Buying a new phone can be very complicated, even in 2023. The sheer number of phones available from all sorts of brands such as Apple, Samsung and Huawei can overwhelm anyone and make the decision very hard. That’s where we set some guidelines to help you choose the best phone in the UAE for 2023.
The most important factor in deciding on a new phone is the price range and if you are looking for the best phone, be prepared to spend some Dirhams. If you’re more budget conscious, you should check out the best phones under AED 2000 or even the best ones under AED 1000.
Once you have a budget in mind, the next decision is easier: iPhone or Android. If you know you want an iPhone, pick the latest model you can afford. If you’re in the Android camp- we have a list of the best Android phones to choose from. On the other hand, if the camera is the most important feature, then check out the best camera phones list. Some of us also want our phones to work out with smartwatches so if you’re planning on using an Apple Watch, your only option is the iPhone.
But if you don’t care about any of that and really want the best phone, this list is for you. We have picked the phones that we believe are the best phones in the UAE for 2023. We’ve listed the key specs for each phone along with what they’re good at.
Best Phones in the UAE for 2023
This list was originally published in November 2022. The following updates have been made since it was published:
- January 2023: iPhone 14 Plus replaces the iPhone 14
- December 2022: Huawei P50 Pro replaces Huawei P50 Pro
1. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is Apple’s highest-end phone and our choice of the best phone in the UAE. It has everything a power user would want- a large and beautiful screen with high refresh rates, a processor that’s faster than any other mobile processor and a camera that can take stunning photos in day or night time. Let’s not forget the eco-system the iPhone offers as well as how polished mobile apps designed for it are. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is expensive but it’s definitely worth it.
Weight: 240g | Thickness: 7.9mm | OS: iOS 16 | Screen: 6.7” Retina, AMOLED, 120Hz | Processor: Hexa-core Apple A16 Bionic | RAM: 6GB | Storage: up to 1TB | Cellular: 5G, Nano-SIM, eSIM | Rear camera: 48MP Triple Camera | Front camera: 12MP | Battery: 4323mAh, 50% in 30 mins wired charging
- Dynamic Island is delightful
- Faster than any other phone
- Excellent camera
- Big and heavy
- Slow to charge
Screen: The iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 1290 x 2796 resolution, a 120Hz variable refresh rate and a very high peak brightness of 2,000 nits. New to this year is an always-on mode that can show you notifications even when the phone is sleep. Apple has also gotten rid of the notch and added a dynamic island with really cool animations to act as notifications or minimized apps.
Performance: The iPhone 14 Pro Max comes equipped with Apple’s latest A15 processor which smokes every other mobile processor. Combining that with the fast refresh rates of the screen and iOS optimisations gives you one of the fastest phones you can get.
Camera: The iPhone 14 Pro range takes a massive step forward with its 48 MP main camera. This allows the iPhone 14 Pro to take incredibly details shots, especially in ProRes mode. Apple has also improved the Ultrawide camera though the telephoto/optical camera remains the same as last year. The iPhone 14 Pro Max also ranks at the top of our best phone camera guide.
Battery: Apple spoilt us with battery life on last year’s iPhone 13 Pro Max and the new iPhone 14 Pro Max is even better offering a couple of hours of additional usage for easily getting a day and a half. Unfortunately charging speeds haven’t improved and continue to remain on the lower side- both wired and wirelessly.
2. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S22 was our favourite phone until the iPhone 14 Pro Max was released. It mixes everything that Samsung has to offer- from a 108MP camera to S-Pen support. And that screen- you really can’t find a better screen than the one on the S22 Ultra. Add to that some great performance and battery life and you have a phone that’s as good as the best.
Specs & Features
Weight: 228g | Thickness: 8.9mm | OS: Android 12 (OneUI 4.1) | Screen: 6.8” QHD+, AMOLED, 120Hz | Processor: Octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | RAM: up to 12GB | Storage: up to 1TB | Cellular: 5G, Dual SIM, eSIM | Rear camera: 108MP Quad Camera | Front camera: 40MP | Battery: 5000mAh, 45W Wired charging
- Incredible cameras and zoom
- Excellent S Pen
- Beautiful screen
- Battery life could be better
- Charging could be faster
Screen: The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a massive 6.8-inch OLED display with curved sides. While similar to last year’s model, Samsung has improved the brightness on the display but besides that, it’s still the slightly curved sides with a sharp at 1440 x 3088 pixels resolution and a smooth variable refresh rate of 120Hz.
Performance: The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra uses the fastest processor available at the time of its release- the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. It also has 8GB or 12GB of RAM and storage options from 256GB to 1TB. You also get 5G and dual SIM support along with Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E.
