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Home > Buying Guides > Best phone for 2022: 6 best smartphones to buy right now

Best phone for 2022: 6 best smartphones to buy right now

The best phones offer great value but choosing the best one can be a chore. We've created this guide to make it easy

By King Osaghae | January 3, 2022

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best phones

The best phones deliver value and performance that stands out in every area. They are also some of the most expensive out there. But, based on our research, you don’t have to spend a whole lot of money on a smartphone to get the best experience.

The 6 best phones 2022:

1. iPhone 13 Pro Max: View at AT&T

2. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G: View at Samsung

3. OnePlus 9 Pro 5G: View at OnePlus

4.  Samsung Galaxy S20 | S20 Plus | S20 FE 5G: View at Samsung

5. Apple iPhone 12: View at AT&T

6. iPhone SE 2020: View at AT&T

With all the different smartphones on the market, picking the best phone that meets your needs and budget can be a complicated and time-consuming decision — whether it’s Apple or Google-based Android phones such as Samsung and OnePlus.

This smartphone guide focuses on the best handsets you can buy right now, including our budget pick for the best cheap phone under $400, $500, and under $600.

Contents

  • The best phone to buy in 2022
    • 1. iPhone 13 Pro Max
      • Best Phone for 2022
    • 2. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
      • Best Android phone 2022
    • 3. OnePlus 9 Pro 5G
      • Best OnePlus phone 2022
    • 4. Samsung Galaxy S20 / S20 Plus
      • Best Android phone under $600
    • 5. Apple iPhone 12 / iPhone 12 mini
      • Best iPhone bargain
    • 6. Apple iPhone SE (2020)
      • Best budget phone under $500
  • You may also like:

The best phone to buy in 2022

This guide is a work in progress involving more best phones, so you can always check back for the full list – but for now, we’ve put together the 6 best options that offer exceptionally good value.

1. iPhone 13 Pro Max

Best Phone for 2022

iphone 13 pro max

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is the best smartphone of 2022. It has everything you will ever need in a phone, including amazing performance that packs a 120Hz refresh rate display, no mobile device on the market today can match such an incredible performance plus the superb battery life that can last more than 12 hours at a stretch without needing a charge.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max camera is one of the impressive features that truly puts it as the best iPhone and above any class of smartphone at the moment, thanks to the improved larger sensors and a new photographic feature that allows you to style and tweak your pics. You get an ultra-wide camera for close-ups and the ability to take macro shots, thanks to the new macro mode feature.

  • iPhone 13 Pro Max 5G 128GB at AT&T
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max 5G 128GB at Verizon
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max 5G 256GB at Visible
  • See price at Amazon

If you love photography and looking for a phone to use as your primary camera, getting the iPhone 13 Pro Max is definitely worth it. With the triple-camera LiDAR system, you get more details, stunning colors and clarity in all shots.

Price for the iPhone 13 Pro Max start at $1,099 for 128GB of storage and up to $1,199 for 256GB. You can get the 512GB for $1,399, while the colossal 1TB option will set you back at $1,599.

At base price, the iPhone 13 Pro Max cost $300 more than the iPhone 13, and $100 more than iPhone 13 Pro, which are more affordable options with almost the same features at a cheaper price – especially the iPhone 13, that is if you don’t need a 120Hz display or telephoto lens.

Specifications:

Storage: 128, 256, 512, 1TB | Screen size: 6.7 inches | Resolution (ppi): 2778 x 1284 (458) | Adaptive refresh: Up to 120Hz | Battery life: 12 hours | Processor: A15 Bionic | Rear cameras: Pro 12MP (Telephoto, Wide, Ultra Wide) | Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth | Zoom: 3x optical / 15x digital | Colors: Gold, Graphite, Sierra Blue, Silver | Weight: 8.5 ounces | Size: 6.3 x 3.1 x 0.3 inches | Water resistance: IP68

VIEW AT AT&T
VIEW AT VERIZON
VIEW AT AMAZON

2. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Best Android phone 2022

samsung galaxy s21 ultra 5g

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the best Android smartphone in the world right now. The Galaxy S21 Ultra vision is to level up the experience as the best Samsung phone. The 5G device comes with a superior larger screen and a truly platinum design with five cameras, including a 108MP sensor, dual telephoto lenses, 100x zoom and 40MP selfies, plus incredible battery life of over 11 hours.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a performance beast that’s easier to unlock using the larger fingerprint sensor. It comes with a great 6.8-inch display, 120Hz refresh rate, and sharp WQHD resolution. You also get the S Pen support, even though you’ll need to purchase the stylus and a case to hold it separately.

  • Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G at Samsung
  • Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G at AT&T
  • Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G at Verizon
  • See price at Amazon

While the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a great smartphone, it’s quite expensive for the average consumer, you also don’t get a microSD card slot for expandable storage or a charger.

At $1,199 $999, the base-level 128GB storage with 12GB of RAM may not be enough for you, especially if you’re keen on taking lots of 8K 24fps or 4K 60fps video, meaning you’ll want to go for the 256GB of storage (12GB RAM), or higher at 256GB of storage (16GB of RAM).

Apart from the notable steep price, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best Android phone you can buy right now, unless you prefer smaller phones.

Specifications:

Weight: 227g | RAM: 12GB / 16GB | Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB | Battery: 5,000mAh | Dimensions: 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm | Resolution: QHD (3200 x 1440) | Display size: 6.8-inch | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Pixel density: 515ppi | Chipset: Snapdragon 888 / Exynos 2100 | Rear cameras: 108MP + 10MP + 10MP + 12MP | Front camera: 40MP | Video: 8K 30 fps/4K 60 fps | Wireless: 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, UWB | Size: 6.5 x 2.97 x 0.35 inches

VIEW AT SAMSUNG
VIEW AT AT&T
VIEW AT VERIZON
VIEW AT AMAZON

3. OnePlus 9 Pro 5G

Best OnePlus phone 2022

oneplus 9 pro 5g

OnePlus 9 Pro takes the 3rd spot in our ranking of the best phones in 2022, deservedly for many reasons. It’s one of the best Android phones on the market right now with premium quality and features.

The 9 Pro is a top-of-the-range flagship phone from OnePlus, 5G-ready, and designed to compete with other top-tier handsets. It has a 6.7-inch screen that spreads all through the edges in a narrow body – seamlessly elegant with a fluid display that sets the refresh rate to 120Hz QHD. Scrolling through the web on the OnePlus 9 Pro is so smooth and makes browsing enjoyable.

  • OnePlus 9 Pro 5G at OnePlus

Another outstanding feature of the OnePlus 9 Pro is its proprietary charging technology. Unlike Samsung, Apple, and other top-end smartphone manufacturers, the OnePlus 9 Pro comes with a new 65-watt wired charger included in the box, that can speed up charging the phone very quickly. There’s also support for 50-watt wireless charging. The 4,500mAh battery is large and on a full charge, can last through a full day with typical use. However, OnePlus phones have never lived up to expectations when it comes to battery life, but the 9 Pro will reliably see you through a full day on a full charge with moderately heavy usage.

While the battery life isn’t the best in class, OnePlus did made one notable improvement in its camera. The camera department has been OnePlus main cons with previous releases. But it did impress this time by teaming up with legendary camera brand Hasselblad to improve its camera results and position the 9 Pro camera as a heads-up competitor to the very best Apple and Samsung has to offer.

The 9 Pro is the best and most expensive smartphone OnePlus has ever made. It definitely fits the bill, if you are looking to buy a premium phone with great power.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Screen: 6.7-inch display | Resolution: QHD (3216×1400) | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Pixel density: 525ppi | RAM: 8GB / 12GB | Storage: 128GB / 256GB | Chipset: Snapdragon 888 | Battery: 4,500mAh | Front camera: 16MP | Rear cameras: 48MP + 8MP + 50MP + 2MP | Weight: 197g | Dimensions: 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm | Operating system: Android 11 / OxygenOS

VIEW AT ONEPLUS
VIEW AT AMAZON

4. Samsung Galaxy S20 / S20 Plus

Best Android phone under $600

samsung galaxy s20, s20 plus

The Samsung Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, and S20 FE are some of the best Android phones you can buy right now. It’s got great performance, fantastic design, and impressive features, including 5G and a microSD card slot for expandable storage.

Both the S20 and S20 Plus have a great battery life with a 4,000mAh and 4,500mAh capacity respectively, enough to go through a day without recharging. Both phones come with the Infinity-O AMOLED displays with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, excellent for smooth interaction and gaming.

