The Best Smartphones Under SGD 2000: Galaxy Z Flip 5, iPhone 14 Pro Max And More

Price: SGD 1,828

This is probably one of the most opulent smartphones of 2023.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra from Samsung is easily one of the best phones to buy right now, if not THE best. With a design that is stylish and full of exquisite touches, the S23 Ultra is built for the elite. Its four rear cameras offer stunning photography, so much so that it has made us wonder if we even need crop-sensor DSLR cameras anymore. The 200-megapixel camera also impresses with its colour science and great low-light imaging, while the 10x optical zoom is a photographer’s delight.

With its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, the Galaxy S23 Ultra runs effortlessly, indirectly helping its 5,000mAh battery offer over a day’s stamina on a single charge. However, the biggest reason to consider the S23 Ultra is its brilliant and immersive 6.8-inch QuadHD+ 1Hz-120Hz AMOLED display, which also tags along its own S Pen stylus stowed within the phone.

(Image Credits: Courtesy Samsung)

Price: SGD 1,528

For those looking for something less expensive than the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Galaxy S23 Plus makes for a smart choice.

After all, it is built around the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset as the S23 Ultra, which means you are guaranteed similar levels of extreme performance. Not to mention, its 4,700mAh battery is almost as good as the Ultra’s, delivering all-day battery stamina with ease. The 6.6-inch FHD+ AMOLED display is a tad smaller but offers almost the same big screen experience you come to expect from Samsung’s devices. 

The Galaxy S23 Plus also has a versatile set of cameras. The triple rear camera with its 50-megapixel main camera delivers great photography results in both day and night. The 3x telephoto camera is also a great tool at your disposal for shooting brilliant portrait photos. To sum it up, the Galaxy S23 Plus is the nicest all-rounder you can buy at this price point. 

(Image Credits: Courtesy Samsung)

Price: SGD 1,498

The newest kid on the block is also the coolest one of the lot. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 makes the flip phone form factor more desirable with its larger and more practical cover display. In fact, you can pretty much run all of your apps on this compact display, without needing to use the main display. Responding to texts or quickly checking out YouTube videos on this small display is a LOT of fun. 

The rest of the smartphone is nothing short of stellar. The design is stylish and durable. The main flexible display, with its 6.7-inch canvas and 120Hz refresh rate, is simply the best in its class. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip offers all the performance you need without putting a strain on the small 3,700mAh battery, making this a phone that will easily last all day long. The dual 12-megapixel main cameras offer good imaging performance and with the Flex Mode adjustments, you can even get your own tripod effect!

Simply put, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is undoubtedly the trendsetter of the season.

(Image Credits: Courtesy Samsung)

Price: SGD 1,815

With the launch of the iPhone 15 series just around the corner, it’s probably unwise to buy the older iPhone 14 Pro Max. However, if you do end up getting one today, there won’t be any regrets. After all, despite being the oldest phone here, the iPhone 14 Pro Max beats most of its rivals when it comes to sheer performance. The A16 Bionic chip is a powerhouse of raw performance, and when paired with iOS 16/iOS 17, you can expect splendid optimisation that results in a highly polished user experience. Combine this with a large capacity battery and the iPhone 14 Pro Max can survive up to two days on a single charge (if you are cautious). 

Despite the new 48-megapixel main camera, the still photography performance on the iPhone 14 Pro Max is not on par with Samsung’s S23 Ultra. However, it spares no one with its videography performance, which is nothing short of flawless. Add to that the glamorous design and the iPhone 14 Pro Max continues to be one the best smartphones under SGD 2000.

Now, all eyes remain on the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s launch in the near future. 

(Image Credits: Courtesy Apple)

 Price: SGD 1,299

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is one of the older yet more affordable smartphones you can buy in this category. The Pixel 7 Pro’s primary draw is its splendid set of cameras that continue to delight in every condition. With a 50-megapixel main camera, the Pixel’s onboard image processing via the Tensor G2 chip results in natural colours and impressive clarity. The 48-megapixel 5x optical zoom camera is another blessing for those who seek great zoom performance. These cameras are also capable of doing good videography.

Other than its photography prowess, the Pixel 7 Pro also delivers the nicest Android experience on any smartphone, with a focus on cutesy aesthetics. The Tensor G2 chip is fast and efficient enough to keep the phone running smoothly, though it does have a tendency to heat up substantially. The 5,000mah battery also struggles to last an entire day, though its biggest redeeming factor is its unique design. 

(Image Credits: Courtesy Google)

Price: SGD 1,599

The Xiaomi 13 Pro belongs to a niche category of smartphones focusing solely on cameras. Its triple cameras, each with a 50-megapixel image sensor, have been tuned by Leica to obtain a certain style of photography that is synonymous with Leica’s cameras. If you love taking portrait and black and white photos, this is a must-have smartphone under SGD 2000. 

The rest of the Xiaomi 13 Pro flaunts high-end specifications as well including a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, a 4,820mAh battery and a 120W wired fast charging solution. However, the MIUI 13 software experience may not be to everyone’s liking and Xiaomi’s software support is questionable at best. 

(Image Credits: Courtesy Xiaomi)

Price: SGD 1,532

The Huawei P60 Pro is unconventional in most ways imaginable. Be it the design or its choice of chipset, the P60 Pro is not an easy recommendation in this category for everyone. For us though, it’s this exclusivity that sets it apart from the crowd. 

The Huawei P60 Pro is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip from last year but lacks the 5G modem. Hence, you are stuck with 4G networks. On the flip side, however, you can expect greater battery life than most 5G phones. A 6.67-inch 1220 x 2700 pixel resolution display with curved edges and Kunlun Glass protection is complemented by the 4,815mAh battery with 88W wired and 50W wireless charging. The triple rear camera system comprising a 48-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel 3.5x optical zoom camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera fulfils all the photography and videography needs of beginners and professionals alike.  

(Image Credits: Courtesy Huawei)