With smartphones becoming more popular there are many options to choose from when buying a phone. It can becoming confusing and overwhelming to choose a new smartphone. In this smartphone buying guide 2023 I will be giving you some buying tips as well as discussing some good smartphones so you can decide which smartphone is best for your needs.
What To Consider When Buying A Smartphone
There are many things to consider when buying a smartphone such as your budget, what type of smartphone you want, the feature you need and much more. I’m going to go over 5 things you should consider when buying a smartphone to help you get an idea of what you should consider before choosing a smartphone.
- Your Budget When buying a smartphone it is very important to know your budget and how much you want to spend on a smartphone. Don’t buy an expensive smartphone just because it looks nice, always look at a range of smartphones before choosing one and don’t let anyone sell you a smartphone you don’t really want. Always choose the smartphone that is right for you.
- The Screen Size The screen size is another important aspect of buying a smartphone. If you have weak eyesight or can’t see small screens well you should choose a smartphone with a larger screen size. However if you can see small screens well and you don’t like anything too big then go with a smaller screen size. But always know what screen size you need before you choose a smartphone.
- What Features You Need The features included on your smartphone are very important to be aware of and you should take the time to understand the features of a smartphone and the ones you need. A lot of high end smartphones have advanced features that many people don’t use and you should never buy a smartphone just because it has fancy or advance features. Know what features you need and use regularly and look for a smartphone that includes these features.
- Battery Life & Security The battery life is essential when choosing a smartphone because you will need to know how long it’s going to last before it needs charging. Ideally you want a smartphone that is going to at least last the full day without going flat. To achieve this you’ll need a smartphone with at least a 1500 mAh to 2000 mAh battery. Security is also very important for smartphones as people store a lot of personal information on them. You can protect just about any smartphone with a passcode but you should be aware of any additional security features you may want such as fingerprint scanners and facial recognition. Always be aware of battery life and security features when choosing a smartphone to ensure you get one that suits your needs and requirements.
- Phone Plans & Data Usage Knowing the plan you want for your smartphone is also very important. There are many options to choose from such Prepaid, Postpaid, Data Only and more. If you use your phone a lot and use a lot of data a postpaid plan may better better but if you don’t use your phone much and want longer expiry than a prepaid plan may be better for you. It’s also important to know if you want to pay for your smartphone outright or on a plan. If the smartphone you’re buying is cheap than it is probably better to pay for it outright but if it’s an expensive smartphone paying for it on a plan may be better for you as it will save you having to spend a big chunk of money that you might not have at once.
Smartphone Buying Tips
Now that you know what to consider when buying a smartphone there are some other important things you need to be aware of such as operating systems, locked and unlocked smartphones, used and refurbished smartphones and much more. I’m going to go over 10 smartphone buying tips that will help you choose the smartphone that is right for you.
1. Buy What You Need Not What You Want
When buying a smartphone you should buy what you need and not get caught up in all the hype of the latest smartphones. There are a lot of expensive phones with advanced features that a lot of people like but never use. You should never spend a lot of money on a smartphone because it is one of the latest phones, has advanced features or is one that a lot of people are buying. 
You should always buy the smartphone you need not what you want. By this I mean consider your needs and feature requirements for a smartphone and base your purchasing decisions around this instead of just going for an expensive smartphone straight away.
I’m not saying you should never buy the expensive smartphone you want I’m just saying you should buy the smartphone you need and the one that is right for you and then in the future you could upgrade to a more expensive smartphone you want when you have the money.
2. Always Buy Genuine Smartphones
There are many different smartphones out there and many companies these days are making cheap knocks offs of the latest smartphones or making fake copies of popular smartphones and selling them at a low price. You should never buy these kind of smartphones because they often come with no warranty, don’t get regular updates and can be poor quality leading to a lot of issues. For these reasons it is always best to buy genuine smartphones and avoid anything that seems dodgy.
You should also avoid unbranded smartphones and weird smartphone brands from other countries that are not popular and you have never heard of. Buying these types of smartphone can also lead to a lot of issues like the ones i mentioned above. So always stick the brands you know and have heard of. It’s ok to buy a less popular brand as long as it’s a reputable and trustworthy brand you should be fine.
