Pixel 7, OnePlus 11, and more

Samsung has launched the Galaxy S23 series, and they look like incremental upgrades over 2022’s Galaxy S22 trio. Some of the most notable upgrades include a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset across the board, larger batteries for the S23 and S23 Plus, and a 200MP main camera for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Otherwise, you’ve still got a lengthy update pledge, the same cameras on the base and Plus models, and the same pricing (at least if you’re in the US).

But what if you don’t want the Galaxy S23 series for some reason? Maybe they’re tough to find in your market or you’re not a fan of One UI. Maybe you just want to investigate all your options. Either way, we’ve got you covered with a look at the best Samsung Galaxy S23 alternatives on the market.

$999.99 at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

Large AMOLED display
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 power
Bigger battery

$1,199.99 at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

New 200MP main camera
Beautiful display
S Pen functionality

Buying the right Galaxy S23 alternative

The new Samsung flagships stand out thanks to the best update commitment on the market, some premium extras (e.g. IP68 rating, wireless charging, telephoto cameras), a supremely powerful processor, and wide availability. In saying so, there are a few phones that are superior to the Galaxy S23 range in some ways.

The Google Pixel 7 series is perhaps the best rival in this sense, serving up great camera quality, a slick take on Android, a long update pledge, and a host of AI-powered features. Best of all, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are more competitively priced as well.

For a brief look at all of our recommendations, you can check our summary below, or read on for a full breakdown of each Galaxy S23 rival.

The best Galaxy S23 alternatives

  • Google Pixel 7 series: The Pixel 7 range lags behind Samsung when it comes to sheer horsepower and availability, but you’ve still got a well-rounded proposition here. Both phones are powered by the capable Tensor G2 SoC, enabling offline dictation, nifty camera modes, and more. Toss in AI-powered calling features, relatively large batteries, and prompt system updates and you’ve got great handsets.
  • Samsung Galaxy S22 series: Like the idea of a Samsung flagship but want something a little cheaper? Well, the Galaxy S22 series can be had for a cheaper price now that the S23 range is out. You’re still getting plenty of horsepower, great screens, versatile cameras, and a five-year update pledge. The biggest downside is that the base model has a really small battery, so you might want to consider the Plus or Ultra models instead.
  • Apple iPhone 14 series: Curious about other ecosystems? Then the iPhone 14 series is worth a look. The standard and Plus iPhones are disappointing upgrades over the iPhones 13 series, while the Pro models get all the key upgrades (e.g. Dynamic Island, new chipset, 48MP cameras). Either way, these phones are worth considering if you want more Apple hardware down the line.
  • Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: The Galaxy A54 5G should be around the corner, but the Galaxy A53 5G is still worth considering if you want a Samsung phone at a more affordable price. The Exynos 1280 chipset is a major step down from even older flagships, but there’s still plenty to like about the phone otherwise. Highlights include an IP67 rating, 120Hz OLED screen, and a large battery.
  • OnePlus 11: OnePlus has already launched its 2023 flagship phone in China, but a global launch takes place just a few days after the S23 launch. Device highlights include a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 5,000mAh battery with super-fast charging speeds, and a competitive price tag. Unfortunately, OnePlus has skimped on some premium features to achieve a lower price.
  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: Looking for a Samsung phone that’s a little more exciting than the Galaxy S23 range? The Z Flip 4 might be for you, owing to its clamshell foldable form factor. The phone isn’t a one-trick pony though, bringing water resistance, a powerful processor, and nifty Flex Mode functionality.

Google Pixel 7 series: The best all-around Galaxy S23 series alternative

$899.00 at Amazon

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Best Google camera
High-quality display
Big battery

The Pixel 7 range is perhaps Google’s mobile business at its very best, delivering two critically acclaimed offerings. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have a number of features in common, such as the Tensor G2 processor, IP68 water/dust resistance, wireless charging, and a slick take on Android. These devices also offer three major OS updates and five years of security patches, making for a pretty good update pledge.

