Finest telephones in 2022: The highest smartphones rated
We take a look at and price the very best telephones since you deserve a handset that has all of it. The easiest telephones obtainable supply nice cameras, the form of efficiency energy it’s essential to multitask and sufficient battery life to final the entire day. Put merely, these telephones needs to be a pleasure to make use of.
That can assist you decide the very best smartphone in your wants and price range, we take a look at dozens of handsets within the lab and in the actual world to convey you in-depth evaluations and make suggestions you’ll be able to belief. We additionally evaluate the very best digicam telephones facet by facet to see which gadgets supply the very best picture high quality.
With robust choices obtainable in any respect value ranges, you do not have to spend so much to get one thing nice. You will get a stable mid-range telephone that delivers all of the options you want for beneath $500.
Our greatest telephones record has one thing for everybody, together with nice bargains and superb flagships for these keen to pay a premium. We have ranked all the highest telephones based mostly on our testing. Listed below are the highest smartphones proper now.
What are the very best telephones?
Primarily based on our testing, the iPhone 14 Professional Max is the very best telephone for individuals who need all of it. This flagship delivers even higher digicam efficiency, due to a brand new 48MP sensor, in addition to tremendous clean Motion mode video. And the Dynamic Island replaces the notch with a sublime cutout that doubles as a dashboard for reside actions and alerts. We additionally love the always-on show, blazing A16 Bionic efficiency and epic battery lifetime of practically 15 hours. The iPhone 14 Professional can be nice should you favor a smaller display.
The common iPhone 14 is one other advantageous possibility if you need one thing extra reasonably priced. It presents robust efficiency, improved cameras and an amazing 6.1-inch show, in addition to Motion mode video. However we want it supplied a 120Hz show and telephoto zoom.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely has confirmed to be a prime various, and the very best telephone for individuals who favor Android. It delivers the brightest and extra colourful show we have examined, a built-in S Pen that is 70% quicker than earlier than and far improved cameras. A less expensive model, the Galaxy S22 helps you to take pleasure in lots of the nice options included within the Galaxy S lineup, however for lower than each the Extremely and the Galaxy S22 Plus.
For those who’re searching for a foldable telephone, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a newcomer to our greatest telephones record, delivering a 50MP predominant digicam a extra sturdy show and a brand new taskbar for multitasking. This foldable telephone can be costly, so Android telephones may contemplate extra reasonably priced flagships just like the OnePlus 10 Professional or both Pixel 6 telephone from Google.
As for lower-cost choices, the Pixel 6a is right here for $449. It has spectacular cameras and the very best efficiency for an Android telephone at this value. However should you’d reasonably go Samsung, the $449 Galaxy A53 is a stable possibility. For iPhone followers, the $429 iPhone SE (2022) is for you.
The perfect telephones you should buy at this time
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The iPhone 14 Professional Max is the very best telephone we’ve examined, and that’s as a result of it has every part you possibly can need in a flagship. You get a surprising 6.7-inch show with new always-on functionality, which helps you to test the time, battery standing, widgets and notifications with out turning the telephone on. And the brand new Dynamic Island is even higher, a alternative for the notch that delivers every part from music playback standing and timers to your subsequent Maps route in direction of the highest of the display.
Different highlights of the iPhone 14 Professional Max embrace a strong A16 Bionic processor that smokes all Android telephones and a strong new 48MP digicam that offers you the selection of brighter photos or sharper decision in ProRAW. And the brand new Motion Mode for video is tremendous clean and compelling. The perfect half is the battery life, as we noticed shut to fifteen hours in our testing, making this a complete beast and definitely worth the premium.
Learn our full iPhone 14 Professional Max assessment.
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The Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely is the final word Android telephone for energy customers. It delivers a built-in S Pen similar to a Galaxy Word, and also you get 70% much less latency for smoother efficiency. The 6.8-inch show is just the very best we have examined, providing class-leading brightness and colour saturation, making this panel straightforward to learn open air in direct daylight and incredible for watching reveals and flicks.
The opposite large cause to purchase the Galaxy S22 Extremely is the digicam enhancements. There is a bigger predominant 108MP sensor that permits extra mild, which implies brighter photos with out having to make use of Night time mode. And whenever you do have interaction Night time mode, you will get even higher pics in some situations than the iPhone 13 Professional Max. Add in quicker 45W charging and a glossy design and you’ve got a winner. We simply want the battery life had been a bit longer
See our full Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely assessment.
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Apple’s iPhone 14 Professional is the very best telephone beneath $1,000, and that features Android and iOS. That’s since you get best-in-class efficiency from the A16 Bionic chip and the very best digicam efficiency in a design you should use with one hand. The 48MP digicam delivers sharper and brighter photographs, and also you’ll get glorious low-light outcomes, particularly open air from the iPhone 14 Professional’s Photoonic Engine.
Video is one other robust level for the iPhone 14 Professional, as you get an excellent clean Motion mode together with a sharper 4K Cinematic Mode. Add in a really intelligent alternative for the notch with Dynamic Island and an always-on show and you’ve got top-of-the-line telephones you should buy. We simply want Apple supplied quicker charging.