Camera: There are four cameras on the back of the Galaxy S22 Ultra to get you that perfect shot. The main 108MP camera has an f/1.8 aperture great for nighttime photography as well as videos. You also get two telephoto cameras at 3X and 10X optical zooms while digital zooming allows you to go 100x. There’s also a 12MP ultra-wide camera and a 40MP selfie camera.
Battery: With a massive 5,000MAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra should last you a full day and then some. You also get fast 45W wired charging which, while not the fastest, is fast enough to get you from 0 to 100 in an hour. There’s also support for 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
3. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
It took Samsung a few years but the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 finally feels like a phone that can be used for just about everything. Samsung has improved the cameras on the phone and the design is more refined than previous generations. You get the top specs and a phone that folds out into a mini tablet with a UI that handles the transitions beautifully.
Specs & Features
Weight: 263g | Thickness: Unfolded 6.3mm, Folded 15.8mm | OS: Android 12L (OneUI 4.1) | Screen: 7.6”, AMOLED, 120Hz, Cover 6.2" AMOLED 120Hz | Processor: Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | RAM: 12GB | Storage: up to 1TB | Cellular: 5G, Dual SIM, eSIM | Rear camera: 50MP Triple Camera | Front camera: 4MP under display | Battery: 4400mAh, 25W Wired charging
- The best foldable phone for most people
- Excellent inner display
- Improved camera
- Foldable tech still unproven
- External screen still too narrow
Screen: Samsung continues to refine the screen tech and aspect ratio with the Galaxy Z Fold series and this year’s model focuses more on the external display making it slightly wider for better usage. The folding screen continues to be massive at 7.6-inches with AMOLED technology and 120Hz refresh rates for a butter-smooth experience. Although a stylus is not included, you can purchase an S-Pen separately to use with the Fold.
Performance: The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 updates the processor to the fastest one available at launch- the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. You get the same memory and storage options as last year which are 12GB RAM and 256GB to 1TB storage. You also get 5G support and dual SIM support along with Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E.
Camera: The cameras on last year’s fold were strictly ok and Samsung has rightly improved upon that. The main camera is now 50 MP f/1.8 which is a big improvement over last year’s 12 MP model, especially in nighttime photography. You also get the ultrawide camera as well as an improved zoom lens to shoot at 3X. The selfie camera is still under the display and not the best.
Battery: There’s not much change in battery tech on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 from last year’s model. You still have a 4400 mAh battery with 25w charging- it’s fine and should get you through a normal day but not much beyond that.
4. Apple iPhone 14 Plus
The new iPhone that most people will get will be the iPhone 14 and you have two options- the regular iPhone 14 as well as the larger iPhone 14 Plus. . Because there isn’t a whole lot that different from last year’s model, we think most people should go for the larger iPhone 14 Plus so, at least, if feels newer. The larger screen size also allows for a larger battery- Apple claims the iPhone 14 Plus has the longest battery life of any phone it has ever released.
Weight: 203 g| Thickness: 7.8 mm| OS: iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 16.2 | Screen: Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10 | Processor: Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)| RAM: 6GB| Storage: 128/256/512GB | Cellular: LTE / 5G | Rear camera: 12 MP (wide), 12 MP (ultrawide) | Front camera: 12 MP (wide) | Battery: Li-Ion 4323 mAh, Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min, 15W wireless (MagSafe), 7.5W wireless (Qi)
- Excellent battery life
- Great performance
- Good cameras
- Low screen refresh rate
- Specs not a huge improvement from iPhone 13
Screen: While there isn’t much difference in the screen technology on the iPhone 14 compared to its predecessor, you at least get a larger size. The 6.7-inch retina display is a great-looking screen but lacks the high refresh rates that are present in every other phone in this roundup.
Performance: The iPhone 14 Plus has the same processor as the iPhone 13 Pro. You may think that you’re getting an older processor but in reality, it’s the second fastest processor on any mobile phone, bested only by Apple’s latest A16. Apple has increased the RAM on this year’s model to 6GB while storage sizes remain the same as t128GB, 256GB and 512GB.
Camera: The iPhone 14 Plus has a similar camera to last year’s model but you should be able to get slightly better nighttime shots with it this year. The 12 MP main camera is accompanied by a 12 MP ultrawide camera on the back and a 12 MP selfie camera on the front.
Battery: Because of the larger size of the phone, you also get a bigger battery with the iPhone 14 Plus. In fact, Apple claims it to have the longest-lasting battery out of any iPhone the company has made.
5. Huawei Mate 50 Pro
Huawei continues to push forward with it’s latest release- the Huawei Mate 50 Pro. As expected, the phone packs an excellent camera system with a variable aperture on the primary camera and a periscope-based optical lens. There’s also the new super-tough Kunlun glass that survived our walnut challenge. Like other Huawei phones, the Mate 50 Pro lacks Google’s Services and Play Store which could be a blessing for some but Huawei has put in a lot of work on its App Gallery that offers most of the important local apps.
