttons.

Last but not least, the Xiaomi 13T Pro (starting at €692 on Amazon, or US$760) has earned a spot amongst the best smartphones released in the past months. This is because the Xiaomi boasts an excellent camera system, lightning-fast charging, a bright OLED display and long battery life.

Our favourites - Editors Choice Awards autumn 2023

Motorola Edge 40 Neo

The Motorola Edge 40 Neo received our Editor’s Choice Award. Over the past few months, we kept thinking about this phone, particularly because it offers great specs whilst costing only about €400 (may sometimes even go for less at some retailers).

The Edge 40 Neo truly shines when compared with other devices in this price range: the 144Hz screen can get very bright and also supports HDR, and the modern SoC offers heaps of performance and lets you game at 60 FPS. The phone is also kitted out with a huge amount of fast storage, a water-resistant chassis and a snappy Wi-Fi solution with 6GHz support.

Overall, the device represents tremendous value for money.

Honor 90 5G

Another recent release that impressed us is the Honor 90 5G, which currently can be had for around €400 (US$498). This upper mid-range phone stands out with its slim design, large and bright AMOLED display and exceptional main shooter. In particular, this camera captures sharp images and performs very well in challenging lighting conditions.

Though the SoC could be somewhat faster for the price and the phone lacks stereo speakers and wireless charging, the 512 GB of storage in particular is able to make up for some of the shortcomings in the specs department.

Note: Commercial use of award graphics may be subject to licensing. More details.

