Its expensive, sure, but its also more durable than previous models and comes with a 120Hz display and support for the once-exclusive S Pen. Using the same camera sensor that made the iPhone 12 Pro Max the best smartphone camera for photos and videos in 2020, the iPhone 13s main wide-angle camera has. Its just smaller and has a smaller price tag, at about $100 less. A huge 5003mAh battery also ensures some of the best battery life on a Pixel ever, even if fast charging is a bit of a mess. Its ultrawide camera is able to take stunning macro photos, thanks to its new close focus capability. The Ultra moniker in Samsungs Galaxy lineup no longer means youre just getting the biggest phone; now, it means youre getting the biggest phone and everything but the kitchen sink. It needs a few improvements -- most notably to the camera, which is good, but not great -- but this flagship offers a great overall experience. In addition, the 3x optical. Theres also only a 12.2Mp main camera, the same as on the Pixel 5, rather than the Pixel 6s 50Mp shooter. If you know the stylus life is for you, and youd use a 10x zoom regularly, rather than a handful of times as a curiosity, then look no further than the S22 Ultra. Tech Advisor helps you find your tech sweet spot. But overall this is another leap forward for Vivo that you should seriously consider if you want a premium camera on the back of your phone. It comes with a 120Hz refresh rate, an "aluminum armor" body, and a flexible build that makes it super convenient to take photos and record video. With a starting price of $599, Google's Pixel 6 is the best Android phone you can get for the money. We update this list regularly. Google shook things up for 2021, with the mid-range and Designed to make shopping easier. Its also backed up by both a 12Mp ultrawide and a periscopic 48Mp telephoto camera, with a 4x optical zoom; a far cry from the Pixel ranges old single-sensor approach to photography. An unlocked phone is one that is not tied to any particular mobile operator, such as Available in green, black, teal, red, white, and pink. 2022 is nearly halfway done and the tech gods have blessed us with some truly superb smartphones. Samsung's latest flagship superphone, the Galaxy S22 Ultrahas an impressive lineup of specs, including a quadruple rear camera, a big, vibrant display and the S Pen stylus you might remember from the Galaxy Note series. The Pixel 6 has 8GB of RAM, 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, and runs the latest Android 12 software with Googles new Material You theming. In fact, our pick for the best overall phone is the $829 Apple iPhone 13, and Googles Pixel 6 included here is priced more like a midrange device than all-out flagship. Video quality is also great. If you get that wrong it is easily solvable; every network will gladly send over a different-sized SIM. 2022 CNET, a Red Ventures company. Sometimes all at once. zoom on the telephoto lens makes for great portrait photography. Andrew is CNET's go-to guy for product coverage and lead photographer for Europe. OnePlus Nord 2T to join the CE 2 Lite & Nord Buds in Europe. The S22 Ultra is pricey, but youd be hard pressed to find another slab-style smartphone that can do everything its capable of doing. A third rear camera with 3x optical zoom and a ProMotion screen with refresh rates up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling. At the heart of the S22 Ultra is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset paired with 8 or 12GB of RAM. iPhone 12 won out against its Pro-branded sibling 2021s iPhone 13 Pro is undoubtedly the one to beat. The iPhone 13 Pro is the best phone Apple produces and it received a stellar score in our review. But aside from that this is close to the full Pixel experience at a superb price, with three years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates. It also has an extra 6.2-inch screen on the cover with 2268 x 832 resolution, so you can use it for quick tasks when you dont have enough time or space to unfold the main screen. The 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Mini is easy to use with one hand and even fits into tight jean pockets. Otherwise, its a very nice device that feels a little more sophisticated. The 4,500mAh cell will last lighter users a full day, but moderate and heavy users who stream a decent amount of video will likely find themselves running the battery down into the single digits by the end of the day. Both the 12-megapixel standard wide and ultrawide rear cameras, as well as the 10-megapixel front-facing selfie camera, take good but not great photos. Patrick Holland has an eye for photography and a passion for everything mobile. A Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip powers four rear lenses, the main being a wonderfully capable 50Mp sensor. The Google Pixel 6 Pro's unique design, great software additions, superb camera quality and solid all-around performance have already earned the phone an excellent rating in our full review. For those looking for the best Android camera system available, we recommend getting the $899 Google Pixel 6 Pro, especially if a telephoto lens is a must. Unlike the Pixel 6 Pro, the 6 doesnt have a telephoto camera. The sheer amount of smartphone competition means you get great options at whatever price suits your budget, regardless of whether your biggest concern is an AMOLED display, high-speed 5G data or a cracking camera. Shop your favorite products and well find the best deal with a single click. You just have to be willing to pay the price, as it doesnt come cheap. While the