Learn our full iPhone 14 Professional assessment.
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The Google Pixel 6 is the very best smartphone to get if you need the final word Android expertise, particularly now that Google has began utilizing its personal Tensor chipset to energy the telephone. Tensor retains tempo with the Snapdragon 888 inside a lot of the different prime Android telephones, however extra importantly, it powers the form of machine learning-driven experiences that make Google’s telephones distinctive.
The cameras characteristic a 50MP predominant lens, however the actual story stays the software program, the place Tensor helps energy options like Magic Eraser for simply eradicating individuals from the background of your pictures and Movement Mode for making motion pictures look extra dynamic. If you’d like a telephoto lens and an even bigger show, you’ll be able to all the time improve to the Pixel 6 Professional for $899.
That is $300 greater than the beginning value for the Pixel 6, and that value occurs to be one of many higher options of the telephone. It is onerous to discover a higher beginning value for such a premium gadget.
Learn our full Google Pixel 6 assessment.
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The Google Pixel 6a runs on the identical Tensor processor that powers the Pixel 6. Which means the identical AI-driven options on that extra premium telephone can be found on this sub-$500 mannequin. And Google even ups the ante by introducing new capabilities to its stellar Magic Erase picture enhancing characteristic.
Talking of photographs, the Pixel 6a carries on the custom of Google’s price range telephones providing superior photo-taking abilities. The digicam {hardware} on the Pixel 6a doesn’t essentially impress, however Google’s aptitude for computational images means the photographs you’re taking with this telephone will prime photos by equally priced digicam telephones. You might even get photographs that rival what a extra premium handset can produce.
We want the battery life on the Pixel 6a was higher, however typically for a less expensive value, you make trade-offs. The beauty of the Pixel 6a is that these sacrifices are few and much between.
Learn our full Google Pixel 6a assessment.
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The iPhone 14 is the very best new iPhone for these searching for an reasonably priced possibility. For $799, you get improved cameras throughout the board with higher low-light efficiency (due to Photonic Engine), and the brand new Motion mode for video delivers tremendous steady video whenever you’re in movement — no gimbal required.
The iPhone 14’s A15 Bionic is stolen from the iPhone 13 Professional, which ends up in stronger graphics efficiency. This telephone may even save your life when its new security options come on-line, together with Emergency SOS through Satellite tv for pc and crash detection. We’re not a fan of the identical previous design, and we want Apple supplied a 120Hz show at this value, however general the iPhone 14 is a winner.
Learn our full iPhone 14 assessment.
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The OnePlus 10 Professional is a strong Android handset with a stunning design, stunning show, and the very best cameras we’ve ever seen on a OnePlus gadget. The Chinese language telephone maker has come a good distance within the final yr or two with images energy that may typically sustain with the likes of the Pixel 6 Professional and iPhone 13 Professional Max.
With stellar battery life and peak efficiency, the OnePlus 10 Professional handles any activity you possibly can need. Because of the brand new cooling system, the telephone can be a strong gaming gadget. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor doesn’t get as sizzling, so it doesn’t must throttle as a lot as another Android telephones.
In our battery life testing, the OnePlus 10 Professional went for practically 12 hours in its adaptive 120Hz refresh price mode. That simply beats the Galaxy S22 Extremely and comes near the iPhone 13 Professional and iPhone 13 Professional Max. And with 65W charging, you’ll be able to practically recharge the telephone from empty to 100% in half-hour. The perfect half is that you simply get all of this for $899.
Learn our full OnePlus 10 Professional assessment.
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Whereas the Galaxy S22 Extremely will be the most premium Android telephone round, the true flagship handset for the OS is the Google Pixel 6 Professional. Google turned a web page final yr with the Pixel 6 collection, introducing an entirely new design and an in-house chipset. The Tensor system-on-chip focuses on AI and machine studying purposes.
You additionally get the trademark class-leading Pixel digicam expertise. The Pixel 6 Professional packs in three rear cameras, together with a telephoto with 4x optical zoom. The front-facing digicam can zoom out for ultrawide selfies. However the Pixel 6 Professional’s greatest failing is its disappointing battery life. It’s attainable that an older 5G modem is accountable.
Plus, the Pixel 6 Professional is on the entrance of the road for the most recent Android updates (and can be eligible for the Android 13 betas later this yr).
Learn our full Google Pixel 6 Professional assessment.
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In the case of the iPhone SE (2022), you actually are getting lots in your cash. At $429, the latest price range iPhone outperforms anything within the value class and even places the highest-end Android telephones on their toes. With the identical A15 Bionic that powers the iPhone 13, the SE is a bit of beast.
However like its predecessor, it recycles the iPhone 8 physique. Which means big bezels, however you get a Contact ID house button. This drained design received’t be to everybody’s liking, nor will the dearth of Night time mode. This obvious omission is one cause why the brand new iPhone SE doesn’t rank greater. And also you additionally lose out on Verizon’s Extremely Wideband community.