The best smartphones of autumn 2023

Total rating	Model	Case rating	Size	Thickness	Weight rating	Weight	Display rating	Display Type	Resolution	Pixel density	Aspect ratio	Screen-to-body ratio	Display brightness	Δ E ColorChecker	Refresh rate	Camera rating	Δ E ColorChecker, low light	Δ E ColorChecker, daylight	Application performance rating	Gaming performance rating	3DMark for A. Sling Shot Ext. (ES 3.1) Un.	GFXBench Aztec Ruins H.T. Onscreen	PUBG Mobile HD	Battery life rating	Battery life WiFi 150 cd/m²	Temperature rating	Top at idle	Top under load	Audio rating	Max. audio output (dB)	Touchscreen rating	Connectivity rating
78.5 %	Realme C55 Helio G88, Mali-G52 MP2	84.7 %	6.72"	7.9 mm	88.9 %	189.5 g	86.9 %	IPS	2400x1080	392 PPI	20:9	87 %	469 cd/m²	3.46	090 Hz	57.2 %	44.15	14.43	64 %	15.9 %	1405	5.4	30	91.1 %	975 min	87.1 %	24.1 °C	47.2 °C	68.6 %	80.6 dB	88.9 %	46.1 %
79 %	Xiaomi Redmi 12 Helio G88, Mali-G52 MP2	84.7 %	6.79"	8.2 mm	88.1 %	198.5 g	87.6 %	IPS	2460x1080	396 PPI	20:9	85 %	437 cd/m²	2.29	090 Hz	63 %	45.64	7.46	61.9 %	15.5 %	1334	4.7	29	90.2 %	803 min	88.5 %	24.8 °C	44 °C	74 %	79.4 dB	88.3 %	48.4 %
80.4 %	Xiaomi Redmi Note 12S Helio G96, Mali-G57 MP2	81.4 %	6.43"	8.1 mm	90.1 %	176 g	92 %	AMOLED	2400x1080	409 PPI	20:9	86 %	631 cd/m²	1.15	090 Hz	59.6 %	44.1	8.8	69.4 %	24.1 %	2400	8.3	30	90.7 %	953 min	89.3 %	26 °C	42.2 °C	64 %	81.3 dB	90 %	46.4 %
78.3 %	Nokia G42 SD 480+, Adreno 619	82.7 %	6.56"	8.6 mm	88.5 %	194 g	82.2 %	IPS	1612x720	269 PPI	20:9	83 %	452 cd/m²	6.09	090 Hz	59 %	37.2	5.88	64 %	20 %	2605	19	30	90.8 %	933 min	89.6 %	24.5 °C	43.1 °C	66 %	78.5 dB	88.9 %	48.2 %
84.7 %	Google Pixel Fold Tensor G2, Mali-G710 MP7	83 %	7.60"	6.05 mm	86.7 %	283 g	82.5 %	OLED	2208x1840	378 PPI	6:5	83 %	997 cd/m²	1.4	120 Hz	77.8 %	24.17	4.55	82.7 %	50.1 %	8459	28	58	89.3 %	651 min	85.8 %	33.1 °C	46.5 °C	81.8 %	82.5 dB	91.1 %	57.3 %
86.9 %	Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 5G SD 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, Adreno 740	89.6 %	6.70"	6.9 mm	89.1 %	187 g	91.8 %	Dynamic AMOLED	2640x1080	426 PPI	22:9	86 %	848 cd/m²	2.6	120 Hz	77.2 %	4.88	6.57	94.4 %	57.1 %	13051	88		88.6 %	647 min	79.3 %	26.6 °C	56 °C	78.8 %	89.6 dB	92.2 %	52 %
88.3 %	Nubia RedMagic 8S Pro SD 8 Gen 2, Adreno 740	83.6 %	6.80"	9.47 mm	87.5 %	228 g	92.3 %	AMOLED	2480x1116	400 PPI	20:9	89 %	778 cd/m²	1.3	120 Hz		15.55	8.52	97.1 %	82.2 %	16291	60		91.5 %	1026 min	74.8 %	28.4 °C	55.8 °C	74.2 %	92.4 dB	93.9 %	66.2 %
89.1 %	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 SD 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, Adreno 740	90.4 %	7.60"	6.1 mm	87.1 %	253 g	91.7 %	Dynamic AMOLED	2176x1812	373 PPI	10.8:9	91 %	1107 cd/m²	3.1	120 Hz	78 %	6.06	6.74	94.6 %	64.5 %	14482	65		89.5 %	763 min	87.5 %	26.1 °C	48.6 °C	73.4 %	88.4 dB	96.1 %	68.7 %
86 %	Honor 90 5G SD 7 Gen 1, Adreno 644	86 %	6.70"	7.8 mm	89.5 %	183 g	91 %	AMOLED	2664x1200	436 PPI	20:9	90 %	1202 cd/m²	1.5	120 Hz	74.8 %	21.17	7.43	80 %	58.2 %	6466	23	40	90.3 %	901 min	81.6 %	36.9 °C	47.7 °C	74.6 %	91.1 dB	89.4 %	51.4 %
78.7 %	Tecno Spark 10 5G Dimensity 6020, Mali-G57 MP2	81.6 %	6.60"	8.4 mm	88.5 %	194 g	84.8 %	IPS	1612x720	267 PPI	20:9	83 %	435 cd/m²	4.04	090 Hz	55.2 %	42.91	14.77	71 %	30.3 %	2549	18	30	91 %	962 min	89 %		41.3 °C	64 %	80.2 dB	85.6 %	45.2 %
83.6 %	HTC U23 pro SD 7 Gen 1, Adreno 644	82.1 %	6.70"	8.9 mm	87.9 %	205 g	88.5 %	OLED	2400x1080	393 PPI	20:9	84 %	724 cd/m²	2.9	120 Hz	63.2 %	40.47	7.63	82.1 %	57.2 %	6238	24		88.3 %	607 min	81.8 %	30.8 °C	49.6 °C	72.2 %	88.9 dB	91.1 %	50.6 %
78.1 %	Motorola Moto G14 T616, Mali-G57 MP1	84.9 %	6.50"	8 mm	90 %	177 g	84.9 %	IPS	2400x1080	405 PPI	20:9	86 %	478 cd/m²	4.68	060 Hz	54.8 %	34.39	12.01	60 %	13.2 %	1108	3.5		91.2 %	995 min	89.7 %	27 °C	41.3 °C	72 %	81.9 dB	88.9 %	46.1 %