Weight: 205 | Thickness: 8.5 mm| OS: EMUI 13 | Screen: 6.74 inches, OLED, 120Hz | Processor: Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)| RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB | Cellular: LTE | Rear camera: 50 MP (Wide), 64 MP (Periscope Telephoto), 13 MP (Ultrawide)| Front camera: 13 MP (Wide), TOF 3D (Depth/Biometrics sensor)| Battery: Li-Po 4700 mAh
- Incredible camera system
- Tough Kunlun glass
- App Gallery improving by the day
- No 5G cellular
- Lacks Google Play
Screen: The Huawei Mate 50 Pro has a 6.7-inch OLED screen with curved sides and tiny bezels. The screen quality is excellent with brilliant colour reproduction and a fast 120Hz refresh rate.
Performance: The Huawei Mate Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor which is not the latest CPU but fast enough. We didn’t find any performance issues using the phone as a daily driver. The lack of 5G does prevent it from touting the fastest download speeds.
Camera: Huawei has always been brilliant with cameras and the Mate 50 Pro is no exception. It takes stunning shots be it day or night.
Battery: The battery capacity on the Huawei Mate 50 Pro isn’t the largest we’ve seen compared to other phones but, thanks to software optimizations with EMUI, we managed to get a full day out of it. Charging speeds are decent at 66W wired and 50W wireless charging.
6. Xiaomi 12
Specs & Features
Weight: 179g | Thickness: 8.2mm | OS: Android 12 (MIUI 13) | Screen: 6.28” FHD+, AMOLED, 120Hz | Processor: Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | RAM: up to 12GB | Storage: up to 256GB | Cellular: 5G, Dual SIM | Rear camera: 50MP Triple Camera | Front camera: 32MP | Battery: 4500mAh, 67W Wired charging
- Small flagship Android
- Fast and power-efficient Snapdragon processor
- Fast Charging
- Secondary cameras aren't great
- Display is only FHD+
Screen: The Xiaomi 12 comes with a 6.28″ AMOLED which supports 68 billion colours, has a 120Hz refresh rate and is rated for Dolby Vision and HDR10+ with a peak brightness of 1100 nits. Visibility in bright light is good, colours are rich and crisp.
Performance: Under the hood, the Xiaomi 12 comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and is supported by 8 or 12GB of RAM. You also get up to 256GB UFS3.1 storage. Put together these leads to a very powerful flagship that can handle any task you throw at it.
Camera: The camera on the Xiaomi 12 is a 50MP wide with a 13MP ultra-wide and a 5MP macro sensor. While it doesn’t get the same triple 50MP treatment, its elder sibling does, the camera setup on the Xiaomi 12 is a very capable one. Content creators out there can record up to 8K video as well as 4K at 60fps HDR10+ footage. Photos on from the 50MP wide lens comes out crisp and have natural colours.
Battery: The ‘small’ Xiaomi 12 packs a massive 4500mAh battery inside. You get 67W charging (with the charger in the box) which gives you a full juice up from 0 in under 40 minutes. Not just that, if you have the right wireless charger, you can also charge it up with up to 50W wireless charging.
7. Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
Specs & Features
Weight: 198.5g | Thickness: 8.4mm | OS: Android 12 | Screen: 6.67” FHD+, P-OLED, 144Hz | Processor: Octa-core Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | RAM: up to 12GB | Storage: 256GB | Cellular: 5G, Dual SIM | Rear camera: 200MP Triple Camera | Front camera: 60MP | Battery: 4610mAh, 125W Wired charging
- First 200 MP camera we've tested
- Crazy fast charging speed
- Excellent performance
- Secondary cameras could be better
- Motorola isn't know for fast software updates
Screen: The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra has a 6.67-inch curved P-OLED screen with a blazing-fast 144Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1250 nits. While it looks great, we would have preferred a less curved display as that helps prevent accidental touches.
Performance: Motorola went for the fastest components available for Android at launch which means you get the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 with 12GB RAM and UFS 3.1 storage of 256GB. Other markets are getting higher storage versions but the Middle East only has the 256GB model.
Camera: The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra comes equipped with a 200 MP camera which is the first we’ve seen on a phone. This allows it to take incredibly details photos. Night-time performance is also pretty good using pixel binning. While the telephoto camera isn’t the best, you can technically just crop from the 200 MP image for better results. You also get a 50 MP ultrawide and a 60 MP selfie camera.
Battery: The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra may not have the highest capacity battery but it charges ridiculously fast. Motorola bundles a 125W charger in the box which is fantastic and can get you a full day with just 7 minutes of charging. Wireless charging speeds are also very fast at 50W.
