Be it DC vs Marvel, Stones vs Beatles, or Star Trek vs Star Wars, we have seen many rivalries over the years. But, as a tech enthusiast, my favorite has been Android vs iOS. It is over a decade-long rivalry that still grabs the eyeballs of almost everyone. Undoubtedly, there are many reasons why you should prefer iPhones over Android phones and vice versa. But, the fact that there haven’t been significant changes over time, lots of users are keen to find top iPhone 14 alternatives in 2023.
Talking specifically about the iPhone 14, we didn’t see any major changes like the one in the Pro models. Still, you have to pay more for a few regular changes that you’d expect in a next-generation smartphone. So, if you have decided to ditch the latest iPhone and wondering which phone is better than iPhone 14, this roundup has got you covered. Here we have talked about the best premium-to-budget iPhone 14 alternatives that you can buy.
But, before we move to the list of best alternatives to iPhone 14, we must discuss the possible reasons why you should switch to Android from iPhone.
Top reasons why you should pick Android over iPhone
Wondering what’s the best alternative to iPhone 14? Well, there are a few Android phones in a similar price segment that will serve as a worthy alternative to iPhone 14. Since you are about to make up a buying decision, it is important on our part to help you understand why and when Android is better than iPhones.
So, keep reading, we have mentioned a few reasons why you should buy an Android phone over an iPhone.
- Android smartphones are available in every price segment and are loaded with features (especially the flagship ones).
- You can use one USB-C charger for all your devices (however the charging speed may vary on different devices).
- Android devices offer more storage space even if you have a limited budget. Most affordable Android smartphones in the market have at least 128GB of storage.
- Android phones are best if you own a Windows laptop or PC (for seamless data transferring and ease of access).
- You’re a free bird with Android phones, you won’t get locked into an ecosystem (just like Apple). More freedom, control, and customization options are available in Android smartphones, you can’t tweak things much in an iPhone.
- Recent Android phones come with a whooping fast charging experience (the fastest being 240W wired charging on Realme GT 3). The top-end iPhone models still max out at 27W.
- Google Assistant stands tall as the best voice assistant and smart home devices ecosystem, beating Siri – just another reason why you should get an Android smartphone.
Now that you know the reasons behind choosing the best iPhone alternatives, it is now time to jump right into the list.
List of the best alternatives to iPhone 14 that you can get in 2023
1. Galaxy S23
Samsung and Apple rivalry have been there for decades, we have seen both brands pulling each other’s leg more often. You might not be aware but Samsung launched an ad campaign called ‘On the Fence’ when Apple launched iPhone 14 lineup. Watch here. Samsung mocked the rival brand for not launching folding phones and epic cameras, till now. While these cheeky ad campaigns are part and partial of marketing, we can’t deny the fact that the base model of the Galaxy S23 series is the best iPhone 14 alternative you can buy in 2023.
Launched in January 2023, the Galaxy S23 is one of the best iPhone 14 competitor phones. It features a 6.1” Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that comes with a 120Hz screen refresh rate and HDR10+ certifications. Let’s not forget that this Samsung flagship comes with 1750 nits of peak brightness, which is higher in comparison to the iPhone 14 with 1600 nits of peak brightness. Therefore, you can expect the screen to display bright colors for an immersive visual experience while watching movies or any other visual content on this device even in bright daylight. As far as performance is concerned, it packs the world’s fastest
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset (as of April 2023) for jaw-dropping performance. The camera specs are almost similar to what we have seen in Galaxy S22. You would be glad to know that the rear camera setup can capture 8K videos at 30 fps and 4K videos at 60 fps. In addition, it comes with Vo5G and Wi-Fi 6E.
That said, if you are looking for an amazing camera, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is a more suitable iPhone 14 alternative as it comes with 200 megapixel rear camera sensor that can deliver unmatchable photography and videography experience. As far as charging is concerned, the Galaxy S23 comes with 25W fast wired charging and 15W wireless charging support. That’s not all, this cheaper alternative to iPhone runs on Android 13 and One UI 5.1, out of the box. Most importantly, Samsung promises 5 years of security updates and 4 Android updates for all the devices under the S23 lineup, which is a huge advantage in the long run.
