The best Android phone 2022
There are many fantastic solutions available in the Android world if you don't want an iPhone.
New phones are constantly being released, especially in the Android market. Apple's iPhones will always be well-liked, but devices using Google's mobile OS provide you a wide range of options and frequently have considerably better specifications for the same price.
Many of the year's most significant Android flagships, such as the Xiaomi 12, OnePlus 10 Pro, Galaxy S22 series, and Oppo Find X5 Pro, are already available as of this point in 2022.
Additionally, last year saw the release of some incredible smartphones that are still well worth purchasing. The Pixel 6 Pro is still one of our favorites, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is an excellent foldable.
In order to provide you with the very finest possibilities worth considering at any given time, we independently examine each phone in-depth. Here are our top ten suggestions for you.
1. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – Best Android phone
With a different look from its S22 brothers and a built-in slot to house the bundled S-Pen stylus, the Galaxy S22 Ultra doesn't seem like an S22 at all. Instead, it's more like a stealth resuscitation of Samsung's once-popular Note brand.
With a 108Mp main camera and supporting ultrawide, two telephoto, and two telephoto lenses at various zoom settings, the phone's camera is among the best in the industry. Previous models' zoom performance was especially enhanced in this model.
The large 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display comfortably covers the productivity void left by the previous Note phones thanks to its high WQHD+ resolution and adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
Pros
Excellent camera
Phenomenal display
Stylus support
Cons
Bulky
Expensive
Slower charging
Best Prices Today: $1,073.84 at Amazon
2. Google Pixel 6 Pro – Best software
The camera has always been the focus of Pixel phones, but the competition is coming up quickly. While the 6 Pro's camera is incredible, it isn't currently our favorite. It's not a slouch, though, and the Pixel 5 offers significant improvements. With a 48MP main lens, an ultrawide angle, and a periscopic telephoto, this is the most potent Pixel camera to yet.
But Google's software gives the phone its biggest advantage. With all of Google's fantastic Pixel-exclusive updates and the clean simplicity of stock Android, the 6 Pro runs the best version of Android available. It is now powered by the company's new in-house Tensor chip.
You'll have to put up with slow charging (and buy your own charger on top of that) and accept that this is a huge phone with a contentious design; you might like it, but lots of people don't.
Pros
Pixel camera
Google's best software
Beautiful display
Cons
Divisive design
Big and heavy
Slow charging
3. Vivo X80 Pro – Best Camera
Even if you've never heard of Vivo, you should definitely pay attention.
The company, which dominates the Chinese smartphone industry, is gradually growing its global presence, which is a good thing since it has long been known that Vivo produces some of the greatest cameras found in any smartphone.
With its four exceptional rear cameras, the X80 Pro is no exception. The 48Mp ultrawide lens absolutely destroys the competition, and the two zoom lenses provide you other alternatives, even if the 50Mp main lens is fantastic. The technology truly shines in dimly lit environments, and it's night mode is unquestionably the best out there.
Other than that, it's a terrific phone with a premium display, quick charging, and long battery life. The company's Android skin is a bit odd, which is the main source of annoyance, but if you care about the camera and have the money to spend, it's difficult to find a better option.
Pros
(Maybe) the best camera around
Fast wired & wireless charging
IP68-water resistance
Great battery life
Cons
Expensive
No Gorilla Glass
Frustrating software
Best Prices Today: $969 at Ali Express
4. Xiaomi 12 – Best Compact Flagship
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset makes the Xiaomi 12 a rock-solid performer, but it's also pocket-friendly thanks to a screen that measures less than 6.3 inches, which is modest for an Android flagship these days.
With a 120Hz refresh rate on the AMOLED panel, the display is still excellent, thus there is no quality loss. The Xiaomi 12 Pro's 50Mp main camera is likewise outstanding, though we regret the telephoto lens you'll find on its larger Xiaomi 12 Pro sister. Its 67W cable charging and 50W wireless charging are among the fastest available.
Although Xiaomi's MIUI version of Android is still not one of our favorites and this device lacks an IP rating compared to competitors, it is still worth considering because, aside from the ordinary Galaxy S22, it is the only small-screen Android flagship now available.
Pros
Compact design
Strong specs
Great main camera
Cons
No zoom camera
No IP rating
MIUI software quirks
5. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 – Best foldable
Samsung's initial experiments at foldables were entertaining but came out as novelty items. Unquestionably, the Korean tech titan got it right with the Galaxy Z Flip 3.
A new design is more functional and has a lot superior appearance in addition to having waterproofing and a larger cover display.