Pixel 6 Pros video capabilities are still behind the iPhone, it can more than hold its own on stills, and its telephoto camera is even better than the iPhone 13 Pros. It is not a cheap phone, but definitely a more affordable flagship pick than the Pro siblings. Tensor allows the new Pixel to lean into Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to learn some new tricks. The most important point is that an unlocked For this model, Apple has pledged longer battery life, improved cameras and better durability than the Apple iPhone 12. The OnePlus 10 Pro earned a good score in our review thanks to its slick design, its powerful performance and its price tag, which undercuts its main rivals. Like the Pro, some of the best battery life on an iPhone comes as part of the iPhone 13 experience but fast charging speeds are still well behind the curve. Customise your Mac and create your own style of Apple Watch. With so many power-hungry features piled on the S22 Ultras battery life is a bit lackluster. Or, you can just scribble notes to your hearts content. Every phone on this list has been thoroughly reviewed and tested, from its battery life to camera performance. Its priced at $999 unlocked, but is sometimes offered for less with activation. The screen is a pleasure to use, the camera system is versatile and dependable, and Samsungs policy of providing up to four generations of OS upgrades is one of the best among Android phones. Fast 45W wired charging makes this a quick job, though. (Microsofts dual-screen Surface Duo 2 is a distant second to the Fold 3, in this early two-device race. Whether you want Apple's iPhone, a Samsung Galaxy, a Google Pixel, OnePlus or another phone, these are the top options you can buy. While the Fold 3 is water resistant (IPX8), the durability of its foldable screen and hinge remains an open question. But if you're a photographer or videographer looking for professional-level camera phone features, you can't go wrong. But if youre looking for a phone that can do just about anything, this is the right choice. While not perfect, the Pixel 6 is an all-around good phone for $599. Samsung'sGalaxy Z Flip 3folds like a clamshell phone and has a stunning design. The Google Pixel 6 Pro is the larger sibling of the newest Pixel duo, with a 6.7-inch screen, 12GB of RAM, and a third camera featuring a 4x telephoto lens and 48 megapixels of resolution. See our ethics statement. Generally speaking, a flagship phone in 2022 will start at around 700 but can cost over 1,000 in some cases. The iPhone 13 Mini has all the features and cameras of its bigger siblings, just in a smaller package. Because its storage is not expandable, and depending on how youll be using the phone, you might want to bite the bullet and upgrade to the next tier. When choosing a phone you should consider these things: build quality and design, ease of use, features, performance, and value. best SIM-only deals. It sports a sleek, understated design, theres a beautiful display paired with a quad-speaker setup and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip delivers impressive performance. The Galaxy Flip 3 has the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor and 8GB of RAM as any other flagship phone released in 2021. ), The Fold 3 is Samsungs third-generation folding phone. phone is almost always a better deal than buying a phone on contract if you can afford it. When youre done using it, just fold it back up and stick it in your pocket just like any other phone. Whats more, the iPhone still leads when it comes to video capture, gaining some smart new features like Cinematography Mode, granting greater control over how your footage looks in the moment. Still, its images are very good in both normal and low light and very competitive with the best from Apple. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is a beast with an impressive camera system. Phones like theiPhone 13 Pro, the Pixel 6 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultraoffer everything you could want in 2022; incredible performance, amazing camera skills and much more. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. You can tell the Pixel 6 from the Pixel 6 Pro by its slightly smaller 6.4-inch, 1080p OLED flat display and bolder color choices like two-tone red or green (black is also an option). The rear triple sensor setup is impressive, dont get us wrong, but inconsistencies especially in exposure only serve to remind us that its not up there with the best of the best, and that makes it a touch harder to recommend; even if the OxygenOS user experience is superb and battery life is among the best of any flagship currently out there. You dont get the 10x telephoto or the built-in S Pen of the Ultra, but you do get a more spacious screen compared to the 6.1-inch standard S22. Trust us, these phones all deliver just all a little differently, and thats a great thing. But its also small enough that most adults, even those with small hands, will be able to comfortably reach all of the screen with their thumb. Samsung is also promising up to four generations of OS version upgrades, so the Ultra should remain a very good phone for years to come. This time around, you dont have to buy the biggest and most expensive model to get the best camera system you get the same experience with either of the Pro models. Portrait mode photos look better, with more realistic subject isolation, and you can use night mode with high-res mode or portrait mode now. If you prefer Android, the Asus Zenfone 8 is a good alternative. Samsungs software is still our least favorite part