Best smartphones in 2022 | Laptop Mag
Best smartphones in 2022
The best smartphones aren't quite as predictable as they once were with a number of new options emerging, including many in the $500-$750 range. Now yous aren't going to get a folding screen or a 50x zoom at that price unless you bump up to the full $ane,000 and up flagships, but those features don't matter to anybody.
True flagships even so accept their place, they push the boundaries of what'due south possible in a smartphone form factor, only some of the best smartphones can do everything most demand them to do for far less. Whether you want the latest and greatest or just the all-time smartphone for your specific needs, it's a great fourth dimension to exist in the market for a new phone.
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We've spent hundreds of hours reviewing and researching all of the best smartphones available today and whether yous value productivity, photography, gaming, social media, videography, or bombardment life, these phones are the best of the best.
What is the all-time smartphone?
Currently, the iPhone 13 Pro is the best smartphone on the market for most people. Starting at $999 it's not cheap, but the dramatically improved cameras, stellar bombardment life and unmatched software support make it a smartphone investment worth making.
Apple's A15 Bionic processor in the iPhone 13 Pro once over again tops the charts equally the almost powerful mobile processor on the planet and coupled with the aforementioned software support guarantees years of polish operation. The triple-cameras on the back of the iPhone 13 Pro produce excellent photos and the all-time video of any phone on the market and it finally matches the camera specs of the iPhone 13 Pro Max identically.
For Android fans, depending on your budget there are a number of other fantastic options as well. The Samsung Milky way S21 Ultra is arguably notwithstanding the top of Android hardware with a Snapdragon 888 processor and a quad-camera assortment that allows y'all to get fantastic photos nigh or far with up to a 100x zoom. Back up for an South Pen and Samsung's desktop-like DeX interface tin turn your smartphone into a laptop replacement in a pinch. The Galaxy S22 may exist nearly on the horizon, but the S21 Ultra after a year on the market is still a standout.
For pure operation consider the OnePlus 9 Pro, which is currently the fastest Android phone we've tested, overtaking the iPhone 12 in some tests and blowing away every other mainstream phone with its 65W fast charging.
On the other finish of the toll spectrum is Google's Pixel vi, which at $599, is arguably the best Android value always. The specs won't blow you away, but Google's software back up is unmatched on Android and the company'south new SoC is surprisingly powerful. Google's photography remains unmatched in this toll category. If you lot're interested in other affordable smartphones you may want to check out our best upkeep phones, which sticks to sub-$500 phones including Google'south Pixel 5a.
That's a quick look at some of our top picks, but here'southward a rundown of all the best smartphones available today.
The all-time smartphones you tin purchase today
The iPhone thirteen Pro claims the spot as the best overall smartphone for most users away from the iPhone 12. While the iPhone 13 certainly still has strong appeal at its more affordable $799 price point, in that location are far more compromises by going with the non-Pro models this yr including weaker cameras, lack of 120Hz displays and a considerable drop in battery life.
The iPhone xiii Pro fixes all of our concerns with final yr's model and with the exception of screen size it puts the iPhone thirteen Pro on equal footing with the iPhone 13 Pro Max. This includes the incredible new triple camera system with unbelievable low-light functioning when using either the wide-bending or ultra-broad lens thanks to new sensors and sensor-shift prototype stabilization.
While the A15 Bionic may be needlessly fast today, you'll appreciate it in a few years when your telephone is still running circles around about of the contest and is getting day and appointment updates to the latest version of iOS likely through 2027. The $999 starting price may be daunting, simply the iPhone 13 Pro is worth information technology.
See our full iPhone 13 Pro review
At $599 the Pixel half dozen creates a clear upgrade path for Pixel fans coming from the Pixel 3a or Pixel 4a, who were underwhelmed by the Pixel 5a and want more without spending $1,000. The upkeep realm has been Google's bread and butter over the last few years and the Pixel 6 may perfectly fit into an underdeveloped price range in the market.
While it may lack premium features found on the Pixel 6 Pro and some and other flagship phones from Samsung or Apple, the large 90Hz display, incredible master camera and strong software support from Google may be enough to finally button a Pixel device into the mainstream.
Google has made it clear in contempo years that information technology wants to be known equally a corking "value proposition" in the market and while it is trending out of the realm of what we consider budget phones, there is no improve smartphone value today than the the Pixel half-dozen.
Read our full Pixel 6 review.
