Best AT&T phones in 2023

The Google Pixel 6 series was a bit of a departure from the earlier generations thanks to Google’s custom silicon and some fancy new camera sensors. The Pixel 7 Pro is iteration at its finest, with improvements in software made possible with an updated Tensor G2 CPU and an improved camera system designed to get as much detail out of a scene as possible, even in low lighting. It still has 12GB of RAM for seamless multitasking and a vast 6.7-inch display with a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate.

Whether you buy it unlocked or straight for AT&T, the Pixel 7 Pro features full 5G bands support, including mid-band and mmWave. You’ll get AT&T’s best available speeds with a premium data plan. While mmWave coverage is limited to dense areas like the center of large cities and sports arenas, it’s nice to have access to the full network. For most people, fast AT&T 5G will come from the mid-band spectrum, which the Pixel 7 Pro fully supports.

While chip makers like Qualcomm and Samsung do great work, the custom Tensor G2 CPU gives Google the flexibility it needs to power its advanced AI features for both the Google Assistant and the camera system. Speaking of the camera, this is one of the best cameras you can get on any phone, with software helping them churn out clear and vibrant images in a wide range of lighting conditions. This phone has a 50MP primary wide camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, and a 48MP telephoto camera. The ultrawide camera is wider than the previous generation, and the telephoto camera gets upgraded from 4x to 5x.

Of course, Google is still a software company at heart. The Pixel 7 Pro runs the latest version of Android, and our Pixel 7 Pro review highlights AI features like Direct My Call to help get through annoying automated calling systems more quickly. This phone also gets a modem upgrade over last year’s model, making it the second-fastest chipset in Ookla’s latest mobile report. Google’s not struggling to keep up; it’s fighting for the win.

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Samsung has gone to great lengths to make Galaxy S23 Ultra feel special, which is good considering its high price. Starting with the display, the 6.8-inch AMOLED curves gracefully over the phone’s edge with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and as low as 1Hz to save battery. It also includes an S Pen stored directly inside the phone, like the Galaxy Notes we used to love. The phone is powered by the latest generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 series, has up to 12GB of RAM, and a large 5,000mAh battery to keep it running all day. Even if you use this phone enough to deplete the battery before the end of the day, topping it up is fast with 45-watt charging.

As expected, the S23 Ultra supports AT&T’s 5G network, including its mid-band spectrum and mmWave. It also supports just about every band you could want in the U.S., so if you want to change carriers, you can pay it off and bring it unlocked with you. Like the previous generation, you also get Wi-Fi 6E, so you can get the best possible wireless speeds whether you’re on 5G or Wi-Fi. Samsung also includes USB Type-C 3.2 with OTG meaning this phone is compatible with a wide range of USB accessories that someone with such a high-end phone might want to use.

This phone comes with Android 13, and as is common and welcome with Samsung phones. Plus, it will get four major Android upgrades, so you can keep using the phone for years without worrying about software compatibility or security vulnerabilities. Samsung keeping this phone up to date can also help keep its resale value high, making it easier to upgrade in a year or two.

One of the biggest stories with this phone is the upgrades to the camera system. The primary camera has been bumped up to a massive 200MP which gives the phone a ton of data to work with to create a clear and vivid image. The camera is set to output a lower resolution, but that doesn’t mean those extra pixels go to waste, as Samsung’s camera software is able to combine data from multiple pixels to make sure you get accurate color and lighting with a smaller file size. There’s also an ultrawide shooter alongside two telephoto cameras with a 3x and 10x zoom lens. No matter the conditions, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is likely the best-equipped phone to get the shot.

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The Google Pixel 6a is one of the most powerful budget phones you can get, thanks to the robust Tensor CPU under the hood. While it falls short of the latest Tensor G2, it’s still a very fast CPU for modern Android and has many of Google’s best CPU features, such as Titan security and acceleration for Google’s AI features. The Google Pixel 6a has a large 6.1-inch OLED display running at 60Hz with a crisp 2400×1080 resolution. There’s 6GB of RAM to keep the phone running smoothly even with background apps like Google Maps or Spotify streaming data in the background.

Regarding network compatibility, you don’t get mmWave, but you get the rest of AT&T’s 5G coverage. That includes band n77 for AT&T’s mid-band spectrum, which will be the key to most of the carrier’s fast 5G coverage in the next couple of years.

The camera is an older unit with a 12.2MP main sensor, but in practice, it produces some of the best images on the market with good colors and strong low-light performance. Google has been using this sensor for a few years, so their software tuning is just about perfect. There’s also a 12MP ultrawide camera to help get the right framing in tricky indoor conditions. This is your stop if you’re looking for a great camera on a budget.

Google keeps this phone up to date with the latest builds of Android and has promised to do so for five years. Whether you want to keep this phone for half a decade or intend to hand it down to someone else in a couple of years, it will still be up-to-date and secure.

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The base Google Pixel 7 is one of the best values in Android thanks to its fast Tensor G2 CPU, fantastic AI features, and the same main 50MP camera as the Pixel 7 Pro. It has a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a large 4,330mAh battery to keep it powered all day. As expected, this phone runs the latest software, Android 13, and Google has promised to keep it updated for five years.

On AT&T, you’ll have full band support out of the box for 5G, including mmWave and mid-band. Wi-Fi 6E is also present, so whether you’re on mobile data or Wi-Fi, you’ve got the fastest speeds around. Our Pixel 7 review also notes an improved modem from Samsung, eliminating some signal strength complaints from the previous generation Pixel.

