With summer in full swing and back-to-school on the way, there’s no time like the present to check out the best smartphones of 2022. We’ve compiled a list of the best mobile phones that surprised our CGM reviewers, especially with the best camera qualities to capture those summer memories, and back-to-school goodbyes.
Although the prices for these flagship phones are quite hefty, you can expect the premium quality you deserve. We also included some affordable alternatives to put your wallet at ease, so you can spend that money elsewhere.
2022’s Best Smartphones:
Samsung Galaxy S22+
The Samsung Galaxy S22+ is a well-balanced smartphone equipped with a fantastic bright and vibrant 6.6-inch display that is accompanied by a high peak performance from its 8 GB of Ram. With Samsung’s “Vision Booster” feature added to the S22 series, viewing videos in broad daylight couldn’t be easier. This feature automatically adjusts the colour tones based on your environment to ensure that your images or videos are properly viewed.
The sleek design is noticeably thinner than the previous S21 Ultra model, and it offers a more durable aluminum frame. While lacking in comparison to the S22 Ultra when it comes to smartphone battery life and camera quality, it still is a great pick with a price tag advantage.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
As the biggest brother in its series, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra offers better performance and a larger display than the S22+ with more of the new features that make the Galaxy range of phones so exciting. In fact, the S22 Ultra is actually a Note 20 in disguise. The included S Pen is super sensitive and runs smoothly off the 6.8-inch screen while having easy access and storage built into the phone.
Since Samsung is competing with other brands such as Apple and Google, the light sensitive camera manages to deliver some truly stunning shots. Even compared to the Apple iPhone 13 Pro and the Google Pixel 6 Pro, it manages to snap some striking moments—perhaps at the new campus for back-to-school—you won’t be afraid to show off to your friends and family.
It works amazingly well in most situations. Whether you need to zoom in to a single object or capture a wide scenery at night, the ultrawide lenses and telephoto cameras assisted by the upgraded night mode is what make this a great photography smartphone, albeit at a steep price.
iPhone 13 Pro
For aspiring photographers, the iPhone 13 Pro is probably the best there is when it comes to taking photos. This amazing iPhone can capture even the smallest details with its redesigned lenses and powerful autofocus system. You are able to photograph perfect images with the combination of the powerful lenses and its featured night mode. The iPhone 13 Pro is able to capture extremely sharp images even in dimmed environments that would normally be blurred.
As a smartphone made for photography, it comes prepared with up to 1TB storage for all your photos and videos with the ProRes feature. ProRes enables you to edit videos with professional quality all within the Photos app, making it easier to produce videos on the go. It’s basically having the expensive hardware and editing software all on a single smartphone, making this a powerhouse compared to most flagship phones. It will be great for back-to-school memories.
Buy it on Apple for $1399 – $2079
OnePlus 10 Pro
This device is probably the most affordable “Pro” smartphone on our list. The Oneplus 10 Pro is highly comparable to Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra in terms of display quality and performance. While having a large 6.7-inch display screen, the quality does not disappoint. Similarly to the Galaxy S22, it boasts a colour calibration feature that automatically adjusts to your brightness and environment without losing out on the beautiful visuals.
If you are using it for a long session of gaming, the Oneplus 10 Pro is definitely a great choice because of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip aided by the cooling system. In case you didn’t know, this is the most powerful chip for Android devices that comes with a great cost for overheating at uncomfortably high temperatures, but because of the cooling system your sensitive hands can last a little longer before a break.
The battery life and charging speed is also superb, it could last you half a day before a quick hour charge to fully fill it up, getting you through the school day, easy. At a lower price compared to the rest, it’s efficient for gaming while having fantastic cameras makes this a great smartphone.
Xiaomi 12 Pro
The Xiaomi 12 Pro is a step above its predecessor while offering the best value for its price. This phone is a perfect all-rounder, being balanced in every aspect from gaming to taking photos. Design wise, the backside of the smartphone is sleek and also completely fingerprint resistant. Thanks to the durable Gorilla Glass Victus, you won’t be getting any scratches on either part of the phone.
It has a stunningly beautiful display with a powerful camera that’s able to capture both tones in the dark while maintaining that realism in the photo. The triple 50 mp camera array will fit your photography needs and work in practically any situation that requires an ultrawide and telephoto camera.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, you’ll easily be able to play any graphic intensive games without any of its performance slowing down, making it one of the most capable phones we’ve reviewed. With the speakers located on both ends of the smartphone, the audio quality is something worth noting. It offers a good level of dynamic audio experience that’s best for watching videos or listening to the in-game dialogues.
