7 best smartphones for 2022

Saving money on the best smartphones is a great way to do so. In this economic climate, every penny saved is a win. While a shiny new flagship may be satisfying, the used market allows you to save money without sacrificing performance.

The top phones get a huge price drop when the successors are released, which is a great place to start. It’s possible to find a used handset at a lower price than newer models, as some people upgrade their phones every year. These are the best smartphones you can purchase right now, whether you’re looking for an iPhone 12, a shiny Samsung Galaxy S21 or another model.

It’s generally a good idea not to wait for the new smartphone to launch before you start looking for one. This means that the price of your phone will drop and there will be people willing to sell it to pay for upgrades.

With the Samsung Galaxy S22, it’s a great time for older Galaxy phones. The Galaxy S21 has experienced a significant price drop over the past year, but still retains the same solid hardware and performance that made the handset so popular when it was first released.

The iPhone 12 is no exception. Prices for the iPhone 13 have fallen significantly since its release, although it has been available for a while. Considering how well iPhones hold their value, this is a relative price drop. Although the iPhone SE 2020 has the A13 Bionic processor and the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 still offers all the features of a flagship phone.

A phablet such as the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a good choice if you need something larger. Although it’s not as outdated as the others on this list, the Note range is officially over. You might want to upgrade to the next-generation device. This is the only Galaxy S phone that supports the S Pen, making it one of two.

Even though the Pixel 6 (and Pixel 6 Pro), have significantly raised the standard for what Pixel phones should be, the Google Pixel 5 remains a solid option. Google’s older flagship is not as powerful as some others, but it still looks fantastic, has a good battery life, and benefits from all the software benefits that come with being a Pixel phone.

If this is not your thing, you can always go for the OnePlus 9. The OnePlus 10 range is already outshining it, but there’s still plenty to offer. If you value performance and battery life, you won’t be disappointed with the OnePlus 10 range.

If you want to save money, the iPhone SE or Google Pixel 5a are options. These phones are very affordable if bought new. The tech inside is still amazing, even though they weren’t made for the most advanced applications. You can get one for a very affordable price by purchasing used.

New phones are constantly being released, so older devices will be phased out. This list of the most used smartphones is something to keep an eye on. Let’s have a closer look.

1. iPhone 12
Even if it’s not perfect, Apple is moving forward with its phones

Although the iPhone 13 may have taken over the iPhone 12, there is no reason to dismiss the iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 still offers plenty of features, including a respectable battery life and the power of A14 Bionic, as well as 5G connectivity.

Apple does not sell refurbished iPhone 12 models at the moment. You will need to pay full price if you wish to get any type of Apple guarantee. However, the post-iPhone 13 price drop will still cost you at least $599.

The phone can be purchased from third-party vendors such as Swappa, or Gazelle, for as low as $495 Although these devices may not be in perfect working order they still offer standard protections to buyers, including refunds if the item isn’t what you expected.

Even if you aren’t ready to purchase the iPhone 12, you can expect prices to drop in the lead up to the iPhone 14 launch.

2. Samsung Galaxy S21
Although it does not have all the features you want, it is still an excellent Android phone at a reasonable price.

Samsung doesn’t make huge changes to its flagships, so you won’t be missing out on a lot if you choose the Galaxy S21 over the more powerful Galaxy S22. The difference is actually negligible on paper.

This means that you can get reverse wireless charging and 25W fast charging as well as 5G, 50MP telephoto main cameras, and the same OneUI found on other Samsung devices. It doesn’t come with a headphone socket, unlike its predecessor, the Galaxy S20. But you can’t have all.

The best thing about the phone is its power, which means you can keep it with you for a long period of time. Samsung promises even more years of Android security updates and Android OS.

3. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Rebirth of the Galaxy Note

Although the Galaxy Note range is no longer available, it’s still in existence. The Galaxy S Ultra range has taken its place, beginning with the S21 Ultra. The S21 Ultra is not packaged with an S Pen like the S22 Ultra but it still supports Samsung’s stylus and has a lot of productivity features.

Although the S21 Ultra was more expensive than $1,000 at launch, it has seen significant price drops over the past month due to competition from the Galaxy S22 Ultra. This is the best option if you are looking for a large-screen phone with stylus support and a low price.

4. Google Pixel 5
An attractive and affordable premium phone

Although the Google Pixel 5 has many great features, it felt too expensive for its price. The launch of the Pixel 6 has seen a drop in price, which will likely continue as more people offload older devices.

The Snapdragon 765G might seem a little lacking in features, but the Pixel 5 packs a lot of great ones. The Pixel 5 has a 90Hz display, a nine-and-a-half hour battery life, an amazing camera with an ultrawide lens, and a solid 9 and a quarter hours of battery life. You also get first access to all the latest Android software updates.

5. OnePlus 9
Solid performance, with one notable compromise

OnePlus makes some great phones, but they do release a lot. It is worth considering buying the OnePlus 9 last year. The OnePlus 10 Pro is on sale so you can get the old device for a fraction of what it cost last year.

OnePlus has an amazing display, fast charging, and a powerful Snapdragon 888 CPU. We also tested the battery life. Oxygen OS is also one of the most clean versions of Android that you can purchase.

Although the camera isn’t the best, it is better than any previous OnePlus devices. It’s also quite reliable, offering almost 11 hours of battery life without requiring you to use the 120Hz refresh rate. Although the OnePlus Nord series is more affordable, it still offers many compromises. Although the OnePlus 8 is over a year old it is still a flagship.

6. iPhone SE (2020).
The best iPhone price you can get

Although the iPhone SE 2020 is already a great phone, you can get even more value by buying a used model. The iPhone SE 2020’s $399 MSRP will limit your savings, but the iPhone SE 2022’s second-generation model’s price has dropped.

An iPhone 8-inspired design can be made with the same hardware as the iPhone 11. Based on our testing, the iPhone 8-inspired design can be made with some of the same hardware as the iPhone 11.

7. Google Pixel 5a
Compact Pixel at a Small Price

The Google Pixel 6a has arrived and you will soon see the price drop for the Google Pixel 5a. If $449 seemed a bit steep for you, you might want to look elsewhere. The Pixel 5a was our favorite affordable phone because of its impressive features and low price.

The device has a 6.34 inch display and sub-6GHz 5G. It also features a dual camera setup that includes 12.2 MP and 16MP ultrawide lenses and an 8MP selfie cam. The battery also performed well, lasting 9 hours 45 minutes during our test. Although it doesn’t have wireless charging, this is a compromise you can make in order to save some money.

How to choose the best old smartphone for you

It is more difficult than buying a new smartphone to choose from. You need to make sure the device is in good condition. However, it’s also important to assess whether the model you are interested in can handle the demands you place on it.

Flagship smartphones have more power than we realize. Even if your device is two years old, it’s still likely that you will get a phone powerful enough to perform everyday tasks. You can browse social media sites and apps, as well as GPS navigation, music streaming, and taking photos.

You might notice an older phone sweat in those cases that are extremely demanding, such as 4K video recording and graphically-rich mobile games. Another factor to consider is that an older phone’s battery may have been used in a number of different applications, such as 4K video recording and graphically rich mobile games.

Also, you need to keep an eye on security and software updates. It is worth buying an older iPhone because Apple offers support for its handsets for a longer period of time than the usual 2-3 year commitments Android phone manufacturers make. The iPhone 6S, a 2015-released device, can still receive iOS 15, Apple’s latest mobile operating system. The best Android scenario is the three-year-old updates Google has for its Pixel devices and Samsung phones purchased after 2019.