The Best Smartphones for 2022

This smartphone is an upgrade from Sony’s Xperia Pro and an excellent buy for experts in videography and imaging. It nearly substitutes the 21st-century camera thanks to its powerful picture-taking capabilities. The Xperia PRO-I has three 12MP cameras at the rear (a telephoto, the main camera, and ultra-wide), an 8MP camera in front, and a large one-inch camera sensor equipped with 20MP for low light performance.

While the resolution seems a little low for one of the latest smartphones, Sony explains that the cameras have large pixels that allow them to capture more details, achieve a greater depth of field, and more dynamic range. What’s more, the rear camera uses three glass lenses from Zeiss.

The main one has a 24mm lens with a dual aperture feature for changing the depth of field. The result is an authentic bokeh effect, not the usual digital software-created bokeh effect other smartphones produce. As for the design, Sony sticks to the same design it has used in previous offerings.

It’s tall, narrow with glass and metal panels at the front and back like Sony’s 2019 Xperia 1, 1 III, and 5 III. However, you will note a few uncommon features on the phone’s display. The Xperia PRO-I has an oblong shape, a little longer than previous Sony offerings, to cater to the growing video and gaming content using this aspect ratio (21:9).

• 4K video recording
• Real-time eye Auto Focus
• 1-inch image sensor
• Triple camera

• Brand: Sony
• Storage: 512GB
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
• Memory: 12GB
• Operating System: Android 11.0
• Battery: 4500mAh
• Ports: 1x USB Type-C, 1x 3.5mm jack, 1x HDMI port
• Camera (Rear, Front): 3x 12MP (Rear), 1x 8MP (Front)
• Display (Size, Resolution): 6.5-inch, 3840x1644
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, 5G Wi-Fi, NFC, USB
• Dimensions: 6.61 x 2.84 x 0.35 inches
• Colors: Frosted Black
• Display: OLED
• Weight: 7.5oz

The iPhone 13 Pro is a welcome upgrade to the creative content fraternity. It has a better camera with 3x optical zoom, a longer battery life, and a higher refresh rate screen. It’s pretty similar to Apple’s latest Pro phones featuring a stainless steel and glass sandwich design, except it has a larger camera bump at the rear and a brighter screen.

What stands out is the new ProMotion screen that has a refresh rate of 120Hz, twice that of the iPhone 13. This means scrolling is much easier and other on-screen motion is smoother. Most of Apple’s iPad Pro line use screens with a refresh rate of 60Hz, so an upgrade to 120Hz is a significant milestone.

The iPhone 13 Pro also uses Apple’s recently developed A15 Bionic processor making it one of the most powerful phones in the market. This processor has five cores instead of the usual four on the 13 and 13 mini, making it easy to play games, edit videos, and photos and open a range of apps simultaneously.

• Compatible with Qi wireless chargers and MagSafe accessories
• Has A15 Bionic chip
• Refresh rate of 120Hz

• Brand: Apple
• Storage: 1TB
• CPU: A15 Bionic processor
• Memory: 6GB
• Operating System: iOS 15
• Battery: 3095mAh
• Ports: 1x Lightning port
• Camera (Rear, Front): 3x 12MP (Rear) 1x 12MP (Front)
• Display (Size, Resolution): 6.1-inch, 2532x1170
• Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, Lightning, Bluetooth 5
• Dimensions: 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.3 inches
• Colors: Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Graphite
• Display: Super Retina XDR
• Weight: 7.19oz

The OnePlus 9 Pro results from the company’s many years of efforts and upgrades, which make it a worthy competitor of premium phones like the Samsung Galaxy S21 and the iPhone 12. The most notable upgrade is the camera, now producing stunning images with great colors. OnePlus partners with the legendary camera company called Hasselblad to improve its color processing capabilities.

Its processing power has also improved as the OnePlus equips the 9 Pro with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. This new chipset introduces a host of new camera-related features like the triple Image Signal Processor (ISP). It means the smartphone can capture up to three streams of 4K HDR video simultaneously.

Design-wise, the OnePlus 9 Pro doesn't veer off from its predecessors. It has a premium design with metal edges all around. The power button is on the right edge, the volume rocker on the left, and a USB-C charging slot, speaker grille, and SIM card drawer at the bottom. However, the company trims down the camera bump slightly, but the display is larger than previous offerings.

