Best Phones 2022: The race for the best smartphone of 2022 has already begun and trust me there are lots of good phones this year (the first quarter brought lots of good phones). If you don’t have $1,000 to spend on a premium 2022 smartphone, don’t worry some of these phones are priced at around $899.
So, what are the best phones of 2022? Well, we’ve made this list that will be updated as more phones join the list in the new year. While there are some popular phones on this list, there are also some really nice entries that you can buy at a very good price. Samsung and Apple led the best phone race of 2021. But will phones from both companies be able to retain their spots? Well, let’s find out.
See Also: Best Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Phones you can buy in 2022
Best Phones 2022
1. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung is picking up from where it left off in 2021. The Galaxy S22 Ultra still retains the crown as the best Android phone of this new year. The Galaxy S21 Ultra has handed the mantle over to its predecessor. The S22 Ultra is not only the best but also the most productive phone of the year.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with a 6.8-inches display, AMOLED panel, and 120Hz refresh rate with HDR10+ support. It also has the brightest screen on this list that is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+. One of the most impressive things about this phone is the camera.
See Also: Save up to $350 on Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra on Gazelle
Looking beyond the 108MP main camera, you get a 10MP periscope telephoto lens that is capable of 10x optical zoom and 100x hybrid zoom. It also comes with an inbuild S PEN which means you can get more done with this phone.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Key Specs
| Specs | Galaxy S22 Ultra |
| Display | 6.8-inch, 120Hz |
| RAM & Storage | 8/12GB & 128 – 512GB |
| Cameras | 108 + 10 + 10 + 12MP & 40MP |
| Chipset | Exynos 2200 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Software | Android 12, One UI 4 |
| Battery | 5,000mAh (45W) |
| IP68 Rating | YES |
| Stylus (S PEN) | YES |
Buy Galaxy S22 Ultra
| Galaxy S22 Ultra | Price |
| Buy on Amazon | $1,199.99 |
| Buy on Amazon UK | £1,149.00 |
2. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max still remains the most powerful phone of 2022 but it slips down one position from 2021. This is because the Galaxy S22 Ultra taking the number slot this year offers an inbuild S PEN feature that makes it better for productivity.
It runs iOS 15 and it’s upgradeable to iOS 15.2. It’s powered by the Apple A15 Bionic chip with Apple GPU (5-core graphics) paired with 6GB of RAM. Its camera setup is; a 12MP main camera with dual-pixel PDAF and sensor-shift OIS, a 12MP telephoto capable of 3x optical zoom, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth).
See Also: Best camera phones 2022: Phone with the best camera quality and features
The iPhone 13 Pro Max comes with really impressive camera features such as; 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR, ProRes Cinematic mode, and stereo sound rec. You can literally shoot cinematic movies with the cameras of this device. It features a 4,352mAh battery and its chipset efficiency makes it the best battery smartphone of 2021.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max Key Specs
| Specifications | iPhone 13 Pro Max |
| Display | 6.7-inch, 120Hz |
| RAM & Storage | 6GB & 128GB – 1TB |
| Cameras | 12 + 12 + 12MP + TOF & 12MP |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic |
| Software | Apple iOS 15 |
| Battery | 4,352mAh (25W) |
| IP68 Rating | YES |
Buy Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
| Buy iPhone 13 Pro Max | Price |
| Buy on Gazelle | $1,069.00 |
3. ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is no doubt be of the best phones you can buy in 2022. It is the first phone to come with under-display camera technology in 2022 and also features one of the most powerful chipsets inside. Its display is very colorful and it comes with very slim bezels making the curved front screen look really neat.
Aside from the under-display camera technology, another highlight of the Axon 40 Ultra is the triple rear camera. The Axon 40 Ultra comes with three 64MP sensors on the rear and all three cameras can shoot videos in 8K resolution.
See Also: Best gaming phones 2022: Top 8 phones you can buy as a gamer
The phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with support for an 80W fast charge. You can take advantage of the full screen for a long time using the long-lasting battery. It’s safe to say that the Axn 40 Ultra from ZTE has a different vibe to it.
ZTE Axon 40 Key Specs
| Specs | Axon 40 Ultra |
| Display | 6.8-inch, 120Hz |
| RAM Storage | 8/12GB 256/512GB/1TB |
| Back Camera Front Camera | 64 + 64 + 64MP 16MP |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Software | Android 12 |
| Battery | 5,000mAh (80W) |
| IP Rating | Unspecified |
Buy ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
| Buy Axon 40 Ultra | Price |
| Buy on Giztop | $899 |
4. vivo X80 Pro
The vivo X80 Pro is one good phone you can buy in 2022. Its camera setup is one of the many stand-out features of the phone. It comes with quad rear cameras that feature an 8MP periscope lens with 5x optical zoom and a 50MP main camera that has PDAF, Laser AF, and gimbal OIS features.
vivo also partnered with ZEISS to improve the quality of photography and videos from the cameras of the vivo X80 Pro. It has a 6.78-inch AMOLED display and just like most phones on this list has support for a 120Hz refresh rate, HD10+, and 1B colors.