of a Samsung phone, which is more cluttered and contains more duplicate apps than wed prefer. Starting at $699, this is the cheapest model in Apple's iPhone 13 lineup. The included S Pen stylus pops out of a dedicated silo on the bottom of the phone, and Samsung says its been improved with lower latency than previous years S Pens. If you're after a top-end 5G phone that's a bit different to your friends' iPhones and Galaxy phones then it's a solid option to consider. Samsung took its already-groundbreaking Galaxy Z Flip foldable, improved every aspect from design to performance and then made it cheaper too! It has a 5.4-inch display, 128GB of storage, a smaller battery, and the same A15 Bionic chip as other iPhone 13s. The expansive 6.8in LTPO AMOLED display delivers both high WQHD+ resolution and an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, while long-term software support that surpasses even Googles Pixels rounds out an impressive list of pros. At a whopping price of $2,500, the Sony Xperia Pro isn't for everyone. The choice is yours. All of the devices featured here have great cameras, nice screens, good battery life, and are fast enough to keep up with your day to day. If you spend your days not far from a charger, this is a superb phone. It has a new processor, a bigger battery, 128GB of internal storage, and uses the same large camera sensor as the acclaimed iPhone 12 Pro Max, but you wouldnt know it from its compact size. It even lets you record videos in Cinematic mode, which helps you smoothly switch focus between subjects by changing the depth of field. Photo details are sharp and accurate, colors are rich without being oversaturated, focusing is fast and reliable, portrait mode is good enough to use day to day, and low light and night sight are both exceptional. At the heart of the Pixel 6 is Tensor, Googles first proprietary mobile processor that is on par with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip inside other Android flagships. Pair that ProMotion tech with the phones powerful A15 Bionic chip and a bigger battery, and you can expect some sizeable longevity gains; rendering this a two-day iPhone on a single charge. Which of Apple's 8 iPhones Is Right for You. For those recommendations, you can check out our guide to budget smartphones. You can even shoot and edit videos directly in ProRes on the iPhone 13 Pro (as long as you have a 256GB or higher storage model). Its more or less the successor to the stylus-centric Note series, but more than that, it feels like the endgame of slab-style smartphone development. Its hard to say how durable this foldable screen will be, but at least you can be among the first to find out. Its a little bigger than the 13 Mini with a 5.9-inch screen, and it doesnt work on Verizon, but its otherwise a very similar proposition: great build quality, top-notch processor, and high-end features like a 120Hz screen all tucked into a pocket-friendly device. You can use the Magic Eraser to remove photo-bombers from your photos, take. At $1,800, youre still paying a lot for the ability to fold a tablet screen in half. Free engraving only at Apple on your new AirPods, AirTag, Apple Pencil or iPad. As Googles first true flagship phone since 2019, the Pixel 6 gets many things right and is right up there with the iPhone 13 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in camera quality, overall performance, and battery life. Apple's 2022 iPhone SE may not have the incredible multiple cameras of the top-end iPhone 13 Pro, but the iPhone SE has a lot to offer if you're looking for a great experience without spending flagship levels of cash. But the biggest compromise is its cost: the Fold 3 is roughly twice as expensive as other high-end phones. He is a colorful raconteur who will guide you through the ever-changing and fast-paced world of phones. Apples iOS platform, meanwhile, may have a lower market share but developers almost always release their apps on iOS first. The Pixel 6 is a lot of phone for $599. Theres really only one reason to buy an iPhone 13 Mini, but its an important one: if you want a phone thats easier to use in one hand or put into a small pocket. Add to that excellent video modes with cinema-wide aspect ratios and a film-like grain and youve got a powerhouse camera in your pocket. Out of the four iPhone 13 variants that Apple launched in 2021, the $829 iPhone 13 (unlocked) hits the sweet spot between price, pocketability, and features. For the record, every phone in this list takes a nano-SIM. iOS 15 is an excellent improvement on Apples already well-respected mobile operating system out of the box; adding wellbeing features like notification summary, that ensure youre not constantly distracted by your device. The design is distinctly different from the other entries in the Galaxy S22 range (which is to say very Note-like) and features an integrated S Pen stylus that expands functionality beyond most rivals, especially in terms of productivity. If youve been waiting patiently for the foldable phone to mature before dropping some serious coin for one, this might be the year to get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. Get trade-in credit for your new device. He spends a lot of time moving between different handsets and shouting at WhatsApp to support multiple devices at once. The S22 Ultra offers no less than five cameras, a huge, bright 6.8-inch OLED with up to 120Hz refresh rate, and, oh yeah, a built-in stylus too. Its a 120Hz LTPO (with variable refresh rate) and QHD+ resolution. The Galaxy S22 Plus features the latest Snapdragon chipset, an