Measuring 6.7 inches, the display stretches from one corner to another with a QHD resolution of 1440x3216. The brightness is admirable for a OnePlus smartphone. However, if using the auto-brightness mode, you might struggle to make out texts or images on your device, especially in direct sunlight.

• Natural color calibration with Hasselblad camera
• Alexa support
• 48MP Sony sensor with OIS

• Brand: OnePlus
• Storage: 256GB
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
• Memory: 12GB
• Operating System: Android 11
• Battery: 4500 mAh
• Ports: 1x USB-C, 1x 3.5mm jack
• Camera (Rear, Front): 4x 48 MP + 8MP + 50MP + 2 MP (Rear), 1x 16MP (Front)
• Display (Size, Resolution): 6.7-inch, 1440x3216
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC,
• Dimensions: 6.43 x 2.9 x 0.34 inches
• Colors: Morning Mist, Stellar Black, Forest Green
• Display: LTPO OLED
• Weight: 6.8oz

If you had been anticipating lots of changes for the Galaxy S21, you could have been disappointed because Samsung decided to add a few upgrades and focus more on the S21 Ultra. Thankfully, the efforts paid off. The S21 still runs on the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset but introduces many new features.

What stands out is the 108MP camera which can capture 12-bit HDR pictures. This means the images are 64 times richer in color quality and three times better in a dynamic range than the previous model. It is also equipped with telephoto lenses of 10x and 3x optical zoom to help you get steadier shots with just a tap of a button.

The Portrait mode has also improved as Samsung uses AI to separate the background from the subject, which results in a bokeh effect. Design-wise, the Galaxy S21 Ultra does have some notable changes. It has a 6.8-inch AMOLED display leveling up to other premium phones in the market. Also, Samsung uses a glass back on the rear, not the Glasstic rear on the previous S21 model.

The phone is also beefier than the S21, and it comes in two colors — Phantom Silver and Phantom Black. The display is slightly curved, not fully flat like the previous model.

• Single Take AI
• 108MP resolution camera
• 120Hz refresh rate

• Brand: Samsung
• Storage: 128GB
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
• Memory: 12GB
• Operating System: Android 11
• Battery: 5000mAh
• Ports: 3x USB Type-C, 1x 3.5mm audio jack
• Camera (Rear, Front): 4x 12MP + 108 MP + 10MP + 10MP (Rear), 1x 40MP (Front)
• Display (Size, Resolution): 6.8-inch, 1440x3200
• Connectivity: 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ultra Wide Band
• Dimensions: 2.9 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches
• Colors: Phantom Black
• Display: Infinity-O Display
• Weight: 17.6oz

Google’s Pixel 6 Pro, is an excellent addition to premium phones from Apple and Samsung. It has amazing software upgrades, a perfect camera system, and a unique design at a more affordable price. Its Tensor processing chip takes most of the credit as it introduces many new features, including on-device speech recognition and translation, computational photography, and better security features.

Design-wise, Pixel 6 Pro is worlds apart from the previous Pixel 5. It has an all-glass rear reinforced with Gorilla Glass Victus with curved edges. It’s also IP68-rated, which means it can withstand up to one meter of water for 30 minutes. Surprisingly, Google removes the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner used on the Pixel 5 and replaces it with an in-screen, accurate scanner. Google also removes the face unlock feature.

When it comes to cameras, the Google Pixel 6 Pro beats Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra, hands down. The upgraded hardware complements the new Tensor chip strength and software algorithms. It explains the powerful sensor with 50MP to allow more light, 12MP ultra-wide camera with a wider field of view (114 degrees), and the 48 MP telephoto sensor with 4x optical zoom.

And with the AI-powered Super Res Zoom, the Pixel 6 Pro can achieve 20x digital zoom. Another new AI-powered feature is the Magic Eraser that allows you to remove unwanted items from the background of your pictures. The phone suggests eliminating things, but it is best used on park or beach photos.

