Best Smartphones to Buy in 2022

2022 is halfway over and tech gods have gifted us some truly amazing smartphones. Our definitive list of the top phones offers everything you need, including performance, value, and camera smarts. It all depends on your preferences. Camera, battery life, design and specs are just some of the factors that will determine which phone is best for you.

Samsung and Apple have their own features, but you might be able to find the perfect pocket partner by looking at Android competitors like Oppo and Google. These phones deliver, but they all perform differently. That’s great! Better phones for everyone means more competition!

1. iPhone 13 Pro – Best iPhone

Although the 13 Pro’s display is familiar at 6.1in Super Retina XDR, Apple has decided to add ProMotion to its iPhone. The panel is now at an ultra-smooth 120Hz. The notch is also 20% smaller.

The cameras will have larger sensors and faster apertures, which means better low-light performance. You can also expect a more comparable quality switch to the ultrawide (which now has macro shooting capabilities) as well as a 3x Telephoto Snapper, which allows you to shoot farther than ever before.

The iPhone is still the leader in video capture with smart features such as Cinematography Mode. This allows you to have greater control over the way your footage looks at the moment.

You can expect significant longevity improvements when you combine ProMotion tech and the powerful A15 Bionic chip with a larger battery. This iPhone can last for two days on one charge.

2. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – Best Android phone

This design is distinctively different than the Galaxy S22 range entries (which is to be said very “Note-like”) and includes an integrated S Pen stylus, which expands functionality beyond that of most competitors, especially in terms productivity.

Although the camera hardware is familiar, Samsung has made it one of the most advanced systems on any smartphone. The main camera has a 108Mp resolution and is backed by two ultra-wide lenses with different zoom levels.

The 6.8in LTPO AMOLED screen offers high resolution WQHD+ resolution, adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and long-term support that exceeds even Google Pixels.

3. iPhone 13 – Superb all-rounder

Although it is not as sharp as the 13 Pro’s display with a high refresh rate, the iPhone 13 still has cutting-edge features such Apple’s new 5nm A15 Bionic Chip and the most recent camera features like Cinematic Mode.

The rear camera system is now placed at a diagonal to house the sensor-shift OIS (optical imaging stabilisation) that was exclusive for 2020’s iPhone 12 Pro Max. On the front, you still have a stunning 6.1in OLED screen, with a smaller notch, despite the 60Hz refresh rate.

iOS 15 is a significant improvement to Apple’s mobile operating system. Added wellbeing features such as notification summary to ensure that you are not distracted by your phone.

The iPhone 13 experience offers the most battery life, just like the Pro. However, fast charging speeds are still a long way behind.

4. Google Pixel 6a

The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are larger, more powerful screens, and have better cameras. However, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are cheaper and should be purchased at $449. The asking price includes the Google Tensor chip. This is the same as the 6 Pro and 6 Plus, which results in flagship-level performance. The older A-series Pixels were slow, not this one.

The screen has a 60Hz refresh rate, slow charging at 18W, and a plastic back we found scratchy. The Pixel 5’s main camera has a 12.2Mp resolution, which is the same as the Pixel 6. It also has a 50Mp shooter.

This is a great deal for the Pixel Experience at a fantastic price. It includes three years of Android OS upgrades and five years security updates.

5. Google Pixel 6 Pro – Best user experience

Google has redesigned the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro to showcase the Tensor silicon, a new Android 12 experience, and a brand new design.

Despite the dropping of the ‘Pixel XL” naming convention, 6 Pro is a large phone with a gorgeous QHD+ curved edge OLED display. The 6 Pro also features a smoother, higher refresh rate of 120Hz, just like the iPhone 13 Pro range.

The new 50Mp main sensor is also used in the camera system. It delivers an amazing dynamic range and features smart new features like Magic Eraser or rock-solid Face Unblur. The camera system is also supported by a 12Mp ultrawide as well as a periscopic 48Mp Telephoto camera with a 4x optical Zoom. This is a vast improvement on the Pixel range’s single-sensor approach to photography.

Although Tensor isn’t as competitive as the rest, it has enough power to run the most complex mobile apps. It also has a unique skill set for machine-learning and AI tasks that rivals silicon.

The huge 5003mAh battery provides the longest battery life of any Pixel, even though fast charging can be a little bit messy.

6. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

Samsung has resolved the Z Flip 3’s problems with poor battery life and poor camera performance and made the Z Flip 4 an all day phone with the same main and superwide cameras as the Galaxy S22 Plus and S22 Plus.

This means that the Flip is the most affordable foldable phone available today at a cost comparable to flagship slab smartphones. Although durability issues remain with the Flip’s display and the crease, we cannot test it. However, Samsung claims that the Flip will last at least 200,000 open-close motions which roughly equals five years of normal use.

With its increased energy efficiency and Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, the battery will last longer. Although 8GB RAM is sufficient, you may need to pay a bit more for 256GB storage. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is also a favorite.

This is an S22 with a faster processor and folds down to half its dimensions. It’s captivating, and it is one of the most powerful phones available.

7. OnePlus 10 Pro – Amazing battery life

The latest flagship phone by OnePlus is a great alternative to the S22 and Pixel 6 series, especially if your country has few high-end Android options. The 10 Pro features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and fast 80W wired charging. We like the sleek design, but not everyone.

Despite Hasselblad’s support, the camera system remains the primary weakness of the phone and what sets it apart from the more expensive but similar-specced Oppo Find X5 Pro.

Although the rear triple sensor setup is quite impressive, we are not going to deny that there are some inconsistencies, especially with exposure, that only serves to remind us that it isn’t up to the top of the best. That makes it harder to recommend. Even though the OxygenOS user experience and battery life are among the best, it’s still a great flagship.