AT&T is one of the most popular carriers in the U.S., thanks to its reliable nationwide coverage. It also has a huge selection of devices and plenty of deals, making it a solid choice for those looking to upgrade their phones. Whether you're looking for the latest bleeding-edge flagship, a good value mid-tier device, or a budget phone, AT&T has something for you. To ensure carrier compatibility, every phone listed here is directly available through AT&T. If you're not necessarily tied to the carrier, you can check out our selection of the best phones of 2023 for devices that aren't available on AT&T.

Our favorite AT&T Phones of 2023

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in green with transparent background showing front and back of the phone with S Pen stylus
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Best overall

The most feature-packed phone you can find on AT&T

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the best phones on the market, packing an all-new 200MP sensor, a refined design, a custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, and One UI 5.1.

Pros
  • 200MP camera captures more details
  • Excellent display
  • Large battery
Cons
  • A bit too big and boxy to hold comfortably
  • Not a huge upgrade over the Galaxy S22 Ultra

The Galaxy S23 Ultra has our vote for the best slab smartphone one can get right now on AT&T and anywhere in the U.S. market, for that matter. It has the best screen, the newest Qualcomm SoC, the most versatile camera system with the best zoom lenses, and one of the largest batteries around. The star of the show this year is the new 200MP camera that can shoot pixel-binned images or full-resolution large photos. Other phones are slightly better in some areas, but the Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best overall phone.

Powering everything is Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and while Americans will have already been used to Qualcomm's SoC goodness. For other regions, this is also major news because previous Samsung phones in some regions, like Europe, used Samsung's inferior Exynos chip. For Americans know that this chip is going to be the best possible chip in Android until Qualcomm's next update.

There's also the S-Pen stylus, now included as part of the phone free of charge, and is housed in a silo slot inside the phone. This means you can sketch or annotate documents more easily than with any other phone. Throw in all-day battery life thanks to the 5,000 mAh cell, 5G support, wireless charging, and the ability to output a computer-like UI to an external display (Samsung DeX), and you have a phone that can just do more than any other smartphone on the market. There is nothing another phone can do that this phone can't do — other than fold in half. Plus, when you have one of the most popular phones on the planet, you have the benefit of plenty of great accessories and cases to go with it.

An iPhone 15 Pro Max in Natural Titanium colorway
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Best iPhone

The biggest and the best iPhone you can buy right now.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max introduces an all-new, customizable Action button, a titanium chassis with round edges, and a USB Type-C port. It exclusively offers up to 5x optical zoom, too, so it's slightly better than the regular iPhone 15 Pro model.

Pros
  • Has a better telephoto camera
  • Titanium chassis
  • Comes with a USB-C port
Cons
  • Expensive price tag

If you're an iPhone person and want the best Apple has to offer right now, then the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is the phone for you. Both iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max bring a lot of meaningful upgrades this year over their previous-gen counterparts, but the iPhone Pro Max is truly the one to get if you're looking to get the best iPhone model this year with all the bells and whistles.

One of the biggest differences between the two models is that the iPhone 15 Pro Max features a better 10x optical zoom range alongside a 5x optical zoom-in. You also get support for digital zoom up to 25x on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro tops out at 15x digital zoom and 3x optical zoom. The better optical zoom-in capability, in particular, should allow you to get better portraits out of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Notably, the iPhone 15 Pro Max also sports a larger display with support for a slightly higher resolution, although you're looking at the same pixel-density display with support for up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate for both. The bigger iPhone also has more room for a bigger battery, meaning the iPhone 15 Pro Max should be your pick if you want the best battery life. The rest of the features are all the same, meaning you get the same titanium chassis that's available in a bunch of new finishes. You also get Apple's new A17 Pro chip on both models for improved performance.

All new iPhones this year also have a USB-C port instead of lightning, meaning you can use the same cable to charge your iPhone and MacBook. The new iPhone 15 Pro models cost the same as the outgoing ones, which means they're still a bit on the expensive side. They're perfect for those who are chasing the best of what Apple has to offer in 2023, but you might want to check out the regular iPhone 15, which also has a lot of improvements over the iPhone 14.

Sea Pixel 7a on transparent background
Google Pixel 7a
Best value Android pick

An almost flagship at a mid-range price

Google's latest mid-ranger, the Pixel 7a, is a significant upgrade over last year's model. It brings performance, display, camera, and more improvements, putting it almost on par with the flagship Pixel 7. That, combined with its affordable price, makes it the best phone for most people.