8. OnePlus 10 Pro
Specs & Features
Weight: 201g | Thickness: 8.6mm | OS: Android 12 (OxygenOS 12.1) | Screen: 6.7” QHD+, AMOLED, 120Hz | Processor: Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | RAM: up to 12GB | Storage: up to 512GB | Cellular: 5G, Dual SIM | Rear camera: 48MP Triple Camera | Front camera: 32MP | Battery: 5000mAh, 80W Wired charging
- Fast performance
- Nice big screen
- Fast charging
- Good but not great cameras
- Not a massive update over previous gen
Screen: The OnePlus 10 Pro has a massive 6.7-inch screen with a fast variable refresh rate that. Color production and brightness levels are also great.
Performance: The one area where the OnePlus 10 Pro does not disappoint is performance. The phone flies with the latest processor coupled with tons of RAM and fast storage.
Camera: Continuing its partnership with Hasselblad, the OnePlus 10 Pro improves cameras over its predecessor but not by a massive amount. You get pretty good pictures but not as good as some of the other flagship phones.
Battery: The OnePlus Pro 10 has a massive 5,000 mAh battery and very fast wired and wireless charging. That combination means that you’ll seldom run out of juice.
9. Vivo X80 Pro
Weight: 215g | Thickness: 9.1mm | OS: Android 12 (Futouch 12) | Screen: 6.78” QHD+, AMOLED, 120Hz | Processor: Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | RAM: up to 12GB | Storage: up to 512GB | Cellular: 5G, Dual SIM | Rear camera: 50MP Quad Camera | Front camera: 32MP | Battery: 4700mAh, 80W Wired charging
- Excellent primary camera
- Fast charging
- Great specs
- Large and chunky
- Software could be cleaner
- Long range zoom quality not the best
Screen: The Vivo X80 Pro has a stunning 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 1B colours, 2k resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Vivo also much prefer the flatter display over curved ones on some of the other phones in this roundup.
Performance: The Vivo X80 Pro comes equipped with the speedy Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor along with 8GB or 12GB RAM and 256GB or 512GB storage sizes. Although Vivo has used excellent specs, we think some software optimizations and less bloat would help make the phone feel faster.
Camera: Vivo has one of the best camera technology in this round-up. Not only are you getting a periscope-based telephoto lens but Vivo has also used a mini gimbal to stabilize the lens- something very much needed when you go to higher zoom levels.
Battery: The battery life of the Vivo X80 Pro is good enough to easily last you a day and then some. The 4,700mAh battery can also be charged rather quickly with the bundled 80W charger. Vivo claims you can get to 100% charge in a little over half an hour. You also have support for fast wireless charging at 50W and reverse wireless charging.
10. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Specs & Features
Weight: 187g | Thickness: Unfolded 6.9mm, Folded: 17.1mm | OS: Android 12 (oneUI 4.1) | Screen: 6.7” FHD+, AMOLED, 120Hz, Cover: 1.9" | Processor: Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: up to 512GB | Cellular: 5G, Dual SIM, eSIM | Rear camera: 12MP Dual Camera | Front camera: 10MP | Battery: 3700mAh, 25W Wired charging
- Good battery life
- Flexible camera modes
- Cute design
- Older camera tech
- Front screen could be bigger
Screen: The 6.7-inch flexible screen looks great when opened and tucks away nicely when closed. The AMOLED screen has a fast refresh rate and while the screen is visible, you stop noticing it after some time.
Performance: Equipped with the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is fast to use. You have 8GB RAM and up to 512GB storage to get all things done. 5G is also supported for the latest cellular connectivity.
Camera: Samsung hasn’t upgraded the cameras on the Galaxy Z Flip 4 which is a shame however you get a lot more flexibility with screen positions in using the cameras now.
Battery: Samsung has improved the battery life on the Galaxy Z Flip 4 compared to its predecessor and you can now easily get a day. Charging speeds aren’t the fastest but they’re good enough.
Best phone FAQs
What is the #1 best phone?
The best phone in the world 2022 is the iPhone 14 Pro Max. It offers the best Apple has to offer with unmatched performance, the best camera system and a brilliant screen.
Which is the best phone in 2022?
Released towards the latter half of the year, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the best phone for 2022.
Which phone is best to buy?
If you have the budget for it and looking for a traditional form factor, the iPhone 14 Pro is the best phone to buy for 2022.
Which phone is right for you?
There’s no right answer that fits everyone’s needs. If you’re looking for a foldable phone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is great or if you’re looking for an affordable phone, you might like something Xiaomi has to offer.
What are some important features to consider when buying a mobile phone?
The first thing you need to do is set a price range for yourself and once you have done that, decide between an iPhone or an Android. Once you have that nailed, look at the screen size you are comfortable with and the camera quality if you want to take good photos.
