It's basically impossible to make a wrong choice when you're shopping for a new smartphone these days. Pretty much every product you can buy will deliver a stellar performance, snap shareable photos, and power through a full day between charges.
However, depending on their price tag, the best smartphones will differ depending on which features are most important to you — such as a vibrant screen, a great camera, or a trendy and convenient foldable display.
Since new products are constantly hitting the shelves, we're continually researching and testing the latest ones to determine the best options worth your attention. We vetted multiple devices, ranging from entry-level Motorola and OnePlus phones all the way through the entire iPhone and Samsung Galaxy lineups.
Best Smartphones of 2022
- Best iPhone: Apple iPhone 13
- Best Android Phone: Samsung Galaxy S22
- Best Budget Smartphone: OnePlus Nord N200 5G
- Best Foldable Phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3
- The Luxe iPhone: Apple iPhone 13 Pro
- Best Big Android: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
- Best Small Phone: iPhone 13 Mini
- Best Android Experience: Google Pixel 6
How We Tested
We tested each smartphone included on our list for at least a week as our daily driver. We focused on features that we know matter the most to you — evaluating things like design, performance, ergonomics, and battery life. We spent hours using each smartphone to browse the web, scroll through social media feeds, crank out emails, stream music, and play video games, among many other tasks.
We chose phones that, in addition to offering top-tier hardware features, have an agreeable price tag that’s well below $1,000. Regardless of your choice, every phone with a four-digit sticker is all but guaranteed to deliver excellent performance and a user experience to match.
What to Consider
In today's world, a smartphone is probably your most used object, so it's worth picking one that has everything you're looking for. As is the case with most tech products, the more you spend on a smartphone, the better it will be. You’ll almost certainly get faster performance, a better camera, a longer battery life, and a better overall experience. You’ll also be able to hold onto the device for a more extended period between upgrades.
Onboard 5G network connectivity is one of the most important bits to consider when shopping for a new smartphone. The new technology brings significantly faster network speeds and countless other benefits over the older 4G LTE standard.
And if you're an Android user with a big budget, we have some exciting news: You can finally consider switching to a foldable smartphone! Samsung’s latest products in this buzzworthy category no longer require you to sacrifice durability to have a futuristic phone.
Learn more about the best smartphones on the market today, and find the best one for you.
Note: Most phones on this list are carrier-unlocked variants, which allows you to take your phone with you if you ever switch carriers. Even more importantly, when it comes to Android phones, this also means you don't have to deal with annoying and performance-reducing carrier bloatware.
Best iPhone
Product Highlights
- Chipset: Apple A15 Bionic chip
- Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display
- Camera: Dual main camera (12MP primary, 12MP ultra wide), 12MP selfie camera
- Memory: 128/256/512GB storage
- Other: IP68 waterproof
Apple’s iPhone 13 is the best smartphone for most buyers. Sleek design and rugged build? It has them. The most powerful chip in the business? Yep, it’s onboard. An excellent dual camera, a captivating display with stereo speakers, and stellar battery life? Check, check, and check.
Compared to the iPhone 12, the iPhone 13 has more graphics and processing power, a better camera, a brighter display, and a longer battery life. The camera upgrade includes larger sensors with advanced image stabilization, allowing you to snap amazing photos.
Powered by iOS, the iPhone 13 has a platform that’s as futureproof as its hardware. And then there’s MagSafe, which makes the iPhone compatible with an eclectic selection of cases, chargers, and other snap-on accessories.
Apple deserves praise for doubling the storage of the entry-level iPhone 13 to 128GB. You can order the product in blue, midnight, pink, starlight, and (PRODUCT)RED.
Best Android Phone
Product Highlights
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- Display: 6.1-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120 Hz refresh rate
- Camera: Triple main camera (50MP wide, 10MP telephoto, 12MP ultra wide), 10MP selfie camera
- Memory: 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage
- Other: 3,700 mAh battery, stereo speakers, IP68 waterproof
Samsung’s recently launched Galaxy S22 5G is the best Android option for most consumers. It has everything you’d want from a great phone: a sleek and durable design, a vibrant display, abundant power, dependable battery life, and a sophisticated camera setup, all at an agreeable price.
The AMOLED display of the Galaxy S22 display is fantastic. It's also a joy to interact with, thanks to a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz.
The triple camera of the Galaxy S22 has a high-resolution primary sensor and impressive 30X zoom capabilities — enough to capture objects way down the block. The device’s 8K video-recording capabilities are also remarkable. The clips are insanely detail-rich, sporting four times as many pixels as 4K video.
If you're looking for an excellent Android phone with a bigger screen, consider the Samsung Galaxy S22+ instead. Save for a larger screen and battery, it has similar specs.
Best Budget Smartphone
Product Highlights
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 chipset
- Display: 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS display with 90 Hz refresh rate
- Camera: Triple main camera (13MP wide, 2MP macro, 2MP monochrome), 16MP selfie camera
- Memory: 4GB RAM, 64GB expandable storage
- Other: 5,000 mAh battery
You might not expect much from a sub-$250 smartphone, but the OnePlus Nord N200 5G is worth considering. It has a modern design, a big screen with a high refresh rate, reliable performance, and excellent battery life.
The device’s sharp and smooth 6.5-inch display is great for gaming and watching videos. While testing the phone, I found that the screen made it feel like a much pricier product. While it's not the most capable, its Qualcomm chip has enough oomph to power through most tasks.
The triple camera of the N200 includes a macro snapper to capture photos from an impossibly close distance. Its 16MP selfie camera is solid, too. However, as versatile as the setup is, it could use sensors with more megapixels.
