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The best Apple iPhone 15 alternatives
Samsung
The Apple iPhone 15 and its adjacent models have finally been announced. The newest Apple smartphone has plenty of interesting features, like faster charging via USB-C and enhanced optical zoom. But it’s not the only new phone in town: There are plenty of Android smartphones that deliver fantastic user experiences that Apple simply can’t match, often at a lower price.
There are viable Apple iPhone 15 alternatives from Samsung, Google and OnePlus, to name a few. But it can be difficult to choose which one will work best for you. These phones all take excellent photos, provide top-notch call quality and play your favorite games just like the new iPhone can. Some of these Android smartphones even fold into smaller form factors.
Check out our picks below for some of the best Apple iPhone 15 alternatives available today.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: $1,200
Samsung
Display Size: 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Battery: 5,700mAh | Dimensions: 6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 inches | Weight: 6.6 ounces | Charging Options: Wired or wireless | Stylus: No | Front Camera: 12MP | Rear Cameras: 200MP with 30x digital zoom
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is effectively the main Android phone that acts as an equivalent to the iPhone 15, though it’s more in line with the iPhone 15 Pro lineup given what’s under the hood.
Powered by the fastest mobile processor currently available, it’s not only sufficiently zippy and powerful, but it can handle multiple tasks thrown at it so you can get on with your day.
It takes great photos, too, thanks to its 200MP camera, capturing sharp images even in challenging lighting with its advanced Night Mode feature. It can shoot great video too, with built-in Video Stabilization that ensures your clips are free from the dreaded not-on-purpose shaky cam.
The built-in S Pen is also a great addition to the package, letting you convert handwritten notes to digital, sketch photos, and use it as a stylus to navigate the phone.
The Adaptive Display adjusts to different lighting conditions for optimal viewing. With a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery and a base storage of 256GB, it’s both powerful and spacious. In short, the S23 Ultra sets a new standard for Android phones.
The phone will run for quite a while too, on its 5,000mAh battery, which means you don’t have to spend all day charging it. Paired with a spacious starting storage of 256GB, the S23 Ultra is both a powerhouse and a reliable daily companion. It’s also our pick for a must-have Android smartphone.
Key features of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra:
- It’s equipped with the fastest mobile processor of 2023.
- Its camera boasts a remarkable 200MP resolution, complemented by an advanced Night Mode feature.
- Video Stabilization on the device ensures recordings are steady and smooth.
- There’s a built-in S Pen that serves for both note-taking and as a camera shutter.
- One of its standout features is the Adaptive Display, which adjusts automatically for the optimal viewing experience.
- The device is powered by a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: $1,000
Samsung
Outside Display Size: 3.4-inch Super AMOLED | Inside Display Size: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x Infinity Flex display | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB or 512GB | Battery: 3,700mAh | Dimensions: 3.25 x 2.83 x 0.59 inches (closed), 6.5 x 2.83 x 0.27 inches (open) | Weight: 6.6 ounces | Charging Options: Wired or wireless | Stylus: No | Front Camera: 10MP | Rear Cameras: 12MP (wide), 12MP (ultra-wide) with 10x digital zoom
Apple doesn’t make a phone that flips yet. Stay ahead of the curve with the most popular flip-style smartphone on the market right now. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 comes equipped with a new Flex Window that keeps it on the cutting-edge of what’s cool. It’s a 3.4-inch AMOLED screen (748 x 720) on the outside of the phone that you can use one handed when the phone is snapped shut.
The other main upgrade here is the processor — the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Samsung Galaxy Fold 5 are both powered by the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. That means better performance when using the phone over previous generations.
It may be easy to confuse this model with the Samsung Galaxy Fold 5 given their somewhat similar names, but keep in mind that this model is one that folds vertically like a classic flip phone and doesn’t fold open like the other phone in Samsung’s lineup.
