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Over the last half-decade, Android has matured from a platform with a lot of promise to a fully-grown operating system, where the hardware and software have finally managed to combine to create some incredible experiences. Apple has made smartphones that have become hits with the public yearly, but recent years proved that Android phones have been putting up a good fight. Such devices have had some incredible innovations in the phone market, from exceedingly powerful processors to fantastic camera systems. Unfortunately for consumers, the countless options on the market have made it increasingly challenging to pick what phone is the right choice for you. That’s where we come in—we’ve looked at nearly every smartphone on the market today, from last year’s flagships to this year’s brand new devices, and have decided which ones are actually worth buying. We’ve judged each phone on its design, features, build quality, specs, the quality of the camera, and even the software included in your purchase, to help you decide which device is suitable for you. After all, when you purchase a new smartphone, you aren’t just signing up for a new phone. You’re buying a camera, a GPS, a mobile theater, and so much more. Our phones help us each day to increase our productivity and stay in contact with friends. If you’re going to drop more than $1,000 on a device, you’ll want to make sure it covers every feature you could ever want. With all that said, let’s take a look at the best Android phones you can get your hands on in 2022.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is among the premium options offered by Samsung, and it has the largest display out of the entire S22 lineup. The phone features a 6.8-inch Infinity-O Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, which will look vibrant and clear even in broad daylight because of its 1,750-nit peak brightness. It also promises superb contrast and color thanks to its HDR10+. Those who are fond of mobile gaming will love this device because of its impressive 120Hz refresh rate. Users can expect a snappy and responsive performance because of its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Their base model features 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage, but you can opt for a 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB variant, all of which have 12GB RAM. Since the S22 Ultra is a top-of-the-line model, it’s no surprise that it has a great camera system. The device has a 40MP selfie camera, a 108MP wide camera, a 10MP telephoto camera, a 10MP periscope telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. It’s perfect for filming content for your social media accounts because its rear cameras can record 8K footage at 24 fps, while its front-facing camera captures 4K videos up to 60 fps. One unique thing about the phone is its integrated S Pen that you can use for writing, drawing, editing, etc. You will experience outstanding network speeds with this device because of its 5G connectivity. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. The phone has a fingerprint scanner, but you won’t notice it since it’s underneath the display. The S22 Ultra has a 5,000 mAh battery, and you can expect up to a little over 12 hours of HD video streaming over Wi-Fi per charge. It supports 45W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.
Large display with impressive brightness, contrast, and a 120Hz refresh rateExcellent performanceFantastic cameras5G-enabledWi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 support10-hour battery life with fast charging and wireless charging supportIntegrated S Pen
ExpensiveS21 Ultra had better battery life
OnePlus might not be the most famous smartphone brand on the market, but they’re surely creating devices that are a bang for the buck. Their best offer has got to be the OnePlus 10 Pro, which is already 5G-enabled. It features a 6.7-inch QHD+ LTPO 2.0 AMOLED display with HDR10+ support and 1,300-nit peak brightness. Like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, this phone also has a 120Hz refresh rate, perfect for gaming. Its HyperBoost Gaming Engine ensures that you get the best graphics and performance for gaming, and its heat dissipation system keeps your phone safe from overheating. You won’t have trouble using several apps simultaneously because of its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. The 128GB and 256GB model features 8GB RAM, while the larger 256GB and 512GB variants come with 12GB RAM. The OnePlus 10 Pro joins the list of modern smartphones that can film 8K video at 24fps. It has a 32MP front camera, a 48MP wide camera, an 8MP telephoto camera, and a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a 15-degree field of view. Its OnePlus Billion Color Solution ensures you capture content with the most accurate colors. Hasselblad co-developed its camera system, so you know that you can rely on it to give you high-quality photos and videos. You can expect the phone to have the best internet speeds available since it supports Wi-Fi 6. Connecting external devices/accessories also won’t be a problem since it has Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. The smartphone comes with an under-display fingerprint scanner and Face Unlock feature, allowing you to unlock the phone quickly and easily. Its 5,000 mAh battery enables you to use the phone for about 12 hours before it runs out of juice, and while the phone only comes with a 65W SUPERVOOC Power Adapter, it supports up to 80W fast charging. Other freebies included with the device are a USB Type-C cable and USB Type-A to Type-C dongle.
