The Best Phone Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
For most of us, mobile phones are at the center of our universe. The typical feature set of these palm-size marvels is astounding. It’s your phone, messaging device, web browser, camera, music player, GPS, and more. The phone you choose affects your life in a multitude of ways. That’s why we’re here to help you pick exactly the right one.
We’re a smartphone-dominated nation, with 4G LTE networks serving data faster than many home internet connections and 5G spreading across the country quickly. We’re down to three major, nationwide wireless carriers, but a new entrant, Dish, recently launched coverage for over 120 million people and is slowly building out a 5G network. Moreover, virtual carriers such as Google Fi, US Mobile, and Visible keep competition alive and push prices down. But some of our choices have constricted a bit: The smartphone OS marketplace is basically down to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. It’s surprisingly difficult to find a really good simple voice phone nowadays, too.
We’ve reviewed almost every smartphone available for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless, as well as for many of their sub-brands such as Cricket, Metro, and Visible. But rather than simply choosing the phones with the highest ratings here, we aim to deliver a list of phones that covers every budget. We generally focus on the hottest, newest devices, but you can also find great value in slightly older phones, so make sure to shop around. We also include some helpful buying advice below the list you should check out before you begin your search.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Best iPhone Overall
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is the most iPhone you can get, with the fastest processor, the best screen, the biggest battery, and the most capable cameras.
Who It’s For
Simply put, this is the best iPhone money can buy.
PROS
- High-quality hardware
- Always-on display includes widgets
- Top-notch cameras
- Stellar wireless performance
CONS
- Pricey
- Dated design and Lightning connector
Samsung Galaxy S22+
Best Android Flagship
Why We Picked It
The Galaxy S22+ hits the sweet spot for Android flagships. It’s not as massive as the company’s Galaxy S22 Ultra, but it still has plenty of screen real estate and is just as powerful. It can also take stunning photos, despite lacking the more Ultra’s 10x telephoto lens.
Who It’s For
This is the best high-end Android phone for most people.
PROS
- Top-of-the-line performance
- Excellent cellular reception
- True 3x zoom camera
CONS
- Photos can look a little washed out
- 45W charging doesn’t make a big difference in speed
Google Pixel 7
Best Midrange Phone
Why We Picked It
In a rare feat, the Pixel 7 impressed us more than its pricier sibling, the Pixel 7 Pro. Between its excellent cameras, silky smooth Android experience, and slick design, it’s one of the best midrange phones we’ve tested.
Who It’s For
The Pixel 7 is an excellent phone for anyone who wants a premium device for not a lot of money.
PROS
- Fantastic value
- Incredible cameras
- Excellent performance
- Great-looking display
- Smooth Android 13 experience
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
Best Affordable 5G Phone
Why We Picked It
For under $300, the Galaxy A32 5G has long battery life, takes good photos, and benefits from Samsung’s generous software update policy that should keep it current for years to come.
Who It’s For
The Galaxy A32 5G is the best budget-friendly 5G smartphone on the market.
PROS
- Handsome design
- Durable Gorilla Glass 5 display
- Capable cameras
- Long battery life
- Impressive performance for the price
- Excellent software upgrade policy
CONS
- Low-resolution display
- Mediocre speaker
- Back panel scratches easily
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Best for Artists and Photographers
Why We Picked It
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is an absolute monster in the specs department, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, tons of storage space, and the best camera stack you can get.
Who It’s For
Content creators who want 10x telephoto zoom power and stylus support need not look any further.
PROS
- S Pen integration
- Long battery life
- Bright screen
- Excellent reception in low-signal environments
CONS
- Very large
- Expensive
- Back scratches easily
- Few camera improvements over predecessor
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Best Folding Phone
Why We Picked It
There isn’t a lot of competition in the folding phone space, so the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is your only viable choice. Fortunately, it feels premium, offers strong connectivity, and makes good use of its extra screen real estate. Just prepare to spend some big bucks.
Who It’s For
If you aren’t afraid to jump into the deep end with some fairly new technology, the Z Fold 4 might be your ideal next phone. It’s the latest (and by far the best) entry in Samsung’s Fold lineup and is sure to turn a few heads.
PROS
- Fast and powerful
- Useful multi-window mode
- Excellent signal strength
- Fully usable with one hand
CONS
- Very expensive
- Heavy
- Some applications are buggy
Apple iPhone 14
Best iPhone for Most People
Why We Picked It
The base model iPhone 14 offers everything you want from an iPhone for a lot less money than a Pro version.
