While there have been more exciting years for smartphones, the past year has brought a lot of innovation to the mobile market Samsung and Apple remain the big winners, but Google, OnePlus, Motorola, and others have raised the bar of what can be done with devices of all budgets There were remarkable improvements in all aspects of camera functionality, design, performance, and battery life

Tom's Guide Awards 2023 for the best phones we've tested over the past 12 months celebrates some familiar devices, as well as some unsung heroes who deserve these esteemed smartphone honors And while the smartphones themselves are all highly regarded, it is also important to recognize our favorite carriers

Be sure to see all of the winners in the phones category below, as well as all of the winners of the Tom's Guide Awards 2023

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has topped our Best Smartphone rankings since its introduction, and for several reasons: the 200MP main camera takes beautiful photos, the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip outperforms the competition in graphics performance Considering all of this, the Galaxy S23 Ultra was a natural choice for the Top Smartphone award, and while it's a shame that you'll have to shell out so much to get your hands on the S23 Ultra, trust us, you'll be glad you did [The iPhone 14 Pro Max is the best iPhone ever and the pinnacle of what Apple has to offer right now Simply put, it has everything you need in an iPhone and more iPhone 14 Pro Max not only has the best camera performance ever released from Apple's headquarters, it outperforms Samsung, Google, and even the iPhone 13 Pro Max, It has the best battery life available in a smartphone And the A16 Bionic chipset delivers performance that Android chipsets struggle to match, and Dynamic Island turns the phone's pill-shaped camera notch into something truly useful, whether it's controlling music, checking map directions, or many other things Turns it into

Google has redeemed itself in a big way with the release of the Google Pixel 7 Pro, earning the prestigious title of best Android phone Most notably, the process of taking pictures has been simplified and made easier This is thanks to the upgraded camera system and the software magic that allows anyone to edit photos with it For those who are into shooting video on their smartphones, the addition of cinematic mode to the Pixel 7 Pro was a welcome addition, providing content creators with even more tools And above all, it is a Pixel This means that they can take advantage of unique Android features not available on other non-Pixel devices, such as real-time translation in third-party apps like WhatsApp

The Google Pixel 7a may be more expensive than previous entries in Google's budget smartphone lineup, but it still manages to stay under the $500 threshold while packing features associated with much more expensive devices the Pixel 7a has a 90 Hz fast refresh rate and supports wireless charging Google also upped the megapixel of the Pixel 7a's main camera, solidifying its reputation as the best camera phone available in this price range The chipset is available in the Pixel 7 flagship model as well as in the less expensive Pixel 7a, enabling AI-powered features unique to Google's smartphones It may cost more than buying the Pixel 6a released last year, but you'll appreciate all the features that that $50 increase brings

Getting a phone for less often requires sacrificing features, but with the OnePlus Nord N30 under $300, there are few compromises Despite its low price, the large 67-inch display offers a 120 Hz refresh rate, providing a more immersive experience when scrolling through web pages or playing games The OnePlus Nord N30 also lasts longer on a charge In our battery tests, it lasted 125 hours If the battery needs to be replenished, a 50W fast charge can get it to nearly 50% in just 15 minutes, and the 108MP main camera packs some pretty impressive features into a relatively inexpensive device

The 200MP main camera is not the only deciding factor in the Galaxy S23 Ultra winning the best camera phone award The dual telephoto camera, which can capture subjects at 3x or 10x magnification, is also much easier than a single telephoto camera phone Add to that professional-level features such as ExpertRaw shooting settings, fun modes such as Astral Hyperlapse, and improvements such as portrait mode, and you have the most versatile camera system on the market, which will serve beginners and experienced photographers alike

The Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is focused on gaming features, and there was no doubt that this is the best gaming phone available The effective cooling system, top-class chipset, huge display, and long-lasting battery give you the best mobile gaming experience At this price, some models offer more extensive features, such as a telephoto camera, a longer update schedule, and stronger dust and water resistance But if gaming is your priority, Asus has the phone for you

The Google Pixel Fold is Google's first foldable phone But it's also the best foldable phone we've tested That's because the Pixel Fold has a 58-inch front display, which is wide and comfortable to use, and a huge 76-inch display that makes it easy to multitask with Google's intuitive software by putting two apps side by side Fold can also take great photos thanks to its 48MP main sensor and get close to the action with a 5x telephoto zoom And all of that is wrapped up in the world's thinnest foldable (when open) with a super-fluid hinge Sure, the folds and bezels are noticeable, but overall this premium foldable is quite a feat

Motorola has had great success with its latest foldable Not only does the Motorola Razr+ have everything today's content creators crave, including a better rear camera for taking selfies, but it also flaunts the best phone design we've seen in a long time Sure, the foldable clamshell design is unique in a sea of flat slabs, but the company has earned more acclaim for refining the design in bigger, bolder ways From the stylish contrast between the polished frame and vegan leather lining to the lack of gaps when the display is closed, great care has been taken in the design of the Razr+

Asus' ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, already honored as our favorite gaming phone, actually lasted the longest of any phone we've tested in the past year, and when we let the device surf the web continuously until it ran out of power, it lasted a record It lasted a record 185 hours While this is certainly impressive, for a long-lasting phone with broader appeal than just as a gaming device, we recommend the Motorola Edge Plus (2023) Motorola's flagship model logged 15 hours and 47 minutes in our battery test with the display set to auto-update to 120Hz Even with the screen pinned at a battery-draining 165 Hz refresh rate, the Edge Plus lasted more than 13 hours Even when the battery needs to be refilled, the Motorola Edge Plus does not require a lot of time to charge, as it supports 68W charging

At a time when other cellular carriers are offering increasingly complex plans, Visible is keeping things simple by offering only two low-cost unlimited data options Choose the $30/month entry plan (which at the time of this writing has been reduced to $25/month through a promotion) or opt for the $45/month package, which includes faster 5G coverage, international calling and texting, and other perks Whichever plan you choose, the monthly fee includes taxes and fees You also get wireless coverage through Verizon's extensive cellular network, and for a fraction of the price of unlimited data (Verizon is the parent company of Visible) ) If you want low-cost wireless communications without the complications, Visible is the phone company for you