A premium smartphone should offer cutting-edge tech, an exquisite design, and reliable battery performance. Furthermore, four years’ worth of software updates should be available alongside five years’ worth of security patches.
Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi continue to push mobile phone technology forward with impressive specs, stunning photography capabilities and premium designs. But you don’t need to spend four figures to experience them fully.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
If you’re searching for a flagship smartphone with an incredible camera system, powerful processing performance, and a large display, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra may be just what you’re after – plus its eco-friendly construction makes this model even more desirable!
As with its predecessors, the Galaxy S23 Ultra features a QHD AMOLED screen and comfortable left and right edges, making it suitable for single-handed usage for most tasks. With 1,750 nit peak brightness and exceptional color reproduction capabilities to keep up with high-resolution apps like video streaming services like Netflix. Plus, its variable refresh rate of as little as 1Hz provides smooth screen performance while saving energy.
One key upgrade from its predecessor model is an increase in primary sensor resolution from 30 megapixels to 200 megapixels. Hopefully, this should improve image quality while decreasing shutter lag and over-sharpening issues; plus it should help with zooming capabilities; the S23 Ultra offers 3X optical zoom capability as well as 10X digital zoom capability.
The S22 Ultra and its specs are nearly identical, featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (affectionately nicknamed Galaxy for marketing purposes) powering it. Built on TSMC’s 4nm architecture and optimized to manage thermal performance, this processor excels at keeping up with demanding games and apps despite our stress tests, but falls short in some aspects.
As with its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra runs Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5.1 interface. This update seems more refined than its predecessor; we can finally appreciate that Samsung has eliminated some of the microjitter that plagued earlier versions.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra packs an 5,000 mAh battery that lasts an average of one day of moderate use without Wi-Fi or video streaming, supports fast charging, wireless power sharing, 256GB internal storage (the standard S23 offers 1TB), comes equipped with USB-C cable, SIM tool and quick start guide – these features make this phone stand out.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro is a premium smartphone available in two screen sizes – standard 6.1-inch is priced at $799 while the larger 6.7-inch costs $999. Both variants of this phone provide upgraded specifications like faster processor and camera system capabilities as well as storage capacities of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB – but only Pro models offer these high-end specs.
Like its predecessors, the iPhone 15 Pro features an all-glass front protected by an oleophobic coating to repel fingerprints and water damage. Display bezels have been reduced while a pill-shaped Dynamic Island at the top can display notifications such as weather alerts, sports scores, name/number for an incoming phone call as well as timer countdowns.
TrueDepth camera system, using front-facing camera and face recognition software to recognize you, is another key feature. This enables you to unlock the phone using only facial recognition – keeping fingerprints off of Home button – as well as take 3D portraits with blurry backgrounds.
Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max are constructed from aerospace-grade titanium, making them stronger and lighter than aluminum frames. Both models also boast contoured edges, customizable Action buttons and a USB-C port which supports faster data transfers than Lightning. In addition, Pro models boast power-efficient A17 Pro chips as well as 5x optical zoom camera closeup capability and Portrait mode with automatic adjustments enabling professional-looking shots with just one tap!
The iPhone 15 and 15 Pro both boast Super Retina XDR Displays with always-on support and 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, though they continue to use the A16 Bionic chip of prior generations and lack 5G connectivity of Pro Max phones. Both phones boast long battery lives; our tests showed they lasted about 44 hours between charges when streaming video over WiFi with active screen time of 2-3 hours per charge cycle – similar to other smartphones we’ve tested that feature longer screen-on times but lower pixel densities.
Oppo Find X5 Pro Mobile
Oppo’s Find X5 Pro flagship smartphone is one of the most aesthetically pleasing smartphones on the market, boasting an eye-catching ceramic and metal frame made by master artisans, taking over 168 hours and 45 processes to craft. Plus it weighs only 218 grams while measuring 163.7 x 73.9 x 8.5 mm for ease of holding with one hand – though its slippery back might necessitate protective casing.
OPPO’s Find X5 Pro smartphone is tailored specifically towards consumers who want to get the most from their photography experience. It boasts three cameras and utilizes Marisilicon X image signal processor to deliver advanced AI photo processing smarts; furthermore, Hasselblad has collaborated on improving picture color processing technology to further optimize consumer photography experiences.
The main camera has a 50-megapixel sensor backed up by ultrawide and 13-megapixel telephoto cameras for maximum flexibility in taking images or video at up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. These three lenses offer greater field of view than previous wide and telephoto models, making it easier to capture groups or large landscapes with ease. In addition, one telephoto lens is capable of recording 4K video at 60 fps if needed.
Like most flagship phones, the Find X5 Pro features a 5,000mAh battery with fast wireless charging support and features dual SIM slots that accept eSIM cards as well as support for 5G network technologies.
Oppo Find X5 Pro runs Android 12 with an OPPO custom skin and can be upgraded to future iterations of the OS, featuring fingerprint sensors, headphone jack and USB-C port – as well as being upgradable to its next version of operating system. Pricing and availability depend on region; non-Pro variant of Find X5 will cost less and come equipped with Snapdragon 888 chipset, 8GB RAM and 6.5-inch 1080p OLED display; it will also be released this fall; neither variant has stylus support or 5G support – however many may prefer Samsung Galaxy Note 11 due to its larger screen size and S Pen stylus support – likely becoming their go-to option of choice over Find X5.
Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra stands as one of Moto’s finest flagship phones to date, boasting nearly all of the hallmarks of premium smartphones such as an eye-popping 200MP camera sensor and fast charging, yet is priced surprisingly competitively compared to similar products like Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra or Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The Edge 30 Ultra’s design is instantly recognizable, featuring an etched Motorola logo on its back that’s both tactile and reassuring, along with its 5.7-inch curved display. Secondary snappers sit beneath its primary camera on a metal island in the top left corner – providing more of a purposeful appearance than curvy cutouts found on Pro models.
There’s an integrated fingerprint scanner in the display, and it works very quickly; however, its placement close to the bottom may make for unbalanced one-handed unlocking. Unfortunately, no 3.5mm headphone jack exists as with many high-end phones nowadays; power button and volume rocker are located on right edge but some users may find them hard to reach easily.
Motorola’s Gametime mode is an invaluable feature of its Edge 30 Ultra phone, enabling you to silence calls and notifications while you play games. Furthermore, its improved cooling system helps prevent it from overheating while gaming for extended periods.
The Edge 30 Ultra comes preloaded with Android 12 (and can be upgraded to 13). It provides a simple software experience without unnecessary bloat or customization that may appeal to some users. Motorola promises three major updates over four years as well as security patches; which is an impressive commitment of support.