3. Consider Less Popular Brands
The most popular smartphone brands like Samsung, iPhones, Nokia and other big brands are not always the best option. When buying a smartphone you should consider less popular brands like Oppo, Vivo, Aspera, Alcatel, ZTE and others. These are all reputable and trustworthy brands that have some good quality phones and choosing a less popular brand can save you a lot of money while still giving you the features you need.
4. Choose The Right Operating System
The operating system on your smartphone is important and something you should be aware of when buying a smartphone. The operating system is what is used to run apps and software on your smartphone. The most popular operating systems are Android and iOS. But there are others as well such as BlackBerry, KaiOS and Windows Mobile. 
You should consider the operating system you want before you start looking for a smartphone so you know what your options are. If you want a smartphone that you can use a lot of different apps on you should choose iOS or Android. These both have very large app stores with thousands of apps available for you to download and use on your smartphone.
Be aware that iOS is only available on iPhones so if you want iOS you will have to choose an iPhone whereas Android is available on many different smartphones except iPhones so you will have a lot of different smartphones to choose from. Other operating systems like Blackberry and KaiOS have small app stores that don’t have many apps available and are best for if you are going to use your smartphone mainly for calls, texts and emails.
Windows mobile is now discontinued and you can’t access the app store anymore so is best used as a spare phone or if you are only going to be using your smartphone for calls and text messages. All in all the operating system you choose should be based on how your going to use your smartphone and what is right for you.
5. Make Sure You Choose A Comfortable Smartphone
Comfort is important when buying a smartphone as this is an aspect of design you should pay attention to. The design of a smartphone is not just about looking nice but also about being comfortable to use and hold in your hand. Ideally you don’t want a smartphone that is too big to hold in your hand comfortably unless you are going to be using hands free most of the time.
You also don’t want a smartphone that is too heavy or too bulky to have in your pocket. Always take time to pick up different smartphones to see how they feel in your hand and choose a smartphone that is comfortable for you to use and hold.
6. Consider An Older Or Refurbished Smartphone
Older or refurbished smartphones can also be good options when you are looking for a smartphone. Many older models of smartphones still hold up well and are still perfectly usable today. Some good examples include Samsung Galaxy S5, iPhone 6, ZTE Blade A462 and more. Buying an older smartphone is a great way to save lot of money as there many different ones available online and you will still get some good features and find smartphones that have the features you need to.
A similar concept applies with used and refurbished smartphones as you can find a lot of really good used or refurbished smartphones at great prices. A lot of people people buy a new smartphone, don’t like it or use it for a while and then want to upgrade to something newer so they sell their old one for a cheap price. This is how you can get some great deals and this applies to refurbished phones as well.
A lot of people smartphone repairs buy damaged smartphones, repair them and then sell them at a lower price then you would pay for a new one. Looking for things like this is a great way to get a good deal on a really good smartphone. You can even find expensive smartphones including some of the latest ones for a low price if you buy it used or refurbished.
When buying a used or refurbished smartphone make sure it is in good condition and you are buying it from a safe place or a trustworthy dealer. Stay away from anything dodgy and also make sure to look online on websites like eBay and Amazon as there many used and refurbished smartphones on there for sale all the time.
7. Take Your Time To Shop Around
When shopping for a smartphone don’t buy a smartphone from the first shop you see. Always take your time to look around and see if you can find the smartphone you want in a different shop on sale or for a lower price. Also look online as it is often quicker and cheaper to buy a smartphone online and you can save money doing it this way. Be sure to take advantage of sales like EOFY sales, Black Friday Sales and other similar events these are great times to find some really great deals and save a lot of money a smartphone online and in shops.
8. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help
Everyone needs help sometimes and you should never be afraid to ask for help when shopping for a smartphone. There are always many options to choose from and it can be overwhelming even once you know what you want. Ask a sales person for help if you are in a shop and they can help explain to you the different smartphones they have available. 
But make sure not buy a smartphone the sales person wants you to buy. Often sales people will try to convince you to buy an expensive smartphone or they smartphone they think is best. Always stick your plan and budget and buy the smartphone that is right for you.
If you are shopping online be sure to ask questions to sellers and ask around on social media and forums if you need advice or are looking for other user experiences with certain smartphones. I’m always here to help you to so please feel free to ask me any questions you may have at anytime and I’ll always be happy to help you out.
