It's easy to get carried away and lose sight of just how far we've come in the smartphone world. Apple's iPhone 14 is 7.8 millimeters thick but can communicate directly with satellites, boasts photographic talents that eclipse dedicated cameras and action cams, and does so starting at just $799.

Improved low-light camera performance, Clever safety features (you hope you won't need)

Improvements feel evolutionary, eSIM may prove a headache, iPhone 13 offers much the same for $100 less

The iPhone 14 is very similar to the iPhone 13, which itself was very similar to the iPhone 12. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad phone — it’s just less of an upgrade for anyone using a phone that’s only two years old.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 didn't really need to change a bunch of stuff compared to its predecessor to remain a stellar little phone. Little being the operative word: this is a small flagship with big successes, including a better battery than the last-generation model, and a neat design that's...

Great small-scale Android option, Battery capacity increase, Updated design language

Battery life less than Plus & Ultra models, No true camera upgrades like in the Ultra, Not hugely different to Galaxy S22

Samsung generally announces a number of different models which all sit within its “S” line. The Samsung Galaxy S24 is its latest flagship device that will surely make its way to the top of the list among the best smartphones for photographers , just like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra did.

“The S23 has a clean design, a compact size that makes it comfortable to hold, a gorgeous display, a snappy processor, and reliable cameras. There's a lot to like about this one.”

Sleek and compact design, Comfortable for one-handed use, Very fast performance, Reliable cameras take great photos, Long-lasting battery life, Five years of guaranteed updates

Base storage is still 128GB, Fast charging up to only 25W, Limited zoom quality past 10x

Slightly better cameras but otherwise, not much of an update - buy the iPhone 14 Pro or switch to Android instead

Better low-light photography, Slightly longer battery life, Action mode gives super stabilised video

The same performance as the iPhone 13, No Dynamic Island or Always-On display, 60Hz screen

The most mainstream Galaxy stays small while stepping up performance

Premium styling with beautiful build quality, Epic performance and great battery life, Some of the best mainstream smartphone cameras

Price bump from last year despite few major changes, No big leap in camera capability, Design has barely changed

The iPhone 14 comes to market with the same launch price as the previous generation. At the same time, iPhone connoisseurs were more than disillusioned after the presentation of the new smartphone. Apple leaves large parts of the hardware unchanged and does not dare to change the design.

Top performance level despite last year's chip, Very high quality workmanship, Improved image and video quality, Excellent battery life

Hardly any innovations, Charging takes too long for 2022

Not a lot has changed from the S22 to the S23, but with the most recent model, Samsung has - yet again - delivered what is the best all-round compact flagship phone.

Slim and portable design, Bright and vivid display, Super skinny, uniform bezels, Decent battery performance for its size

One UI software is full of bloat, Camera results are a bit hyperreal, Not much change from S22

The S23+ is also great if you want a bigger phone, though it's less powerful than the Ultra.

Improved nighttime photography algorithms, the best Android display, comes in a spectrum of colours