Samsung may have fabricated some cuts to bring the pricing down on the Milky way S devices this year, merely the Galaxy S21 Ultra ($ane,199) is still hands-down the virtually impressive premium Android phone on the market. While the subtle redesign means information technology doesn't look drastically different from final yr's Galaxy S20 Ultra, in that location are a few substantial updates.
The most visible change is to the rear photographic camera array, not just the concrete redesign, only the add-on of a quaternary photographic camera lens. The broad, ultra-broad and 3x telephoto lens from terminal year are at present joined by a 10x optical telephoto, turning last twelvemonth's somewhat comical 100x Infinite Zoom into a usable photographic tool. Critically it also picked up the laser autofocus from the Note 20 Ultra that corrects the focusing bug seen in final year'southward model. At that place tin can be an argument about which of the best smartphones takes the all-time photos, but cypher can compare to the versatility of the Galaxy S21 Ultra.
That's far from all, the make new Snapdragon 888 is 1 of the biggest leaps that Qualcomm has fabricated in recent years, particularly in motorcar learning functioning. Milky way Note fans may finally give the Ultra line a look as well with support for the S Pen and dedicated cases to brand conveying it a breeze. All of this and a $200 toll drop from terminal year make the Galaxy S21 Ultra the all-time accommodating premium Android phone available today.
See our full Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review
When the iPhone SE (2020) was released final year, it amazed reviewers as it offered the same A13 Bionic processor found in the iPhone 11 lineup only for just $399. While at that place are manifestly hardware tradeoffs that we'll address, this means the phone offers nearly identical functioning to Apple's previous flagships and volition come across updates right alongside them for the next five years.
The unmarried rear camera is fine, but not up to the standards of the iPhone 11 or Google's cheaper Pixel 4a for that matter. Apple did give it another traditionally premium specs though with support for wireless charging and water resistance ( just the flagship Pixel options enjoy waterproofing). From a value standpoint, it would be hard to argue that whatever of the other best smartphones concord a candle to the iPhone SE considering the projected longevity of this phone.
The Pixel 5a isn't the extreme upkeep option that the Pixel 4a was and is, but considering information technology delivers almost all of the features of last year'due south "flagship" Pixels for $449, it is withal the best affordable Android phone.
Performance is the biggest critique of the phone, but that'southward common in this toll range and with Google's three years of software support you are at to the lowest degree guaranteed to see improvements equally fourth dimension goes on, which is rare in the sub-$500 smartphone realm. The photographic camera performance remains outstanding and completely unmatched by annihilation in the budget market place, while the Pixel 6 should up Google's photo game, the Pixel 5a stands every bit the equal of anything Google has put out and so far.
The remarkable battery life also helps convalesce some of the frustration regarding the Snapdragon performance, and the addition of h2o resistance is much appreciated. Both are quality-of-life upgrades and peace of mind for an affordable mid-range device costing $449.
Encounter our full Pixel 5a review .
The OnePlus 9 Pro isn't quite the bargain it was concluding year when compared to the best from Samsung, but it still undercuts its master rival the Samsung Milky way S21 Plus by $xxx. The combination of its Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, 6.7-inch OLED QHD+ display with adaptive 120Hz refresh charge per unit, and its incredible 65W fast charging keep it a value at $969 compared to numerous phones available for $999 and beyond.
While in years past the camera was the stumbling block for OnePlus, that isn't actually the example with the OnePlus 9 Pro. While from a pure specs standpoint it still falls why of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or the iPhone 12 Pro models, the results are far closer. Low-light photos and telephoto range are the 2 areas that still come up upwards a scrap short, but the list is winnowing downward. Like the Galaxy S21 line, the OnePlus 9 Pro has an adaptive 120Hz brandish that will suit the refresh rate to the content on the screen, which too gives information technology excellent battery life despite the QHD 120Hz panel.
If you are looking to salve a little more money or aren't a fan of the waterfall edge brandish then consider the OnePlus 9, it features a apartment edge display and a lesser rear photographic camera array starting at $729.
See our full OnePlus 9 Pro review .