Pros
  • Great value
  • Almost flagship performance
  • Impressive cameras
Cons
  • Extremely slow charging
  • 90Hz display isn't the best

This category caters to the average consumer who may not be the most demanding phone enthusiast but still wants a phone that performs well and doesn't feel outdated. Going by these standards, it's hard to beat Google's latest mid-ranger: the Pixel 7a. At roughly $5 per month with an AT&T plan or just $520 outright, the Pixel 7a is priced far more competitively than flagships from Apple and Samsung. However, it still has a flagship chipset, impressive cameras, a great software experience, and much more to offer.

The Pixel 7a shares quite a few things with the flagship Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro while cutting corners in some areas to keep the price low. The device packs Google's second-gen flagship SoC, the Tensor G2, which excels in day-to-day use and at handling machine learning tasks. The phone features a greatly improved camera system with a 64MP primary shooter and a 13MP ultra-wide camera on the back. For selfies and video calls, it features another 13MP sensor on the front. These cameras perform almost as well as the ones on the Pixel 7, and you'd be hard-pressed to find any major differences between images clicked with the two phones.

The Tensor G2 chip, technically speaking, isn't as crazy powerful as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but it's a chip designed to run Google's software, and it's a highly intelligent one. ​The software experience is a strong point, too. The Pixel's UI is whimsical and playful, with lots of helpful features such as passively identifying music playing nearby. The only things missing here are an ultra-high refresh rate display (it's just 90Hz here on the Pixel 7a), a dedicated zoom camera, and faster wired charging capabilities. If these aren't deal breakers for you, you should pick up a Pixel 7a right away.

iPhone 15 in Pink
iPhone 15
Best value iPhone pick

With Dynamic Island and other Pro features

This next-gen smartphone from Apple runs on the powerful A16 Bionic chip. With 5G readiness, a sleek aluminum frame, improved cameras, and IP68 resistance, the iPhone 15 promises to be a game-changer in the world of smartphones.

Pros
  • Excellent software and performance
  • Cheaper than the Pro models
  • Also has USB-C
Cons
  • Uses A16 Bionic instead of the newer chip
  • Still a 60Hz display

Apple's new standard iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus models aren't as powerful or feature-packed as the Pro variants, but they're also not as boring as last year's regular iPhone 14 handsets. The new phones now feature a Dynamic Island on the display instead of the notch, just like their more expensive siblings. You're still limited to a 60Hz display, though, so keep that in mind.

The new iPhone 15 is powered by the A16 Bionic chip, which is the same as the ones inside last year's iPhone 14 Pro units. It's not as powerful as Apple's new A17 Pro processors, but you're not going to notice any difference whatsoever when it comes to day-to-day usage. The new models, in case you're wondering, also have a USB-C port at the bottom, replacing the older lightning cable.

The iPhone 15 cameras got improved over the 14's optics, too. You now get a 48MP main sensor that can shoot better photos and videos during both day and night time, so expect to see a good improvement in the camera department. You're still looking at a dual-camera setup at the back with the main and an ultrawide sensor, though, meaning you'll have to upgrade to the Pro models to get a telephoto lens.

We'll have more to talk about the iPhone 15 once we've had a chance to fully test it, but it's a great option to consider if you're shopping for an iPhone in 2023. It also costs the same as the outgoing iPhone 14 model, making it an easy recommendation.

Samsung Galaxy S23
Samsung Galaxy S23
Best compact phone

The last remaining small phone of its kind

The regular Galaxy S23 is a great option if you're in the market for a smaller smartphone thanks to its 6.1-inch display. But despite the size, it's not lacking any features that the larger S23+ has. It has a 120Hz AMOLED display, a 50MP camera, and more.

Pros
  • Compact footprint
  • Reliable day-to-day performance
  • A good set of cameras
Cons
  • Limited to 25W wired charging
  • No charger in the box
  • Base variant comes with UFS 3.1 storage

The previous version of this post highlighted the iPhone 13 Mini as the best compact phone. But Apple discontinued it following the launch of the iPhone 15 series, which is why you should probably snap up the Samsung Galaxy S23. It's one of the last remaining compact phones on the market and is worth considering if you're looking for a power-packed phone with a compact footprint.