  • Samsung Galaxy S20 128GB at AT&T
  • Samsung Galaxy S20 128GB at Verizon
  • Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 128GB at Samaung
  • See at Amazon (S20)
  • See at Amazon (S20 Plus)

Both devices have 64MP ultrawide telephoto cameras that really shine with 3x optical zoom, providing a lot of flexibility when taking photos. Though, not quite as good as the S21 Ultra or 13 Pro Max cameras, but good enough for creating excellent photos and videos.

The only difference between the S20 and S20 Plus is the screen; the S20 has a 6.2-inch screen while the S20 Plus has a massive 6.7-inch screen, which looks gorgeous.

Specifications:

RAM: 12GB | CPU: Snapdragon 865 | Storage: 128/512GB | Operating system: Android 10 | Screen: 6.7-inch | Weight: 6.56 ounces | Rear camera: 12MP + 64MP + 12MP | Front camera: 10MP

VIEW AT AT&T
VIEW AT VERIZON
VIEW AT SAMSUNG
VIEW AT AMAZON (S20)
VIEW AT AMAZON (S20+)

5. Apple iPhone 12 / iPhone 12 mini

Best iPhone bargain

iphone 12

Apple’s iPhone 12 still remains one of the best all-round iPhones that most people should buy. It’s basically the iPhone12 pro repacked at a more affordable price. The iPhone 12 Pro’s over-and-above material design and photo/video capturing capability is the major difference between both phones, which may not be necessary for most buyers.

  • Apple iPhone 12 64GB at AT&T
  • Apple iPhone 12 64GB at Verizon
  • See price at Amazon

Furthermore, the iPhone 12 is an excellent improvement on last year’s iPhone 11 – from the new OLED display to the magnetic MagSafe feature that allows for faster and easy connection to other mobile accessories. There is also the iPhone 12 mini, which is the smaller version of the iPhone 12.

  • Apple iPhone 12 mini 64GB at Verizon
  • Apple iPhone 12 mini 64GB at AT&T
  • Apple iPhone 12 mini 64GB at Visible
  • See price at Amazon

The iPhone 12 is budget-friendly and relatively cheaper than the iPhone 12 Pro. You also get the fast A14 Bionic processor, impressive dual rear cameras, and 5G connectivity. The iPhone 12 is an incredible all-around device for the price, making it fully deserving second place on this list.

Specifications:

RAM: 16GB – 4GB | CPU: A14 Bionic | Storage: 4GB/128GB/256GB | Operating system: iOS 14 | Screen: 5.4-inch / 6.1-inch | Weight: 5.78 ounces | Rear camera: 12MP wide (ƒ/1.6), 12MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.4) | Front camera: 12MP (ƒ/2.2) | Battery life: 8hrs:25mins (5G), 10hrs:23mins (LTE)

VIEW AT AT&T
VIEW AT AT&T (Mini)
VIEW AT VERIZON
VIEW AT VERIZON (Mini)

6. Apple iPhone SE (2020)

Best budget phone under $500

apple iphone se 2020

The iPhone SE 2020 is the best phone under $400, striking the balance of design, impressive battery life, and great speed. It’s not the best from the range of iPhones but offers the best value for people who want to stick with the iPhone brand without spending a lot of money.

  • Apple iPhone SE 2020 64GB at AT&T
  • Apple iPhone SE 2020 64GB at Verizon
  • Apple iPhone SE 2020 64GB at Visible
  • See price at Amazon

It has a 4.7-inch LCD screen that Apple used on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8, but the SE’s stand-out feature is its processor, Apple’s A13 Bionic (the same on iPhone 11), and an excellent camera. Old-school iPhone users will also value the return of TouchID and the home button.

The iPhone SE 2020 is a great choice for a phone under $500 if you’re on a budget and don’t want to make a switch to Android.

Specifications:

RAM: 3GB | CPU: A13 Bionic | Storage: 4GB/128GB/256GB | Operating system: iOS 13 | Screen: 4.7-inch | Weight: 5.22 ounces | Rear camera: 12MP (f/1.8) | Front camera: 7MP (f/2.2) | Wireless charging: Yes (Qi)

VIEW AT AT&T
VIEW AT VISIBLE
VIEW AT VERIZON
VIEW AT AMAZON

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