Best smartphone 2022
1. iPhone 13 Pro – Best iPhone
Pros
120Hz display
Superb cameras
Top-tier performance
Improved battery life
Cons
Cinematography Mode and HDR algorithm need work
Pricey
Unlike 2020 – where the standard iPhone 12 won out against its Pro-branded sibling – 2021’s iPhone 13 Pro is undoubtedly the one to beat.
At first glance, the 13 Pro uses a familiar 6.1in Super Retina XDR display, but Apple has finally decided to bring Promotion, to the iPhone; with the panel now topping out at a super-smooth 120Hz. The notch is also 20% smaller, too.
As for the cameras, you can expect bigger sensors and faster apertures that mean improved low light performance, far more comparable quality when switching to the phone’s ultrawide (which also now offers macro shooting capabilities) and a 3x telephoto snapper, letting you shoot further than before.
What’s 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, at the moment.
Pair that Promotion, tech with the phone’s 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.
Read our full Apple iPhone 13 Pro review
2. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – Best Android phone
Pros
Excellent camera
Phenomenal display
Stylus support
Cons
Bulky
Expensive
Slower charging
While the S21 Ultra dabbled with Note-like features, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is unquestionably a full-blown successor to 2020s Note 20 Ultra in everything but name.
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.
Despite familiar-looking camera hardware, the upgrades made by Samsung render it one of the best systems in any phone right now; with a 108Mp main shooter backed up by an ultrawide and two telephoto lenses at different zoom levels – with the zoom performance particularly improved on previous models.
The expansive 6.8in LT PO AMOLED display delivers both high WQHD+ resolution and an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, while long-term software support that surpasses even Google’s Pixels rounds out an impressive list of pros.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra review
3. iPhone 13 – Superb all-rounder
Pros
Brilliant performance
Capable cameras
Long battery life
Great value
Cons
Still a 60Hz display
No telephoto camera
Slow charging
While it loses out on the 13 Pro’s high refresh rate display, the iPhone 13 still boasts cutting-edge features like Apple’s newest 5 nm A15 Bionic chip and the latest camera features, like Cinematic Mode.
The rear camera system now sits at a diagonal, primarily to accommodate the impressive sensor-shift O.I.S (optical image stabilization) that was exclusive to 2020s iPhone 12 Pro Max (although there’s still no telephoto sensor), while on the front – despite the same 60Hz refresh rate as the previous model – you still get a stunning 6.1in OLED display, complete with a smaller notch.
iOS 15 is an excellent improvement on Apple’s already well-respected mobile operating system out of the box; adding wellbeing features like notification summary, that ensure you’re not constantly distracted by your device.
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.
Read our full Apple iPhone 13 review
4. Google Pixel 6 Pro – Best user experience
Google Pixel 6 Pro - Best user experience
Pros
120Hz display
Superb cameras
Slick OS
Greatly improved battery life
Cons
Biggest, thickest, heaviest Pixel yet
Awkward fast charging
Google shook things up for 2021, with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro debuting the company’s own Tensor silicon and a refreshed Android 12 experience out the box, along with a completely new design and some significantly enhanced cameras.
Despite dropping the ‘Pixel XL’ naming convention, the 6 Pro is an undeniably sizeable phone, with a stunning QHD+ curved-edge OLED display that – for the first time in the series – makes the move to a higher, smoother 120Hz refresh rate (just like the iPhone 13 Pro range).
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 not blur. It’s also backed up by both a 12Mp ultrawide and a periscope 48Mp telephoto camera, with a 4x optical zoom; a far cry from the Pixel range’s old single-sensor approach to photography.
Tensor doesn’t 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 specialized skill set for machine learning and AI tasks that rival silicon lags behind in.
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.
Read our full Google Pixel 6 Pro review
5. OPO Find X5 Pro – Superb cameras
Pros
Best-in-class display
Versatile cameras
Unique design
Cons
No periscope zoom
Expensive
The OPO Find X5 Pro is a phenomenal phone by any measure. The 6.7in 10-bit 120Hz QHD+ panel is one of the best displays in any phone right now and OPO 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.
You’ll have to live without a periscope zoom lens – the telephoto here is a measly 2x zoom – but results across all three rear lenses are exceptional. The design is unique, too, thanks to a seamlessly sloped camera module built right into the ceramic of the phone’s body.
In terms of pure performance, the Find X5 Pro is also hard to beat, with all of the above, plus a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, 256 GB storage and 12 GB RAM. You just have to be willing to pay the price, as it doesn’t come cheap.
Read our full OPO Find X5 Pro review
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