One of the highlights of Galaxy S23 is that it's powered by the same chipset as the Galaxy S23 Ultra, so it's just as powerful as the best flagships out there. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy is currently one of the best-performing mobile chips, making the Galaxy S23 a reliable option. Samsung's One UI also offers a great experience overall and is usually among the first in line to deliver the latest Android updates.

The Galaxy S23 also packs a triple camera setup at the back, which includes a 50MP main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide camera, and a 10MP f/2.4 telephoto camera with up to 3X optical zoom. This particular camera setup is not in the same league as the Galaxy S23 Ultra, but it can deliver some great results overall. I suggest stopping by our Galaxy S23 review to learn more about the cameras as well as the overall experience of using this phone.

The Asus Zenfone 10 is a good option to consider if you want a reliable, compact phone running Android. Those shopping for a compact iPhone can consider the iPhone SE (2022), which is one of the last remaining compact iPhones out there.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 render
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Best large foldable

The best foldable money can buy

Samsung's latest Galaxy Z Fold 5 brings further refinement to the Z Fold lineup. The smartphone looks similar to past Z Fold iterations, featuring a 7.6-inch main screen, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and a tall cover screen.

Pros
  • Excellent hardware with an improved hinge
  • Great software experience
  • Impressive displays
Cons
  • Very minor upgrade over the Galaxy Z Fold 4
  • Lackluster cameras
  • Not the best foldable form factor

If you want the most capable and flashiest phone that's available on AT&T, it’s got to be the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. While it isn't a major upgrade over last year's Galaxy Z Fold 4, it's still a great buy for those still rocking a Galaxy Z Fold 3 or older. It's also a fantastic option for those who've never experienced a foldable and want the best phone money can buy, as it offers a polished hardware and software experience that's not available on flagship foldables from most other OEMs.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 packs Qualcomm's latest flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, which can run just about any app. Samsung has also upgraded the folding mechanism, and the phone now folds completely flat without a noticeable hinge. You also get some minor design changes that make the phone thinner and lighter, which should make it feel more comfortable in your hand and pocket.

Like last year's model, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 still packs a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED cover screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED inner display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,200 nits of peak brightness. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC on the device is paired with 12GB RAM and up to 1TB of storage, along with a 4,400mAh battery that supports 25W wired and 15W wireless fast charging. Although the Galaxy Z Fold 5 still packs the same 50MP primary, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto cameras as its predecessor, the upgraded ISP on the chip results in some good camera performance. For selfies and video calls, the device also features a 10MP selfie shooter on the cover screen and a 4MP under-display camera sensor underneath the main foldable display.

On the downside, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is still quite a tall phone and might be unwieldy for some users. If you'd much rather have a phone that's easier to use one-handed, Samsung's flagship foldable isn't the one for you. You'd be better off with the Google Pixel Fold, which has a passport-like form factor with a wider cover screen. It's much more compact in comparison and easier to use with one hand, making it one of the best foldable phones this year.

A render of the front and back of the Moto Razr+ in Viva magenta colorway.
Motorola Razr+ 2023
Best small foldable

The best clamshell foldable on the market

Motorola Razr+ (2023) is a clamshell foldable phone with a large 1:1 3.6-inch outside screen that allows the user to get a lot done without unfolding the phone. Besides some so-so cameras, it's great for people who want a flip phone in 2023.

Pros
  • Large cover screen with app support
  • Impressive foldable display with 165Hz refresh rate
  • Sleek form factor
Cons
  • Mediocre camera performance
  • Average battery life

Although Motorola has released a couple of clamshell foldables in the last few years, its latest release is the first to give Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip lineup real competition. The Motorola Razr+ (2023) brings several important changes over its predecessors, but its updated cover screen is what makes it the best clamshell foldable current on the market. It's just as big as the one on the Galaxy Z Flip 5, but it offers a 144Hz refresh rate and lets you run any app on it out of the box without any workarounds.

Along with the updated cover screen, the Motorola Razr+ (2023) packs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, and a massive 6.9-inch main OLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate. The device also features a triple camera setup consisting of a 12MP main camera, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 32MP selfie shooter. Rounding off the hardware is a decent-sized 3,800mAh battery with 30W wired and 5W wireless fast charging support. You also get an IP52 rating for dust and water resistance and a near-stock Android experience on top of Android 13.

