In this article, we will take a look at the 15 most expensive smartphones on the market. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 5 Most Expensive Smartphones On The Market.
The Smartphone Market: At a Glance
According to a report by Reuters, the global smartphone market has shown promising signs of recovery after a persistent slump of two years. The report highlights, that the sell-through volumes of smartphones expanded by 5% in October, the first time the market reported a positive year-over-year growth rate since June 2021. With the market loosening up a bit, 2024 is expected to show strong signs of resilience, if not growth, in the smartphone industry. The report sheds light on the growth of Huawei's smartphone sales in China during the third quarter, despite the slump across the globe. The company's sales expanded by 37%, especially due to its new and improved Mate 60 smartphone series. Saturated markets, on the other hand, have been growing slowly.
With the uncertainty encapsulating the smartphone industry in developed countries, emerging economies with a rapidly growing population have yet to reach the maturity stage. On December 13, Reuters reported that a Japanese smartphone parts supplier, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (OTC:MRAAY) is set to boost supply to Chinese producers of low-end smartphones for emerging markets such as India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The company suggests, that by March 2025, the global smartphone market will expand by 5%, providing an opportunity to penetrate markets with higher demand. The saturation of the smartphone industry may be worrisome to big names, but the rising demand from emerging economies may be monumental in the long run. You can also take a look at the best selling smartphones in Japan.
Prominent Companies in the Smartphone Industry
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (OTC:SSNLF), and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) are some of the most prominent smartphone manufacturers across the globe. Let's discuss some recent updates from these companies. You can also take a look at some of the best selling smartphones in the world.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) continues to offer groundbreaking updates to its users. On December 11, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced the launch of spatial videos for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users. These spatial videos can then be viewed in Apple Vision Pro by early next year. The spatial videos feature, once activated, allows users to capture videos in three dimensions in 1080p at 30 frames per second. These videos can be regularly shared, however, they will be able to be viewed at full functionality on the Apple Vision Pro.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (OTC:SSNLF) a global leader in electronics, is home to some of the most innovative and popular smartphones. On October 30, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (OTC:SSNLF), announced the release of the Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro. The phone was launched in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain on November 1, and was launched in Australia on November 2. Inspired by the 20-year-old SGH-E700, the new flip phone comes with three different Flipsuit cards of logos from different phases of the company's history.
Moreover, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (OTC:SSNLF) announced a collaboration with Maison Margiela on November 30 to develop a special edition of the Galaxy Z Flip5. The Parisian Haute Couture house will transform the phone to become a fashion statement and a means of self-expression. The special edition comes with a rear glass intricately showing the Maison Margiela design with a silver and metallic gradient. The subtle transparency of the device makes it highly attractive and unique. Such collaborations enable Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (OTC:SSNLF) to establish a strong footprint across the globe for different niches.
Google Pixel by Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has been gaining immense traction across the globe for its functionality and features. On October 4, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) announced the launch of a custom silicon chip, the Tensor G3, for its new Pixel phones. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro come with the chip, enabling users to enjoy AI-driven updates. The chip includes the latest versions of CPUs, enabling users to run Google's AI models. Speech and natural language understanding is at the core of the chip, supported by the smooth running of Google Assistant. Moreover, the chip also extends to enhance the quality of videos and photos by empowering Live-HDR to capture moments with better color dynamics and range.
With that, let's take a look at the 15 most expensive smartphones on the market.
15 Most Expensive Smartphones On The Market
15 Most Expensive Smartphones On The Market
Our Methodology
For our title, 15 most expensive smartphones on the market we first sifted through Amazon and eBay to gain better insights on some of the most expensive smartphones on the market. We first gathered names from the two websites and then cross-checked the official retail prices of each of the smartphones from the official company website. The list of the 15 most expensive smartphones on the market is in ascending order of the official retail price of the smartphone as of December 12, 2023.
It is to be noted that while limited edition models and gold or diamond-embellished smartphones by luxury companies are considered to be some of the most expensive smartphones, we decided to only include smartphones bought by the average consumer. Therefore, our list contains the most expensive smartphones among the general mass consumer segment.
Moreover, while we tried to source the official retail price for each of the smartphones, some companies did not reveal prices due to regional considerations. For such cases, we have sourced the official price of the smartphone in any country available, preferably the home country, and converted it to US dollars. Such instances can be identified with the subhead, "Estimated Retail Price as of December 12, 2023."