9. Know The Difference Between Locked & Unlocked Smartphones 
When buying a smartphone you will often come across the terms locked and unlocked smartphones. It’s important you are familiar with these terms and know what they mean so you can avoid spending extra money if you don’t need to. A locked smartphone is a smartphone that is locked to a particular carrier meaning you can only use a SIM card in the smartphone that is with the carrier it is locked to.
For example if a smartphone is locked to Telstra you can only use a Telstra SIM card in the smartphone and if you try to use a SIM card from another carrier it won’t work. An unlocked smartphone is a smartphone that is not locked to any carrier and you can use any SIM card from any carrier in the smartphone and it will work. Even if you switch carriers you will still have no problems using your new SIM card in an unlocked smartphone.
When you are buying a smartphone you need to consider these things. If the smartphone you want to buy is locked to the carrier your SIM card is from you will be able to use it but if your SIM is from a different carrier and you want to use it in the smartphone you’ll have to pay an unlocking fee to get the smartphone unlocked which costs from $80 up to $150 or more depending on the smartphone you are having unlocked. That is why it is better to buy an unlocked smartphone if you can to avoid any issues like this and save money on unlocking fees.
10. Know The Difference Between Prepaid & Postpaid Phone Plans
When buying a smartphone you will often hear about Prepaid and Postpaid phone plans and this is something you need to be familiar with and know what they mean so you can choose a plan that suits your needs and is right for you. Prepaid is when you pay for your service upfront and you don’t get a monthly bill. Postpaid is when you get a bill for your service each month. 
Prepaid phone plans often include long expiry but less calls, less text messages and less data. Postpaid plans often include unlimited calls and text messages, a lot of data and some even include international calls and other perks like extra data and the ability to pay off a smartphone.
There are also SIM only plans which are essentially the same thing as what I just discussed only you have to bring your own smartphone and there are also data only plans which just give you data but no calls, text messages or anything else which are best used in tablets and other mobile devices that you just want to do web related activities on.
The type of phone plan you should choose depends on your need and how much you use your smartphone. Prepaid is best for people who don’t use their smartphone a lot and mainly want calls and text messages with longer expiry. Postpaid is best for people who want to pay off a handset or use their smartphone a lot and want a lot of calls and texts messages as well as a lot of data and other perks. Make sure you know the phone plans that are available to you and choose the plan that suits your needs and is right for you.
10 Best Smartphones In 2023
Now that you know what consider when buying a smartphone and I have given you some smartphone buying tips I’m going to give you some examples of some good smartphones you can buy in 2023. I have included some cheap low end smartphones, some mid range smartphones and some high end smartphones to give you can idea of the type of smartphone available to pick from in 2023.
Here are 10 Best Smartphone In 2023
Best Overall Samsung Galaxy S23
1. Alcatel 1B 2022 
- 5.5 Inch display
- 8MP rear camera & 5MP front facing camera
- 2GB RAM
- 32GB internal storage expandable up to 128GB using a MicroSD card
- 3000 mAh battery
- Android 11 Go Edition
The Alcatel 1B 2022 is a basic budget smartphone with a large 5.5 inch display that is clear and easy to see. The phone runs well when doing basic tasks like making phone calls, sending text messages and browsing the web but it is not good for heavy usage. The camera is decent and takes decent photos during the day but is not that good at night.
The Alcatel 1B 2022 is a decent phone all around but lacks good performance with heavy usage and is a bit outdated for it’s time. The Alcatel 1B 2022 costs around $130 and is available in some post offices and phone stores as well as on many websites online such as eBay, Amazon and iTech.
Click Here To Get Your Alcatel 1B 2022
2. Nokia C31 
- 6.75 Inch display
- Triple 13MP rear camera & 5MP front facing camera
- 3GB RAM or 4GB RAM depending on model
- 32GB, 64GB or 128GB internal storage depending on model expandable up to 256GB using a MicroSD card
- 5050 mAh battery
- Android 12
The Nokia C31 is a budget smartphone with a large 6.75 inch display that is clear, easy to see and is bright enough to see outdoors. The phone runs well but performance can be a bit slow and sluggish with heavy usage and gaming. The camera is average and takes decent photos but it is not good at night or in low light. The Nokia C31 is a good budget phone with a long lasting battery life that is good for getting through the day with some charge left over.