As impressive as the other features, the battery won’t be dying on you either because the battery life could last almost the whole day before your next recharge. Usually the Xiaomi 12 Pro has a charging speed of 50W, but with the included 120W charging brick that completely fills up the phone in 20 minutes. There won’t be a time when you are low on battery, so you can take advantage of its features while being cheaper than other flagship phones.
Buy it for $999
Google Pixel 6 Pro
Coming from a specialized company that is well known all over the world, Google joins the flagship competition with their Pixel 6 Pro. Being a device that competes with Apple’s iPhone’s camera quality, this phone will certainly make you go “wow” with the added features that Google implemented into this device to enhance your photography experience. It comes equipped with three cameras for wide angles, zoomed photos, or even an ultrawide camera, to prepare you for the perfect opportunity to capture that rare moment.
With the help of the camera’s sensors, it’s like having a photography studio in your pocket that can take the most breathtaking photos even in terrible conditions. If that wasn’t enough for you, there are some Adobe-like features that include the magic eraser, face unblur, and the motion mode that will take your photos to a whole new level.
What makes this phone even more impressive is the battery life the Pixel 6 Pro has to offer. It could last a full day before another charging cycle and if you limit some features of the phone with the battery saver option, it could last twice as long. A good battery life is great for those who are often forgetful of charging their phone overnight.
OnePlus 10T
With the OnePlus 10T, OnePlus has secured its third spot for the best phones of 2022. Improving on many of the oddities of the OnePlus 10 Pro, the 10T is an improvement on almost all fronts. While you will be giving up the Hasselblad image processing, you will still end up with some truly stunning shots. Beyond that, the 10T is built with performance and gaming in mind, making it one of the best options for gamers on the go.
There is a lot to like about the OnePlus 10T, and with a price that is significantly less ($899) than what you would find from Apple, Samsung or Google, it is hard to deny that the flagship killer label may finally be ready to make a return.
Buy from OnePlus starting at $649.00
The Affordable Alternatives
Oneplus Nord N20 5G
As the first affordable alternative, it is perfect for back-to-school! This phone is what you expect to be a “budget” phone. It has all the great features that a regular phone would have, with the return of the headphones jack as well. It also features a fingerprint scanner for easy identification. Since this is a phone we’re talking about, it’s most likely to have a camera. The camera on this device also features a “night mode” to capture those moments no matter how much lighting. As a budget phone it lacks the features of a flagship smartphone, but sometimes those added features aren’t utilized for everyday use.
Some of these features were the lack of an internal cooling system and the colour calibration feature the Oneplus 10 Pro had. It’s also worth noting that the Nord N20 only supports T-Mobile carriers, which is a shame if you use another carrier. Other than that, if you can manage without the mentioned features, this phone is a great choice for you while being at a discounted price.
Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus
Coming from the Xiaomi company from China, the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus does everything right when it comes to being a “budget” phone. Being equipped with a camera, taking photos is made simple while having a decent quality result. The display quality isn’t so bad either, especially the auto-brightness that removes the hassle of changing it throughout the day.
For a budget smartphone it has a lot of ram installed, about 6 GB of ram while having a 128 GB storage size. Even if you plan on staying home, you sure will be able to play some games on the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus. At a price much cheaper than the Xiaomi 12 Pro, you’ll be able to experience similar things while keeping your wallet at ease in time for back-to-school.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
The last affordable phone in our list comes from the well known Samsung company. Despite being a budget phone, it performs quite well, actually. It has a large 128 GB storage, just enough to download your favourite games like Genshin Impact or League of Legends Wild Rift and play them with ease. A surprising feature of this phone is that it features IP67 dust and water resistance that you wouldn’t expect from a budget phone. If you want to take photos with this smartphone, you’re in luck because the camera works exceptionally well in all conditions, especially in its night mode.
For a budget smartphone, it has a high-quality screen as well. It’s a rich and vibrant display that can be easily viewed in almost any light condition other than direct sunlight. The Samsung Galaxy A53 has an impressive feat of being able to last a long time without another recharge, about 48 hours to be precise. Just what you’ll need when heading back-to-school. With this quality of performance, this surprisingly holds its ground in our list while being an affordable price.
