Gizmochina covered a lot of handsets throughout 2022. We saw devices from brands ranging from Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus to Apple, coming in various shapes and sizes.
The year also saw notable successors to popular models, especially in the flagship and budget segments. At the same time, there were some first-time models as well. In fact, even a new brand (Nothing) entered this competitive market with a bang.
Another notable change this year was the number of foldables in 2022. We saw more foldable phone releases than ever before. On the other hand, the year also saw fewer entry level launches as budget smartphones got more expensive. Some of them got so expensive that they now fall under the mid-range segment.
So, as the year is about to end, we have selected the best smartphones launched in 2022 across different price and form factors. We’ll be awarding smartphones across 12 different categories.
Without further ado, let’s check out the winners.
Best Premium Smartphones of 2022
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
We consider regular (non-foldable) smartphones above $1,000 as premium smartphones. These are high-end phones offering all the latest and greatest features.
Our pick for the best premium smartphone of 2022 includes not one but two devices, one for each ecosystem — Android and iOS.
Best Android Premium Smartphone of 2022: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a combination of Galaxy S and Galaxy Note smartphones. It not only has one of the best camera systems with impressive zoom levels, but also a built-in stylus for productivity. It is truly a replacement for the discontinued Galaxy Note lineup, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it is the best Android premium phone in the market right now.
Best iOS Premium Smartphone: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
The Apple iPhone14 Pro Max is the absolute best iPhone one can buy in 2022. It comes with a smaller notch dubbed as the dynamic island, which is supported by intuitive UX. Most importantly, it is the first iPhone with a 48MP main camera, which produces images with a greater depth of field.
Best Flagship Smartphone of 2022: Google Pixel 7
A flagship smartphone can be considered the most important yet expensive phone from a brand. It may not cost as much as a premium handset, but it is still known to offer the most sought-after features.
That being said, our best pick for 2022 is Google Pixel 7. At just $600, it is currently one of the most affordable flagship smartphones released this year.
Despite retailing at a lower price than most of the competitors, it comes with almost all the features of the more expensive Pixel 7 Pro. It is the most intelligent smartphone of this year, just like the Pixel 6 series in 2021. Like any other Pixel, it outputs stunning pictures with dramatic looks. Though the Tensor G2 chipset is not as fast as the competitors, it is tweaked to run AI tasks efficiently.
Best Flagship-killer Smartphone: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
Every brand now releases flagship-killer smartphones. As a result, the competition is high, and we have more options to choose from.
Either way, our pick for the best flagship-killer smartphone of 2022 is Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. Unlike its competitors, it does not fight in terms of performance. Instead, it focuses on providing the flagship experience at a cheaper price.
The Galaxy S21 FE is a gateway for users to try out flagship features at a reasonable price, especially during sales. It comes with premium Samsung features, such as DeX, wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, Samsung Pay, USB 3.2, and flagship image processing.
Best Mid-range Smartphone: Nothing Phone 1
The mid-range category is currently the most interesting one. Brands sell a wide variety of devices targeted at different audiences.
Anyway, for us, the best mid-range smartphone of 2022 is Nothing Phone 1. Though the handset has its fair share of drawbacks, there’s no denying it offers the most bang for your buck without compromising on design, which is its key selling point.
The device comes with features like wireless charging and uses premium materials for its body. It is great to see a newcomer in the crowded industry make a name for itself with its first product.
Best Budget Smartphone: Poco X4 Pro
The budget smartphone segment was probably the least interesting one in 2022. There wasn’t any device that offered a great value for its asking price.
Nevertheless, we have to choose one, and our pick is Poco X4 Pro. This handset is a better version of the Redmi Note 11 Pro/Pro+ since it is cheaper and offers the same set of features with a different design.
Though the phone is not as revolutionary as the Redmi Note 10 Pro, it is still a better package than competitors. It offers a capable Snapdragon 695 chipset, a 120Hz AMOLED display, and 67W fast charging.
Best Entry-level Smartphone: Realme C30
Unlike the budget segment, the entry-level smartphone category is dead for the last few years. Almost all options are lackluster.
Nonetheless, the Realme C30 is better than most products in its segment in 2022. It also features a striking design for a handset at its price.