The Nokia C31 costs around $200 or more depending on the model and where you buy the phone. It’s available in many phone stores, post offices and electrical stores as well as online on websites like eBay and Amazon.
Click Here To Get Your Nokia C31
3. iPhone 5 
- 4.0 Inch display
- 8MP rear camera & 1.2MP front facing camera
- 1GB RAM
- 16GB, 32GB or 64GB internal storage depending on model not expandable
- 1440 mAh battery
- iOS 6.0 upgradeable to iOS 10.3.4
The iPhone 5 is a budget smartphone with a 4.0 inch display that is clear and easy to see. Although it’s an older phone it still holds up well today and is still perfectly usable. The phone runs well, is quite snappy and responsive and has decent cameras that take good photos. The battery will last a full day with moderate usage but it is easily scratched and has a small display. Despite it’s drawbacks the iPhone 5 is still a good phone and makes a nice secondary phone or even a main phone if you don’t have much money.
The iPhone 5 costs around $100 or more depending on the model, seller and condition of the phone. The iPhone 5 is no longer available in any phone stores, post offices or electrical stores but it is available all the time online on websites like eBay, Amazon and Dick Smith.
If you would like to see a full review of the iPhone 5 you can Click Here To Read My Full iPhone 5 Review
Click Here To Get Your iPhone 5
4. Motorola e32 
- 6.5 Inch display
- Triple 16MP rear camera & 8MP front facing camera
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB internal storage expandable up to 1TB using a MicroSD card
- 5000 mAh battery
- Android 11
The Motorola e32 is a budget smartphone with a large 6.5 inch display that is clear, easy to see and bright at all times. The phone runs really well and even with heavy tasks or doing more than one task at a time the phone still runs and performs quite well. The cameras are good and take really good photos but don’t do too well in low light. The battery life is really good and will last a full day even with heavy tasks but with light usage it can last 5 to 7 days.
The Motorola e32 is a good budget phone with good performance, good cameras and a long lasting battery that will suit most people’s smartphone needs without having to spend a lot of money on a smartphone. The Motorola e32 costs $229 but can sometimes be found a bit cheaper if it is on sale. The Motorola e32 is available in many phone stores, post offices and electrical stores as well as online on websites like eBay, Amazon and Kogan.
Click Here To Get Your Motorola e32
5. Samsung Galaxy S5 
- 5.1 Inch display
- 16MP rear camera & 2MP front facing camera
- 2GB RAM
- 16GB or 32GB internal storage depending on model expandable up to 128GB using a MicroSD card
- 2800 mAh bettery
- Android 4.4.2 upgradeable to Android 6.0
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a budget smartphone with a large 5.1 inch display that is clear, easy to see and bright most of the time except in direct sunlight. Although it’s an older phone it still holds up well and is still perfectly usable.
The phone runs well and performance is quite good except if you are trying to do too many things at once. The cameras are good and take good photos except at night and in low light because they take poor quality photos in these conditions.
The battery life is good and will last a full day with moderate usage but not with heavy tasks. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a good budget phone that will get your daily tasks done and is good as a secondary phone or as a main phone if you don’t have a lot of money.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 costs around $139 but it can cost more depending on the seller and condition of the phone. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is no longer available in phone stores, post offices or electrical stores due to it’s age and availability but it is available all the time online on websites like eBay and Amazon.
If you would like to see a full review of the Samsung Galaxy S5 you can Click Here To Read My Full Samsung Galaxy S5 Review
Click Here To Get Your Samsung Galaxy S5
6. Samsung Galaxy A20 
- 6.4 Inch display
- Dual 13MP rear camera & 8MP front facing camera
- 3GB RAM
- 32GB internal storage expandable up to 512GB using a MicroSD card
- 4000 mAh battery
- Android 9.0 upgradeable to Android 11
The Samsung Galaxy A20 is a budget smartphone with a large 6.4 inch display that is clear and easy to see. The phone is runs really well and smooth most of the time. It has average performance and it can get laggy at times especially when you are trying to do more than one thing at a time. The cameras are really good for a budget phone, take really good photos and have some impressive depth.