83.9 %	Realme 11 Pro Dimensity 7050, Mali-G68 MP4	86.7 %	6.70"	8.7 mm	88.8 %	191 g	91 %	AMOLED	2412x1080	394 PPI	20:9	91 %	764 cd/m²	1.72	120 Hz	65.6 %	37.98	6.39	77.5 %	45.8 %	4326	17	40	90.7 %	799 min	85.8 %	27.2 °C	48.3 °C	71.6 %	85.6 dB	92.8 %	45.2 %
86.8 %	Xiaomi Poco F5 SD 7+ Gen 2, Adreno 725	83.9 %	6.67"	7.9 mm	89.6 %	181 g	92.2 %	AMOLED	2400x1080	395 PPI	20:9	89 %	1033 cd/m²	1.9	120 Hz	65 %	47.17	10.26	85 %	66.9 %	10274	49	60	91.2 %	1014 min	84.7 %	29.6 °C	44.8 °C	73 %	90.6 dB	94.4 %	52.8 %
84.3 %	Realme 11 Pro+ Dimensity 7050, Mali-G68 MP4	87 %	6.70"	8.7 mm	88.9 %	189 g	90.6 %	AMOLED	2412x1080	393 PPI	20:9	91 %	756 cd/m²	1.9	120 Hz	69.4 %	22.45	10.78	78 %	46 %	4316	17		90 %	829 min	84.6 %	37.8 °C	46.3 °C	72 %	80.5 dB	92.8 %	47.1 %
76.1 %	Tecno Spark 10 Pro Helio G88, Mali-G52 MP2	79.7 %	6.80"	8.5 mm	87.9 %	206 g	82.4 %	IPS	2460x1080	395 PPI	20:9	84 %	435 cd/m²	7.19	090 Hz	54.4 %	40.07	9.61	62 %	16 %	1453	4.9		90.2 %	866 min	89.7 %	25.9 °C	43.5 °C	50 %	73.9 dB	87.8 %	49.6 %
83.1 %	Sony Xperia 10 V SD 695 5G, Adreno 619	88 %	6.10"	8.3 mm	91.5 %	159 g	93.4 %	OLED	2520x1080	449 PPI	21:9	82 %	944 cd/m²	1.1	060 Hz	54.6 %	47.47	5.82	71.9 %	33.6 %	3092	11	30	93.2 %	1157 min	89.3 %	29.4 °C	40.5 °C	81 %	89.2 dB	89.4 %	48.6 %
89 %	Sony Xperia 5 V SD 8 Gen 2, Adreno 740	89.3 %	6.10"	8.6 mm	89.5 %	182 g	93 %	OLED	2520x1080	449 PPI	21:9	83 %	898 cd/m²	1.4	120 Hz	76.2 %	33.95	6.37	94.3 %	65.9 %	14492	87	60	92.1 %	952 min	84.3 %	32.4 °C	45.7 °C	83.8 %	89.9 dB	92.2 %	57.1 %
91.1 %	Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max A17 Pro, A17 Pro GPU	92 %	6.70"	8.25 mm	87.7 %	221 g	94.5 %	OLED	2796x1290	460 PPI	19.5:9	88 %	1102 cd/m²	1.1	120 Hz	83 %	15.68	6.57	91.8 %	65.5 %		55		94.5 %	1163 min	83.7 %	34.6 °C	45.8 °C	80.6 %	92.3 dB	97.2 %	65 %
83.3 %	Tecno Phantom V Flip Dimensity 8050, Mali-G77 MP9	85.5 %	6.90"	6.95 mm	88.5 %	194 g	89.8 %	AMOLED	2640x1080	413 PPI	22:9	86 %	797 cd/m²	3.5	120 Hz	73 %	24.82	8.97	80 %	48 %		30	40	88.2 %	598 min	83.4 %	26.5 °C	55.4 °C	60 %	81.9 dB	89.4 %	48.4 %
88.1 %	Xiaomi 13T Pro Dimensity 9200+, Immortalis-G715 MP11	86.7 %	6.67"	8.62 mm	87.9 %	206 g	93.1 %	AMOLED	2712x1220	446 PPI	20:9	87.5 %	1230 cd/m²	1.4	144 Hz	76.2 %	22.23	7.46	93.6 %	68.2 %	10301	69	60	92 %	1099 min	84.1 %	30.7 °C	45.4 °C	78 %	89.7 dB	94.4 %	51.5 %
90.7 %	Apple iPhone 15 Pro A17 Pro, A17 Pro GPU	91.7 %	6.10"	8.3 mm	89.1 %	187 g	94.8 %	Super Retina XDR OLED	2556x1179	461 PPI	19.5:9	88 %	1086 cd/m²	0.91	120 Hz	80.6 %	7.35	8.95	91.7 %	66 %		60		91.7 %	832 min	88.7 %	23.2 °C	43 °C	80 %	79.4 dB	96.1 %	65.9 %
84.6 %	Motorola Edge 40 Neo Dimensity 7030, Mali-G610 MP3	84.9 %	6.55"	7.8 mm	90.6 %	170 g	91.5 %	pOLED	2400x1080	402 PPI	20:9	92 %	957 cd/m²	1.87	144 Hz	68.8 %	8.15	8.84	78.8 %	44.7 %	4211	18	40	90.9 %	864 min	85.5 %	23.3 °C	46.9 °C	76 %	83.9 dB	90 %	49 %
89.1 %	Apple iPhone 15 A16, A16 GPU 5-Core	90.4 %	6.10"	7.8 mm	90.5 %	171 g	92.6 %	Super Retina XDR OLED	2556x1179	461 PPI	19.5:9	85 %	1019 cd/m²	1.4	060 Hz	75.6 %	7.38	10.9	91.2 %	68.8 %		58.1		91.7 %	1002 min	89.7 %	24 °C	42 °C	80 %	81.6 dB	95 %	48.3 %
80.7 %	Motorola Moto G54 Dimensity 7020, IMG BXM-8-256	85.2 %	6.50"	8 mm	90 %	177 g	84.1 %	IPS	2400x1080	405 PPI	20:9	86 %	470 cd/m²	3.9	120 Hz	65.2 %	17.52	9.35	70 %	25 %	2580	11	30	90.4 %	875 min	87.7 %	24 °C	45.4 °C	76.8 %	79.7 dB	88.9 %	45.3 %
82.2 %	Motorola Moto G84 SD 695 5G, Adreno 619	85 %	6.50"	7.6 mm	90.8 %	166.8 g	91.7 %	P-OLED	2400x1080	405 PPI	20:9	87 %	889 cd/m²	1.1	120 Hz	63.2 %	8.03	9.59	76 %	32 %	3073	12	30	90.4 %	908 min	88 %	24.4 °C	44 °C	60 %	82 dB	90 %	51.7 %