• IP68 waterproof rating
• 4x optical zoom
• AI-powered Pixel Magic Eraser
• Powerful Tensor chip processor

• Brand: Google
• Storage: 256GB
• CPU: Google Tensor
• Memory: 12GB
• Operating System: Android 12
• Battery: 5003mAh
• Ports: 1x USB Type-C
• Camera (Rear, Front): 3x 50MP, 12MP, 48MP (Rear), 1x 11MP (Front)
• Display (Size, Resolution): 6.71-inch, 3120x1440
• Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Ultra-wideband
• Dimensions: 6.45 x 2.98 x 0.35 inches
• Colors: Stormy Black
• Display: LTPO AMOLED
• Weight: 12.3oz

The Flip 3 is a pleasant addition to Samsung’s folding smartphones. This third generation of folding-screen smartphones is an upgrade from the original Z Flip. It is shorter, thinner, and narrower, and the hinge is refined for easier folding and unfolding. The screen has a higher refresh rate (120 Hz), making scrolling and other interactions smoother.

Samsung also includes a water resistance feature of IPX8 which means the Flip 3 can be immersed in water to depths of 1.5 m for 30 minutes. However, it’s not dust resistant to that extent. The folding and unfolding mechanism makes it highly portable, especially if you’re big on compact mobile devices.

When unfolded, it sports a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2640x1080. Coupled with the 120Hz refresh rate, you have the most beautiful viewing experience on a folding phone. When folded, you can control a range of features, including checking the weather, playing music, and even taking selfies.

If you double press the power button, you activate the camera app. The outer display isn't as small as the original Flip making this model functional even when folded. As for the camera features, Samsung falls back a little, probably because it’s a folding phone. On the rear is a 12MP dual camera with optical image stabilization and an ultra-wide-angle.

Both can shoot some pretty solid images and video in regular lighting conditions. The phone’s low-lit performance has also improved, but the sharpness and detail don't level up to most premium smartphones.

• IPX8 Waterproofing
• Snapdragon 888 chipset
• One UI software
• Hands-free video calls

• Brand: Samsung
• Storage: 128GB
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
• Memory: 8GB
• Operating System: Android 11
• Battery: 3300mAh
• Ports: USB Type-C
• Camera (Rear, Front): 2x 12MP (Rear), 1x 10MP (Front)
• Display (Size, Resolution): 6.7-inch, 2640x1080
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi, dual-band, 5G, LTE
• Dimensions: 86.4 x 72.2 x 17.1-15.9 mm (folded), 166.0 x 72.2 x 6.9 mm
• Colors: Green, Lavender, Cream, or Phantom Black
• Display: Dynamic AMOLED
• Weight: 6.5oz

This model is the biggest and the heaviest Apple made in 2020. It has a vast OLED display with a 6.7-inch screen, larger than other iPhones and comparable Android smartphones. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is also pretty heavy, weighing 226g which is 64g heavier than a regular iPhone 12 smartphone.

Well, its heavy construction certainly levels up to its performance. Although it uses the older A14 Bionic processor, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is pretty fast whether you’re playing games, taking pictures, or videos. In addition, the internet speed is snappy when on a 5G frequency. What stands out is its 48-hour battery life, eight hours longer than the iPhone 12, even with the screen on for more than seven hours.

It also charges fast, achieving 50 percent battery in 30 minutes and two hours to fully charge it. Be sure to use a fast-charging charger and USB-C power adapter or a wireless charger to achieve short charging times.

The 12 Pro Max also features a high-end camera, outdoing other iPhone 12 cameras. It has three rear lenses: the 12MP main camera, 12MP zoom lens, 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a front-facing 12MP camera. It also supports bokeh Portrait mode at night and has a sensor-shift image stabilization that moves the sensor every time the phone bumps.

• IP68 water resistance
• Features ceramic shield for fall protection
• Includes face ID

• Brand: Apple
• Storage: 256GB
• CPU: Apple A14 Bionic
• Memory: 6GB
• Operating System: iOS 14.2
• Battery: 3687mAh
• Ports: Lightning port
• Camera (Rear, Front): 3x 12MP + 12MP + 12MP (Rear), 1x 12MP (Front)
• Display (Size, Resolution): 6.7-inch, 2778x1284
• Connectivity: 5G, LTE, 5G, Bluetooth, GPS, Lightning
• Dimensions: 6.33 x 3.07 x0.29 inches
• Colors: Gold, Graphite, Pacific Blue, Silver
• Display: Super Retina XDR OLED
• Weight: 8.03oz

Alan Blake (27 Articles Published)

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