The outside window that’s available to use when the phone is closed is one of the best gimmicks about this smartphone, and useful for several reasons, as it gives you a way to check messages, use apps, and interact with others without having to open and close your phone too much.
Beyond the bells and whistles that make this smartphone unique, it’s an interesting piece of tech with plenty of power behind it that feels like true innovation, even if it isn’t a completely different upgrade from its predecessor. And it can certainly hang in there with what the iPhone 15 has to offer.
Key features of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5:
- It has an exterior 6.7″ AMOLED FHD+ screen with 120 Hz refresh (425 ppi) and interior 3.4″ AMOLED Flex Window screen with 60 Hz refresh rate (306 ppi).
- It comes in 256 GB and 512 GB storage options.
- It comes with 8 GB RAM.
- It boasts a large 3,700 mAh battery.
- Its camera array includes a 12MP wide camera and 12MP ultrawide camera with 10x digital zoom.
- It’s IPX8 waterproof, which means it’s protected against continuous submersion.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: $1,800
Samsung
Outside Display Size: 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display HD+ | Inside Display Size: 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x Infinity Flex Display | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Battery: 4,400mAh | Dimensions: 6.24 x 5.06 x 0.26 inches (open), 6.24 x 2.66 x 0.52 inches (closed) | Weight: 8.9 ounces | Charging Options: Wired or wireless | Stylus: S Pen included | Front Camera: 10MP (cover screen), 4MP (under display, main screen) | Rear Cameras: 50MP (wide), 12MP (ultra-wide), 10MP Tele 2x optical zoom (30x space zoom)
Apple doesn’t make a flip phone, and it certainly hasn’t released a folding phone — yet. If you’re ready for something large and in charge, try the inimitable Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, which boasts the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor for better-than-ever performance.
It comes packing a stunning 7.6″ AMOLED QXGA+ display that refreshes at a120 Hz rate with 374 ppi. While there is a small fold line visible down the middle, it’s barely noticeable and folds out to make a gorgeous way to view TV shows, movies, and plenty of TikToks if that’s your thing. Combined with a formidable 12 GB RAM, this device promises swift multitasking with enough screen real estate to handle anything.
For photography hobbyists, this is a great model for doing just that with a 50MP wide camera, 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens that offers 3x optical and up to 30x space zoom.
It can also help you power through your day with a 4400 mAh battery. Plus, you won’t have to fear the occasional dip with its IPX8 waterproof rating.
For those looking for a good reason to opt for this phone beyond its stunning foldable screen, consider the S Pen. The thinner S Pen stylus, upgraded from the previous model, can be used for jotting notes, sketching, or simply navigating the phone. It feels silky smooth to use, with no noticeable lag or trouble processing input.
Key features of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5:
- It has a 7.6″ AMOLED QXGA+ screen with 120 Hz refresh (374 ppi).
- Its models come in 256 GB and 512 GB storage options (free upgrade to 512 GB is available).
- It features 12 GB RAM.
- Its large 4400 mAh battery is great for all-day use.
- Its camera array includes a 50MP wide camera and 12MP ultrawide camera with 10MP tele 3x optical zoom.
- Its IPX8 waterproof protection means it’s protected if you submerge it.
Google Pixel 7 Pro: $650
Amazon
Display Size: 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED | Processor: Google Tensor G2 | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 128GB | Battery: 5,000mAh | Dimensions: 6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 inches | Weight: 7.48 ounces | Charging Options: Wired or wireless | Stylus: No | Front Camera: 10.8MP | Rear Cameras: 50MP with 30x digital zoom, 5x optical zoom
It’s not just Samsung that holds down the fort when it comes to great Apple iPhone 15 alternatives. The Google Pixel 7 Pro, powered by the updated Tensor G2 silicon processor, impresses not just in raw speed similar to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in performance, but its wide scope of features. It includes innovative options like Photo Unblur and enhanced Night Sight, both unique additions exclusive to the Pixel 7 lineup.