excellent 6.6-inch display, three rear cameras including a 3x telephoto, and a great support policy promising up to four generations of Android OS upgrades. significantly improved. The screen can also be used as a split screen for multitasking. When not testing the latest phones, he can normally be found with his camera in hand, behind his drums or eating his stash of home-cooked food. The best phone for you is out there, depending on what you value most camera, battery life, design, specs, price, and more to boot come into play. The three rear cameras standard wide, ultrawide, and telephoto combine with Apples image processing to produce stunning images, particularly in low light. (No, you wont be able to reuse your iPhone 12 case for the 13.) The only real exception to thisis Apples iPhones because of their traditional popularity, operators often subsidise the cost of buying an iPhone in order to lock you into a lucrative long-term deal. Copyright 2022 IDG Communications, Inc. Cinematography Mode and HDR algorithm need work. With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and speedy 80W wired charging the 10 Pro has core specs to match anything its rivals offer, and were broadly fans of the slick design too though not everyone is. This doesn't affect our editorial independence. More importantly, you are not locked into a lengthy contract. 0% finance for 24 months, offer ends 11/08. Theres even more good news: Hot Flagship Fall is just around the corner, and many of the models featured here are soon to be replaced with the next generation. Sorry, OnePlus. What you cant move are paid-for apps and certain app data (like WhatsApp backups), so keep this in mind if youre considering a change of platform and research any specific concerns you may have about the process. Prices for flagship phones are higher than ever, and its unlikely that theyll ever come back down. If photo and video quality is your most important factor when buying a phone, the 13 Pro is where you should be spending your money. While the screen and overall performance are excellent, the S22 Plus comes up a little short on battery life. Choose free delivery or pick up in store. Vodafone or For small-phone Android fans, the Asus Zenfone 8 is the perfect fit. Find the one that suits you best, and youll be rewarded with many years of use before its time to start phone shopping again. Sick of smartphones that only get bigger and heavier when all you want is for some new ways to use your phone? To help you figure out the best of the best, we rounded up our picks for the best phone to buy in 2022. He also is one of the hosts of CNET's I'm So Obsessed podcast. Its a comfortable middle ground thats the right configuration of features and size for most people. While it loses out on the 13 Pros high refresh rate display, the iPhone 13 still boasts cutting-edge features like Apples newest 5nm A15 Bionic chip and the latest camera features, like Cinematic Mode. For the most part, the camera system is great too, not quite best-in-class but good. Its ultrawide camera, on the other hand, has only been minorly updated for better low-light performance. CNET's Patrick Holland says it could be "the first foldable phone you'll consider buying.". The Pixel 6 has a 4,614mAh battery (should last two days for light users), supports Qi wireless charging, and has some protection from rain storms (IP68). Henry is Tech Advisors Phones Editor, ensuring he and the team covers and reviews every smartphone worth knowing about for readers and viewers all over the world. The Oppo Find X5 Pro is a phenomenal phone by any measure. Theyll also generally get more years of software updates than cheaper phones: three years is a bare minimum here, and five is common. For most people, the iPhone 13 is an easy choice: it offers similar performance, design, camera features, and (sometimes) better battery life than other iPhone 13 models, for less money. Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro debuting the companys own Tensor silicon and a refreshed Android 12 experience out the box, along with a completely new design and some significantly enhanced cameras. Samsungs third go at a flip phone seems to strike the right balance of whimsy, technical prowess and price that make the Galaxy Z Flip 3 appealing to mainstream users. The design is unique too, thanks to a seamlessly sloped camera module built right into the ceramic of the phones body. Youll also get some uniquely Google features thanks to a new, proprietary processor. For $999, this 4.2-inch pocketable device can transform into a 6.7-inch 1080p OLED display that is bright and has a fast 120Hz refresh rate. The Xiaomi 12 Pro has an awful lot going for it, but thats coupled with a pair of major flaws. Generally speaking, if you can afford the upfront cost of the handset, you will pay less over the life of your phone by buying unlocked. The camera system also relies on a new 50Mp main sensor, which delivers astounding dynamic range and showcases smart new features, like Magic Eraser and rock-solid Face Unblur. But thats assuming you are getting a new SIM, and if youre looking for a SIM-free phone or unlocked phone you probably already have one. While battery life isn't as long as the iPhone 13, this petite Apple iPhone doesn't sacrifice on camera capabilities or processing power. Vivo has knocked it out of the park with the X80 Pro, a phone whose camera is truly excellent, rivalling the best Apple, Samsung, and Google have to offer. While the S21 Ultra dabbled with Note-like features, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is unquestionably