In short, if you are looking for a phone with better value than iPhone 14, the Galaxy S23 5G sits right at the top of the list of iPhone alternatives. If you want the same S23 experience but with a large display, the Galaxy S23+ would be more your speed.
Available colors: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender | Lime, Sky Blue, Graphite, and Red (exclusively available on Samsung online store)
Galaxy S23 – Check Price on Amazon
Galaxy S23 Plus – Check Price on Amazon
Galaxy S23 Ultra – Check Price on Amazon
2. Pixel 7 Pro
Priced at $899, the Pixel 7 Pro is not only a better alternative to Apple iPhone 14, but it stands tall as one of the best Android phones available today. Talking of specs, this Google flagship phone of 2022 comes with a 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display that has a screen resolution of 1440 x 3120 pixels. With a higher display resolution you’ll get crispy pictures, text, and an overall user experience. Besides, it has a 120Hz screen refresh rate which is double what you get in an iPhone. Meaning, you can expect a super smooth scrolling and gaming experience as compared to iPhone 14. Though the iPhone 14 wins the peak brightness battle with mere 100 nits, (iPhone 14 has 1600 nits while the Pixel 7 Pro offers a peak brightness of 1500 nits), the screen is considerably bright on the Pixel 7 Pro. Talking of performance, Google packs the
Tensor G2 chipset for an awesome overall performance. Besides, the cameras on the Pixel 7 Pro are one of the best too. Don’t take our word for it, MKBHD conducted a blind smartphone test and the Pixels were the top two smartphones. It has a 50-megapixel wide lens, a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and 30x SuperRes Zoom. There’s a 10-megapixel front camera that has the capability of capturing good selfies. With such camera specs, it competes head-to-head with the likes of the iPhone 14 Pro and even Galaxy S23 Ultra. Other than that not only you can enjoy the Vanilla Android experience, but it also comes with one of the best camera apps and
editing tools available on any smartphone. The Photo Unblur and Magic Eraser are a few of the many native editing tools that work fabulously.
Frankly speaking, having native editing tools that work brilliantly is a big thumbs up. There are very few phones that come close to Pixel 7 Pro at this price point. All that said, Google Pixel phones are great when it comes to Android updates. Since Google develops Android, the beta version and stable version of any new Android update are rolled out on these phones first. This gives you early access to all the upcoming features of Android more than anyone in this world. To remind you, Pixel 7 Pro is among a few smartphones from Google that will receive an Android 14 update this fall.
So, if you are wondering which phone is better than iPhone 14, Google Pixel 7 Pro is another 5G phone that can give tough competition to last year’s Apple flagship.
Available colors: Obsidian, Snow, and Hazel
If you are looking for a budget iPhone 14 alternative other than the Pro version of the Pixel 7 lineup, make sure to check out the Google Pixel 7. As far as specs are concerned, it comes with a 6.3-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. Google packs the next-gen Tensor G2 chipset and comes at a starting price tag of $599 for the 128GB variant and $699 for the 256GB variant.
3. Galaxy Z Flip 4
The Galaxy Z Flip 4 isn’t an affordable iPhone 14 alternative, but if you are bored with the regular design offered by Apple, this foldable from Samsung is worth the investment. This Samsung foldable phone comes with a dual display. The inner display of this premium iPhone 14 alternative features a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen. Whereas, the cover screen features a 1.9-inch Super AMOLED display. The look is quite identical to what we saw in the Galaxy Z Flip 3 launched back in 2021. The main display has a refresh rate of 120Hz, whereas it comes with HDR10+ certification to offer amazing visuals. On top of that, this foldable iPhone 14 alternative from Samsung packs the Snapdragon 8 Gen+ 1 chipset for some serious performance. On the software front, it runs on Android 12L and One UI 4.1.1, out of the box.