As you’d expect, the Pro model is the more premium device. This model stands out thanks to features like a QHD+ 120Hz screen, a 5,000mAh battery, and a great 48MP 5x telephoto zoom camera. Meanwhile, the vanilla device offers a 90Hz FHD+ panel, a 4,355mAh battery, and no dedicated zoom lens.

The phones aren’t perfect, it must be said. The Tensor G2 might deliver loads of AI-powered features, but it lacks grunt compared to even some of 2022’s chipsets. Furthermore, charging speeds are simply atrocious compared to even Samsung, let alone the likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus. Still, the phones are hard to beat at a $599 starting price.

Google Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7 camera housings

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Pros

  • Good commitment to updates
  • Clean, slick take on Android
  • Distinctive designs
  • Great camera quality
  • Attractive pricing
  • Good zoom on Pixel 7 Pro

Cons

  • Extremely slow wired charging
  • Not as powerful as Galaxy S23
  • Phones tend to heat up

Samsung Galaxy S22 series: The best S23 alternative from Samsung

$799.99 at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S22

Samsung Galaxy S22

Compact design
Impressive camera setup
Unrivaled software support

$999.99 at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

Excellent display
Powerful camera package
Top-notch performance

$1,199.99 at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

Ultra-premium build quality
Gorgeous screen
Solid performance

The Galaxy S22 phones are arguably the best Galaxy S23 alternatives on the list, especially if you value Samsung’s hardware, software, and associated services. These three handsets share features like a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, a great software update pledge, an IP68 rating, and wireless charging.

As you’d expect, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the star of the show. It stands out from the other two devices by serving up a 108MP main camera, a pair of telephoto shooters (3x and 10x), a 5,000mAh battery, QHD+ screen, and an S Pen slot.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus share the same triple camera system (50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto), but differ in terms of display size and battery capacity. It’s worth noting that the base S22 has a 3,700mAh battery, which is certainly on the small side for a flagship Android phone. Still, the entire range should be a little cheaper now that the S23 series has launched.

Samsung Galaxy S22 family spread like cards

Eric Zeman / Android Authority

Pros

  • Great software update pledge
  • Good performance
  • Versatile cameras
  • Water resistance and wireless charging
  • S22 Ultra has fantastic long-range zoom

Cons

  • Speakers are a little disappointing
  • Standard S22 has weak battery life

Apple iPhone 14 series: The best S23 alternative outside Android

$899.00 at Best Buy

Apple iPhone 14 Plus

Apple iPhone 14 Plus

SOS satellite system
Updated 12MP camera
Larger display base model iPhone

$999.99 at Best Buy

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

Premium design and build
Upgraded main camera
Dynamic Island

2022’s Apple iPhone 14 series actually feels like two different iPhone families. The standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus use an older but still powerful A15 Bionic SoC, retain the wide notch, and stick with a 12MP main camera.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Pro devices bring major upgrades like the A16 Bionic processor, the Dynamic Island display cutout, and 48MP main cameras. Furthermore, the Pro models offer a telephoto camera and 120Hz refresh rates too, which are both missing from the standard variants.

Nevertheless, all four iPhones still enjoy a host of perks, such as IP68 water/dust resistance, wireless charging, and access to Apple’s ecosystem of services and tight hardware integration. So those curious about the world outside Android can do a lot worse than this.

apple iphone 14 pro widgets

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Pros

  • Dynamic Island cutout for Pro models
  • Access to Apple’s ecosystem
  • Speedy performance
  • Unparalleled commitment to updates
  • Flexible cameras with top-notch video quality

Cons

  • iOS is more restrictive than Android
  • Lightning port rather than USB-C
  • Ho-hum battery life on smaller models
  • Smaller models lack 120Hz screens

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: The best cheap Galaxy S23 alternative

Samsung Galaxy A53 5GSamsung Galaxy A53 5G

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

Large, crisp, fluid display • Great battery life • 4 years of OS updates

A great mid-range phone made even better

The Galaxy A53 has a flagship-level software promise, as it will get four Android updates. It also sports a flexible camera system, a crisp display, and an affordable price tag.

