The Best Smartphone of 2023 According to MKBHD Is…

The Best Smartphone of 2023 according to MKBHD

Marques Brownlee, better known as MKBHD, has been one of the most respected tech reviewers on YouTube for over a decade. Each year, he thoroughly tests the latest smartphones and declares his picks for the best in various categories with his highly anticipated Smartphone Awards. After extensive testing in 2023, MKBHD has crowned the winners across multiple categories. Let’s break them down! By the way, if you want to watch the full video, be sure to check the video below:

Best Big Phone

For best big phone, MKBHD gives the crown to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. With its expansive 6.8-inch display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, top-tier camera system led by a massive 200MP sensor, and built-in S Pen stylus, the S23 Ultra has all the hallmarks of an productivity and creativity powerhouse. MKBHD was impressed by the nearly bezel-less design and bright, fluid 120Hz AMOLED display that takes full advantage of the large real estate. Overall, the S23 Ultra improves on an already excellent formula for big phones.

Best Compact Phone

In the compact category, MKBHD shocked many by awarding the Asus Zenfone 10 as the winner. At just 5.9 inches, small phones are exceedingly rare in 2023, yet the Zenfone 10 packs flagship-level performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. MKBHD praised its fantastic cameras, long battery life, vibrant 120Hz OLED display, and even the inclusion of a headphone jack, making it a truly pocketable flagship.

Best Camera

For best camera, the iPhone 15 Pro clinched the win in MKBHD’s thorough testing. He was particularly impressed by Apple’s computational photography results in both photos and videos. The new 48MP main camera takes stunningly detailed shots, while advanced features like Action Mode stabilize videos with ease. MKBHD also noted that Apple remains far ahead for video recording capabilities like ProRes support and logarithmic video.

Best Battery Life

In the battery life category, MKBHD crowned the iPhone 15 Plus for its incredible endurance. The large 4,100 mAh battery lasted two days comfortably in his testing. For best value, MKBHD went with the Galaxy A54 for packing great specs and a polished Samsung experience at just $500. And for best design, MKBHD surprisingly awarded the ceramic iPhone 13 mini for its incredibly premium feel that really stands out from glass slabs.

Best Foldable Phone

MKBHD also introduced a new category this year – best foldable phone. The honor went to the OnePlus Open for delivering a no-compromise folding experience with flagship power, display quality, and polished software.

Phone of the Year

And for the biggest award, Phone of the Year, MKBHD gave the crown to the Google Pixel 8. He felt Google finally achieved their vision for Pixel with the Tensor G3 chip enabling advanced AI features, upgraded cameras, and market-leading 7 years of software support.

Sadly, the Google Pixel 8 series is not available here in the Philippines. You may be able to buy one from resellers or from abroad, you will not have the option in terms of local repairability and 5G support

There you have MKBHD’s top smartphone picks across various categories for 2023. He was thoroughly impressed by the innovation displayed this year. But knowing the smartphone industry, even greater advancements are likely coming in 2024. We’ll have to wait for MKBHD’s Smartphone Awards next year to find out!

Meanwhile, if you want to know our Best in Tech this 2023, you can also watch our full video.

Giancarlo Viterbo

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Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.