When deciding on the finest smartphone for you, there are several factors to consider. Mobile phones are one of the most crucial things you can buy in this day and age, and you should make sure that you acquire the best one for you.
We’re here to assist since we evaluate practically every new smartphone released, from both large companies like Apple and Samsung to little up-and-comers like Vivo and Realme. Based on our research, we compiled this list of the best smartphones, and it is our final ranking of the devices you should consider purchasing.
The top three alternatives here differ in price. So, whether you have all the money in the world or are on a budget, this guide has something for you – however, our list of the best inexpensive phones can be useful if you’re in the latter camp.
The specs of each phone are included, as well as what we liked and disliked about it – this is to assist you if you have a certain spec or feature in mind, such as excellent cameras or a great-looking display. Before you start shopping, it’s a good idea to consider your wants and needs. There are also the best wireless earbuds that can easily fit on your smartphones.
If you have more precise preferences, we have some alternative guidelines for you: perhaps you want one of the finest iPhones on the market, or perhaps you prefer one of the top Android phones.
Obviously, we can’t cover every single fantastic smartphone in this list; it’s simply the top of the top, or the SparkNotes version of the finest smartphones to consider purchasing. However, keep coming back since every time we give a smartphone a great review, it becomes a competitor for this list, which means the ranking might change often.
Which smartphone is the best in 2022?
1. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a strong phone in practically every way: its camera, screen, processing power, etc. There are a few reasons to read further: The Galaxy charges slowly, is huge, and is expensive, thus it may earn a red ‘X’ for that. For most, the phone’s overall strength makes it the ideal option.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra is an all-arounder, thus it’s our greatest phone. Photographers and gamers will love the gadget. Note-takers and doodlers will like the phone’s S Pen stylus. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra performed quite well in our benchmark testing, so it’s perfect for gaming or video editing.
The S22 Ultra’s 6.8-inch screen boasts a 1440 x 3088 resolution (500 ppi), 120Hz refresh rate, and 1,750 nits of peak brightness, making it viewable in strong sunlight. This display looked great, and its variable refresh rate means it can decrease to 1Hz to save power.
The battery lasts roughly a day, which is remarkable given that several high-end phones have short battery lifetimes.
Versatile camera: Take ultrawide images or zoom in with 10x optical and 100x digital limitations. Portrait mode produces great images of individuals, while Single Take utilizes AI to choose the best photo from a group.
2. Realme GT 2
If your budget does not allow you to purchase one of the more expensive phones on this list, you should consider the Realme GT 2. It costs half the price of most of the other gadgets on our list, and in some cases less than half, yet its features are remarkable. Because this is a low-cost phone, it has certain flaws, such as unreliable software and a lack of a telephoto lens for zoom photos. However, at the price you’re paying, this is a steal.
Why it’s placed second: There are many better phones than the Realme GT 2, but when it comes to pricing and value, this finds a fantastic balance, giving good specifications at a surprisingly low cost.
Screen: The Realme GT 2 sports a vivid 6.6-inch OLED display with FHD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 120Hz. In our testing, we discovered that it occasionally misrepresented photographs, but that it otherwise exhibited acceptable color – with a few different display settings to select from.
Battery life: The 5,000mAh battery lasts a long time and charges quickly. In fact, it will outperform any Samsung or Apple handset on this list. In our tests, it powered from empty to full in just 43 minutes.
Camera: The phone boasts a 50MP primary camera that is fantastic for producing vibrant photos in low-light circumstances. In fact, the Sony sensor at work here outperforms some of the other 50MP cameras in the phones mentioned above when it comes to night photography, and we enjoyed shooting in the dark with it.
3. iPhone 13 Pro / iPhone 13 Pro Max
If you like Apple, the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max are the two greatest smartphones to consider – we’ve merged these two cellphones into one entry because the only significant difference between them is screen size. These iPhones may not be as good as the best Android phones, but for iFans, these are the best smartphones running Apple’s iOS operating system.
Why they’ve ranked third: The iPhone 13 Pro phones are the finest and most powerful iPhones available everywhere. They’re more powerful than the iPhone 12 Pro handsets owing to their newer A15 Bionic CPU, and we found them to be really speedy to operate, whether swiping through menus or playing a variety of games.
