The best Samsung Galaxy S23 alternatives: 6 phones to consider before you buy

Samsung has launched the Galaxy S23 series, and the three phones look like incremental upgrades over 2022’s Galaxy S22 trio. Some of the biggest upgrades include a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset across the board, larger batteries for the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus, and a 200MP main camera for the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Otherwise, you’ve still got a long software update pledge, the same cameras on the base and Plus models, and the same pricing as last year (in the US anyway).

But what if you don’t want the Galaxy S23 series for some reason? Maybe they’re tough to find in your market or you’re not a fan of Samsung’s One UI skin. Perhaps you just want to investigate all your options. Either way, we’ve got you covered with a look at the best Samsung Galaxy S23 alternatives on the market.

Buying the right Galaxy S23 alternative

The new Samsung flagships stand out thanks to the best update commitment on the market, some premium extras (e.g. IP68 rating, wireless charging, telephoto cameras), a supremely powerful processor, and wide availability. Even so, there are a few phones that pull ahead from the Galaxy S23 range in some ways.

The Google Pixel 7 series is perhaps the best rival in this sense, serving up great camera quality, a slick take on Android, a long update pledge, and a host of AI-powered features. Better yet, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are more competitively priced as well.

Google Pixel 7 series: The best all-around Galaxy S23 series alternative

The Pixel 7 range is perhaps Google’s mobile business at its very best, delivering two critically acclaimed offerings. The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have a number of features in common, such as the Tensor G2 processor, IP68 water/dust resistance, wireless charging, and a slick take on Android. Google also commits to three major OS updates and five years of security patches, matching Samsung in that regard.

As you’d expect, the Pro model is the more premium device. It stands out thanks to features like a QHD+ 120Hz screen, a 5,000mAh battery, and a great 48MP 5x telephoto zoom camera. Meanwhile, the vanilla device offers a 90Hz FHD+ panel, a 4,355mAh battery, and no dedicated zoom lens.

The phones aren’t perfect, it must be said. Google’s Tensor G2 might deliver loads of AI-powered features, but it lacks grunt compared to even some of 2022’s chipsets. Furthermore, charging speeds are simply atrocious compared to even Samsung, let alone the likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus. Still, the phones are hard to beat at a $599 starting price. You don’t get a zoom lens on the cheaper Pixel 7, but the lower price compensates for that.

Samsung Galaxy S22 series: Last-gen flagship for a bargain

You might think it’s odd to see last year’s Galaxy S22 phones on this list. But we believe they’re the best Galaxy S23 alternatives if you value Samsung’s hardware, software, and associated services. These three handsets also offer high-end features like a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, a great software update pledge, an IP68 rating, and wireless charging.

As you’d expect, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the star of the show. It stands out from the other two devices by serving up a 108MP main camera, a pair of telephoto shooters (3x and 10x), a 5,000mAh battery, QHD+ resolution screen, and an S Pen slot.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus share the same triple camera system (50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto), but differ in terms of display size and battery capacity. It’s worth noting that the base S22 has a 3,700mAh battery, which is certainly on the small side for a flagship Android phone.

Moreover, our Galaxy S23 review found that this year’s model delivers far better battery life. In fact, it delivers a level of endurance well beyond what you’d expect from a minor increase in capacity. Still, the entire S22 range should be a little cheaper now that the S23 series has launched.

Apple iPhone 14 series: The best non-Android alternative

2022’s Apple iPhone 14 series actually feels like two different iPhone families. The standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus use Apple’s older but still powerful A15 Bionic SoC, retain the wide notch, and stick with a 12MP main camera.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Pro devices bring major upgrades like the A16 Bionic processor, a display cutout that Apple calls Dynamic Island, and 48MP main cameras. Furthermore, the Pro models offer a telephoto camera and 120Hz refresh rates too, which are both missing from the standard variants.

All four iPhones also enjoy a host of other perks, such as IP68 water/dust resistance, wireless charging, and access to Apple’s ecosystem of services and tight hardware integration. So those curious about the world outside Android can do a lot worse than this. These phones certainly go up against Samsung’s best smartphones for 2023.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G: The best cheap Galaxy S23 alternative

Like the idea of a Samsung phone and Samsung software but don’t want to splash out on a flagship Galaxy phone? That’s where the mid-range Galaxy A54 5G comes in.

Samsung’s mid-tier Galaxy phone offers some flagship-like features, such as an IP67 rating, a 120Hz OLED screen, and a 5,000mAh battery. The latter is actually bigger than the S23 and S23 Plus. You’re also getting the same great software update commitment, namely four major OS updates and five years of security patches. The phone even brings a decent Exynos 1380 processor that’s an improvement over the A53’s chipset, although it’s nowhere near the level of even last year’s high-end phones.

There are a few downsides to buying this phone, though. You miss out on wireless charging and a telephoto camera, for one. The phone also ships with 25W wired charging, which is in line with the Galaxy S23 but still painfully slow. We also thought the plastic design was a bit of a disappointment.

OnePlus 11: The best Galaxy S23 alternative if you want fast charging

OnePlus 11 has made its way to global markets at a rather attractive $699 starting price point. That’s a significant reduction compared to previous years, when OnePlus tried to compete in the big leagues.

Much like the Galaxy S23 series, OnePlus has brought a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor as well (albeit at a lower clock speed than the S23). So games and other demanding use cases shouldn’t be a problem here. The new phone also serves up highlights like a 6.7-inch QHD+ OLED screen, a 5,000mAh battery, and 100W wired charging. We’re also happy to see the phone getting four years of software updates and an additional year of Android security updates.

The OnePlus 11 isn’t too shabby when it comes to cameras either, offering a 50MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide lens, and 32MP 2x telephoto shooter. Unfortunately, there are downsides like the lack of wireless charging and a below-average IP64 water resistance (compared to the Galaxy S23’s flagship-grade IP68 rating). But all said and done, $699 is a very aggressive price considering you’re getting a much larger display and equally capable internals as the S23 Plus and higher.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: The best foldable alternative

What if you want something that stands out in terms of design? Well, Samsung has a Galaxy S23 alternative for you in the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The clamshell foldable bucks the trend of gigantic phones by offering a pocket-friendly form factor. But there’s more to the Z Flip 4 than a compact design.

Samsung’s late 2022 device also offers Flex Mode, using the form factor to offer features like tripod functionality and a kickstand of sorts for video playback and video calls. Moreover, you’ve got a still-speedy Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz OLED screen, and a small cover display for alerts.

However, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 isn’t without its flaws either. You’ll particularly notice the below-average 3,700mAh battery capacity while the dual-rear camera system lacks a zoom lens. Nevertheless, you’re still getting one of the best Samsung phones with the familiar One UI software and a long-term update pledge. Thankfully, we frequently see this device on sale for way below its $999 launch price. We’ve also compared the Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs S23 Ultra if you’re curious to see how they stack up.

That’s it for our list of the best Galaxy S23 alternatives on the market! Are there any picks we missed? Then let us know below!