It comes with a better chipset (Unisoc Tiger T612) than the competitors, Android 11 Go Edition, and a 5,000mAh battery. There’s no better deal than this model at $90.
Best Cheap 5G Smartphone: Samsung Galaxy M23/F23
Multiple countries across the world are witnessing the deployment of 5G networks. At the same time, 5G smartphones have become cheaper than ever before.
Hence, we have decided to give an award for the best cheap 5G smartphone. For this category, we have chosen the Galaxy M23, which also goes by the name Galaxy F23 in some markets.
This device from Samsung not only offers 5G connectivity at an affordable price tag, but also a capable set of overall features, unlike most competitors. Its highlights include a 120Hz display (LCD), a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G SoC, and a 5,000mAh battery.
Best Gaming Smartphone: Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro
Though we have annual gaming smartphone launches, these devices are very niche. Also, there are only a few brands that offer them and most phones are limited to certain regions.
Therefore, our pick for the best gaming smartphone of 2022 is Asus ROG 6 Pro. Because it caters to a wider audience without being too much flashy. On top of that, it is available in more markets than the competitors.
The ROG Phone 6 Pro arrives with a 10-bit 165Hz AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip, up to 18GB RAM/512GB storage, a 6,000mAh battery, and 65W fast charging support.
Best Foldable Smartphones of 2022: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 & Galaxy Z Flip 4
Primarily, there are two types of foldables smartphones. They are horizontal foldables that turn into tablets, and vertical foldables which are commonly known as clamshells. Given their different form factors, we are giving away the awards to two devices.
Our picks for the best foldable smartphones of 2022 are none other than the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4 from Samsung. Unlike other foldables, these two come with a good set of software features that make almost full use of their hardware. The Z Fold 4 also carries support for stylus input.
Above all, they are the only foldable phones certified for water resistance and feature armor aluminum frames. They are also available in most markets globally.
Best Chinese Smartphone: Vivo X80 Pro
As a publication focussed on Chinese tech products, we have dedicated a category specially for the best Chinese smartphone of 2022. Though most of the phones sold worldwide are from Chinese brands, there’s only one winner.
Our pick is Vivo X80 Pro. It is the absolute best premium smartphone from a Chinese OEM this year.
Unlike the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, the vivo model is available in multiple countries other than mainland China. It offers stunning HDR pictures and nigh time images from its cameras.
The handset features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a leather/ceramic back, a 6.78-inch QHD+ 120Hz LTPO curved AMOLED display, Zeiss optics with T* lens coating, and more.
Best Smartphone Design of 2022: Tecno Camon 19 Pro Mondrian
All mainstream phones feature a classy safe design, which is sort of boring. Therefore, our pick for the best smartphone design of 2022 is Tecno Camon 19 Pro Mondrian. It is flashy and unique.
The handset’s rear panel changes color when exposed to sunlight or any ultraviolet light. Unlike the recent Vivo S and V series phones, the Tecno device’s back can change into multiple colors.
Tecno uses polychromatic photoisomer technology instead of fluorite AG glass like Vivo. One of the highlights of the Tecno Camon 19 Pro Mondrian is that its cameras resemble a cute panda.
Best Smartphone Brand of 2022: Honor
Our choice for the best smartphone brand of 2022 is Honor. After separating from Huawei, the brand made a huge comeback starting in Q1 of 2021. Throughout 2022, it released interesting products across all price segments.
As per Counterpoint Research, Honor is currently the third-largest smartphone brand in China. It has been giving tough competition to Vivo and Oppo this year. Some of its best-performing products include the Honor 70 series, Honor 80 series, Honor Magic 4 series, and Honor X9.
The brand even debuted two foldables in 2022, namely Honor Magic V and Honor Magic Vs. The Ultimate variant of the Magic Vs even supports stylus input, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.
If all goes well, Honor may be able to fill the void after Huawei’s downfall, in the coming years.
So these were Gizmochina’s Best Smartphone Awards of 2022. We hope 2023 will be an even more exciting year for smartphone fans across the globe, and we are looking forward to seeing more foldables and more unique products from brands across the world.