Samsung’s flagship phones aren’t cheap, so we can totally understand if you want a more affordable option. Well, the Galaxy A53 5G is one of the better Galaxy S23 alternatives if you’re on a budget.

The Galaxy A53 5G brings a number of handy features to the table, such as an IP67 rating, a 6.5-inch 120Hz OLED screen, and a massive battery with 25W wired charging. Toss in five years of security updates (as well as four major OS updates) and you’ve got a great Samsung experience here.

In saying so, the mid-ranger isn’t without its significant drawbacks. That Exynos 1280 chipset will struggle with demanding games, you don’t get wireless charging, and you’re missing out on a telephoto camera. But most of this is to be expected at a sub-$450 price tag.

samsung galaxy a53 back panel

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Pros

  • IP67 rating
  • Long-term update pledge
  • High quality screen for the price
  • One UI offers loads of features
  • Long battery life

Cons

  • No wireless charging
  • Average performance

OnePlus 11: The best Galaxy S23 alternative if you want fast charging

The OnePlus 11 is actually a few days away from its global launch as of writing, but it’s still worth keeping an eye on this model if you want a 2023 flagship.

Much like the Galaxy S23 series, OnePlus is bringing a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor as well (albeit at a lower clock speed than the S23). So games and other demanding use cases shouldn’t be a problem here. The new phone also serves up highlights like a 6.7-inch QHD+ OLED screen, a 5,000mAh battery, and 100W wired charging.

The OnePlus 11 isn’t too shabby when it comes to cameras either, offering a 50MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide lens, and 32MP 2x telephoto shooter. Unfortunately, there are downsides, namely the lack of wireless charging, for one. The Chinese model also lacks water resistance and OnePlus tends to restrict it to carrier-locked devices in the US, so we aren’t holding our breath for this feature across the board (if at all).

OnePlus 11 OnePlus Buds Pro 2

Pros

  • High-resolution screen
  • Big battery and fast charging
  • Flexible camera system
  • Long-term update commitment

Cons

  • No wireless charging
  • Water resistance might be inconsistent at best

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: The best foldable alternative

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

Efficient performance • Solid primary camera • Compact design

The affordable foldable

While it still costs a pretty penny, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is much more affordable than a lot of other foldable phones. It also has a retro vibe to it due to its clamshell design. But there’s more to the phone than looks alone — it also packs plenty of power, a solid main camera, and a lot more.

What if you want something that stands out in terms of design? Well, Samsung has a Galaxy S23 alternative for you in the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The clamshell foldable bucks the trend of gigantic phones by offering a pocket-friendly form factor. But there’s more to the Z Flip 4 than a compact design.

Samsung’s late 2022 device also offers Flex Mode, using the form factor to offer features like tripod functionality and a kickstand of sorts for video playback and video calls. Otherwise, you’ve got a still-speedy Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz OLED screen, and a small cover display for alerts.

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 isn’t perfect though, as the 3,700mAh battery is on the small side while the dual rear camera system lacks a telephoto camera. Nevertheless, you’re still getting familiar Samsung software and a long-term update pledge. Thankfully, we frequently see this device on sale for way below its $999 launch price.

samsung galaxy z flip 4 folded camera interface

Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Pros

  • Pocket-friendly design
  • Still powerful
  • Software takes advantage of form factor
  • Long update pledge
  • Water-resistant
  • Wireless charging

Cons

  • Cameras could be better
  • Display crease is quite prominent
  • More expensive than base S23

That’s it for our list of the best Galaxy S23 alternatives on the market! Are there any picks we missed? Then let us know below!

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