Who It’s For
If you don’t need bleeding-edge hardware or the largest screen, the standard iPhone 14 won’t let you down.
PROS
- Solid performance
- Capable cameras
- Helpful emergency features
CONS
- Not that different from the iPhone 13
- Dated design and Lightning connector
Motorola Moto G Power (2022)
Best Phone Under $200
Why We Picked It
The Motorola G Power costs less than $200 and delivers a suitable experience for the price. The main highlights include a 90Hz screen and extensive battery life.
Who It’s For
We recommend the Moto G Power to anyone looking for a smartphone for under $200.
PROS
- Long battery life
- Solid performance
- 90Hz refresh rate
CONS
- Ships with Android 11
- Noticeable pixelation on 720p display
- Underwhelming audio
Sunbeam F1
Best Simple Voice Phone
Why We Picked It
We haven’t forgotten about the humble feature phone. The Sunbeam F1 prioritizes communication over everything else and we applaud it for that reason.
Who It’s For
Anyone who doesn’t need a smartphone should check out the Sunbeam F1.
PROS
- Thoughtful design
- Solid construction
- Loud earpiece
- Three levels of feature restrictions
CONS
- Lacks band 71 for T-Mobile
- Long-term support not guaranteed
Unihertz Titan Pocket
Best QWERTY Keyboard Phone
Why We Picked It
Few phones on the market still have a QWERTY keyboard, but the Unihertz Titan Pocket is an exception. We’re fans of its sculpted key layout, as well as its dual-SIM design and reasonable price.
Who It’s For
If you want a phone with a physical keyboard, you won’t find a better option.
PROS
- Unique design
- Dual-SIM and compatible with all carriers
- Good performance for the price
CONS
- Small 1:1 screen isn’t great for all apps
- Lacks some speed and coverage bands
- Terrible cameras
Buying Guide: The Best Phones for 2023
Which Cell Phone Carrier Has the Best Coverage?
Despite all the recent hardware and mobile software innovation, choosing a wireless service provider remains the most important decision. No matter what device you buy, it’s a doorstop unless you have solid wireless coverage. You should choose a carrier that offers fair prices and provides the best coverage in your area.
If you’re interested in performance and you live in a metro area, pay most of your attention to where carriers have “mid-band” 5G and use phones that support that technology. T-Mobile won our Best Mobile Network award in 2022 because it’s far ahead of the other carriers on both counts. It has speedy mid-band in more places than the other carriers and all of its current 5G phones support mid-band.
AT&T had the best performance in areas away from cities and off the interstates. Verizon’s C-band 5G is spreading fast, although it’s only available in about 50 metro areas and you need the right phone to take advantage of it.
UScellular is available only in about half the country. It has a reputation for good customer service, but we haven’t been able to test it because its service is not available near where our staffers live.
The newest national carrier is Dish. We headed out to test its network and found that it’s in a very early beta state—exciting for wireless geeks, but ordinary consumers probably should wait a while.
There are also plenty of virtual operators that use the big three networks for service but offer lower monthly rates, cheaper international calls, or other benefits. They’re typically better for less intensive users and most don’t have family plans.
Mint Mobile (on T-Mobile’s network), Consumer Cellular (on AT&T’s), and Spectrum Mobile (on Verizon’s) all got higher ratings in our Readers’ Choice survey than the companies hosting their service did.
What Is 5G?
AT&T owns Cricket, T-Mobile owns Metro by T-Mobile, Verizon owns Visible, and Google owns Google Fi. Verizon now also owns Net10, Page Plus, Simple Mobile, Straight Talk, Total Wireless, and Tracfone, although it might sell off some of those brands. We spotlight some of our favorite virtual operators in our roundup of the best cheap phone plans. We also have a story on the best cheap phones.
Do You Need a 5G Phone?
5G arrived in 2019, and most new smartphones now support some form of it. Though 5G may change everything eventually, it’s not going to happen immediately.
As noted above, our Best Mobile Networks tests for 2022 showed that T-Mobile’s 5G mid-band network is making a considerable difference in performance. If you’re on T-Mobile, you should be using a mid-band 5G-compatible phone. That’s an easy choice—all T-Mobile 5G phones are mid-band-compatible now.