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is overpowered, gorgeous and expensive. You lot don't want to become with the 128GB base model, simply you tin probably get abroad with 256 or 512GB of storage, which notwithstanding ways you lot are looking at a starting cost of $ane,199. If that's as well rich for your blood and so have a hard look at the iPhone 13 Pro or fifty-fifty the iPhone 13.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max is a multitasking/gaming/photography auto without question. And it lasted over 12 hours on our bombardment examination. But like the Samsung Galaxy Notation xx Ultra, the iPhone Pro Max 13 is really for heavy-duty users, not those of us who are just watching videos, trawling social media, reading books and texting,
And so who exercise I recommend the iPhone 13 Pro Max to? Content creators, with a focus on photographers and videographers who maybe can't afford something like the BlackMagic Pocket Cinema 6K camera. It'southward also for people who love opulence, power and endurance and the iPhone Pro Max 13 has that in spades.
See our total iPhone 13 Pro Max review
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 should be the phone that takes foldables mainstream. While the battery life will undoubtedly present issues for some users, it isn't an insurmountable event and is worth the trade-off if yous want a total flagship experience that tin can fit in any pocket.
The Galaxy Z Flip three delivers what nearly people seemed to want from the iPhone 12 mini, an ultra-compact phone that doesn't compromise on the flagship feel. The vi.seven-inch, 120Hz display on the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is second to none; the cameras produce fantastic photos and videos; and the Snapdragon 888 fleck should be fast enough to comfortably last you through the 4 years of security updates you get with the phone.
We haven't reached the point where there are no sacrifices when opting for the foldable course cistron, only the Galaxy Z Flip 3 gets very close. If you are willing to work around the brusk battery life, the Milky way Z Flip 3 delivers a flagship telephone experience unlike any other.
Run into our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip iii review
At $899 the Pixel 6 Pro is affordable compared to its flagship competitors, but it isn't the immediately obvious value that the Pixel 6 represents. With the OnePlus ix Pro hardware eclipsing it in some areas for around the same price and Samsung's now almost i-year-old Galaxy S21 phones having dropped in price.
The unproven Tensor bit may be tough for users that but upgrade every few years to depend on its get-go-gen, particularly with a proven article like the A15 Bionic in the iPhone thirteen Pro or Pro Max. Google is back in the conversation for all-time pure phone camera on the market with the Pixel 6 Pro, but others beat it in some areas with Samsung's superior telephoto and Apple's video superiority.
While its raw numbers may non hold up to its competitors, Google'due south entire pitch for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro essentially boils down to it being a phone that adapts to yous. After having spent over a month with the telephone at present I love what I've seen so far and while it may non be envisioned when I asked for a flagship Pixel phone, it'due south exactly what I wanted.
See our total Pixel vi Pro review
At $249 or less when it is on sale, the Moto Chiliad Power is firmly in the budget smartphone category. And while it won't hold up to any of the other smartphones here in most specs, the battery life is incredible.
Pairing a 5,000 mAh battery with a less powerful Snapdragon 665 processor and a 1080p display, the Moto G Power should concluding through fifty-fifty the longest days of work or play. Our sister site, Tom's Guide, saw it achieve over xvi hours in its battery rundown examination, 4 hours more than the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Nothing else on the Moto K Power is going to wow you, but information technology does offer a very competent camera experience with a wide, ultra-wide and macro lens available on the back and its 6.four-inch display is large and brilliant. If budget and bombardment life are the 2 top factors on your smartphone buying list then the Moto Grand Ability is an like shooting fish in a barrel recommendation.
The OnePlus ix is a compelling option for Android users looking for a sub-$ane,000 phone that doesn't sacrifice too many features available in pricier flagships. It even punches above its weight class in certain areas, outperforming every Android phone on the market besides its "Pro" relative and enduring for nearly 11 hours on a accuse. It'south also worth spotlighting the fast charging feature, which gets you from expressionless to 100% in nearly 30 minutes.
While the OnePlus 9 Pro might grab all the headlines, you lot aren't trading much stepping down to the OnePlus 9. Yes, the telephoto lens is missing, but you lot tin can get comparable shots using the main camera. The other notable downgrade is an FHD screen instead of QHD, but the console on the OnePlus nine is so sharp, you won't be disappointed. Two factors that may sway you toward the pricier model are the plastic frame around the OnePlus nine and the lack of OIS on any of the cameras — those are tougher pills to swallow and corners cut that prevent the OnePlus nine from existence a 5-star production.
If those two shortcomings don't bother you, the OnePlus 9 is an excellent phone and a stiff culling to the Samsung Galaxy S21.
See our total OnePlus 9 review.