Screen: The iPhone 13 Pro has a 6.1-inch 1170 x 2532 display, while the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch 1284 x 2778 display. Both feature a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate and appear good, albeit not as crisp as some phones.
Battery life: We found that both phones lasted roughly a day between charges, which is about what you should expect from a powerful flagship phone. While the Pro has a smaller 6.1-inch screen and the Pro Max has a larger 6.7-inch screen, the battery in the Max is significantly larger, thus battery life is comparable.
Camera: Each of these Pro phones has three back lenses: a primary, ultrawide, and telephoto (or zoom) camera. With amazing night mode, video modes, and selfie techniques, you’re getting the typical iPhone camera experience here.
4. OnePlus 10 Pro
The OnePlus 10 Pro has ‘Pro’ in its name, and its features equal some of the other handsets on our list that have that suffix, but it’s really more inexpensive – which is why it’s ranked so high on our list.
Why it’s ranked fourth: If you don’t want a Galaxy smartphone, the OnePlus 10 Pro is an excellent Android option. It sports an excellent screen, a strong Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU, and fast charging. However, the cameras fall short of those found on the finest smartphones.
Screen: This boasts a lovely 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate that can be reduced to 1Hz when a quick refresh isn’t required. It’s large, bright, and lovely, plus it supports HDR10+.
Battery life: The OnePlus 10 Pro features a huge 5,000mAh battery with life that we rated as average. However, it offers exceptionally rapid charging at 80W (unless you reside in the United States, then it is 65W).
Camera: There are three rear cameras, all of which give a high level of adaptability. There are also a few camera modes developed in collaboration with Hasselblad, including XPan, which will appeal to fans of the iconic XPan camera. In our camera test, the OnePlus 10 Pro did slightly lower than the Galaxy and iPhones above – it’s still fine for photography, but not good enough to get a higher ranking.
5. Google Pixel 6 / Google Pixel 6 Pro
The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are the most interesting phones Google has released in quite some time, if not ever. They both have a unique look, with a huge camera visor and a three-tone color scheme, and they’re just as unusual on the inside, with a Google Tensor processor created and manufactured particularly for these devices.
The Pixel 6 Pro is a bonafide flagship, which is why they’re placed fifth. The basic Pixel 6 has somewhat lower specifications but a more appealing pricing, and both phones run Android 12, with Google’s software vision intact. So they’re a wonderful showcase for Android, but they have mediocre battery lives compared to the mobiles above, which is why they don’t make the top three. The phones are also a little weaker than competitors, since Google’s own processor is okay but not fantastic – but this will only be visible for select consumers who want a lot of power, so we can’t knock them too hard.
Screen: The Pixel 6 Pro features a stunning 6.7-inch QHD+ display with a refresh rate of 120Hz, and while the normal Pixel 6 is a step down at 6.4 inches, FHD+, and 90Hz, it still provides rich images.
Battery life: Whether you choose the 4,614mAh Pixel 6 or the 5,003mAh Pixel 6 Pro, battery life is a minor concern with both of these phones. Both have a charging speed of 30W at best.
Camera: Both excel at capturing images, with a 50MP primary and 12MP ultra-wide snapper on the Pixel 6 Pro, as well as a 48MP telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom.
How to Pick the Right Smartphone for You
Depending on how you use your smartphone, one or more elements of a phone may be significant to you.
If you want a tough smartphone, look for an IP rating, which indicates how well it is protected against dust and moisture. Consider the material as well; ceramic and glass are both quite delicate, while plastic and metal can be more protective.
If you stream frequently, you might desire a nice-looking display. A larger screen, up to 6.8 inches, and a resolution higher than 1080p may be beneficial to you. Refresh rates of 90Hz or 120Hz can make action appear smoother.
People complain about battery life, even though capacity does not necessarily determine how long a phone lasts. Most individuals require a phone to last at least a day, however some go up to two days.
Charging speed is also vital, and anything from 65W to 120W is acceptable, though some phones now provide more. The finest phones charge in under an hour, and some in just 30 minutes.
Camera quality is difficult to explain through a specifications list, so you’ll have to depend on our research and testing to understand how excellent they are – but finding a camera phone with many lenses and settings is always important.
