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When you think of the ‘best smartphones’ of the year, it’s easy to only picture expensive flagship phones. However, like every year, 2022 has seen some truly standout mid-range offerings that may not be able to hold a candle to true flagships, but still offer decent performance and features at much more affordable prices. Foldable phones continued to get better in 2022 with Samsung pioneering the segment in India, while charging speeds have seen new heights. The big focus for all the phones on our list, however, is the cameras. We’ve seen smartphones with incredible zoom performance, high-resolution sensors, and next-level video stabilization for content creators. Depending on your budget and requirements, there’s something for everyone on our list.
All of these smartphones have been reviewed by us and we’ve picked only the best of the best, based on the reviews they’ve received and what we felt were unique offerings that still stand out even today. Here’s Gadgets 360’s list of the best smartphones in India for 2022, in no particular order.
Google Pixel 7
After neglecting the Indian market for a couple of years, Google finally decided to launch its 2022 flagships in India and we are very happy that they did. Between the Google Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro, we feel that the Pixel 7 is the flagship that most people should have their eyes on as it offers the best of Google’s vision but at a fairly accessible price point. Apart from the telephoto camera and a higher resolution display on the 7 Pro, the Pixel 7 does pretty much everything that its more expensive sibling can. It has a sleek design with good build quality, a bright display, useful software features, quality cameras, and very good battery life. Since it is a Pixel, you can expect day one updates from Google that should keep the phone fresh and relevant for at least a couple of years.
iPhone 14 Pro
The iPhone 14 Pro raises the price bar yet again in India, making it the most expensive Pro model to date. Apple’s big upgrades this time around include a more powerful SoC, a new display notch that the company calls Dynamic Island, and a higher-resolution primary camera. The latter is perhaps the most exciting feature and the improvements are noticeable in photos and video recording. While the 14 Pro isn’t as good as the Google Pixel 7 Pro for photos in our experience, it’s in a league of its own when it comes to video recording. The rest is business as usual. The iPhone 14 Pro has excellent build quality, very good performance, strong battery life, and promises long-term software updates. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is also available with a larger display and battery, but is significantly more expensive.
iPhone 14 Plus
While some of us are sad to see the iPhone mini discontinued, we’re glad to see that Apple has replaced it with something a little more mass-appealing. The iPhone 14 Plus is a revival of the plus-size model that ended with the iPhone 8 Plus, and is the perfect choice for those who want a Pro Max-sized iPhone but don’t want the hefty premium. The iPhone 14 Plus is essentially an iPhone 14 with a larger 6.7-inch display and a larger battery, and for many, that should be a good reason to buy one. Despite its large footprint, it’s actually lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro, which is a major plus.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Samsung’s foldable phones from last year really raised the bar by introducing an IPX8 water-resistance rating, and this year we’ve seen further refinements to the design and features. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 wasn’t a huge upgrade over its predecessor this year, which is why it misses out on a spot on our list, but the Galaxy Z Flip 4 does receive some meaningful updates that make it the best entry-level foldable phone. The new model has a more refined design, a better external display, and its battery life has been drastically improved. It also features a more power-efficient version of Qualcomm’s flagship SoC, which helps it reach peak performance without any significant overheating issues. The cameras are good, the display is excellent, and the fact that it can fold down to half its original size is no longer a novelty.
Nothing Phone 1
Behind all the hype and blinking LEDs of the Nothing Phone 1 lies a highly underrated mid-range offering that, to date, offers a complete package at an unbeatable price. Considering that it is the startup’s first smartphone, it has really nailed the premium fit and finish. For a smartphone that costs around Rs. 30,000, you get a powerful 5G SoC, an IP53 rating, and wireless charging. The Phone 1 also has a vibrant 120Hz display, clean software, and a very good primary camera. Even if you never use the glyph lights (which we still consider more of a gimmick), the Phone 1 still delivers a premium Android experience that not many can boast of, especially at these prices.
