Best phones of 2022: from iPhone 14 Pro to Galaxy Z Flip 4
We’ve seen several notable smartphones launch from big-name manufacturers this year, from the iPhone 14 Pro to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Unique smartphones like the Nothing Phone 1 also made their debut, while foldable phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4 saw improvements over their predecessors. Companies like Xiaomi and Vivo also launched powerful flagship smartphones this year, giving customers even more options to choose from.
On this week’s episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast, host Akhil Arora speaks with reviews editor Roydon Cerejo and senior reviewer Sheldon Pinto to break down some of the best smartphones you can buy in 2022.
Despite the ongoing supply chain issue that has affected the availability of smartphones, we have seen several new handsets launch from brands like Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Xiaomi, and the new entrant Nothing. Apple launched the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro series this year, which competes with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S22 series and the Google Pixel 7 series. It is also worth noting that these three phones are powered by different chipsets.
Sheldon says the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are great phones, with great camera performance and software experience. We liked that the Pixel 7 offered better battery life than the Pixel 7 Pro despite having a smaller battery, and is arguably the best Pixel phone you can buy today.
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are two of the best iPhones you can buy today, but we find their pricing too high in India. This year, Apple added new features such as Dynamic Island and a new 48MP camera with new zoom capabilities. Sheldon also compared the iPhone 14 Pro with the Pixel 7 Pro, pitting the camera performance of these phones against each other.
Pixel 7, 7 Pro review: Are these the best Android phones you can buy today?
Xiaomi also launched its flagship smartphone in India this year, the Xiaomi 12 Pro. The Chinese smartphone maker’s top-of-the-line phone in India is powered by a powerful Snapdragon chipset, has a quad speaker setup and represents a new direction for Xiaomi, according to Sheldon. Image quality was consistent, while the phone had a minimalist, understated design and we rated the phone positively.
The OnePlus 10 Pro, which launched earlier this year, is one of the best phones the company has launched in 2022. Roydon says it may be better than the OnePlus 10T, which debuted later this year without the alert slider. Aside from some odd choices with the handset’s camera, it’s also an improvement over the OnePlus 9 Pro, the company’s flagship phone from last year, he adds.
Next up, we discuss the Samsung Galaxy Flip 4, a phone that went from a niche product to a more usable one. Sheldon says it fixes the battery life and heating issues of its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Flip 3, and is also much easier to use while gaming. It’s also the most accessible foldable phone you can buy in India. We also discuss why the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 didn’t make our list of the best phones of this year.
iPhone 14 Pro Review: Islands in the Screen
Sheldon recently reviewed the Asus ROG Phone 6, which actually launched back in July and went on sale in India in late November. He says you’d have to buy the handset with its accompanying accessories and peripherals, and that you’d likely use it as a second phone, like a Nintendo Switch.
The Nothing Phone 1 was the first phone launched by the Carl Pei-led British company, and the handset has a transparent rear panel with LEDs that light up when you get a message or your phone rings. While Roydon says the rear lighting is a gimmicky feature, you do get support for wireless charging and an IP rating for dust and water resistance on a mid-range smartphone.
Earlier this year, Samsung launched its 2022 flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in India. Roydon says it represents the complete package, an “all-in-one” phone. Sheldon agrees, saying it’s a no-frills device that rivals the iPhone 14 Pro Max, plus offers S Pen support. Given Samsung’s software credentials, Roydon says if he had to pick just one phone from our list, it’d probably be the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra review: the complete package?
Should you buy one of these phones? The end of the year is probably the worst time to buy a new smartphone. We’re expecting new phones from Samsung and OnePlus in February or March. Prices for smartphones launching in 2022 may drop when these new phones arrive, so it might be worth holding on to your current phone for a little while longer.
You can listen to all this in detail and more in our episode by hitting the play button on the Spotify player embedded above. Don’t forget to check out our guide on the best phones under Rs. 30,000, which you can find above.
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