Unlike many pricier rivals, the product also offers expandable memory, a standard audio jack, and a bundled fast charger. Many of today’s smartphones lack these features.
Best Foldable Phone
Product Highlights
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
- Display: 6.7-inch folding Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED2X with 120 Hz refresh rate, 1.9-inch external Super AMOLED
- Camera: Dual camera (12MP wide, 10MP ultra wide), 10MP selfie camera
- Memory: 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage
- Other: 3,300 mAh battery, IPX8 water-resistant
Samsung’s foldable Galaxy Z Flip3 5G is the one to get if you want to ditch your old phone for something different. Thankfully, the attention-grabbing gadget is also a great phone, with top-tier specs and a durable build. And best of all, it has a sub-$1,000 starting price, so you no longer need to break the bank to get this innovative form factor in your life.
The standout design of the Z Flip3 is accompanied by a user interface that can utilize it best, with two halves showing different displays if you so choose. The device folds in half when not in use, so it’s super easy to carry around. Its external display shows time and notifications without the need to unfold it.
You can order the Z Flip3 in four colors. If budget permits, consider the pricier Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 too, since it can replace both a compact tablet and premium smartphone.
Reviewed: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G Smartphone
The Luxe iPhone
Product Highlights
- Chipset: Apple A15 Bionic chip
- Display: 6.1- or 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion
- Camera: Triple main camera (12MP primary, 12MP ultra wide, 12MP telephoto), 12MP selfie camera
- Memory: 128/256/512GB, 1TB storage
- Other: IP68 waterproof
The iPhone 13 Pro is Apple’s best, most luxurious phone. Compared to the iPhone 13, the Pro has a tougher build with a stainless steel frame, superior triple camera, and display with ProMotion tech.
An iPad Pro fixture for years, ProMotion is available on an iPhone for the first time, offering smoother and more enjoyable onscreen interactions. Together with the camera, it’s the main reason to spend more on a Pro model over the regular iPhone 13.
You can choose between a 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro and an iPhone 13 Pro Max with a larger 6.7-inch screen for $100 more. The bigger Pro can last for two days between charges, so its battery performance is worthy of the “Max” moniker. You can order the range-topping iPhones in silver, gold, graphite, and Sierra blue with up to a whopping 1TB of storage — another iPhone first.
Reviewed: iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
Best Big Android
Product Highlights
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
- Display: 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X with 120 Hz refresh rate
- Camera: Quadruple main camera (108MP wide, dual 10MP telephoto with 3- and 10-times magnification optical zoom, 12MP ultra wide), 40MP selfie camera
- Memory: 8/12GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage
- Other: 5,000 mAh battery, IP68 waterproof
Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G is hands-down the best big-screen Android phone. Compared to the Galaxy S22+, it has a more distinctive design with a larger and sharper display, a mightier camera, a bigger battery, and a higher price tag.
The Ultra also comes with an integrated S Pen — a signature Galaxy Note bit. (The iconic stylus was an optional accessory for last year’s excellent Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.) In the latest installment, it has a neat, Galaxy Note-like storage slot and Bluetooth connectivity that brings additional functionality.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra's quadruple camera brings class-leading, glorious zoom capabilities. It has two optical zoom lenses with 3X and 10X magnification, as well as the magical ability to snap photos with 100X Space Zoom. The big phone’s main sensor, on the other hand, has the highest resolution for still images and video in the business.
Reviewed: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Best Small Phone
Product Highlights
- Chipset: Apple A15 Bionic chip
- Display: 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR display
- Camera: Dual main camera (12MP primary, 12MP ultra wide), 12MP selfie camera
- Memory: 128/256/512GB storage
- Other: IP68 waterproof
The iPhone 13 mini, just like the iPhone 12 mini it replaces, is the best small phone available today by an overwhelming margin. Unlike many top-shelf smartphones, the mini's compact body makes it easy to use with one hand — with or without a protective case on.
As its name suggests, the iPhone 13 mini is a smaller variant of the iPhone 13 with the same design and workmanship. Save for display size and battery capacity, the phones are practically identical — meaning that the latest mini will get you the same industry-conquering power and performance, but in a much smaller form factor.
Best of all, the mini’s $699 starting price tag makes it the most affordable iPhone 13 iteration. To top things off, the smaller iPhone 13 comes with the same storage options as its larger sibling. Apple offers the product in blue, midnight, pink, starlight, and (PRODUCT)RED.
Best Android Experience
Product Highlights
- Chipset: Google Tensor chip
- Display: 6.4-inch folding FHD+ OLED with 90 Hz refresh rate
- Camera: Dual main camera (50MP primary, 12MP ultra wide), 11MP selfie camera
- Memory: 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage
- Other: 4,614 mAh battery, IP68 waterproof
Google’s own Pixel 6 delivers the best Android experience in a smartphone today. It runs the latest and most advanced iteration of the platform — free of any bloatware — and is always the first to get new Android features and critical security updates. Plus, Google will support its creation with updates for 5 years.
The Pixel 6 also has an elegant design with an eye-catching, two-tone finish, a crisp and vibrant OLED display, a fantastic dual camera, and stellar battery life. Best of all, it rocks an incredible sub-$600 price tag, so it’s as value-packed as a premium smartphone can be.
If you're looking for a bigger Pixel, we have good news! The Pixel 6 Pro has the same design, but with a bigger screen and more capable triple camera. Android upgraders on a tighter budget should consider the metal-clad Pixel 5a with 5G.