OnePlus 10R (150W)
You’d normally expect one of the fastest charging smartphones to be a flagship, but surprisingly, it’s a mid-range offering. The OnePlus 10R defies the brand’s typical design philosophy in favor of a more generic design, but if you can accept that then you’ll find it to be a great little mid-range smartphone. The 150W or Endurance Edition of this phone really steals the show, as it allows you to top up the battery ridiculously quickly. The smartphone also has an impressive main camera, decent battery life, and sleek software. The standard version of this phone can charge at 80W, which is still impressively fast. Another phone worth mentioning is the Realme GT Neo 3, the 10R’s twin. It’s essentially the same phone, just with a different design and software.
Vivo X80 Pro
If we had to pick the best phone for video content creation that isn’t an iPhone, we’d go with the Vivo X80 Pro. While more expensive than its predecessor, Vivo’s 2022 flagship is the best Android phone for video content creation thanks to its dedicated imaging chip and gimbal stabilization system. It also has an extremely good night mode for low-light photos, something that could give Google’s Night Sight a run for its money. Cameras aside, the smartphone looks and feels like a premium flagship. You get a cutting-edge design, a great display, great performance, and very good battery life.
Xiaomi 12 Pro
The Xiaomi 12 Pro represents a more mature and grown-up flagship compared to the previous year. Instead of focusing on big numbers and gimmicky features, the 12 Pro flaunts a refined design and premium components that focus on delivering quality over quantity. The Xiaomi 12 Pro comes with excellent build quality, a bright 120Hz display, 120W wired charging, great-sounding speakers, and a very capable camera. What really makes it better than last year’s Mi 11 Ultra is that you can actually buy this smartphone in India.
Asus ROG Phone 6
The Asus ROG Phone 6 remains unchallenged in India as no other company has launched a dedicated gaming phone this year. The Phone 6 offers better value than the ROG Phone 6 Pro and takes the specialized gaming features that we have seen in the previous generations even further to the next level. With support for up to 165Hz refresh rate and a massive 6,000mAh battery, the ROG Phone 6 is truly a beast when it comes to beating almost any game you throw at it. Some of the new notable features include an IPX4 splash-resistance rating, improved cameras, and faster charging. The accessories are also something you want to invest in as some of them like the Aeroactive Cooler 6 actually make a huge difference in performance.
OnePlus 10 Pro
The OnePlus 10 Pro is a solid, no-nonsense flagship that offers the best OnePlus experience (what’s left of it) and very good cameras. Its design is unlike any OnePlus smartphone before it, and therein lies its charm. It’s sleek and stylish, has an excellent display, top-notch performance, and very good battery life. It lacks an official IP rating in India, but does have all the seals and protections to make it water and dust resistant. With the company going through something of an identity crisis, this may be the last time we see OnePlus trademark features like the ‘Alert slider’ on a OnePlus flagship phone, which were conspicuously missing from the OnePlus 10T 5G that came after it.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung’s Galaxy Note and S-series merger became complete this year with the arrival of the Galaxy S22 Ultra. If we had to pick one Android phone that we thought was just about perfect, it’d be tough to find better than this one. Samsung has gone all-out this time around, adding a built-in S Pen stylus, an incredible display, and arguably the best telephoto cameras in a phone. It’s fairly expensive compared to the other Android flagships on our list, but it’s still cheaper than an iPhone 14 Pro. If you want a phone that excels in just about every way, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is an easy pick.
Motorola Edge 30 Pro
The ‘flagship killer’ award this year goes to the Motorola Edge 30 Pro, as alongside a flagship-grade SoC it also comes with the usual perks like wireless charging and an IP rating. What makes it an easy contender for this title though is its pricing, which was quite aggressive when it launched back in February this year and is now even more affordable after recent price cuts. The Edge 30 Pro offers a pristine Android experience, very fast charging, a 144Hz refresh rate and a very good selfie camera. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money but still don’t want to miss out on things like a good telephoto camera or solid gaming performance, it’s hard to find a better all-rounder at this price.
