Today’s best smartphones include Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra, but they’re not the only phones worth considering. While Apple’s and Samsung’s flagships remain top buying choices, other phone makers are producing fantastic devices at a variety of prices. The industry is innovating and evolving faster than ever, from 5G connectivity to foldable screens, and all of the competition benefits us.
Verizon subscribers can choose from excellent phones at a range of prices, so we’ve done some digging to give you the straight talk on which phones actually deliver the goods. Read on to find the best Verizon phone for you and check out our tips on how to buy a new phone.
Watch this: What to Look for When Buying a Phone
Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max introduce sweeping changes including a new 48-megapixel camera system, the Dynamic Island and Apple’s new A16 Bionic processor. All of these upgrades come together to make for an experience that feels fresh and fast compared to older generations.
The Galaxy S23 is a lot, but in a good way. It’s more than most people need in a phone, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Samsung made improvements to the camera’s resolution (200 megapixels compared to 108 megapixels), color tones and dynamic range, while retaining the same edgy design and massive 6.8-inch screen as its predecessor. There’s also a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that’s been optimized specifically for Samsung’s phones, which brings faster performance compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Google’s top-end Pixel 7 Pro packs a superb camera system, beautiful display and smooth Android 13 software into a refined glass and aluminum body. And it does that while still managing to undercut some of its top rivals. It’s not the most powerful phone around and its battery life could be better, but it offers a great overall experience that’s well worth considering.
Apple’s new iPhone SE for 2022 is a mix of an older design with the latest smartphone features, including Apple’s latest A15 Bionic chip and 5G support, for $429. It’s also one of the few phones on the market that includes a smaller, 4.7-inch screen.
CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco called the Google Pixel 6A the “best Android phone under $500” in her review, calling out its solid performance, its 5G connectivity and its excellent camera for its price.
With a candybar form that folds down into a smaller square, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 offers a much more compact footprint than the Z Fold 4. It makes it easier to slide into a tight pocket when not in use, but it still folds out to offer a sizable 6.7-inch display when you need it.
At a whopping price of $2,500, the Sony Xperia Pro isn’t for everyone. But if you’re a photographer or videographer looking for professional-level camera phone features, you can’t go wrong. The Xperia Pro is essentially four products in one: a phone, a camera monitor, a speedy photo file transfer device and a 5G machine that can broadcast and livestream.
If you’re looking for a good budget phone that comes with a basic stylus and support for 5G, then the Moto G Stylus 5 is a great pick. The phone has a stylus you can store inside it, along with a built-in Notes app to help with productivity. This phone also offers a triple-rear camera, 128GB of internal storage and a robust 4,000-mAh battery.