See Also: OPPO Find X5 Pro vs vivo X80 Pro: which should you buy
The vivo X80 Pro is also a very durable device because of its build quality and it is certified to have IP68 water and dust resistance feature.
vivo X80 Pro Key Specs
| Specs | vivo X80 Pro |
| Display | 6.78-inch, 120Hz |
| RAM Storage | 8/12GB 256/512GB |
| Back Camera Front Camera | 50 + 48 + 12 + 8MP 32MP selfie |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Software | Android 12 |
| Battery | 4,700mAh (80W) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
Buy the vivo X80 Pro
| vivo X80 Pro | Price |
| Buy on Giztop | $999.00 |
5. iQOO 9 Pro
Vivo did very well with the iQOO 9 Pro and it’s no doubt one of the best phones to buy in 2022. It comes with a 6.78-inch display, AMOLED panel, QHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and LTPO display technology.
See Also: iQOO 9 Pro vs OnePlus 10 Pro: Which is better
Aside from the impressive display and leather design, the iQOO 9 Pro has a very powerful chipset, a good camera setup, and a big battery. For example, the main 50MP camera comes with a gimbal OIS and a 16MP telephoto lens that has OIS and 2.5x optical zoom.
The phone is powered by a 4,700mAh battery with 120W fast charge (fully charged under 20 minutes), Fast wireless charging 50W, and 10W reverse wireless charging. The design, display, and performance of this smartphone are spot on.
iQOO 9 Pro Key Specs
| iQOO 9 Pro | Specifications |
| Display | 6.78-inch, QHD+, 120Hz |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Software | Android 12 Origin OS Ocean |
| RAM & Storage | 8/12GB 128/ 256GB |
| Cameras | 50 + 16 + 50MP 16MP selfie |
| Battery | 4,700mAh (120W) |
Buy Vivo iQOO 9 Pro
| iQOO 9 Pro | Price |
| Buy on Giztop | $999 |
6. vivo X Note
The vivo X Note is another vivo phone you can conveniently buy in 2022 without any regrets. In fact, the vivo X Note is the biggest phone of 2022 (excluding foldable phones). vivo X Note comes with a massive 7-inches display which is bigger than the 6.8-inch you’ll get on the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The display of the vivo X Note is QHD+ resolution and also has support for a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and 1B colors. Looking beyond the big screen, you’ll get a wonderful camera setup that is fun to use. Another interesting feature of this phone is its build.
See Also: vivo X Note vs vivo X80 Pro: which should you buy
It has a leather-like back finish and it’s certified to have IP68 water and dust protection. So, aside from its big screen, colorful display, and good cameras, you also get durability. The battery inside the vivo X Note is 5,000mAh which makes it ideal for long time use.
vivo X Note Key Specs
| Specs | vivo X Note |
| Display | 7-inch, 120Hz |
| RAM Storage | 8/12GB 256/512GB |
| Back Camera Front Camera | 50 + 48 + 12 + 8MP 16MP selfie |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Software | Android 12 |
| Battery | 5,000mAh (80W) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
Buy vivo X Note
| vivo X Note | Price |
| Buy on Giztop | $1,169.00 |
7. OPPO Find X5 Pro
OPPO Find X5 Pro is worthy of being on the top of the best 2022 smartphones. And even though it sits at number 7, this doe not limit its value or worth in any way. The Find X5 Pro comes in two different models; the Find X5 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and the Find X5 Pro model with MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chip.
Whichever model you decide to buy, the performance level of this phone is incredible. Plus, this phone also has one of the best camera stabilization systems you’ll see in a smartphone. It’s the only phone on this list with a 50MP primary camera that has multi-directional PDAF and OIS (3-axis sensor-shift, 2-axis lens-shift).
See Also: Best tablets of 2022: The best tabs you can buy right now
Its build and design are also very different. While other companies went for the elegant and big camera module, the OPPO Find X5 Pro comes with a simple yet elegant design. And to round it up, the Find X5 Pro is among the phones that can shoot incredible night photography.