The ROG Phone 5 comes with some definite caveats that yous don't get with the other $ane,000+ flagship phones found on this list, but it also offers some unique features that you lot just don't get from any other flagship telephone.
Let's focus on the positive first. The ROG Phone 5 is a gaming phone first and foremost and from the design, to its software, it will non allow you lot forget this. The telephone borrows heavily from the ROG Zephyrus line of laptops all the style down to an RGB light on the back of the base model (this is swapped out from a PMOLED display on the ROG Phone 5 Pro and ROG Phone v Ultimate).
The software may actually sell the gamer focus on this phone more than the hardware with customization options for virtually every aspect of the phone. This includes the capacitive shoulder "buttons" on the phone that can exist mapped to any on-screen buttons in your games. Audiophiles may exist drawn to the ROG Phone 5 besides thanks to its Quad DAC and 3.5mm headphone jack, with LG leaving the smartphone business concern this is 1 of the just phones with ongoing support to offer that philharmonic.
With all of that said y'all definitely demand to be aware that you are giving up some things by going with the ROG Phone 5. Its cameras are nowhere nigh the quality of what you go from a flagship from OnePlus, Samsung or Apple and while the 144Hz panel is amazing, it lacks the adaptive refresh charge per unit of some a OnePlus or Samsung flagship. Finally, long-term Os updates are going to exist a pain point when compared to the residue, even OnePlus manages at least 2 years of updates, ROG Phone 5 volition probable just see one major Android update.
See our full ROG Telephone 5 review.
How to find the all-time smartphone
There are dozens of smartphones released every year and it can be difficult to decide which is going to exist the nigh suited to your needs. Here's a practiced gear up of questions to ask yourself as you lot consider which of the all-time smartphones is right for you.
What's your budget?
As you would probably expect, this is going to be a major deciding factor in your smartphone ownership experience. There are 3 fairly distinct tiers in the smartphone market place at the moment. Budget smartphones in the $250-$400 range can deliver a solid enough experience for many users, only will typically give up some camera quality, feature a weaker processor and offer reduced software support. Mid-tier smartphones in the $600-$750 range are enjoying a real resurgence at the moment with features that are simply behind the flagships for hundreds less. True flagships start at around $999 and can go up to $1,400 and beyond, and as expected at this price, you should be getting a top-of-the-line processor, the ability to capture virtually DSLR quality photos and a fantastic display.
Android or iOS?
This could certainly be the start question y'all ask and will narrow your choices downward considerably if yous are set on ane or the other. The truth is that the two operating systems are closer than ever in terms of overall functionality. Apple tree still delivers faster software updates, superior privacy and generally a meliorate app feel. Android offers more customizability, a superior voice assistant, a wider variety of hardware and more than user control.
How much bombardment life do you need?
All the residuum of its features won't affair much if your smartphone is constantly dying before the end of the day for you. Nosotros comport our own battery tests to see how long they will last on a single accuse. And while your mileage will of form vary depending on your tasks, it volition give you a general idea of how they stack up to one some other.
Practise you prefer a larger screen?
While the big-screen trend has largely eliminated the truly small smartphones from the market, there is even so a spectrum of more meaty options. Smaller phones at this betoken come in at or below 5.8-inches and the largest options are betwixt 6.5-vi.8 inches. For productivity and content consumption, a larger screen is definitely better, but there is certainly a portability merchandise-off so consider what y'all tin carry comfortably.
How much practise you value the camera?
The photographic camera is 1 of the biggest differentiators as you motion upward the smartphone tiers. At that place are budget options that can capture splendid photos. However, they'll lack some of the avant-garde telephoto and frequently high-end video capture capabilities that y'all will find in pricier smartphones. If, similar most people, your smartphone is your only camera, and so information technology's worth considering whether the added achieve or resolution of a high-end smartphone volition allow yous to capture photos and moments y'all otherwise might accept missed.
Sean Riley has been covering tech professionally for over a decade now. Most of that time was as a freelancer covering varied topics including phones, wearables, tablets, smart home devices, laptops, AR, VR, mobile payments, fintech, and more. Sean is the resident mobile expert at Laptop Magazine, specializing in phones and wearables, you'll find enough of news, reviews, how-to, and opinion pieces on these subjects from him here. Simply Laptop Mag has also proven a perfect fit for that wide range of interests with reviews and news on the latest laptops, VR games, and estimator accessories along with coverage on everything from NFTs to cybersecurity and more.
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