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We round up our favorite smartphones — both iPhone and Android — and smartphone accessories here in 2023.
By Tucker Bowe
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This story is part of the 2023 Gear Patrol Tech Awards. To see the full list of winners, click here.
Just about everybody these days owns a smartphone — it’s now an essential gadget. But depending on what kind of smartphone you have, whether it’s an iPhone or an Android, plays a big role in the other gadgets you buy as well. It’s all about the so-called “ecosystem,” because most accessories, whether a smartwatch or a wireless charger, are designed to work better with an iPhone than an Android (or vice versa).
We’ve reviewed a lot of smartphones and a heck of a lot of accessories designed to work with smartphones. Below you’ll find our favorites of 2023.
To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.
AppleThe iPhone 15 is the most affordable new iPhone that Apple sells, but it’s also the easiest to recommend. It looks very similar to this year’s Pro models (mostly because of the inclusion of the Dynamic Island) and it has the same 48-megapixel main camera. It’s also decked out with a new USB-C charging port. It’s almost as good as the iPhone 15 Pro.
RELATED: Read Our Review
AmazonSamsung’s “Flip” line has been its most popular line of foldable smartphones for the past few years. They’re fairly affordable compared to other foldables and, since they’re a clamshell-style foldable like old-school flip phones, they actually fit in your pocket. The big improvement with this year’s Flip 5 is that the cover screen is nearly four times bigger — and way more useful than on past Flips.
RELATED: Read Our Review
CourtesyThe Phone (2) is the maybe the most interesting Android you can buy. It’s a mid-range smartphone with a big 6.7-inch screen — the same size as Apple’s biggest iPhones — and borderline-flagship features. It also has a transparent design and an innovative lighting system built into its back that you can customize for various notifications and alters. It’s fun, cool and not terribly expensive.
RELATED: Read Our Review
AmazonBest Small iPhone
Apple iPhone 13 mini
$448.00(8% off)
Apple doesn’t sell the iPhone 13 mini anymore — it was discontinued with the launch of the iPhone 15 lineup — but it’s still the by far best “small” iPhone. Unlike the current iPhone SE, the 13 mini has an edge-to-edge display, Face ID, MagSafe charging and a pretty good dual-camera setup. And, of course, it’s very much pocket-sized.
RELATED: Read Our Review
AmazonThe Series 9 is Apple’s baseline smartwatch. It’s not as big or as capable as the Ultra 2 — nor is it nearly as expensive — but, if we’re honest, it’s probably the best Apple Watch for the vast majority of iPhone owners. It’s very similar to last year’s Series 8, but Apple decked it out with a killer feature, Precision Finding, which helps you pinpoint the location of your misplaced iPhone.
RELATED: Choosing the Best Apple Watch for You
CourtesyNomad’s Stand One is one of the more expensive MagSafe wireless charging stands you can buy — we get that — but it’s also gorgeous. It’s made of metal and glass, and looks and feels premium. It can hold your iPhone vertically or horizontally, and works excellently with iOS 17’s new StandBy mode.
RELATED: The Best MagSafe Accessories
AmazonMophie’s Snap+ Juice Pack Mini is a portable battery pack that checks all our boxes. It’s a higher-capacity and significantly more affordable than Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack. It can be recharged via USB-C, same as the newest iPhone 15s. And it’s pretty thin, so it doesn’t add that much bulk to your iPhone.
RELATED: The Best MagSafe Accessories
AppleA MagSafe-compatible car mount is great for anybody who uses their iPhone for directions when driving. This one by Mophie is one of the few that Apple actually sells. It’s highly adjustable and can actually charge your iPhone while holding it in place.
RELATED: The Best MagSafe Accessories
OtterBoxOtterbox’s Defender Series strikes a fine balance between protection and bulk. It’s a rugged case that adds drop protection to your iPhone — there are bumpers on the front to protect the screen, too — but it still doesn’t feel huge. Additionally, there are numerous colors available and the cases aren’t too expensive. (Note: Otterbox’s Defender XT costs a little more, but has a built-in magnet and fully supports MagSafe.)
RELATED: What iPhone Case Do You Need?
AmazonThe Super Thin Case is perfect for those who want to add a little protection to their iPhone without adding any real bulk. It’s reasonably affordable and available in a bunk of colors. The lack of any recognizable logo is also a big plus.
RELATED: What iPhone Case Do You Need?
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