For most of us, mobile phones are at the center of our universe. The typical feature set of these palm-sized marvels is astounding. It's your phone, messaging device, web browser, camera, music player, GPS, and more. The phone you choose affects your life in a multitude of ways. That's why we're here to help you pick exactly the right one.
We're a smartphone-dominated nation, with 5G now widely available across much of the land from three major, nationwide wireless carriers (Dish is also slowly building out a 5G network). But some of our choices have constricted a bit: The smartphone OS marketplace is basically down to Apple's iOS and Google's Android. It's surprisingly difficult to find a really good simple voice phone nowadays, too.
We've reviewed almost every smartphone available for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless, as well as for many of their sub-brands such as Cricket, Metro, and Visible. But rather than simply choosing the phones with the highest ratings here, we aim to deliver a list of devices that covers every budget and use case. We generally focus on the hottest, newest releases, but you can also find great value in slightly older phones, so make sure to shop around. We also include some helpful buying advice below the list that can help you throughout your search.
Buying Guide: The Best Phones for 2023 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
The list of phones recommended in this article is by PC Magazine global team. Here is the list of best phones in the UAE selected by the Middle East team.
For most of us, mobile phones are at the center of our universe. The typical feature set of these palm-size marvels is astounding. It's your phone, your messaging device, your web browser, your camera, your music player, your GPS, and more. The phone you choose affects your life in a multitude of ways. That's why we're here to help you pick exactly the right one.
Rather than purely choosing the phones with the highest ratings here, we're trying to deliver a list of phones that are spread broadly across different price points. This list is generally focused on the hottest, newest devices, but you can also find great value in slightly older phones, so be sure to shop around.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + High-quality hardware | - Pricey |
| + Always-on display includes widgets | - Dated design and Lightning connector |
| + Top-notch cameras | |
| + Stellar wireless performance |
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 14 Pro Max (starting at $1,099) is Apple's largest, most tricked-out handset, and the top pick in the iPhone family for anyone who wants a do-it-all smartphone. The smaller iPhone 14 Pro is $100 less, but we think the larger screen and longer-lasting battery you get with the Max are worth the extra cash. Moreover, the Pro Max outshines the standard iPhone 14 thanks to its more capable processor, always-on display, and Dynamic Island. With an upgraded main camera powered by a new Photonic Engine, and safety features such as Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite, Apple has delivered as fine a device as any on the market, earning the iPhone 14 Pro Max our Editors' Choice award.
Huawei P60 Pro
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Gorgeous Design | - No 5G capabilities |
| + Brilliant Camera | - Fingerprint Sensor too low on the screen |
| + Fast charging |
Why We Picked It
Huawei is no stranger to the best phones list in the Middle East. The P series has always pushed the design and photographic capabilities and the newly released P60 Pro is no different. Featuring a stunning Rococo Pearl inspired design, no two P60 Pro phones in the world look the same. The camera system on the Huawei P60 Pro is also brilliant. not only do you get a massive f/1.4 main camera but you get the industry's first Ultra Lighting Telephoto Camera loaded with Multiple Lens Groups and an F2.1 large aperture that takes in 178% more light. You really can't go wrong taking any kind of photo from the Huawei P60 Pro.
Huawei P60 Pro
Samsung Galaxy S22+
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Top-of-the-line performance | - Photos can look a little washed out |
| + Excellent cellular reception | - 45W charging doesn't make a big difference in speed |
| + True 3x zoom camera |
Samsung Galaxy S22+
Why We Picked It
Samsung's Galaxy S22+ ($999.99) is a crowd-pleaser. It has reliable reception, a bright screen, solid cameras, and good battery life. None of this is surprising; Samsung's Galaxy phones are the default choices for most Android users in the US, and certainly for existing Samsung device owners who want to upgrade. The S22+ is the middle child of the S22 lineup—it doesn’t have an S Pen like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and isn’t as compact as the S22. In other years, that could make it forgettable, but this time around the S22+ strikes the best balance between performance, value, and portability of the three. At the high end of the Android phone market in the US, the S22+ competes only with the $899 Google Pixel 6 Pro. Google’s flagship is more affordable and has better cameras, but the S22+ offers a stronger processor and cellular radio, earning it our Editors' Choice award.