Talking of the camera, you will see a dual-rear camera setup that acts as a selfie camera if you are using the cover display to take selfies. There is a 12-megapixel primary camera sensor and a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. The inner display houses a 10-megapixel punch-hole camera that lets you take awesome selfies. As per claims, the Z Flip 4 has a 65% brighter camera sensor than its predecessor. Therefore, you can take better photos or videos even in low-light or dark environments.
As far as charging is concerned, this iPhone 14 alternative comes with 25W fast-wired charging support. Whereas, you’ll see an increment of approx 12% in battery capacity from the Z Flip 3.
No doubt, iPhone 14 might be cheaper, much more durable, and offers relatively greater performance. But, in terms of innovation, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is the clear winner and will serve as one of the best Apple iPhone 14 alternatives.
Available colors: Graphite, Pink Gold, Blue, and Bora Purple
If you are looking for a premium iPhone 14 alternative that can even replace your iPad Mini, we think Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the right option for you. When folded, it simply acts as any other smartphone and turns into a mini tablet when it is unfolded. As far as specs and design are concerned, there isn’t much difference from its predecessor, Z Fold 3. But, with a better processor, improved camera, and battery life, it can surely put iPhone 14 to shame. Some might argue $1800 is too much for a smartphone. But, the fact that it comes in a foldable design and two large displays, the large one being almost double the size of the
iPhone 14 Pro Max, you simply can’t resist the foldable user experience. Even if you don’t plan on buying it, we highly recommend you check it out at your nearest store. Also, it’s got all the flagship specs like fast charging, Wi-Fi 6E support, and more.
Available colors: Phantom Black, Graygreen, Beige, and a Samsung.com exclusive Burgundy
4. Galaxy S22 5G
Are you looking for a handy yet affordable phone that looks somewhat similar to iPhone in size? If yes, Asus Zenfone 9 is the best pick for you. It was launched in the US as the competitor for iPhone 13 Mini in 2021. It is a cute little smartphone that ticks all the boxes of being a flagship killer. This affordable iPhone alternative flaunts a 5.9” Super AMOLED display and a 120Hz screen refresh rate. The peak brightness of 1100 nits might not outclass iPhone 14’s 1600 nits peak brightness, but the HDR10+ certification ensures it offers a great viewing experience. Not only that, this affordable iPhone 14 alternative comes with the protection of Gorilla Glass Victus and the Always-ON display feature that we all love. This last year’s flagship packs the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, while the device runs on
Android 12 (upgradable to Android 13) and ZenUI, out of the box. You might not realize, but getting such features at just $699 is not a joke, many top brands fail to deliver such features and hardware at this price point. If you are wondering what comes in the box, there’s is a 30W USB-C fast charger, a USB-C to USB-C cable, and a back cover,
Talking of cameras, this budget iPhone 14 alternative houses a dual-rear-camera setup. The is a 50 megapixels primary sensor and a 12-megapixel sensor for ultra-wide shots. In addition, there is a 12-megapixel front-facing camera that allows taking decent selfies to share on Instagram, while the camera is also good for video calling. If you are in love with wired earphones, the 3.5mm audio jack in a budget flagship will surely please you. Moreover, it comes with 30W fast wired charging, however, you won’t be able to enjoy wireless charging like iPhone 14. Let’s not forget that it offers a good battery life, too.
All in all, if you are looking for a compact phone that can be used as an alternative to iPhone 14, Asus Zenfone 9 is hands-down the best option for you.
Available colors: Starry Blue, Moonlight White, Sunset Red, Midnight Black
Also, if you are looking for a gaming-centric iPhone 14 alternative, we recommend going with the Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate.