OPPO Find X5 Pro Key Specs
| Specs | Find X5 Pro |
| Display | 6.7-inch, 120Hz |
| RAM Storage | 12GB 256/512GB |
| Back Camera Front Camera | 50 + 13 + 50MP 32MP selfie |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Dimensity 9000 5G |
| Software | Android 12 |
| Battery | 5,000mAh (80W) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
Buy OPPO Find X5 Pro
| Find X5 Pro | Price |
| Buy on Giztop | $989 |
8. Xiaomi 12 Pro
The starting price of the Xiaomi 12 Pro is $899 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB of internal storage. But if you need bigger storage, you can buy the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage models priced at $969 and $1,049 respectively. This is the first Xiaomi smartphone to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip.
With the powerful chipset inside, this qualifies the Xiaomi 12 Pro to be among the best mobile phones of 2022. But CPU and GPU aside, this chipset features some really incredible stuff. For example, its 4,600mAh battery has support for 120W fast charge tech.
See Also: Best OPPO Phones 2021: Top 9 OPPO Phones of the Year
Xiaomi also included its own custom chip inside this device. Then when it comes to the camera, it features a triple 50MP rear camera and a 32MP selfie camera. Its display is QHD+ with a 120Hz refresh rate. So, from fast processing to camera and quality display, the Xiaomi 12 Pro got you covered.
The device also boots Android 12 along with the stable MIUI 13 software out of the box. Below are the key specifications of the Xiaomi 12 Pro:
Xiaomi 12 Pro key Specs
| Specs | Xiaomi 12 Pro |
| Display | 6.73-inch, QHD+, 120Hz |
| Software | Android 12 MIUI 13 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| RAM and Storage | 8/12GB 128/256GB |
| Camera | 50 + 50 + 50MP 32MP Selfie |
| Battery | 4,600mAh (120W) |
Buy Xiaomi 12 Pro
| Xiaomi 12 Pro | Price |
| Buy on Giztop | $899 |
9. Realme GT 2 Pro
As the first smartphone to feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, the Realme GT 2 Pro is one of the best phones of 2022. Other phones on this list come with a telephoto lens but the Realme GT 2 Pro has a 3MP microscope lens with AF and 40x magnification.
See Also: Realme GT 2 Pro Price in UK and Availability
While other phones can see things afar, Realme GT 2 Pro can empower you to see the invisible stuff. It also comes with a 6.7-inch display, QHD+ resolution, and 120Hz refresh rate. Plus, if taking photos of smaller objects is your thing, you won’t see a phone better at doing that on this list.
To wrap off the impressive features and performance, the phone is powered by a massive 5,000mAh battery with a 65W fast charge. The only downside is that you miss out on wireless charge but you get a very long-lasting battery.
Realme GT 2 Pro
| Realme GT 2 Pro | Specifications |
| Display | 6.7-inch, QHD, 120Hz |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Software | Android 12 Realme UI 3.0 |
| RAM & Storage | 8/12GB 256/512GB |
| Cameras | 50 + 50 + 3MP 32MP selfie |
| Battery | 5,000mAh (65W) |
Buy Realme GT 2 Pro
| Realme GT 2 Pro | Price |
| Buy on Giztop | $799 |
10. OnePlus 10 Pro
OnePlus is joining the league of expensive phones but also bringing the top-end features to its phone. Then we can confirm the release of the OnePlus 10 Pro. The display of the device is 6.7-inches, AMOLED panel, QHD+ resolution with support for 120Hz refresh rate.
It also comes with some really impressive camera sensors and features. The main 48MP main camera has multi-directional PDAF, Laser AF, and OIS. While there is an 8MP periscope lens that has 3x optical zoom and OIS.
See Also: OnePlus 10 Pro Price in UK and Availability
Photos from the cameras are finely tuned by Hasselblad Color Calibration and while in video mode, it has Auto HDR. The battery has support for 80W fast charge, 50W wireless charge, and Reverse wireless charging. There is no doubt this is one of the best phones of 2022 even though it’s down the ladder.
OnePlus 10 Pro Key Specs
| OnePlus 10 Pro | Specifications |
| Display | 6.7-inch, QHD, 120Hz |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Software | Android 12 ColorOS 12.1 |
| RAM & Storage | 8/12GB 128/256/512GB |
| Cameras | 48 + 8 + 50MP 32MP selfie |
| Battery | 5,000mAh (65W) |
Buy OnePlus 10 Pro
| OnePlus 10 Pro | Price |
| Buy on Giztop | $899 |
Conclusion
Smartphone companies actually turned on the heat in 2022. These companies have released some of the most advanced phones yet with incredible design and performance. This list of the best 2022 phones shows that there are lots of phones you can buy at different prices with powerful chipsets, displays, and designs.
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