Google Pixel 6
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Excellent battery life | - Fast wireless charging not supported at launch |
| + Bright, crisp display | - Wait Time and Direct My Call features are hit or miss |
| + Fast performance | |
| + Durable build |
Google Pixel 6
Why We Picked It
Google's Pixel 6 is a sophisticated midrange phone that replaces the good, but uninspired Pixel 5. It takes a spot between the company's high-end flagship, the Pixel 6 Pro ($899), and the more affordable Pixel 5a With 5G ($449), and offers quite an impressive feature-to-value ratio for $599. With its combination of strong camera performance, long battery life, and unbeatable Android software, the Pixel 6 easily bests the competition and replaces the Pixel 5a as our Editors' Choice winner for midrange phones.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Handsome design | - Low-res display |
| + Durable Gorilla Glass 5 display | - Mediocre speaker |
| + Capable cameras | - Back panel scratches easily |
| + Long battery life | |
| + Impressive performance for the price | |
| + Excellent software upgrade policy |
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
Why We Picked It
If you’re in the market for an inexpensive Android phone with 5G, Samsung has your back with the Galaxy A32 5G ($279.99). Excellent battery life, solid performance, and years of promised Android upgrades and security updates mean this inexpensive phone should keep you happy for a long time. A low-resolution display aside, there’s very little to dislike about the Galaxy A32 5G; it's an excellent value and a winner of our Editors’ Choice award for budget-friendly 5G phones.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + S Pen integration | - Very large |
| + Long battery life | - Expensive |
| + Bright screen | - Back scratches easily |
| + Excellent reception in low-signal envrionments | - Few camera improvements over predecessor |
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Why We Picked It
The Galaxy Note is back in a big way, even if not by name. Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra (starting at $1,199.99) exhibits all the hallmark features of the Note lineup, with a big build, powerful hardware, long battery life, and, of course, a built-in S Pen stylus. The new model performs better than the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra from last year, as well as the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (albeit slightly), and is an excellent choice if you want the most phone possible. That said, of the three Galaxy S22 models, the S22+ gets our top recommendation for delivering most of the same features as the Ultra at a lower price and in a more reasonably sized design.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Fast and powerful | - Very expensive |
| + Useful multi-window mode | - Heavy |
| + Excellent signal strength | - Some applications are buggy |
| + Fully usable with one hand |
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Why We Picked It
What's a computer? A few years ago, Apple infamously pushed us to embrace serious work on iPads. Now, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 4 ($1,799.99) takes the portable productivity concept even further with new software that simplifies multitasking. But the company's latest large-screen foldable also boasts a slightly wider screen, a more durable design, better camera hardware, and stronger 5G support than its predecessor, the Z Fold 3. All those refinements make for a phone we enthusiastically recommend, despite its high price. And that’s a good thing, because Samsung remains alone in its pursuit of big-screen foldables, at least in the US. Any foldable devices from Apple or Google are still just rumors, and Motorola's new Razr competes more with the smaller Galaxy Z Flip 4 instead.
Apple iPhone 14
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Solid perforamnce | - Not that different from the iPhone 13 |
| + Capable cameras | - Dated design and Lightning connector |
| + Helpful emergency features |
Apple iPhone 14
Why We Picked It
The iPhone 14 is Apple's meat-and-potatoes smartphone, offering a dependable everyday experience with basics such as an attractive display, excellent build quality, all-day battery life, smooth performance, and competent cameras starting at $799. While it also has some of the pricier iPhone 14 Pro's features such as Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite, it skips out on the most compelling new experiences offered by that line, including an always-on display, Dynamic Island, and A16 Bionic processor. There's no question that the iPhone 14 will serve most people well, but it feels a little farther behind Apple's top-shelf Pro line than previous models have. So while the iPhone 14 Pro Max ($1,099) earns our Editors' Choice award, the iPhone 14 is still an excellent, safe choice if you're looking to save some money.
Moto G Power (2022)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Long battery life | - Ships with Android 11 |
| + Solid performance | - Noticeable pixelation on 720p display |
| + 90Hz refresh rate | - Underwhelming audio |
Moto G Power (2022)
Why We Picked It
For years, Motorola’s G-series handsets topped our list of the best affordable phones, but its 2021 lineup fell short of expectations, while competing models from Samsung and TCL caught up. The first entry in the company's 2022 lineup, the Moto G Power sets Motorola back on track. The fast and affordable Moto G Power easily lasts for two days between charges and sports a display with a 90Hz refresh rate starting at $199.99. That said, if you can stretch your budget a bit more, the $279.99 Samsung Galaxy A32 5G is a more future-proof alternative that offers 5G connectivity and will get more software updates.