The battery life is great and will last a full day even with heavy tasks and will last much longer with light usage. The Samsung Galaxy A20 is easily scratched but it is a really good phone for it’s price and it is more than enough for getting through the day.
The Samsung Galaxy A20 costs around $240 but can cost more depending on where you buy the phone. The Samsung Galaxy A20 is sometimes still available in some phone stores, post offices and electrical stores but is always available online on websites like eBay, Amazon and AliExpress.
Click Here To Get Your Samsung Galaxy A20
7. Google Pixel 6a 
- 6.1 Inch display
- Dual 12MP rear camera & 8MP front facing camera
- 6GB RAM
- 128GB internal storage not expandable
- 4410 mAh battery
- Android 12
The Google Pixel 6a is a mid range smartphone with a large 6.1 inch display that is clear, colorful and easy to see. The phone runs very well at all times and it’s fast, snappy and responsive. The performance is smooth and amazing not matter if you are browsing the web, playing games or watching videos the phone has great performance at all times.
The cameras are amazing and amazing photos as the Google Pixel 6a has some of the best cameras ever found on a smartphone. The battery life is great and will last a full day even with heavy tasks. Doing a lot of gaming and watching a lot of videos on the phone will drain the battery faster but it will still last a few hours and get you through the day. The Google Pixel 6a is a bit slippy without a case and not being able to expand the memory is another drawback for the phone.
Despite this the Google Pixel 6a is an amazing mid range smartphone that won’t disappoint you if you decide to buy one. The Google Pixel 6a costs around $500 but could cost a little bit more depending on where you buy the phone. The Google Pixel 6a is available in many phone stores, post offices and electrical stores as well as online on websites like eBay, Amazon and Kogan.
Click Here To Get Your Google Pixel 6a
8. Xiaomi 13 Pro 
- 6.73 Inch display
- Triple 50.3MP rear camera & 32MP front facing camera
- 8GB RAM or 12GB RAM depending on model
- 128GB, 256GB or 512GB internal storage depending on model not expandable
- 4820 mAh battery
- Android 13
The Xiaomi 13 Pro is a high end smartphone with an large 6.73 inch display this is clear and easy to see. The display is amazing, very bright and colourful, is very nice took at out and it is very bright in direct sunlight. Performance is amazing, the phone is very fast and responsive and runs very smoothly at all times. The phone is one of the fastest on the market making it one to consider if you want speed.
The camera is amazing and takes amazing photos in all conditions even at night and in low light. Battery life is great as it will last a full day on one charge with heavy usage and up to 2 days on a single charge with light to moderate usage. The only drawbacks for this phone are that software can sometimes be buggy and the internal storage is not expandable.
Despite these drawbacks the Xiaomi 13 Pro is an amazing high end smartphone that is one of the best on the market today and it won’t let you down if you decide to buy one. The Xiaomi 13 Pro costs around $1350 or more depending on the model and where you buy the phone. The Xiaomi 13 Pro is available in many phone stores, post offices and electrical stores as well as online on websites like eBay, Amazon and Kogan.
Click Here To Get Your Xiaomi 13 Pro
9. iPhone 14 
- 6.1 Inch display
- Dual 12MP rear camera & 12MP front facing camera
- 6GB RAM
- 128GB, 256GB or 512GB internal storage depending on model not expandable
- 3279 mAh battery
- iOS 16 upgradeable to iOS 16.5
The iPhone 14 is a high end smartphone and one of the latest iPhones with a large 6.1 inch display this is clear, easy to see, very colorful and bright at all times even in direct sunlight. The performance is amazing, the phone is very fast, snappy and responsive and has console like graphics. The phone runs very smoothly at all times and runs games really well to.
The cameras are amazing and take amazing photos that are slightly better than other high end phones such as the Google Pixel 6 and Samsung Galaxy S22. Battery life is great and will last a few hours which will get you through the day with moderate usage. But it’s fast charging time of around 50 minutes for a full charge makes up for the slight flaws in battery life.
The only drawbacks for this phone are the zoom on the camera doesn’t go as far as it should, the inability to use physical SIM cards due to no SIM card slot on the phone and the inability to expand the internal storage. Despite these drawbacks the iPhone 14 is one of the best high end smartphones on the market and will satisfy your daily smartphone needs if you decide to buy one.
