It’s that time of the year. Samsung unveiled its big flagship line-up at the 2023 edition of Galaxy Unpacked on February 1. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is now the brand’s premier ‘non-foldable’ smartphone and part of a trio of Galaxy S23 devices that have just hit the Indian retail shelves. It’s not just Samsung, OnePlus took the wraps off its 2023 flagship – the OnePlus 11 with a stellar rear cam co-designed with Hasselblad and brands like OPPO and POCO have also rolled out their first big devices for 2023. If you’re in the market for a premium smartphone, there’s no better time.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
A 200MP sensor in the quad rear cam is one of the big improvements in Samsung’s premier smartphone camera. The S23 Ultra is also the smartphone cam to beat in the zoom photography department with its 10X optical zoom. Samsung’s 2023 flagship is powered by a custom Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor that keeps things zippy. It’s the 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (1440 x 3088 pixels / 501 PPI) with a 120Hz refresh rate that is one of our favourite features.
Price: Rs 1,24,999 onwards
OnePlus 11
OnePlus might have ditched the Pro suffix for its all-new flagship, but this one fires on all cylinders. Speed is a given with OnePlus – the OnePlus 11 is propelled by a best of breed Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset; the top-end variant features a whopping 16GB of RAM. The rear cam has been co-designed with Hasselblad and combines a 50MP Primary lens, a 48MP ultra-wide lens and 32MP telephoto lens.
Price: Rs 56,999 onwards
iPhone 14 Plus
It’s been a while since Apple used the ‘Plus’ moniker for an iPhone. The iPhone 14 Plus is a great option if you want an iPhone with a solid battery and a larger screen and don’t want to pay the premium for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The standout feature of the iPhone 14 Plus is its 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display that delivers great colours and deep blacks. It’s also the best battery performance we’ve experienced on an iPhone; ever.
Price: Rs 89,900 onwards
Google Pixel 7
We’ve waited since the Google Pixel 3 for a Google flagship to debut in India. The more affordable of the Google Pixel 7 duo (the 7 Pro also comes with a zoom lens) comes with a 6.3-inch OLED display that features a 90Hz refresh rate and is powered by Google’s own Tensor G2 chipset. The dual rear cam (with a 50MP primary lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens) is the standout feature and comes with a bag of tools including Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur.
Price: Rs 56,999 onwards
POCO X5 Pro
We’re fans of POCO’s trademark yellow. POCO’s first big launch for 2023 comes in a new polycarbonate finish that keeps the device light and easy to clasp. Aside from the striking yellow, it also comes in a new frosted shade of blue. It’s slim and yet packs a robust 5000 mAh battery that won’t let you down. A 120Hz refresh rate is one of the highlights of the 6.67-inch display.
Price: Rs 22,999 onwards
OPPO Reno 8T
OPPO’s Sunrise Gold variant is one of the best blingy colour options you can find on a smartphone now. It reflects an array of colours from multiple angles and yet, it doesn’t scream for attention. It’s also one of the slinkiest devices you can get your hands on — just above 170gm and under 8mm thick. This device feels really good in your hand. It’s all-screen – the 6.7-inch AMOLED display pushes the screen:body ratio to 92%.
Price: Rs 29,999
Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G
The Note 12 Pro+ 5G became the first phone in India to debut with a 200-megapixel pro-grade HPX Sensor that teams up with Xiaomi's super optical image stabilization (OIS) for staggering details. It's a good-looking device with a 3D Arc Design and a unique Staggered Eyes Camera Deco design. There’s a 4,980mAh battery under the hood that goes from 1% to 100% in 19 minutes flat, thanks to a 120W HyperCharge in-box charger.
Price: Rs 29,999 onwards
Vivo X80 Pro
Vivo is betting big on the rear camera system of its current flagship that was co-designed with Zeiss. It aces lowlight and zoom photography. The 6.78-inch AMOLED (3200 x 1440 pixels) display features a 120Hz refresh rate and is binge proof. It comes with a 4700 mAh battery under the hood. Vivo’s 80W in-box, FlashCharge charger takes your device from 1% to 100% in under 40 minutes.
Price: Rs 79,999