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Looking for a new phone? When it comes to smartphones, you have two options: Android and iOS. For those who prefer an Android device, there are plenty of makes and models to choose from, which can make deciding on an upgrade quite the challenge!

From Samsung and Google to OnePlus and Huawei – which brand should you choose? To help you decide, we've picked out the best Android phones of 2023 so far. Keep reading to find your next new phone!

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In this blog:

• Best premium Android
• Best mid-range Android
• Best budget Android
• Best foldable Android
• Best camera Android

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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Best premium Android 

If you're looking for a premium Android with new and exciting features, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the best out there. It has everything you'd need and expect from such a high-end (and expensive) smartphone, such as a huge 6.8-inch dynamic AMOLED display, five cameras and a huge 5,000 mAh battery.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra has four rear cameras: main, ultra-wide, 3x zoom and 10x zoom, along with a front-facing selfie shooter. If you're looking to use a stylus with your next phone, you'll be glad to know that the S23 Ultra comes with a built-in S pen.

In terms of performance, the S23 Ultra is one of the first phones to feature a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. The base model features 8GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, but if you're looking for a little more storage, the 512GB or 1TB options you get 12GB of memory (although they are more expensive).

This model has an Always-on display, an IP68 water resistance rating and is available in Phantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red and a BMW M Edition.

With prices starting at £1249 it's by no means a cheap phone, but it's definitely worth it if you want the best Android out there.

OnePlus 11

Best mid-range Android

For those who want as close to a premium phone as possible without paying the high prices, the OnePlus 11 is the model for you. It's mid-range in price but offers plenty of features worthy of a premium model.

It has a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display and features a speedy Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. You'll also get an impressive 5,000 mAh battery with 100-watt wired charging for one of the fastest charges available on an Android.

It weighs a moderate 205g and its dimensions are 163.1mm x 74.1mm x 8.5mm. On the rear of the device you'll find three cameras:  50MP wide, 32MP telephoto, 48MP ultrawide, while on the front you'll get a 16MP camera.

The OnePlus 11 comes in three storage sizes: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB and you choose between 8GB, 12GB or 16GB of RAM. You can find OnePlus 11 models at around £720, so they're definitely worth considering if you have the budget!

Google Pixel 6a

Best budget Android

If you're looking to upgrade but are more concerned about budget than getting the latest and greatest model, the Google Pixel 6a is a fantastically priced Android phone with a lot to offer.

You'll get a 6.1-inch OLED display along with Google's Tensor chip and a long-lasting 4,400 mAh battery. Where this model really excels, however, is its camera system. The Pixel 6a has a 12.2MP main dual-pixel rear camera (f/1.7 aperture with 77-degree FOV) and a 12MP ultrawide camera (f/2.2 aperture with 114-degree FOV).

It features Fingerprint Unlock with an under-display fingerprint sensor and has an IP67 water resistance rating, which are both pretty handy features for a budget-friendly phone model.

While it's true that this model is in no way filled with new and top-of-the-range features, it has everything you need in an Android phone that's priced from just £399. Plus, you can get your Pixel 6a for even less when you buy a refurbished Google Pixel 6a with musicMagpie!

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4

Best foldable Android

Folding phones are making a comeback, but they're not quite the same as the ones we used in the early 2000s. Arguably the best foldable phone currently on the market is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4; when folded, it looks like a slender smartphone which can then unfold into a tablet-sized phone.

The Galaxy Z Fold4 starts out as a 6.2-inch phone. When unfolded, however, the screen grows into a 7.6-inch OLED flexible display and is even S pen compatible, so you can use a stylus to draw or jot down notes. It has three rear cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto, along with a 10MP front outer camera and a 4MP inner camera.

Out of all its features, by far the most impressive of all is that, unlike any other non-Samsung foldable phone, the Fold4 has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. And what makes it the better of the Samsung foldable models is its rapid Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip.

You can purchase the Samsung Galaxy Fold4 in 256GB, 512GB or 1TB and it comes in an aray of colours including Graygreen, Beige, Burgundy and Phantom Black. In terms of size, it is quite bulky weighing 263g, but that's to be expected with a phone of this size.

With prices starting at £1649, it's definitely not a cheap phone to purchase, but you're paying for the best of the best when it comes to foldable phone technology.

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Best camera Android

Are you most focussed on getting the best phone for photography? Then the Google Pixel 7 Pro is the Android for you!

The 7 Pro features three rear cameras: a 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide and 48MP telephoto, and a 10.8MP front camera. Where this model shines above the other Androids is its 30x Super Res Zoom which lets you snap crisp and surprisingly detailed close-up shots.

It offers some other features worthy of mentioning, including a Google Tensor G2 processor, a 6.7-inch OLED display and an improved 5,000 mAh battery. Thanks to the new chipset, the Pixel 7 Pro features powerful AI and machine learning capabilities that support things like on-device language recognition and real-time translation.

There are several colour options available such as Obsidian, Snow and Hazel, and you can purchase the Google Pixel 7 Pro with 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of storage. A new Pixel 7 Pro starts from £849, so it's not too expensive – although, you can buy refurbished Google Pixel 7 Pro from musicMagpie for an even cheaper price!

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Ready to upgrade? Sell your old phone for cash and shop refurbished iPhone models or refurbished phones with musicMagpie for less!