Sunbeam F1
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Thoughtful design | - Lacks band 71 for T-mobile |
| + Solid construction | - Long-term support not guaranteed |
| + Loud earpiece | |
| + Three levels of feature restrictions |
The Bottom Line:
The Sunbeam F1 helps digital disconnectors target exactly the level of communication they want.
Why We Picked It
Are you willing to pay extra to work with someone you trust and support an eager young company? The stripped-down Sunbeam F1 ($195) wants you to make that deal. This flip phone, sold unlocked but designed for Verizon's network, is the product of a Missouri startup that does its own privacy-focused software development. The F1 costs more than some other flips, but a lot of thought has gone into its design and programming, leading to a cleaner and smoother experience than you'll get on less expensive phones. That's why the Sunbeam F1 shares our Editors' Choice distinction for the best voice phone on Verizon with the Kyocera DuraXV Extreme.
Unihertz Titan Pocket
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Unique design | - Small 1:1 screen isn't great for all apps |
| + Dual-SIM and compatible with all carriers | - Lacks some speed and coverage bands |
| + Good performance for the price | - Terrible cameras |
Unihertz Titan Pocket
Why We Picked It
Unihertz makes a bold move with its curvy new phone, a reinterpretation of a classic design that old-school smartphone fans definitely still carry a torch for. The Titan Pocket may leave you with some Qs as to why the company is working off such an old playbook, but there's a niche group of keyboard fans who will find this to be a real pearl of a gadget.
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What should you be looking for when buying a cell phone? Here are some key points to consider.
What Is the Best Smartphone?
As more people become accustomed to instant email, web, music, and messaging access at all times of the day, regardless of where they are, smartphones have become almost indispensable. That said, there's plenty of variety out there—not to mention devotees of specific OS platforms. Sometimes, a platform's user interface or app selection just speaks to you, and that's all there is to it. With that in mind, and at the risk of attracting flames, let's break it down as well as we can for those who aren't so fully vested.
There's actually less diversity in smartphone platforms and designs than there was a few years ago. Android and iOS are the two remaining major smartphone platforms, both in US sales and in the availability of third-party apps. The iPhone has the best app store and the best media features. But Apple's tightly controlled ecosystem can feel stifling to some, and iOS isn't easy to customize or modify. There's far more variety among Android handsets, and Android's open-source nature makes it a tweaker's dream. But it also means fragmented third-party app compatibility, occasional bugs, carrier-installed bloatware you can't remove, and less consistent OS updates.
Phones from either ecosystem are available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, to fit various types of hands. Samsung's Galaxy S22 and Apple's iPhone 13 mini are narrower than most other phones; they are easy to hold in one hand and still offer plenty of screen real estate. The iPhone 13 Pro Max, on the other hand, is gigantic, best for people who want a big window into their online world and/or a large camera viewfinder.
Strictly interested in Android? Head over to our roundup of the best Android phones. Baffled by the variety of iPhones? Here's how to decide which iPhone to buy. And if you want to document the world around you with your phone, we've rounded up the best camera phones, too.
What's the Best Time to Buy a New Phone?
The best time to buy a new phone is when you need one. If your phone took a header into the pool or met its demise on the pavement, get whatever's available that best meets your needs. But if you're watching your budget or riding the cutting edge, a little knowledge and planning can keep you from buying a phone that's about to be discounted or replaced with something newer and cooler.
The pandemic and the global chipset shortage have upended the usual phone release cycles, and we're not sure if that's going to change back. Based on 2020 and 2021, here's when we think some of the major flagship phones will appear in 2022. These are just (educated) guesses, though:
- Apple: iPhone 14 in September 2022
- Google: Pixel 6a in July 2022, Pixel 7 in October 2022
- Samsung: New Galaxy Z foldables in August 2022
By the way, if you're wondering where the Moto Edge+ and the OnePlus 10 Pro are, they aren't on this list; both have flaws that render them good rather than great.
Finally, we update this story every time we review a new phone worth a spot on the list, so it changes often. Be sure to check back soon for our latest recommendations.