But its hardware is equally as awesome. The phone boasts a 6.7-inch OLED display with QHD+ resolution. The Pixel 7 Pro has a noticeably brighter screen than the Pixel 7 model, and it looks great in just about any situation.
Battery-wise, the Pixel 7 Pro packs a substantial 5,000 mAh capacity. Despite the Pixel 6 Pro’s similar battery not meeting some users’ expectations, it’s interesting to note the performance of its successor. It can last about 10 hours per charge even with heavy use, which is close in performance to most other models on the market.
It’s more than its processor and battery size, though. the Pixel 7 Pro also includes an enhanced three-camera system with a 50-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and 48-megapixel telephoto lens.
The ultra-wide lens is 20% wider than the prior model and offers stronger autofocus. The smartphone includes enhanced zoom capabilities for clearer photos up to a 30x zoom, all of which makes it an ideal option for aspiring shutterbugs or anyone who plans on using it as a mobile selfie station.
Key features of the Google Pixel 7 Pro:
- It’s powered by a formidable Tensor G2 silicon processor.
- Exclusive features like Photo Unblur and enhanced Night Sight enhance pictures.
- It has a crisp 6.7-inch OLED QHD+ display.
- The robust 5,000 mAh battery means longer use time than others on the market.
- Its 50MP main camera and 12MP ultra-wide camera options are complemented by a 48MP telephoto lens.
OnePlus 11: $599
OnePlus
Display Size: 6.7-inch LTPO3 Fluid AMOLED | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Battery: 5,000mAh | Dimensions: 6.42 x 2.92 x 0.33 inches | Weight: 7.23 ounces | Charging Options: Wired or wireless | Stylus: Yes | Front Camera: 16MP | Rear Cameras: 50MP
Don’t sleep on OnePlus’ flagship phone. Like Apple’s latest line, the OnePlus 11 comes equipped with high-end hardware that should be more than capable of handling your needs.
There’s plenty of screen real estate to play with, for one thing. It has a massive 6.7-inch display, which rivals the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s screen, Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 8GB RAM, and a triple camera array. There’s an impressive 50 MP main camera, a telephoto lens, and an Ultra-wide camera for crisp selfies, great background shots, and 4K video footage.
Instead of traditional Android, the OnePlus 11 uses an operating system called Oxygen OS. It’s a bit different from the vanilla version you’re likely used to with Samsung and Google phones, but it’s well worth getting familiar with, especially with a phone at this price.
Of course, there’s the lack of brand recognition that might put you off — but don’t let it. OnePlus is well-known in many tech circles for its great phones, extensive feature selection, and low-priced, high performance smartphones. You’re going to get a great device here, and some fun, unique perks like a phone that doesn’t look like anyone else’s, for one thing.
Key features of the OnePlus 11:
- Its Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 2 processor is fast and furious when it comes to multitasking.
- Its 6.7″ display is crisp, colorful, and bright — perfect for browsing, reading, or texting with friends.
- The 16MP selfie camera and 50MP rear camera work in tandem to create fantastic photos.
- You’re covered all day with long-lasting battery life thanks to its 5,000mAh pack.
- It’s attractively priced for budget-conscious buyers.
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Former Israeli hostages released in truce 1 year ago call for action to release those still held
Former Israeli hostages who were freed from Hamas captivity during a week-long humanitarian pause in fighting exactly one year ago Sunday called for immediate action to secure a deal for the release of those still held.
The only truce in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war on Nov. 24, 2023 – fewer than two months after fighting began – led to the release of 80 Israelis held by militants in Gaza. They were freed in exchange for 240 Palestinians detained in Israeli jails.
Repeated efforts since then by mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States to secure another truce and hostage release have failed. Qatar early this month said it was suspending its mediation role until the warring sides show “seriousness.”
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Gabriella Leimberg was kidnapped during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack and was released along with her daughter, Mia, and sister Clara.
“For 53 days, the one thing that kept me going is that we, the people of Israel, the Jewish people, sanctify life — we don’t leave anyone behind,” she said.