The Snapdragon 888's core specifications are all strong, and the 12MP main and ultrawide cameras are good but not outstanding, although you might wish for a telephoto lens.
The Flip 3's battery life is its main flaw; it barely lasts a full day of operation. This is the first foldable that feels completely competitive at its price point, though, if you can live with that.
Pros
Stunning design
Waterproof
Affordable (for a foldable)
Cons
Average camera
Limited battery life
6. Oppo Find X5 Pro – Best high-end all-rounder
By every standard, the Oppo Find X5 Pro is a fantastic phone. Oppo backs up its 6.7-inch, 10-bit, 120Hz QHD+ panel, one of the greatest displays on a phone right now, with a 5000mAh battery, 80W wired and 50W wireless charging, and a top-notch camera with 50Mp sensors on both the primary and ultrawide lenses.
The telephoto here has a meager 2x zoom, so you'll have to make do without a periscopic zoom lens, but the results from all three back lenses are fantastic. A flawlessly sloping camera module that is integrated into the phone's ceramic casing further distinguishes the appearance.
With all of the aforementioned features plus a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, 256GB of storage, and 12GB of RAM, the Find X5 Pro is also tough to match for sheer performance. It isn't cheap, so you'll need to be ready to spend for it, while the normal Find X5 is a terrific alternative and much less expensive.
Pros
Best screen around
Versatile camera
Unique design
Cons
No periscope zoom
Expensive
7. OnePlus Nord 2T – Best mid-range
A fitting successor to the first T-branded Nord phone from OnePlus, the Dimensity 1300 chipset from MediaTek supports 5G.
A fantastic primary 50Mp main camera, a 90Hz AMOLED display, and quick 80W fast charging are all included in the Nord 2T.
The company's OxygenOS user experience is another a standout feature in terms of software; it offers responsive interactivity and a simple interface that contribute to the phone's strong, premium feel. The corporation only commits to two Android version updates and a third year of security patches, which is the only drawback.
Pros
Phenomenal value
Glass body
Fast 80W charging
Cons
Only 90Hz display
No wireless charging
Only 2 Android updates
8. Nothing Phone (1) – Great design
The Nothing Phone (1), the first device from former OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei's new startup, launched to much fanfare.
Although it may not be the monumental smartphone revolution we were promised, this terrific inexpensive Android choice is nonetheless quite good. The only hardware weakness is the battery life, which is combined with mid-range specifications and premium extras like wireless charging and an IP53 rating.
The design comes next. Although the semi-transparent, LED-accented design probably won't appeal to everyone, if you want an Android phone that stands out from the crowd, this would definitely check that box.
Pros
Unique, eye-catching design
Wireless charging
Affordable
Cons
Average performance
Below average battery life
A little buggy
9. Realme GT 2 Pro – Best Affordable Flagship
The Realme GT 2 Pro is more thrilling than its (albeit very excellent) non-Pro sister and gives a ton of phone for your money.
All in all, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU offers premium features with the quickest RAM and storage available, 65W wired charging, and a 120Hz AMOLED display to clinch the deal.
Since this isn't a flagship model, there are other shortcomings as well. For example, there is no waterproofing or wireless charging. Also, while the primary camera and ultrawide are both adequate, there is no telephoto zoom option.
However, if performance is your first priority, the value offered here is nearly unbeatable. It also doesn't hurt that everything is packaged in a stylish, subtle design, albeit one made of plastic.
Pros
Flagship specs
Fast charging
Good value
Cons
No wireless charging
Basic camera
10. Samsung Galaxy S22+ – Best for Software Updates
Don't consider of the S22+ as a less expensive version of the S22 Ultra; rather, Samsung employed its Goldilocks model to get an excellent balance of features and specifications that has few drawbacks.
As a result, you get a glass-bodied design, the newest version of Android 12 (clad in Samsung's own One UI 4.1 at launch), and a commitment to years of software support. It also has some of the best performance currently found in an Android phone.
Although the battery life is a touch patchy and some of the camera features will probably benefit from firmware updates in the future, this is still a fantastic representation of what we may expect from Android flagships in 2022.
.Pros
Strong camera
Beautiful design
Long-term software updates
Cons
Middling battery life
Worse value than rivals
Best Prices Today: $689.95 at Amazon
About the Creator
Odedele Badiru
Odedele Badru is a freelance content marketer who promotes growth of businesses. His articles have appeared on a number of websites, including BusinessDaily, Entrepreneur. He holds both a marketing and public relations diploma and an MBA.
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