There’s never been a better time for smartphones. We’ve come a long way from the brick-shaped phones that came with a shoulder strap or had to be plugged into a car to use. Almost every smartphone is a thin, glass-covered rectangle with a high-res screen and ample performance.
But that’s a double-edged sword, as almost every phone looks and performs the same. Obviously, you want something special, or offering the most features and bang for your buck at least. Luckily, we’ve seen and tested every new smartphone available today and can tell you which are the best to pick from.
We get that choosing the right phone is unlike any other device. After all, it’s something you rely on and use every day. Trust us, we won’t steer you the wrong way in your quest for the best smartphone.
TL;DR – These are the Best Smartphones:
- iPhone 14
- Google Pixel 6a 5G
- iPhone 14 Pro
- Google Pixel 6 Pro
- Asus ROG Phone 5S
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
1. iPhone 14
Best Smartphone
The iPhone 14 only makes slight changes to last year's iPhone 13, but it’s still the whole package. This smartphone’s design is nearly identical to the iPhone 13 with a 6.1-inch crisp and clear Super Retina XDR display, only this time inside the notch sits a 12MP TrueDepth camera that has autofocus and better light sensors. The phone is powered by the A15 Bionic chip with a new 5-core GPU to slightly amp up performance. A new heat dissipation interior should also keep all those internals running smoothly and efficiently. It’s really a phenomenal value, and the 128GB of base storage, as well as Apple’s history of long-term support will help you get some serious mileage with this phone.
The iPhone 14 offers loads of handy features, including wireless charging, NFC for contactless payments, and a suite of versatile apps available in iOS. New to the 14 is crash detection, which will alert emergency services if it detects you’ve been in an accident. There’s even a satillite phone functionality for emergency calls when you don’t have cell service. Beyond that, you get decent cameras with better sensors and low light performance than previous generations. The main camera is capable enough for just about anyone, and the ultra-wide camera provides extra flexibility with how you shoot. It’s even possible to film 4K video. However, if you’re looking for even better cameras, you may want to spend a couple hundred extra and grab the 14 Pro.
2. Google Pixel 6a 5G
Best Budget Smartphone
For a great phone when you’re on a budget, grab the Google Pixel 6a 5G. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a way that this phone isn’t a flagship Pixel smartphone were it not for that little ‘a’ in the name and the $449 price tag—though you can find it cheaper. You get the same Google Tensor chip found in the Pixel 6, giving you upper-mid range performance to cruise through games and open multiple apps at a time, switching between them with ease. That Tensor Chip also powers the big, bright OLED display, providing plenty of room for gaming, texting, and streaming.
The Pixel 6a comes with Android 12, a super clean software toting only the basics like Maps and Pay. Luckily, Google has a strong track record for providing software support long after the launch of a phone, helping stretch its longevity. There’s also AI tech making for an impressive voice-to-text experience and cool camera functionality, among other conveniences. The only major downgrades when comparing the Pixel 6a and the 6 are battery life, charging speed, and its main camera is only 12.2MP. Serious photographers may be disappointed, but most users will find the cameras more than up to the task for whatever they’re shooting. If those slight flaws aren’t deal breakers, this phone offers impressive value.
3. iPhone 14 Pro
Best iPhone
For an iPhone that goes above and beyond, you’ll want the iPhone 14 Pro. This version brings a slight upgrade to our previous favorite, the 13 Pro. You get a beefy phone powered by Apple’s new A16 Bionic chip, making it breeze through pretty much any task you throw at it, including gaming or video editing for content creators. This version gives you an upgraded screen, which finally removes the notch for Face ID, opting for a new pill-shaped feature called Dynamic Island. And Dynamic Island can expand and show different animations, including alarms, navigation, and the music playing—which can be held down to access media controls. The stunning display also offers a 120Hz refresh rate that drops to just 1Hz, allowing for the new always-on-display that won’t drain the battery.
The iPhone 14 Pro totes plenty of other features that make it one of the best phones money can buy. First, there are the cameras. You get a 48MP main with 2x zoom for beautiful, vibrant images along with a 12MP wide and a 12MP telephoto with 3x zoom. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better phone cameras than these, and the 14 Pro even shines when photos are taken in low light. It’s also possible to film 4K videos. Just be prepared, as the cameras are big and your phone will not sit flat on a surface because of them. You also get new safety enhancements like crash detection and a satellite phone feature for easy contact with emergency services.