Leimberg added: “Everything has already been said and now action is required. We don’t have any more time.”
Around 100 hostages are still in Gaza, and at least a third are believed to be dead.
“I survived and I was fortunate to get my entire family back,” Leimberg said. “I want and demand this for all the families of the hostages.”
Hamas wants Israel to end the war and withdraw all troops from Gaza. Israel has offered only to pause its offensive.
The Palestinian death toll from the war surpassed 44,000 this week, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.
Maya Alleruzzo / AP
Danielle Aloni, who was kidnapped with her five-year-old daughter, Emelia, and freed after 49 days, spoke at the ceremony of the “increasing danger” those still being held face every day.
She said those still in captivity “suffer physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, their identity and dignity crushed anew each day”.
“It took the Israeli government about two months to secure a deal for me and 80 other Israeli hostages. Why is it taking over a year to reach another deal to free them from this hell?” asked Aloni, whose brother-in-law, David Cunio, and his brother, Ariel Cunio, are still being held.
She emphasized that, even though she and the other hostages gained their freedom a year ago, “we haven’t really left the tunnels,” — referring to Hamas’ underground tunnels where many of the hostages were held.
“The feeling of suffocation, the terrible humidity, the stench — these sensations still envelop us,” Aloni said.
“If people could truly understand what it means to be held in subhuman conditions in tunnels, surrounded by terrorists for 54 days — there’s no way they would allow hostages to remain there for 415 days!” said Raz Ben Ami, who was released in the deal a year ago.
Her husband, Ohad, is still among those being held.
Ben Ami called for a ceasefire to “bring back all the hostages as quickly as possible”.
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Couple charged for allegedly stealing $1 million from Lululemon in convoluted retail theft scheme
A couple from Connecticut faces charges for allegedly taking part in an intricate retail theft operation targeting the apparel company Lululemon that may have amounted to $1 million worth of stolen items, according to a criminal complaint.
The couple, Jadion Anthony Richards, 44, and Akwele Nickeisha Lawes-Richards, 45, were arrested Nov. 14 in Woodbury, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Richards and Lawes-Richards have been charged with one count each of organized retail theft, which is a felony, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office said. They are from Danbury, Connecticut.
The alleged operation impacted Lululemon stores in multiple states, including Minnesota.
“Because of the outstanding work of the Roseville Police investigators — including their new Retail Crime Unit — as well as other law enforcement agencies, these individuals accused of this massive retail theft operation have been caught,” a spokesperson for the attorney’s office said in a statement on Nov. 18. “We will do everything in our power to hold these defendants accountable and continue to work with our law enforcement partners and retail merchants to put a stop to retail theft in our community.”
Both Richards and Lawes-Richards have posted bond as of Sunday and agreed to the terms of a court-ordered conditional release, according to the county attorney. For Richards, the court had set bail at $100,000 with conditional release, including weekly check-ins, or $600,000 with unconditional release. For Lawes-Richards, bail was set at $30,000 with conditional release and weekly check-ins or $200,000 with unconditional release. They are scheduled to appear again in court Dec. 16.
Prosecutors had asked for $1 million bond to be placed on each half of the couple, the attorney’s office said.
Richards and Lawes-Richards are accused by authorities of orchestrating a convoluted retail theft scheme that dates back to at least September. Their joint arrests came one day after the couple allegedly set off store alarms while trying to leave a Lululemon in Roseville, Minnesota, and an organized retail crime investigator, identified in charging documents by the initials R.P., recognized them.
The couple were allowed to leave the Roseville store. But the investigator later told an officer who responded to the incident that Richards and Lawes-Richards were seasoned shoplifters, who apparently stole close to $5,000 worth of Lululemon items just that day and were potentially “responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss to the store across the country,” according to the complaint. That number was eventually estimated by an investigator for the brand to be even higher, with the criminal complaint placing it at as much as $1 million.
