It’s back to school season, even though it doesn’t feel like it, and that means it’s time for our annual buyer’s guide on the best smartphones to pick up. Before heading back to school, you’re going to want to make sure your kid or kids, have the best smartphone for them. That doesn’t necessarily mean the most expensive though. So we’ve rounded up the best smartphones here. Some are under $300, while others are closer to a grand.
We’ve rounded up the very best smartphones that you can pick up. Some of these are rather inexpensive, while others have the best battery life, the best camera, or just the best period. So there’s something for everyone on this list.
Best Smartphones For Back To School 2023
This list has smartphones in all kinds of price ranges. So no matter your budget, you’ll have something here that you can pick up for your kid(s).
| Cost | Where to buy | |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 | $699 | Amazon |
| Motorola Edge+ | $799 | Amazon |
| Google Pixel 7a | $499 | Amazon |
| OnePlus Nord N30 5G | $299 | Amazon |
| Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | $249 | Amazon |
| Google Pixel 7 Pro | $899 | Amazon |
| Apple iPhone 14 | $799 | Best Buy |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | $999 | Amazon |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 5G | $349 | Amazon |
Samsung Galaxy S23
- Price: $699
- Where to buy: Amazon
We chose the cheaper of the trio of Galaxy S23 smartphones this year, because well it’s cheaper. But still a flagship phone, with the latest specs. Meaning it should last many years. The Galaxy S23 has a 6.1-inch FHD+ display, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
It also has a pretty capable camera setup on the backside. With a 50-megapixel main sensor, 12-megapixel ultrawide and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor to boot. This is all powered by a 3900mAh capacity battery that should keep it going all day long.
Motorola Edge+
- Price: $899
- Buy: Amazon
The Motorola Edge+ is the latest and greatest from Motorola, having been released in May of 2023. This is a pretty impressive smartphone for under $900.
The Edge+ has a 6.7-inch OLED FHD+ 144Hz display, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform, with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Most phones in this price range have much less storage – typically around 128GB. It also has a massive 5100mAh battery inside.
Google Pixel 7a
- Price: $499
- Where to buy: Amazon
The Pixel 7a is now out, and it’s one of the best smartphones under $500. This one has the same great camera you’d expect on every other Pixel device. This year, it has an upgraded camera at 64MP and a 13MP ultrawide lens.
Inside, you’ll find the Tensor G2 processor, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also has a fairly large battery at 4,385mAh. And that’s all powering a 6.1-inch FHD+ display.
OnePlus Nord N30 5G
- Price: $299
- Where to buy: Amazon
The OnePlus Nord N30 5G is a great smartphone for anyone looking for a powerful and affordable device. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 695 5G processor, which is fast enough to handle even the most demanding tasks. The Nord N30 5G also has a large 6.72-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, making it great for gaming and watching videos.
In addition to its powerful performance and large display, the OnePlus Nord N30 5G also has a great camera system. The rear camera features a 108MP main sensor, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. The front-facing camera is 16MP, which is great for taking selfies and video chatting.
The OnePlus Nord N30 5G also has a long-lasting battery. The 5000mAh battery can easily last a full day on a single charge. The phone also supports 50W SUPERVOOC fast charging, which can charge the battery from 0 to 100% in just about 30 minutes.
Moto G Stylus 5G
- Price: $349
- Where to buy: Amazon
The Moto G Stylus 5G is a 5G smartphone from Motorola, that also includes a stylus – hence the name.
This phone comes with a massive 6.8-inch FHD+ display, the Snapdragon 695 5G processor inside, with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There is also 5000mAh capacity battery inside, that is going to keep this phone running for at least a full day.
Google Pixel 7 Pro
- Price: $899
- Buy: Amazon
The Pixel 7 Pro is a great smartphone for anyone who wants a powerful, versatile, and stylish device. It has a beautiful 6.7-inch OLED display, a powerful Google Tensor processor, and a versatile triple-lens rear camera system. It also comes with a number of exclusive features, such as Magic Eraser and Face Unblur, that make it a great choice for photographers and videographers.
The Pixel 7 Pro is powered by the Google Tensor processor, which is one of the most powerful processors on the market. This means that the Pixel 7 Pro can handle even the most demanding tasks with ease. The Pixel 7 Pro has a triple-lens rear camera system that can take stunning photos and videos in a variety of conditions. It also has a number of other features, such as a long-lasting battery and a fast fingerprint sensor, that make it a great all-around device.
The Pixel 7 Pro has a sleek and stylish design that is sure to turn heads. It is available in two colors, Obsidian and Snow, so you can choose the one that best suits your style. The Pixel 7 Pro comes with Android 13, the latest version of Android. This means that you can be sure that you’re getting the latest features and security updates.
Apple iPhone 14
- Price: $799
- Buy: Best Buy
The iPhone 14 is a great smartphone for anyone who wants a powerful, reliable, and stylish device. It has a beautiful 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, a powerful A15 Bionic chip, and a versatile dual-lens rear camera system. It also comes with a number of exclusive features, such as Cinematic mode and Photographic styles, that make it a great choice for photographers and videographers.
The iPhone 14 is powered by the A15 Bionic chip, which is one of the most powerful chips on the market. This means that the iPhone 14 can handle even the most demanding tasks with ease. The iPhone 14 has a dual-lens rear camera system that can take stunning photos and videos in a variety of conditions. It also has a number of other features, such as a long-lasting battery and a fast Face ID sensor, that make it a great all-around device.
The iPhone 14 has a sleek and stylish design that is sure to turn heads. It is available in four colors, Midnight, Starlight, Product Red, and Blue, so you can choose the one that best suits your style. The iPhone 14 comes with iOS 16, the latest version of iOS. This means that you can be sure that you’re getting the latest features and security updates.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Price: $999
- Where to buy: Amazon
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is a great smartphone for anyone who wants the best of the best. It has a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a versatile quad-lens rear camera system, and a beautiful 6.8-inch AMOLED display. It also comes with a number of exclusive features, such as S Pen support and a built-in S Pen, that make it a great choice for productivity and creativity.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is one of the most powerful processors on the market. This means that the Galaxy S23 Ultra can handle even the most demanding tasks with ease. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a quad-lens rear camera system that can take stunning photos and videos in a variety of conditions. It also has a number of other features, such as a long-lasting battery and a fast fingerprint sensor, that make it a great all-around device.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a sleek and stylish design that is sure to turn heads. It is available in three colors, Phantom Black, White, and Green, so you can choose the one that best suits your style. The Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with Android 13, the latest version of Android. This means that you can be sure that you’re getting the latest features and security updates.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra - Amazon
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Price: $349
- Where to buy: Amazon
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is a really good smartphone to pick up, since it is well under $400 and it does offer a lot of the same features as the S22 series.
With the Galaxy A53 5G, you’re of course getting 5G, since it’s in the name. But you also get a 6.5-inch FHD+ display, the Exynos 1280 processor, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There’s also a massive 5000mAh capacity battery inside, along with 25W charging available.
It’s not the most impressive smartphone, but for $349, you could certainly do a lot worse.