When picking your new smartphone, the biggest constraint in finding your perfect device is the budget. Each price category has its top picks: Budget devices like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro with ultra-fast charging; Mid-range devices feature the OnePlus 2T with a 50MP camera; and High-range devices include the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S22 with its 960fps recording capabilities. However, the common denominator with all of these devices is that no matter how feature-packed they are, they still have trade-offs to hold onto their price. Now, whilst this is fine for most, some people want to release the reins off feature restrictions in their smartphone and finally explore a world of completion- and this is where the flagships come in.
Flagship devices are the highest tier of smartphones available at any time, packing the best possible features. Flagships aren’t priced with affordability in mind, which is the main reason why people decide to go for lower-budget alternatives, such as the high-range and mid-range device categories. But consequently, there’s no limit to flagship features, and manufacturers use these to showcase the best that they can produce in a product line.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is possibly one of the best Galaxy devices ever released. From its 108MP 8K camera to its 6.8” display (the largest on this list), the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra packs all the latest and greatest features into a unique form factor you’re bound to love. This year Samsung decided to announce an official end to the Galaxy Note series; however, the Note’s design elements have since been integrated into the Ultra range of devices which is what makes the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s hybrid Note look so unique. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comes housed in a glass and aluminium frame protected by corning gorilla glass victus plus. On top of this, the Samsung Galaxy S22 houses a new S pen kept inside the device. This new S Pen is much more responsive than previous models and has been made 70% faster with less latency for a seamless, lag-free user experience. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s Dynamic AMOLED 2x display is powered by its 5000mAh battery capable of charging the device from 0-58% in 30 minutes. The focal point behind the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is its quad camera setup consisting of the 108MP wide angle lens. The S22 Ultra can shoot up to 8K video and record 720p video at 960fps, producing some of the best slow-motion footage available in smartphones today.
OnePlus 10 Pro
With an all-new display, an improved camera system, and a new revision of Oxygen OS, it’s clear that OnePlus are never happy to just settle. The OnePlus 10 Pro display comes in at 6.7 inches, just like last year’s OnePlus 9 Pro but with an all-new QHD (1440p) display. The OnePlus 10 Pro comes out of the box with a satin finish on the back that OnePlus claims are fingerprint-resistant. While looking at the rear of the handset, it’s clear that OnePlus has taken some inspiration from the Samsung Galaxy S series with its protruding triple Hasselblad camera setup, finished with a gloss glass casing, which strikes a strong contrast between the camera and the rest of the device. The OnePlus 10 Pro comes with a 5000mAh battery which is a 500mA upgrade from its predecessor, alongside 80W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging. The fast charging can take the OnePlus 10 Pro from 0-100% in just 32 minutes. The OnePlus 10 Pro features three cameras: a 48MP main lens, an 8MP 3.3X telephoto lens and a new 50MP 150-degree ultrawide lens. As well as the rear camera setup, the OnePlus 10 Pro also houses a 32MP selfie camera, which is a huge step forward from the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 16MP selfie camera.
Sony Xperia 1 IV
The Sony Xperia 1 IV is a top-tier smartphone that says yes to customisation, yes, to change the aspect ratio norm and most importantly, yes to a 3.5mm headphone jack. Gimmicks aside, the Sony Xperia 1 IV is an incredibly impressive device. Moreover, the Sony Xperia 1 IV has been used by PUBG Mobile as the official smartphone for their invitational tournament – so it’s safe to say that the Sony Xperia 1 IV is no slouch. Due to its unique 21 by nine aspect ratio, the Sony Xperia 1 IV is only 71mm wide, which makes it unusually easy to handle single-handedly for a 6.5” smartphone. The device is housed in a glass and aluminium frame protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The display on the Sony Xperia 1 IV is a pleasure to use with a 120hz refresh rate coupled with OLED technology – take it from us, movies have never looked so good. Of course, because the device has a 21 by nine aspect ratio, there are no black bars when watching your favourite films or any widescreen content. The Sony Xperia 1 IV’s main talking point is its triple camera setup, and what makes it so special is the fact it has so much DSLR-based customisation for true photo enthusiasts. Anything from exposure, white balance, raw image shots and a tonne more is customisable within the device’s camera settings. Couple this with the 5000mAh battery, which can charge to 50% in 30 minutes, and you can quickly see why the Sony Xperia 1 IV is such a hit.
iPhone 13 Pro Max
Whilst technically a 2021 flagship, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is still the best iPhone out right now and we’ll update this list after the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s release. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is currently the best Apple iPhone money can buy; unlike previous iPhones that had minimal upgrades over their predecessors, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has seen some hefty enhancements over 2020’s iPhone 12 Pro Max. One of the first things that the iPhone 13 Pro Max has brought to the Apple ecosystem is the introduction of higher refresh rate displays. The 6.72” Super Retina OLED screen comes with a 120hz refresh rate; whilst it is no different than any other device on this list, it’s good to see Apple keeping up with industry trends. The build design of the iPhone 13 Pro Max impresses as much as the 12 – and dam did the 12 impresses. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is housed in a stainless-steel frame protected by a gorilla glass front and back. The camera setup on the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the familiar triple 12MP setup we’ve seen in both the 12 and 11 Pro models, but with a plethora of AI, enhancements to not only improve the overall image but also give users more settings and effects. The biggest upgrade with the iPhone 13 Pro Max has got to be its battery life, coming with a 4352mAh battery charging the device from 0-50% in 30 minutes with the Apple fast charger.
Xiaomi 12 Pro
While still relatively new on the smartphone scene, the Xiaomi 12 Pro packs a tonne of power, super-fast performance and blazing charging speeds. The Xiaomi 12 Pro marks the top of Xiaomi’s series of smartphones, and rightly so; with a premium aluminium chassis protected by corning gorilla glass victus, the Xiaomi 12 Pro features only the best features you can gain on a handset in 2022. The Xiaomi 12 Pro features a 6.73” 120Hz AMOLED display which is slightly smaller than the last generation Xiaomi 11 Pro. The display comes in a 20 by nine aspect ratio, which, coupled with curved side edges, gives it a near bezel-less appearance. The camera on the Xiaomi 12 Pro is impressive- Xiaomi has equipped the 12 Pro with three 50MP cameras: a wide angle, a telephoto and an ultrawide lens. If that isn’t enough the Xiaomi 12 Pro also comes with up to 8K recording capability and 720p at up to 1920fps. Whilst not as high as some smartphones on this list, the 4600mAh battery on the Xiaomi 12 Pro gets the device through the day without a struggle. What’s more? The Xiaomi 12 Pro features 150W fast charging taking the device from 0-100% in 18 minutes. Yes, 18 minutes. Now with such perfect features what could possibly go wrong? Well, the only knit-pick we have with the Xiaomi 12 Pro is that it doesn’t feature an IP rating and therefore has no protection against water or dust.