6. OnePlus 11
Are you looking for a cheaper iPhone alternative? If yes, OnePlus 11 is one such smartphone that lives up to its motto ‘Never Settle” for just under $700. Yes, it is relatively more affordable than the iPhone 14. But, this doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on performance or camera. OnePlus is known for launching flagship killers at a budget-friendly price, and OnePlus 11 is one of many examples except for the software optimization part. As far as specs are concerned, this affordable iPhone 14 alternative flaunts a gorgeous 6.7” AMOLED screen with support for Dolby Vision HDR. Plus, it has a screen resolution of 1440 x 3216 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz. Plus, a whooping 80W (100W international) fast-wired charging support is enough to blow away any competition at this price point in the U.S. Talking of
photography and videography, this alternative for iPhone 14 comes with a triple rear camera in collaboration with Hasselblad, the legendary Medium format camera brand. FYI, Hasselblad is a top-notch camera company that co-developed cameras for the OnePlus 9 Pro and OnePlus 10 Pro. The details of the three-rear camera sensors and front camera on the OnePlus 11 are as under:
- A 50-megapixel primary camera with a Sony IMX890 sensor
- A 48-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with a Sony IMX581 sensor
- A 32-megapixel telephoto camera with a Sony IMX709 sensor
- A 16-megapixel selfie camera
Even though the triple rear camera setup performs brilliantly, we still feel it lags behind the Pixel 7 Pro, and Galaxy S23 series, in terms of low-light performance and telephoto zoom lens. The overall performance of this Apple iPhone 14 Plus alternative is taken care of by the world’s fastest chip, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. While the device runs on Android 13 and OxygenOS 13 (ColorOS in China). Considering all that, the OnePlus 11 is one of the best iPhone 14 budget alternatives that deliver flagship-level performance and superb user experience at just $699.
Available colors: Titan Black, Eternal Green, Jupiter Rock
8. Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
Are you looking for an iPhone 14 alternative that gives the best stock Android experience? If yes, make sure to grab the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra. It is one of the few phones including Pixel smartphones that offers you an almost Vanilla Android experience. If you are uninitiated by the term ‘Vanilla Android,’ let me explain it to you. Vanilla Android, often sought as Stock Android is the pure and most basic version of the Android operating system developed by Google. In short, there would be no extra bloatware or other unwanted things on your device.
That’s not all, the main highlight of this smartphone is the massive 200-megapixel camera sensor. FYI, we have also covered the news article about the Galaxy S23 Ultra that was launched in February with 200 megapixel main camera. As far as specs are concerned, this premium iPhone alternative features a 6.67” P-OLED display that comes with a 144Hz screen refresh rate and HDR10+ certification. Plus, it has a screen resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, whereas the peak brightness max out at 1250 nits. Besides, the curved display on this phone gives you a good in-hand feel whereas the flat design on the iPhone 14 might not please everyone. Also, some of you might end up getting dented ‘Smartphone Pinky’ (a dent on the little finger caused by overuse of the device). Talking of power, it comes with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor to offer top-notch performance, while it runs on Android 12 (upgradable up to Android 15).
As far as camera specs are concerned, the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra house a triple rear camera setup. There’s a 200-megapixel wide-angle lens with PDAF and OIS features. Alongside, you’ll find a 12-megapixel and 50-megapixel sensor for telephoto and ultrawide shots. Let’s not forget that the telephoto lens also comes with PDAF and a 2x optical zoom feature. On the front, this top alternative to iPhone 14 houses a 60-megapixel camera for better selfies and an awesome video calling experience. The rear camera allows 8K recording at 30fps, whereas the selfie camera ensures that you can shoot 4K videos at 30fps. As far as charging is concerned, the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra is ranked as one of the best fast-charging phones of 2022. It comes with 135W fast wired charging support, 50W fast wireless charging support and 10W reverse wireless charging.
All in all, it is one of the best all arounder Android smartphones that will come out as one of the best iPhone 14 alternatives you can get in 2023.