The Motorola Razr+ is one of the company's best phones in a while, and it will likely remain the best clamshell foldable this year since, like the Z Fold 5, the Flip 5 doesn't offer a long of meaningful changes beyond the larger cover screen.

moto g stylus 5g 2023
Moto G Stylus 5G (2023)
Best mid-range phone

Offers a great experience for the price

This stylus-equipped Moto G has a long battery life, 5G connectivity, and a Snapdragon 600 series CPU.

Pros
  • Great battery life
  • Solid Android software with Motorola's touch
  • A great screen with stylus support
Cons
  • The cameras could've been better
  • Stylus is hard to use without palm rejection

The Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) is a great budget phone that can be had for $300 or less from AT&T. One of the highlights of this phone is that it comes with a stylus, making it a good choice for those who don't want to spend upwards of $1,000 on the Galaxy S23 Ultra to get a stylus. Motorola also sells a non-5G model of this particular handset that's a bit more on the cheaper side, but the 5G variant performs better and is a better pick overall.

The Moto G Stylus 5G is powered by a Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, which should be able to deliver good performance for a reliable day-to-day experience. It's not the most powerful device by any means, but it outperforms a lot of similarly-priced phones on the market. The software on this phone is also a joy to use, thanks to Moto's tweaks on top of a near-stock Android experience.

It also packs a massive 5,000mAh, which, as mentioned in our Moto G Stylus 5G review, was able to last for up to two days on a single charge. That's impressive, considering it has a 6.6-inch FHD+ with support for up to 120Hz refresh rate. Some other highlights of the phone include a dual camera setup at the back, a 3.5mm headphone jack, support for up to a 2TB microSD card, and more.

Samsung_Galaxy_A14_5G
Samsung Galaxy A14 5G
Best budget phone

A great phone for those on a tight budget

The Samsung Galaxy A14 is an affordable smartphone with a beautiful display, plenty of power, and a compact design. You get quite a lot here for just around $200, including a good display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 50MP main camera.

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Large 90Hz refresh rate display
  • 50MP camera is great for the price
Cons
  • Secondary cameras aren't great
  • Slow charging
  • Don't expect incredible performance

If all the other phones on this list don't fit your budget, you'll have to settle with the Samsung Galaxy A14. It's a budget-friendly 5G phone that offers great value for your money. Although it costs just $200, it packs MediaTek's Dimensity 700 chipset, which blazes through most basic tasks, like browsing the web, watching videos, or sending emails. But don't expect it to offer great performance in demanding games or a smooth multitasking experience, as it only features 4GB RAM.

The Galaxy A14 sports a 6.6-inch FHD+ display that refreshes at 90Hz, which is great for a phone at this price point. But it features a teardrop-style notch to house the selfie shooter, which might be a deal breaker for some. Speaking of cameras, the device features a 50MP main sensor that can capture decent photos in well-lit environments, and it's paired with 2MP macro and depth sensors that don't add much value. Over on the front, you get a passable 13MP selfie camera.

Like the more expensive Galaxy A54, Samsung offers a massive 5,000mAh battery on the Galaxy A14. The large battery, coupled with the Dimensity 7000 chipset and 90Hz display, results in improved endurance, allowing you to use the phone for well over a day on a single charge. Sadly, the phone only offers 15W wired charging support, so it takes quite a while to charge from 0 to 100%.

On the software front, you get One UI 5 based on Android 13, which offers the same features as more pricey phones from Samsung. The phone will receive two platform upgrades and four years of security updates, meaning that you can get great value out of it, provided you keep it safe with a protective case.

Best AT&T Phones: The verdict

At the top of AT&T's list of offerings, we have options from Samsung and Apple that are worth considering if you're looking into phones that look and feel premium and high-end. Then, we have options trickling down to everything from compact phones all the way to very affordable devices. All of these phones can be acquired directly through AT&T and can be paid for in monthly installments with trade-in benefits and more. Check out the respective listings for more specific terms and conditions.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in green with transparent background showing front and back of the phone with S Pen stylus
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Best overall

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the best phones on the market, packing an all-new 200MP sensor, a refined design, a custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, and One UI 5.1.

If I were to pick one, then I'd go with either the Galaxy S23 Ultra or the iPhone 15 Pro. But the Pixel 7a or the iPhone 15 are also very easy to recommend as they offer a good set of features at a relatively affordable price. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Motorola Razr+ (2023) are also great picks if you want to experience a new form factor but be prepared to shell out big bucks if you plan on buying these phones.