AT&T has a strong 4G network and not much mid-band 5G. It still plans to install a new form of mid-band called 3.45GHz(Opens in a new window) eventually, but you need an iPhone 14, Samsung Galaxy S22, or fourth-generation Samsung Galaxy foldable model to take advantage of it. Hopefully, more upcoming phones support this spectrum.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
Verizon Wireless is famous for its top-notch network quality. It recently turned on C-band 5G in areas covering more than 100 million people and data shows that it’s making a difference. If you’re in one of the C-band areas, upgrading to a C-band compatible 5G phone with Verizon is a good move. Otherwise, Verizon’s “nationwide” 5G is only slightly faster than LTE and you don’t need to concern yourself with it too much. You can find more 5G recommendations on our list of the best 5G phones.
(One note: you may see a “5G E” icon on your existing AT&T phone. That isn’t 5G; it is a marketing ploy. Your phone is still running on LTE 4G.)
Should You Get an Unlocked Phone?
Carriers have moved to increasingly more confusing service and pricing plans, so the value of unlocked phones has risen accordingly.
Unlocked phones are those you buy from a third-party store or directly from the manufacturer; they aren’t tied to a specific carrier. Usually, you can use them with AT&T or T-Mobile. But some popular unlocked phones work on all three major carriers, including Verizon. For the most flexibility, look for a recent Apple iPhone, Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy S flagship, or Motorola phone. If you use a low-cost MVNO service, make sure your unlocked phone works on its network; we’ve received several emails stating that some MVNOs don’t support phones that should work on their networks.
In the past, unlocked 3G/4G phones typically worked on all the major carriers, but 5G phones are a different story. Apple, Google, and Samsung’s 5G phones work on every major US carrier, but many other brands either have limited band support or are only certified for specific carriers. AT&T customers should take extra caution before buying an unlocked 5G phone because the carrier has not yet certified many of the phones that its network theoretically supports.
What Is the Best Smartphone?
As more people become accustomed to instant email, web, music, and messaging access at all times of the day, regardless of where they are, smartphones have become almost indispensable. That said, there’s plenty of variety out there—not to mention devotees of specific OS platforms. Sometimes, a platform’s user interface or app selection just speaks to you, and that’s all there is to it. With that in mind, and at the risk of attracting flames, let’s break it down as well as we can for those who aren’t so fully vested.
Recommended by Our Editors
There’s actually less diversity in smartphone platforms and designs than even a few years ago. Android and iOS are the two remaining major smartphone platforms, both in US sales and in the availability of third-party apps. The iPhone has the best app store and the best media features. But Apple’s tightly controlled ecosystem can feel stifling to some, and iOS isn’t easy to customize or modify. There’s far more variety among Android handsets, and Android’s open-source nature makes it a tweaker’s dream. But it also means fragmented third-party app compatibility, occasional bugs, carrier bloatware you can’t remove, and less consistent OS updates.
Google Pixel 7
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
Strictly interested in Android? Head over to our roundup of the best Android phones. Baffled by the variety of iPhones? Here’s how to decide which iPhone to buy. And if you want to document the world around you with your phone, we’ve rounded up the best camera phones, too.
What Is the Best Feature Phone?
Some people still use simpler phones, but there are surprisingly few current choices out there. There are still reasons to get a simple, less-expensive device: They’re easier to use, and the associated service plans are often much more affordable because mobile data isn’t a factor. There are some killer deals for voice-only usage on virtual carriers such as TracFone and Consumer Cellular.
Unlike smartphones, feature phones are a matter of “what you see is what you get.” They don’t receive software upgrades or run thousands of additional apps. For voice quality, read our feature on how to make your cell phone calls sound better. Wireless network coverage is always the biggest factor, but individual phones can vary in reception, earpiece quality, transmission quality through the microphone, and sidetone (the echo of your voice that helps prevent you from yelling at the other person). A phone with middling to poor reception quality can be almost impossible to use in a marginal coverage area, while one with excellent reception can make the best of the little signal that’s available. Another point to consider: Some phones have much louder speakerphones than others.
For more, see our picks for the best phones for seniors. We also have a roundup of the best phones for kids.
What’s the Best Time to Buy a New Phone?
The best time to buy a new phone is when you need one. If your phone took a header into the pool or met its demise on the pavement, get whatever is available that best meets your needs. But if you’re watching your budget or riding the cutting edge, a little knowledge and planning can keep you from buying a phone that’s about to be discounted or replaced with something newer and cooler.
The pandemic and the global chipset shortage upended the usual phone release cycles for some time, but things seem to be returning to normal now. For instance, Apple released the iPhone 14 models in September as it has done in the past. Google’s new Pixels came out in October. And Samsung seems to be sticking with its usual schedule of Galaxy S devices in February or March and foldable phones in August.
Note that we update this story every time we review a new phone worth a spot on the list, so it changes often. Be sure to check back soon for our latest recommendations.
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