Richards and Lawes-Richards allegedly involved other individuals in their shoplifting pursuits, but none were identified by name in the complaint. Authorities said they were able to successfully pull off the thefts by distracting store employees and later committing fraudulent returns with the stolen items at different Lululemon stores.
“Between October 29, 2024 and October 30, 2024, RP documented eight theft incidents in Colorado involving Richards and Lawes-Richards and an unidentified woman,” authorities wrote in the complaint, describing an example of how the operation would allegedly unfold.
“The group worked together using specific organized retail crime tactics such as blocking and distraction of associates to commit large thefts,” the complaint said. “They selected coats and jackets and held them up as if they were looking at them in a manner that blocked the view of staff and other guests while they selected and concealed items. They removed security sensors using a tool of some sort at multiple stores.”
CBS News contacted Lululemon for comment but did not receive an immediate reply.
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Former Trump national security adviser says next couple months are “really critical” for Ukraine
Washington — Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, a former national security adviser to Donald Trump, said Sunday that the upcoming months will be “really critical” in determining the “next phase” of the war in Ukraine as the president-elect is expected to work to force a negotiated settlement when he enters office.
McMaster, a CBS News contributor, said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that Russia and Ukraine are both incentivized to make “as many gains on the battlefield as they can before the new Trump administration comes in” as the two countries seek leverage in negotiations.
With an eye toward strengthening Ukraine’s standing before President-elect Donald Trump returns to office in the new year, the Biden administration agreed in recent days to provide anti-personnel land mines for use, while lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S.-made longer range missiles to strike within Russian territory. The moves come as Ukraine marked more than 1,000 days since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Meanwhile, many of Trump’s key selection for top posts in his administration — Rep. Mike Waltz for national security adviser and Sens. Marco Rubio for secretary of state and JD Vance for Vice President — haven’t been supportive of providing continued assistance to Ukraine, or have advocated for a negotiated end to the war.
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McMaster said the dynamic is “a real problem” and delivers a “psychological blow to the Ukrainians.”
“Ukrainians are struggling to generate the manpower that they need and to sustain their defensive efforts, and it’s important that they get the weapons they need and the training that they need, but also they have to have the confidence that they can prevail,” he said. “And any sort of messages that we might reduce our aid are quite damaging to them from a moral perspective.”
McMaster said he’s hopeful that Trump’s picks, and the president-elect himself, will “begin to see the quite obvious connections between the war in Ukraine and this axis of aggressors that are doing everything they can to tear down the existing international order.” He cited the North Korean soldiers fighting on European soil in the first major war in Europe since World War II, the efforts China is taking to “sustain Russia’s war-making machine,” and the drones and missiles Iran has provided as part of the broader picture.
“So I think what’s happened is so many people have taken such a myopic view of Ukraine, and they’ve misunderstood Putin’s intentions and how consequential the war is to our interests across the world,” McMaster said.
On Trump’s selections for top national security and defense posts, McMaster stressed the importance of the Senate’s advice and consent role in making sure “the best people are in those positions.”
McMaster outlined that based on his experience, Trump listens to advice and learns from those around him. And he argued that the nominees for director of national intelligence and defense secretary should be asked key questions like how they will “reconcile peace through strength,” and what they think “motivates, drives and constrains” Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump has tapped former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence, who has been criticized for her views on Russia and other U.S. adversaries. McMaster said Sunday that Gabbard has a “fundamental misunderstanding” about what motivates Putin.
More broadly, McMaster said he “can’t understand” the Republicans who “tend to parrot Vladimir Putin’s talking points,” saying “they’ve got to disabuse themselves of this strange affection for Vladimir Putin.”
Meanwhile, when asked about Trump’s recent selection of Sebastian Gorka as senior director for counterterrorism and deputy assistant to the president, McMaster said he doesn’t think Gorka is a good person to advise the president-elect on national security. But he noted that “the president, others who are working with him, will probably determine that pretty quickly.”
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