Available colors: Interstellar Black, Starlight White
9. Realme GT2 Master Explorer Edition
Another iPhone 14 budget alternative phone you can buy in 2023 is the Realme GT2 Explorer Master Edition. The device was launched in September last year and immediately became one of the top picks for being the best Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 smartphone under $600. Talking of specs, this iPhone 14 alternative flaunts a 6.7” FHD+ OLED display and comes with up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and a maximum of 256GB storage. To remind you, it is the first Android phone with LPDDR5X RAM. As far as camera specs are concerned, you will find a triple-rear camera setup on this alternative phone to iPhone 14. The three camera sensors include two 50-megapixel cameras for main and ultrawide shots, whereas a 3-megapixel sensor is there for the microscopic shots. In addition, there’s a 16-megapixel selfie camera that enables you to take some good selfies for your Instagram stories. If you are a
mobile gamer, you would be happy to know that the Realme GT2 Explorer Master edition comes with Pixelorks’s X7 visual processor. The company says that it is incorporated into the device to offer improved gameplay and display performance. Like most of the Android phones in our list of top iPhone 14 alternatives, it also comes with 100W super fast wired charging speed. If claims by the company are taken into consideration, you will be able to fully charge this affordable iPhone 14 alternative in mere 25 minutes. If you are fond of wireless charging, sadly you won’t love the Realme GT2 5G. Why? This alternative smartphone to iPhone 14 lacks wireless charging. So, if you have a wireless charger at your place, it is of no use.
In short, it is one the best value-for-money iPhone 14 alternative phones that doesn’t require much investment. The downside is that it is not officially available in the US as of now.
Available colors: Black, Hardcase, Ice White
10. iQOO 11 5G
iPhone 14 is good when it comes to performance with A16 bionic chip and all, but not everyone wants it. So, if you are looking for an alternative to iPhone 14 that offers you maximum value, iQOO 11 is the perfect choice for you. As we write, it is among a few fastest smartphones available in 2023. I have been using iQOO Z5 5G (a budget performance beast) for a year, and I can tell this brand offers you a plate full of features without charging much. Talking about the specs, this iPhone 14 alternative features a big 6.78-inch LTPO4 AMOLED display with 1440 x 3200 pixels screen resolution. On top of that, it comes with a fast 144 Hz screen refresh rate, HDR10+ display, and 1800 nits peak brightness. It is most likely to outclass the 1600 nits peak brightness offered by iPhone 14. Thanks to the high peak brightness on iQOO 11, you’re likely to get an extremely colorful and bright screen for an immersive viewing experience even in bright daylight. Talking of performance, this affordable iPhone 14 alternative houses the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset which also pushes it top of the list of being the best gaming smartphone of 2023. Besides, it runs on FunTouchOS 13 which is an Android 13 mask developed by the company, however, it’s not Vanilla Android.
If the megapixel game is concerned, iQOO 11 stands out as a fairly respectable option as an iPhone 14 alternative. There’s a 16-megapixel front-facing camera, which on paper is better than iPhone 14’s 12-megapixel selfie cam. However, there are noticeable differences in the photos or videos you take due to Apple’s superb image processing technology. On the back, iQOO 11 houses three camera sensors, and a 50-megapixel primary lens with OIS. In addition, there are two sensors – a 13-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, while the ultra-wide shots are taken care of by a standalone 8-megapixel sensor. All that said, iPhone 14 is still a better option for
photographers, vloggers, or even filmmakers out there.
When it comes to charging, iPhone lags behind most Android smartphones available these days. For your reference, this upper mid-range iPhone 14 alternative has a whooping 120W wired charging, which the company claims can fully charge the device in 25 minutes. That’s not all, the Pro model of this phone comes with 200W wired, that’s crazy. Time will tell whether Apple will offer such charging speed with upcoming USB-C-powered iPhones. Moreover, the device is available in the USA and works with major network carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.
Available colors: Black, Green, and White (with BMW M branding)
That’s all for now in this rundown of the best iPhone 14 alternatives you can buy in 2023. Also, if you are looking for a better alternative to Pixel 7, make sure to check out our roundup of the
best Pixel 7 alternatives to get in 2023.
Banner Image Source: Unsplash
