The best smartphone 2022

The year 2022 is almost halfway through and the gods of technology have blessed us with some really brilliant smartphones. Whether you’re looking for performance, camera smarts, or value, our definitive list of the 10 best phones has it all.

The best phone on this list isn’t the ideal phone for everyone, so be sure to check out all ten. The best phone for you exists based on what you value the most: camera, battery life, design, specs, price, and more.

Features from Samsung and Apple, of course, but by looking further at Android rivals like OnePlus, Google, Oppo and Xiaomi, you may find your ideal pocket companion. Trust us, all of these phones work, just slightly differently, and that’s a great thing. Good competition means better phones for everyone!

1. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: the best phone ever

While the S21 Ultra had similar features to the Note, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is undeniably a complete successor to the Note 20 Ultra 2020 in all but name. It’s expensive but it’s the best phone you can buy right now with incredible performance and balanced features.

The design is markedly different from the rest of the Galaxy S22 series (ie very “note-like”) and features an integrated S Pen that expands functionality beyond most competitors, especially when it comes to productivity.

Despite the familiar-looking camera hardware, Samsung’s updates make it one of the best systems on any phone right now; With a 108-megapixel main shot supported by an ultra wide angle and two telephoto lenses at different zoom levels, the zoom performance is significantly improved over previous models.

The large 6.8-inch AMOLED LTPO screen offers both high WQHD + resolution and an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, while long-term software support that even surpasses Google’s pixels completes an impressive list of professionals. If you can handle its massive size, it’s a real winner, with five years of software support the best in Android land.

2. iPhone 14 Pro – The best iPhone

The regular iPhone 14 is a very small upgrade over the iPhone 13, so it’s a pleasant surprise that the iPhone 14 Pro is a big step up from its predecessor. Some of the changes are only superficial, but when a visual overhaul like Dynamic Island makes its debut, it’s hard to miss.

Apple reduced its famous display notch to a pill and a circle under the top bezel, but filled the blank with black pixels, then animations to bring up notifications and app updates, creating a use for cutouts. now visible in cameras on most phone screens. It is very smart and means you can see the playing music, timers, weather and more constantly at the top of the screen without having to log into the app.

The cameras on the phone are also exceptionally good, as the iPhone’s first 48-megapixel sensor allows for 2x zoom in addition to a 3x telephoto lens and capable wide-angle. Apple has finally also introduced an always-on display that simply dims the lock screen and doesn’t affect battery life, at least in our tests. It’s not a huge upgrade over the 13 Pro, but if your phone is three or four years old, this iPhone looks light years away from the future.

3. Google Pixel 6 Pro: the best user experience

Google rocked things for 2021 with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro introducing the company’s Tensor silicon and an updated Android 12 experience, along with a completely new design and some significantly improved cameras.

Despite abandoning the naming convention of the Pixel XL, the 6 Pro is undeniably a great phone with a gorgeous curved edge OLED display that, for the first time in the series, allows for the transition to a higher and smoother 120Hz refresh rate. (just like the iPhone 13 Pro series).

The camera system is also based on a new 50-megapixel main sensor that offers incredible dynamic range and introduces new smart features like Magic Eraser and Rock-solid Face Unblur. It is also supported by both a 12-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens and a 48-megapixel periscopic telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom; a far cry from the old Pixel series approach to single sensor photography.

Tensor doesn’t compare well to its competitors, but in the real world it offers more than enough grunt to handle the most demanding mobile apps and games, while also offering specialized skills for machine learning and tasks.

4. Oppo Find X5 Pro: great cameras

The Oppo Find X5 Pro is a phenomenal phone in every respect. The 6.7-inch 10-bit 120Hz QHD + panel is one of the best displays on any phone right now and Oppo supports it with 80W wired and 50W wireless charging, 5000mAh battery and a top-notch 50MP camera. . fixed focal length and ultra wide-angle lenses.

You’ll have to live without a periscope zoom – this telephoto lens has a measly 2x zoom – but the results with all three rear lenses are outstanding. The design is also unique, thanks to a perfectly angled camera module integrated directly into the ceramic of the phone housing.

For pure performance, the Find X5 Pro is also hard to beat, with all of the above plus a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, 256GB of storage, and 12GB of RAM. You just have to be willing to pay the price because it’s not cheap.

5. Google Pixel 6a: the best value for money

While the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have bigger and better screens and improved cameras, $ 449 / £ 399 / € 459 6a is better value and should be the Pixel phone most people buy. For the asking price, you get the Google Tensor chip, the same as the 6 and 6 Pro, with superior performance. Older A-series pixels were slow, not this one.

All you get is a 60Hz screen, 18W slow charging, and a plastic back that scratches pretty easily. There’s also just a 12.2-megapixel main camera, the same as the Pixel 5, instead of the Pixel 6’s 50-megapixel shooter. But otherwise it’s close to the perfect Pixel experience at a great price.

6. iPhone 13 – Great all-rounder

While it loses against the 13 Pro’s high refresh rate, the iPhone 13 still offers top-notch features like Apple’s latest 5nm A15 Bionic chip and the latest camera features like cinema mode.

The rear camera system is now angled primarily to accommodate the impressive OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) with sensor shift that was exclusive to the iPhone 12 Pro Max 2020 (although it does not yet have a telephoto sensor), while the front one independently . 60Hz refresh rate like the previous model – you still get a beautiful 6.1-inch OLED display with a smaller notch.

iOS 15 is an excellent improvement on Apple’s already respected mobile operating system. adding wellness features such as a summary of notifications that ensure that you are not constantly distracted by the device. Like the Pro, the iPhone 13’s better battery life is part of the iPhone 13 user experience, but its fast charging speeds are still a long way off.

7. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: the best foldable

Samsung has tackled the Z Flip 3’s poor battery life and average camera performance for the price and made the Z Flip 4 an all-day phone with the same main and ultra-wide cameras as the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus.

This means that it is the best foldable phone you can buy today at a price comparable to flagship smartphones. While there are questions about screen life and creases, we can’t test it, but Samsung claims the Flip can withstand at least 200,000 open and close movements, which is roughly equivalent to five years of average use.

The improved battery is arguably inferior to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset due to the improved energy efficiency, which means you don’t need to recharge the Flip in the middle of the day. 8GB of RAM is more than enough, although you might want to spend a little more to get 256GB of storage.

For all intents and purposes, this is the S22 with a better processor that can be folded in half. It is compelling and one of the best phones.