a full-blown successor to 2020s It comes with a high price, but those of you looking for one of the best Android phones around should have this on your short list. This smartphone remains one of our favorite foldable phones. Good competition means better phones for everyone! If you have an Android phone or an iPhone and want to move to a phone running the other OS (operating system), its fairly easy to transfer your contacts and other select data from one to the other. It can do all the modes that matter in terms of 4K and slow-mo and handles them all super well. The vast majority of phones today run Android check out our guide to budget smartphones, Apple iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, Pixel 6 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro cameras in a comparison video, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (128GB, unlocked), durability of its foldable screen and hinge, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 (256GB, unlocked). The 6.7in 10-bit 120Hz QHD+ panel is one of the best displays in any phone right now and Oppo backs it up with 80W wired and 50W wireless charging, a 5000mAh battery, and a top-tier camera that boasts 50Mp sensors on both the main and ultrawide lenses. There are a wealth of great phones to choose from this year. We pitted the Pixel 6 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro cameras in a comparison video, and the results are pretty evenly split. The cameras are largely the same as the S21 Ultras, plus a couple of software-based improvements. The Google Pixel 6 is the new base model of Googles latest flagship. You only get a 60Hz refresh rate screen, slow 18W charging, and a plastic back that we found scratches quite easily. For a relatively big phone, the Pixel 6 is not too thick yet feels substantial. It may be one of a few truly high-end Android phones offered in the US right now, but dont let that fool you into thinking its a winner only by default; it also happens to be a very good device. Due to the Z Flip 3s form factor, it can double as a mobile tripod for the cameras, which makes for some fun new ways to take photos. On contract, youre looking at between 30 and 50-per-month on average but you can spend a lot more if you want an expensive phone and lots of mobile data. Or, if you want to get the best smartphone on a budget, you can find something really good for under $500 or even less. It has a 6.1-inch screen, 128GB of internal storage (up to 1TB), and is powered by the new A15 Bionic processor. Starting at $799 with activation or $829 unlocked, the iPhone 13 features a new A15 Bionic chip, an OLED display, 128GB of internal storage, and compatibility with all 5G networks. Both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max share the same top-of-the-line camera system this year, and they are our pick as the iPhone for photos and videos. On top of all that, it comes in six colors (including pink), one more than you can choose from in the Pro models. In terms of design, power, features and performance, the Pixel 6 is a big step up from its predecessor, the Pixel 5. But, as the ceiling gets higher, devices in the more reasonable $600 to $800 range have gotten even more capable. If you want a new handset at any time, you can buy one without having to up-purchase your way out of said contract or commit to another two years. If youre looking for an alternative thats a little sleeker, the OnePlus 10 Pro is a good option. The 13 Pro has a physically larger camera sensor compared to prior models that allows its main 12-megapixel camera to gather more light and produce better-quality images, especially in dark or challenging lighting conditions. Otherwise, it has the same overall design, a brighter 6.1-inch OLED display, the same 12-megapixel selfie camera, the same MagSafe wireless charging, the same water and dust resistance (IP68), and the same support for both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G networks. Each link is to an unlocked phone, and the phones should run on most of the big four US wireless carriers, unless otherwise specified. Picking the right phone is mostly a matter of preference. Older A-series Pixels were sluggish not this one. All rights reserved. What do you miss by not going Pro? For the asking price you get the Google Tensor chip, the same as the 6 and 6 Pro, resulting in flagship level performance. Battery life is also just fine, providing between four and five hours of screen time between charges. As a result, performance is lightning-fast. Though its much smaller in size than the other iPhones released this year, the Minis 5.4-inch screen is still big enough for text messaging, email, web browsing, apps, video, and games, and if youre coming from an iPhone 6 / 7 / 8, it will feel quite spacious. browsing the web to watching video to playing games more enjoyable and immersive. Tensor doesnt benchmark well against the competition but in real-world use offers more than enough grunt to handle the most demanding mobile apps and games, while also boasting a specialised skill set for machine learning and AI tasks that rival silicon lags behind in. The Fold 3 is twice as thick when closed compared to normal phones, all its cameras are sub-par, and its 4,400mAh battery is a bit small to power so many screens. Although the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have bigger, better screens and improved cameras, the $449/399/459 is better value and the Pixel phone most people should buy. One good reason to spend this much on a phone is to go as long as possible before you have to buy a new one.