4. Google Pixel 6 Pro
Best Android Phone
Perfection in a smartphone has been realized with the Google Pixel 6 Pro. Don’t expect it to blow every phone out of the water by every metric, but just realize that everywhere you look, you’ll find excellence. The phone comes with a unique design that helps it stand out while still providing a solid build. Inside that frame, Google has put plenty of power, ample battery, refined software, and a top-notch camera system to handle all your needs.
The Google Pixel 6 Pro has a huge, bright, sharp display that’s made all the better with a 120Hz variable refresh rate. That display makes for a great viewfinder to use with the triple camera system on the rear, which includes a phenomenal main sensor that captures a wide dynamic range, warm colors, and excellent detail. That’s flanked by an ultra-wide camera for getting everything in the shot and a 4x telephoto camera that can let you go all the way to 20x digitally and still get a passable photo. All that, and Google is only asking $899 where its competitors ask well over $1000 for their top-spec models.
5. Asus ROG Phone 5S
Best Gaming Phone
For a beast of a gaming phone, you'll want to turn to the Asus ROG Phone 5S. The latest iteration improves upon the already great ROG Phone 5. The system is now powered by a Snapdragon 888 Plus chipset backed up by 16GB of LPDDR5 memory (can go up to 18GB), so speed and capacity won't be an issue. Games load from a solid 256GB of fast, UFS 3.1 storage. And, when you need a reliable connection for gaming, you can enjoy 5G on the go or the latest Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. You'll be able to get in some marathon gaming sessions thanks to the phone's 6,000mAh battery, but you can keep playing even as you’re juicing up since there’s a charging port on the side of the phone.
Sure, plenty of phones offer fast internals, but it's what Asus does on the outside that sets it apart for gaming. The Asus ROG Phone 5S has a zippy 144Hz AMOLED display that scans for touch inputs at a wild 360Hz. Asus also includes more controls, so you're not stuck handling all the complicated actions of games with just your thumbs. Two ultrasonic side buttons can work like triggers or even handle swipe gestures. And, there's a motion control system that will let you set up 10 different phone movements to correspond with in-game controls – think tilt to turn. Heck, there's even some cool RGB lighting on the back of the phone.
6. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Best Phablet
If you’re just looking for a big-screen packed with loads of power behind it, nothing beats the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. The company’s latest release features a 6.8-inch (1,440 x 3,088) AMOLED display that’s big, bright, and responsive. You get a 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate, so it’s perfect for gaming too. And, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, it has S-Pen compatibility, so you can easily jot down notes or do some sketching. When finished, the stylus can be slotted into the phone for an easy storage option.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra offers some solid externals, but everything it’s packing inside is no slouch either. The base model comes toting 8GB of RAM with 128 GB of storage, but you can upgrade up to 12 GB and 1TB of storage. The decent capacity and storage, plus the unnamed 4nm processor, make for a super snappy phone. It shouldn't break a sweat, even when you’re running multiple apps or completing more taxing tasks like editing videos or gaming. And, with a 5,000 mAh battery, you can use this baby all day without fear of it running out of juice.
7. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
Best Foldable Phone
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 is a far cry from the flip phones of yesteryear. It rocks a 6.2-inch display. However, you can open the phone like a book, where inside lurks a 7.6-inch screen. This means you basically get a little tablet that’ll fold neatly into your pocket. Just be prepared for the phone to feel a bit awkward at first due to its unique dimensions. And, if you’re worried about the quality of the two displays, you should find them plenty bright and smooth thanks to the Dynamic AMOLED panels offering a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. You even get S pen support for note-taking and drawing.
Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 packs a good deal of power. A Snapdragon 888 chipset is paired with 12GB of RAM, allowing you to cruise through tasks and games. Plus, you get 256GB of storage for all of your favorite apps, photos, and games. A 4,400mAh battery is loaded into the phone as well, so you use it all day without the fear of it dying. You also get decent cameras on the Z Fold 3, but unfortunately, they don’t compare to the stunning cameras on Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
source https://www.ign.com/articles/best-smartphone