Excellent performanceSleek and modern design6.7-inch QHD+ display with HDR10+ support, 1,300-nit peak brightness, and 120Hz refresh rateBest camera system OnePlus has ever created so far5G connectivityWi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 supportFingerprint scanner and Face Unlock12-hour battery lifeUp to 80W fast charging
Telephoto camera could be betterSoftware has some bugs
Google has had many terrific creations over the years, and it looks like they have created an impressive smartphone lineup as well. The Google Pixel 6 Pro is their most premium offering, and it would cost you as low as $699 in 2022. The phone has a 6.7-inch QHD+ (1440 x 3120) LTPO OLED display with excellent brightness, contrast, and color performance. Like most high-end Android phones, its screen also has a refresh rate of 120Hz. It features HDR support and a >1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Its Google Tensor processor ensures that all your apps load smoothly, and you won’t need to worry about any data breach because of its Titan M2 security coprocessor. The phone comes with 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, and you can pick between a 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB variant. One of the main selling points of the Google Pixel 6 Pro is its cameras. It has a 50MP Octa PD Quad Bayer wide camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 48MP telephoto camera, and an 11.1MP front camera. You have a lot of opportunities to come up with the best and most creative shots since it comes packed with different camera features like Magic Eraser, Night Sight, Motion Mode, Portrait Mode, etc. Both rear and front cameras can record 4K videos, but the rear camera’s maximum frame rate is 60 fps, while the front camera’s is 30 fps. Users can even record slo-mo video up to 240 fps. The Google 6 Pro supports Wi-Fi 6/6E and Bluetooth 5.2, and you get 5G connectivity. It’s similar to Samsung’s premium devices since its fingerprint reader is also hidden underneath the display. The phone’s 5,003 mAh battery is impressive for its price since you get up to 13 hours of continuous browsing or 9 hours of Youtube video streaming per charge. The device supports 30W fast charging, but you must purchase the 30W adapter separately. Users can also use a wireless charging pad, and you can use the phone to charge other mobile devices wirelessly.
Superb camera systemPowerful Google Tensor processorLarge and vibrant QHD+ display12GB RAMWi-Fi 6/6E and Bluetooth 5.2 supportReasonable price tag
Battery life could be betterLacks Face Unlock featureCharging speed isn't that fast
If you find the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra too pricey and don’t really need its integrated S Pen and ultra-advanced cameras, you might want to go for the Samsung Galaxy S22+ instead. The S22+’s 6.6-inch Infinity-O FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display is slightly smaller than the S22 Ultra’s 6.8-inch display, but it still has a 120Hz refresh rate, 1,750-nit peak brightness, and HDR10+ capabilities. You get the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, so you’re not compromising anything performance-wise. It has fewer storage options because it’s only available in 128GB and 256GB models, both of which have 8GB RAM. The difference between its camera system to the S22 Ultra’s is its wide rear camera, which is only 50MP, its 10MP selfie camera, and it lacks a periscope telephoto camera. You still get the same 10MP telephoto and 12MP ultra-wide camera, Don’t let the lower megapixels on the S22+ fool you because it can still record 8K video at 24 fps. The device is also 5G-capable and supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. It comes with a USB Type-C 3.2 port that supports 45W fast charging. It has a smaller battery than the S22 Ultra, so you only get around 10.5 hours of HD video streaming over Wi-Fi on a single charge. The S22+’s design differs from the S22 Ultra’s, so it will be up to you which you prefer. The device is available in Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, and Pink Gold.
Vibrant and bright display with 120Hz refresh rate5G-enabledSame processor as the S22 UltraExcellent cameras that can shoot 8K video at 24 fpsDecent battery life
Limited storage optionsCould use a microSD slot to expand storage
For those with no plans of going overboard with their spending, you can still find options like the Samsung A53 5G that prove you can still get a valuable smartphone for a lower price. This device costs around $450 in 2022 and has all the specs you need to have a decent time texting, calling, browsing the internet, and more. The phone has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 800-nit brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate. It can handle your daily multitasking needs because of its 5nm Octa-core processor, but some have reported it to have sluggish performance. It’s also underwhelming in the RAM department because it’s limited to 6GB. Users can opt to get the 128GB model even if they need more storage space because you can conveniently expand it through its microSDXC slot. The Samsung A53 5G comes with a 64MP wide camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro camera, a 5MP depth camera, and a 32MP selfie camera. Unfortunately, this phone can’t shoot 8K video like its more high-end counterparts, but you’ll still be satisfied with its 4K at 30 fps resolution. Thanks to its AI Image Enhancer, the phone will automatically improve all the pictures you take, and you’ll get to access a wide range of creative filters using its Fun Mode. The A53 5G has the same 5,000 mAh battery as the S22 Ultra, so you’ll also get to stream videos on maximum brightness for as long as 12.5 hours. Sadly, you won’t get the fastest charging speeds available because it can only handle up to 25W fast charging.
Affordable6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rateExpandable storageDecent cameras with AI Image Enhancer5,000 mAh battery
Limited RAM and internal storagePerformance need significant improvementsOnly supports up to 25W charging
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