The iPhone SE (2022) presents lots and is among the greatest telephones beneath $500. It trades blows with the Pixel 5a, that means that iPhone patrons on a price range have two nice choices to have a look at. (The opposite being the $499 LTE-only iPhone 11.)
Learn our full iPhone SE (2022) assessment.
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It could not have the S Pen help or the opposite maxed out options discovered on the Galaxy S22 Extremely, however the Galaxy S22 does have one thing extra vital for individuals who need ones of the very best telephones however don’t wish to break their price range getting one — a low price ticket. At $799, the Galaxy S22 matches the worth of the iPhone 13 whereas letting you save the couple hundred bucks {that a} dearer S22 mannequin instructions.
You don’t must make a variety of trade-offs for that cheaper price. The identical Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset that powers different S22 telephones within the U.S. ships on this mannequin. Samsung additionally consists of the identical digicam enhancements — a extra highly effective predominant lens, an even bigger sensor for higher low-light pictures and a 3x optical zoom — added to the Galaxy S22 Plus. In brief, that is the Samsung telephone to get if you need all the good Galaxy S22 options with out having to swallow a four-figure price ticket.
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy S22 assessment.
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It may be a yr previous now, however Apple remains to be promoting the iPhone 13 and consider us once we say it is a whole lot at $699. You get the amazingly highly effective A15 Bionic chipset, nice cameras, and small type issue that is straightforward to make use of one-handed.
The iPhone 13 represents an amazing worth for what’s on supply. The iPhone 14 could also be nice, however it can save you $100 by choosing final yr’s mannequin. You may lose out on the small digicam upgrades, however you nonetheless get an amazing handset.
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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 takes the very best foldable telephone and makes it higher in a number of methods. For one, Samsung and Google made it a lot simpler to multitask by including a taskbar, and now you can drag and drop content material between extra apps whenever you’re working them facet by facet.
We additionally actually just like the improved digicam system on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, headed up by the identical 50MP predominant sensor because the Galaxy S22 collection. In our testing, the Fold 4 held its personal in opposition to the iPhone 13 Professional Max and beat it in a number of pictures.
Different highlights of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 embrace a slimmer hinge and narrower bezels, in addition to a brighter predominant show. The battery lasted longer, too, in our testing.
Nevertheless, $1,799 remains to be lots to spend on a telephone — even one which doubles as a pill — and that is nonetheless one thick and heavy gadget. However if you need a foldable telephone that may do all of it, that is it.
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 assessment.
How to decide on the very best smartphone for you
- Android or iPhone? Android telephones offer you extra alternative by way of value, measurement and progressive designs. Nevertheless, iPhones supply speedier software program updates, higher video games and apps and higher safety and privateness. See our iPhone vs Android face-off.
- Unlocked or service? Most customers within the U.S. purchase new telephones via their wi-fi service. However an unlocked telephone offers you the liberty to purchase the gadget with none type of contract after which convey it to the supplier you wish to use.
- Display screen measurement: For those who’re searching for an enormous telephone, 6 inches and up is an effective place to start out. The largest telephones are 6.5 to six.8 inches. If you’d like one thing you’ll be able to simply use with one hand, go along with top-of-the-line small telephones with a display beneath 6 inches.
- Cameras: Do not take note of the megapixel rely. As an alternative, take a look at digicam face-offs between telephones to see the picture high quality and search for particular options like Night time Mode to get higher high quality in low mild. Additionally see our greatest digicam telephone roundup.
- Battery life: Usually, telephones with bigger batteries (measured in mAh) supply the longest battery life, however that is not all the time the case. That is why we run our personal battery take a look at.
How we take a look at smartphones
To ensure that a smartphone to make our greatest telephone record, it must excel on a number of checks that we run on each handset. We carry out a few of these checks in our labs and a few in the actual world.
In the case of efficiency, we depend on such artificial benchmarks as Geekbench 5 and GFXBench to measure graphics efficiency. These checks enable us to check efficiency throughout iPhones and Android gadgets. We additionally run a real-world video transcoding take a look at on every telephone utilizing the Adobe Premiere Rush app and time the consequence.
To measure the standard of a telephone’s show, we carry out lab checks to find out the brightness of the panel (in nits), in addition to how colourful every display is (DCI-P3 colour gamut). In these instances, greater numbers are higher. We additionally measure colour accuracy of every panel with a Delta-E score, the place decrease numbers are higher and rating of 0 is ideal.
One of the vital vital checks we run is the Tom’s Information battery take a look at. We run an online browsing take a look at over 5G or 4G at 150 nits of display brightness till the battery offers out. Typically, a telephone that lasts 10 hours or extra is nice, and something above 11 hours makes our record of the very best telephone battery life.
Final however not least, we take the very best telephones out within the subject to take photographs open air, indoors and at evening in low mild to see how they carry out versus their closest rivals. We take pictures of landscapes, meals, portraits and extra, and in addition mean you can be the decide with side-by-side comparisons in our evaluations.
For extra data, try our how we take a look at (opens in new tab) web page for Tom’s Information.