The Pixel 7 is kept up to date with updates coming in frequently directly from Google. This, along with the Titan security chip included with the Tensor G2, means you can be confident that your phone will be secure for years to come. Having the latest software updates allows you to keep using your phone for years and can even help keep the value high if you want to sell it down the line.

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What if you want a big phone with a high-end CPU, a large battery, and some of the fastest charging of any phone out there? The OnePlus 10T ticks all of the right boxes, and for those looking for an unlocked phone, it may be the perfect answer. Let’s get one thing out of the way, this phone may disappoint some long-time OnePlus fans with some decisions like the lack of a silent slide, but make no mistake, this is still a great phone.

Unlike some cheaper OnePlus models, this phone has support for AT&T’s LTE and 5G, including mid-band, but lacks mmWave support. It may be necessary to enter some APN information to get connected, but after a couple of minutes, you should be up and running on the AT&T network. Even so, buying an unlocked phone allows you to switch to another carrier if you want to take advantage of the best cell phone plan pricing in the next couple of years.

When it comes to hardware, this phone comes with the fast Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 from Qualcomm and the choice of 8GB or RAM with 128GB of storage, or 16GB or RAM with 256GB of storage. While either should have plenty of power for just about anything you do on a phone, the version with more RAM could have an edge in multitasking. The battery is large at 4,800mAh, but the most impressive thing is the 125-watt charging with the included adapter. The phone launched with Android 12 and OxygenOS 12, but an update to Android 13 is already available for download.

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The thing about foldables is that they’re really cool. Flexible display technology has allowed Samsung to continue to evolve its lineup to build one of its greatest phones yet, the Galaxy Fold 4. It’s not only the hardware that makes the Fold 4 great, but Samsung’s software allows for better multitasking and accessory support. Speaking of accessories, Samsung also includes S Pen support, so you can safely put the large 7.6-inch internal screen to work when the outer 6.2-inch display isn’t quite enough. It’s powered by the quick Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, so it has plenty of power to drive that large screen.

Battery life is strong with the large 4,400mAh pack though the 25-watt maximum charging speeds leave some to be desired at this price. This phone is also rocking a large 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide shooter, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. Support for AT&T’s 5G network is strong, with all 5G bands supported, including mmWave. If you’re on an AT&T plan with 5G access, this phone will get the best speeds.

Samsung launched this phone with Android 12, and an update to Android 13 is already available. Samsung has promised four generations of Android OS updates and five years of security updates, so you can confidently keep using this phone for years to come.

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The well-respected computer component maker, ASUS, has spent the better part of a decade carefully dipping its toe into the smartphone market. But with the Zenfone 9, ASUS has finally worked up the courage to do a cannonball. And what a splash it made. The Zenfone 9 is a powerful, yet compact, phone with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 under the hood and the choice of 8GB or 16GB of RAM. The 5.9-inch AMOLED display is sharp at 1080×2400 resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate.

The Zenfone 9 is known for being one of the best small phones, and it’s about the same size as the Galaxy S22, but it has a few key advantages over Samsung’s phone besides the faster SoC. The Zenfone 9 has a larger battery at 4,300mAh, faster charging at 30 watts, and support for Wi-Fi 6E. It also has a headphone jack for those that value the superior audio quality and longer lifespan of wired headphones. The cameras are also quite good, with a 50MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide camera producing clear photos with natural colors.

AT&T support was added in a software update to the Zenfone 9, so you’ll want to ensure you’re up-to-date before heading out with your new Zenfone 9. Speaking of which, this phone launched with Android 12 with ZenUI. However, ASUS has already released an Android 13 update. It lacks mmWave support, but you’ll still be able to connect to AT&T’s low-band and mid-band 5G signals. It’s also worth noting that AT&T doesn’t sell this phone, so you’ll need to pick it up unlocked, just make sure you choose the U.S. version.

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Another mid-range option that works great on the AT&T network is the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G. This mid-range phone has the look of a high-end flagship with a large edge-to-edge display and a hole-punch camera on the front. The display is sharp with a 1080×2400 resolution and a fast 120Hz AMOLED panel. All powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1280 CPU, this is a great pick for someone that wants most of the features of a flagship without the price.

The AT&T version comes with solid sub-6 5G compatibility, including AT&T’s mid-band spectrum, so you’ll have plenty of speed where AT&T 5G coverage is strong. While mmWave isn’t included in this model, most users won’t miss it outside of a speed test.

The back is adorned with three cameras and a depth sensor to allow the phone to make the most of its 64MP main shooter, 12MP ultrawide camera, and 5MP macro camera. A large 5,000mAh battery keeps this phone humming along for a day or two on a charge; no need to find a power outlet in the middle of the day. Finally, Samsung has committed to four OS updates and five years of security updates, so you can be confident your phone will be secure for as long as you want to keep it.

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The Galaxy A14 5G manages to keep its price low while still including modern features like multiple cameras, a 90Hz display, and of course, support for AT&T’s 5G network. That means that this phone will have access to AT&T’s latest n77 deployments as coverage continues to expand over the next couple of years. You’re missing mmWave, but most people won’t miss it one bit.

It’s powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SOC with 4GB of RAM, which has a competent CPU capable of running Android 13 smoothly, as well as most apps, including 3D games. The Mali-G57 MC2 is a solid GPU for games— just don’t be afraid to knock the settings down a bit to keep the framerate smooth.

This phone runs Android 13 out of the box with OneUI 5.0, so there’s no waiting for an update to be on the latest version of Android. Samsung promises two Android version updates and four years of security updates, so you can feel confident using the phone as long as possible. Plus, you should have no trouble getting to the end of the day on a charge thanks to the huge 5,000mAh battery and its low-power components.

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