We don’t ask for much when buying a smartphone. All we need are user-friendly devices with a clear display, plenty of processor power, a long battery life, and a quality camera suite (which we need to flex our high-res chai lattes on Instagram). Here are our top four picks for great smartphones you can buy this year. Pick one from the list if you’re looking to upgrade your smartphone.
Apple iPhone 13
This phone boasts a new processor, a bigger battery, and 128GB of internal storage. It also has the same camera sensor as the iPhone 12 Pro Max but in a sleeker, more compact design. The 6.1-inch OLED display, the 12-megapixel selfie camera, the MagSafe wireless charging, the same support for both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G networks, and the water and dust resistance (IP68) are the same as those on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, but Apple keeps things interesting. This device has a new A15 Bionic chip and a wide-angle camera that renders significantly superior video and pictures.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
Android loyalists will love this offering from Samsung. Some of its most impressive specs include a 6.6-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, and three high-quality rear cameras. The phone’s minimalist design is another point in its favor. It indeed looks like what it is – a high-end, high-performing Android smartphone.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
If video and photography are a priority, you can do no better than the iPhone 13 Pro Max. This smartphone has one of the best camera systems in this year’s rollouts. Other bonuses include three rear cameras (standard wide, ultrawide, and telephoto), superior image processing even in low light, a larger camera sensor that uses sensor-based stabilization, and the ability to shoot and edit videos in ProRes.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
This phone tries to do everything at once and succeeds. There are five cameras, a 6.8-inch OLED with up to 120Hz refresh rate, a built-in stylus, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, and 8 or 12GB of RAM. It has great performance and low latency even when playing graphic-intensive games. Talk about getting your money’s worth.