The table above shows all the smartphones we tested during the last three months including their overall and partial scores in our detailed reviews as well as a selection of important parameters and benchmarks. All results and details can be found in the linked reviews.
The table can be sorted in each column - just click on the respective column title, for example "weight".

Other interesting phones in autumn 2023

Sustainability is growing in importance. That’s why Nokia has kickstarted an initiative with the G42 – a phone designed to be repaired by users with affordable spare parts. There are also guides and videos to help users with the process. Moreover, the company promises to provide updates for a long time. Whilst this is commendable, repairing the phone is probably still too difficult for a complete layperson.

When it comes to storage, improvement has been made especially in the more budget segment. For instance, despite being priced at just €150, the Motorola Moto G14 is equipped with not only 128 GB of storage but also a Full HD screen and NFC functionality.

Read all 3 comments / answer

Loading comments

Comment on this article

Editor of the original article: Florian Schmitt - Managing Editor Mobile - 1135 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2009

I initially wrote about gaming laptops when I joined Notebookcheck in 2009. I was then involved with the setup of the comparison portal Notebookinfo and worked with social media concepts for large companies like BMW and Adidas, while also returning to work for Notebookcheck in 2012. Nowadays, I focus on smartphones, tablets, and future technologies. Since 2018 I have been Managing Editor for mobile device reviews, working alongside my colleague Daniel Schmidt.

contact me via: @FloSchmi26, LinkedIn, Xing

Translator: Zhiwei Zhuang - Translator - 149 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2022

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, I moved from Singapore to Cologne in 2014 and began pursuing a career as a freelance translator. Much of my translation work focuses on science, engineering and technology. My fascination with computers and mobile electronics began when I was young. And I have fond memories reading countless tech and gaming magazines. Working with Notebookcheck gives me the opportunity to incorporate my personal interests into my professional work.

Please share our article, every link counts!

> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > The best smartphones of autumn 2023 - Comparison of 26 phones reviewed

Florian Schmitt, 2023-11- 9 (Update: 2023-11-19)