15 Most Expensive Smartphones On The Market
15. Motorola Razr+
Retail Price as of December 12, 2023: $999
The Motorola Razr+ is one of the most expensive smartphones on the market right now. While the phone has a retail price of $999, the phone is available at a discounted price of $699 on the official Motorola site as a one-time payment. The flip smartphone is now available in a unique peach fuzz color. The device has an internal storage of 256GB and 8GB RAM with a 3,800 mAh non-removable battery.
14. iPhone 15 Pro
Retail Price as of December 12, 2023: $999
According to our methodology, the iPhone 15 Pro ranks among the most expensive smartphones on the market right now, with a minimum price tag of $999 for 128GB storage. The device comes in four colors including natural titanium, blue titanium, white titanium, and black titanium. You can get the the device with 512GB storage or 1TB storage for $1,299 and $1,499 respectively.
13. Samsung Galaxy S22+
Retail Price as of December 12, 2023: $1,049
The Samsung Galaxy S22+ ranks as one of the most expensive smartphones on the market, with an official retail price of $1,049. The device has a 4,500 mAh battery life with internal storage of 128GB or 256GB and 8GB RAM. The 6.6-inch device also comes with 5G capabilities, fingerprint detection, and wireless powershare.
12. Oppo Find N3
Estimated Retail Price as of December 12, 2023: $1,128.76
The Oppo Find N3 is one of the most expensive smartphones on the market right now. The device has 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. The device comes with a 4,805 mAh battery life and fast charge. The box comes with a USB data cable, charger, sim tools, a protective case, and a safety guide. While we were unable to source the official price, the smartphone is officially priced at S$1,499 for 12GB RAM and 256 GB storage, and at S$2,399 for 16GB RAM and 512GB storage.
11. iPhone 15 Pro Max
Retail Price as of December 12, 2023: $1,199
According to our methodology, the iPhone 15 Pro Max ranks among the most expensive smartphones on the market right now. The smartphone comes in four colors including black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium, and natural titanium with a ceramic shield front and matte glass back. The device has three storage capacity options including 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, and is available for $1,199, $1,399, and $1,599 respectively. The box also comes with a USB C-type cable.
10. Honor Magic V2
Estimated Retail Price as of December 12, 2023: $1,272
According to our methodology, the Honor Magic V2 ranks among the most expensive smartphones on the market right now. The dual-screen phone comes in four colors including purple, black (PU), gold, and black. The device has an octa-core CPU with a triple rear camera, 5,000 mAh battery life, and super fast charging. The device also supports 5G networks. We were unable to source the official global price, however, the device was launched in China for 8,999 yuan.
9. Sony Xperia 1 III
Retail Price as of December 12, 2023: $1,299.99
According to our methodology, the Sony Xperia 1 III ranks as one of the most expensive smartphones on the market. The device has 360-degree reality audio and three cameras with four focal lengths. The smartphone has built-in 5G capabilities, is water resistant, and is supported by major US carriers including Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. The device is available on the official Sony site for $1,299.99
8. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Retail Price as of December 12, 2023: $1,299.99
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra ranks as one of the most expensive smartphones on the market, with a retail price of $1,299.99. The smartphone has a 5,000 mAh battery life. The device comes with two internal storage options including 8GB RAM with 128GB storage, and 12GB RAM with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage. The smartphone also has a wireless powershare option.
7. Sony Xperia 1 V
Retail Price as of December 12, 2023: $1,399.99
The Sony Xperia 1 V is among the most expensive smartphones on the market. The device comes in two colors including black and Green. While the device was originally priced at $1,399.99 on the official Sony site, the smartphone in black is available at a discounted price of $1,199.99. The device has 12GB RAM and 512 GB storage with 5,000 mAh battery life.
6. Huawei Mate X3
Estimated Retail Price as of December 12, 2023: $1,559.77
The Huawei Mate X3, a quad-curve foldable device, is among the most expensive smartphones on the market right now. The device comes in five colors including white, black, violet, dark green, and gold. The device is also powered with a 7th Gen Qualcomm AI engine, making it an extremely attractive option for users. The phone has 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. We were unable to source the official global listed retail price, however, the device is available in Malaysia for 7,228 MYR.