The iPhone 14 costs around $1399 for the base model and can cost a lot more depending on the model you choose. The iPhone 14 is available in many phone stores, post offices and electrical stores as well as online on websites like eBay, Amazon and Kogan.
Click Here To Get Your iPhone 14
10. Samsung Galaxy S23 
- 6.1 Inch display
- Triple 50MP rear camera & 12MP front facing camera
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB, 256GB or 512GB internal storage depending on model not expandable
- 3900 mAh battery
- Android 13
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is a high end smartphone and one of the latest Samsung smartphones with a large 6.1 inch display that is clear, easy to see, colorful and very bright at all times even in direct sunlight. The performance is amazing, the phone is really fast, snappy and responsive, it runs very smoothly at all times and the graphics are amazing. It is one of the fastest smartphones on the market today as it uses Samsung’s latest chipset which makes it one of the best android smartphones on the market.
The cameras are amazing take amazing photos during the day and really good photos in low light and at night. It does have a bit of trouble adjusting in low light and at night therefore photos are a bit darker then on some other similar smartphones but they are still quite good and sharp. Although the cameras take amazing photos during the day and are brighter than the Google Pixel 7 and other similar smartphones.
Battery life is great and will last a few hours with moderate to heavy use and will be enough to get you through the day. Although the fast charging times of around 50 minutes for a full charge make up for the slight drawbacks in battery life which are similar to the iPhone 14. The only drawbacks for this phone are the front facing camera is not as good as it should be and the inability to expand the internal storage.
Despite these drawbacks the Samsung Galaxy S23 is one of the best high end smartphones on the market which will get you through the day as well as give you fast speeds and satisfy your daily smartphone needs if you decide to buy one. The Samsung Galaxy S23 costs around $1349 for the base model and can cost a lot more depending on the model you choose. The Samsung Galaxy S23 is available in many phone stores, post offices and electrical stores as well as online on websites like eBay, Amazon and Kogan.
Click Here To Get Your Samsung Galaxy S23
Which Smartphone Should You Choose?
Now that you know what to consider when buying a smartphone as well as other smartphone buying tips and you have seen some examples of the types of smartphones available on the market I want to go over which smartphone you should choose and give you some advice to help you decide the right smartphone for you.
When choosing a smartphone it is important to choose one that fits your needs for example if you need high speeds choose one with a good quality chipset, if you need a phone for basic usage like calls, texts and light web browsing choose a cheap smartphone that covers these things. Don’t spend a lot of money on a smartphone that looks nice but has features you don’t need and will never use. Your smartphone purchasing decision should be based around your needs as I have already discussed earlier.
Another important point is to not buy the smartphone the sales person wants you to buy because he thinks it is the best one. Sales people will often do this to try and sell you an expensive smartphone so they can make more money. But it is important not to let them pressure you and don’t buy the smartphone if you know you don’t really want it. The same thing applies to your friends and family. Don’t buy a smartphone like theirs just because they have one and don’t let them pressure you either.
It’s ok to ask sales people as well as your friends and family for help or advice but make sure to go with the smartphone you want to buy that you know suits your needs. Ultimately the decision is yours and you should take the time to consider your budget, needs and options as well as shop around for good deals so you will be happy with your new smartphone and so you can decide which smartphone is right for you.
Conclusion
In conclusion buying a smartphone is something that many people do but it doesn’t have to be a daunting task if you take the time consider your budget and needs as well as ask questions and shop around for good deals. There are many things to consider when buying smartphone such as your budget, the screen size, battery life, security and much more.
There are also other important things you should be aware of such as choosing the right operating system, choosing a comfortable smartphone, knowing the difference between locked smartphones and unlocked smartphones as well the difference between prepaid and postpaid phone plans and much more. Your smartphone purchasing decisions should be based around your needs and not what other people want you to buy.
Ultimately the decision is yours but you need to be happy with the smartphone you buy. Don’t be afraid to ask for help but remember to always go with the smartphone that is right for you. Thank you for reading. I hope that you enjoyed this article. If you have any questions or need any help let me know in the comments. I will be more than happy to help you out.
If you are interested in buying a laptop I have a laptop buying guide on this website that might help you.
Click Here To Read My Laptop Buying Guide 2023- Which Laptop Is Best For You?