2022 was a great year for phones, but the tech industry never sleeps, so now we’re looking forward to 2023 phones – and many promise to be very exciting.
Leaks and rumors mean we’ve already heard quite a bit about key phones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 series and the iPhone 15 lineup, and they’re certainly among the most anticipated phones of 2023.
But there are also less obvious but no less exciting upcoming phones, from brands like Xiaomi, Sony and more.
Below are the phones we are most looking forward to in 2023. These are phones that, for the most part, are likely to be great – we expect many to make it into our guide to the best phones – or at the very least, should be interesting, unusual or novel.
Samsung Galaxy S23
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and its siblings – including the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra – are likely to be the most popular Android flagships in 2023, and we expect to see them early in the year, possibly in February.
Leaks suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra could get a monstrous 200MP camera and that every S23 model will use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset globally instead of certain regions that will get Exynos.
Other than that, their specs may not be a million miles from those of the S22 series, but they do expect improvements to the camera and screen, even if the base specs are similar. Above, you can see an unofficial render showing the alleged design of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Google Pixel 8
The Google Pixel 7 didn’t arrive until October 2022, but it and the Pixel 7 Pro were so good we can’t wait to see what Google has in store for the Pixel 8.
We haven’t heard much about the phone so far other than it’s likely to use the Tensor 3 chipset, support satellite communications, and may have 12GB of RAM, but we’re expecting class-leading cameras and generally powerful software.
Stay tuned for more as leaks and rumors are sure to start rolling out in greater numbers as we get closer to the phone’s launch.
Google Pixel Fold
The Google Pixel Fold is a phone we’ve been hearing about for years, and there have been suggestions recently that it could land in Q1 2023 or May 2023.
Based on rumors so far, the Google Pixel Fold could feature a 7.6-inch foldable OLED screen, a 5.8-inch cover display, and a Tensor chipset – or more likely a Tensor G2. It may also look like the phone in the image above, which sources say shows off the Pixel Fold design.
There is no consensus on the cameras, but they can also impress, with one leak pointing to a 64MP/12.2MP/10MP rear camera combo.
We’d take all of this with a grain of salt for now, but it might be one of the few non-Samsung foldable phones worth getting excited about.
iPhone 15 Ultra
Of course, the entire iPhone 15 lineup is highly anticipated, but it’s the intriguing talk about the iPhone 15 Ultra that excites us the most.
According to rumors, this phone could land in place of the iPhone 15 Pro Max and could have better cameras than even the iPhone 15 Pro, including a long-range periscope snapper, as well as focus on battery life, a titanium frame, and a very high price.
It probably won’t be available until September 2023 if it lands at all, but it’s a phone worth saving up for as the iPhone 15 Ultra can be very expensive.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is set to be Samsung’s next foldable flagship, but we don’t expect to see it until August 2023, so we’ll have to wait a while.
As such, we don’t know much about it either, but an early leak suggests it uses the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and has similar cameras to the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
If nothing else, expect it to have a large foldable screen so it can double as a tablet, coupled with a similarly hefty price tag.
Sony Xperia IV
Sony Xperia I IV was one of the most interesting phones of 2022, thanks to the camera with continuous optical zoom. It’s a feature you won’t find in other brands, and it helped Sony’s flagship product stand out from the crowd.
We haven’t really heard anything about the Xperia 1V so far, but we expect it to offer similarly remarkable cameras, as well as a great screen and flagship power – and hopefully some innovative surprises. Look out for it around mid-2023.
Xiaomi 13Pro
The Xiaomi 13 Pro has already been announced, but so far it’s only available in China, with a global launch expected in early 2023.
This phone features a 6.73-inch 1440 x 3200 OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 4820mAh battery with 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and up to 12GB of RAM.
As you’d expect, it also has water resistance and a high-quality build, but the most exciting aspect of the Xiaomi 13 Pro is its cameras, including a 50MP f/1.9 main camera with a large 1-inch sensor that should help it take better photos than most phones .
It also has a 50MP f/2.2 ultra wide-angle camera and a 50MP f/2.0 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. And if that’s not enough for you, there is also talk of the even more excellent Xiaomi 13 Ultra, although we have yet to hear much about it.
OnePlus 11
The OnePlus 11 is another phone already announced as it was unveiled in China on January 4, making it one of the first phones of 2023. However, its global premiere will not take place until February 7.
This phone features a 120Hz QHD+ screen, the super-powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and a new camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, 48MP ultra-wide and 32MP portrait.
There’s also up to 16GB of RAM and a large 5,000mAh battery with 100W fast charging. In addition, the OnePlus 11 has a new design, with a circular camera block apparently inspired by black holes.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Along with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, we’re also looking forward to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, which is likely to be the better seller of the two thanks to its more affordable price tag.
This upcoming foldable flip phone will reportedly use the top-of-the-range Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, have a 3.3- or 3.4-inch screen (compared to the 1.9-inch on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4) and have less visible crease than the current model.
This all sounds very promising, but Samsung will have to work hard to stay at the top of the clamshell fold, thanks to stiff competition from the likes of Oppo and Motorola.