Which smartphone ticked all of the bins for us in 2022? We’re speaking concerning the cellphone that we didn’t need to cease utilizing, regardless that we might have been pressured to so as to overview one other system. It’s the one cellphone we regularly returned to as a result of it did every little thing we needed, in a approach that suited us greatest. Our private “cellphone of the yr,” you may say.
Under are the picks from every member of the Digital Developments’ Cell crew, and curiously, everybody got here up with one thing totally different.
OnePlus 10 Professional
After I assume again on all the telephones launched in 2022, one that actually stands out to me is the OnePlus 10 Professional. All through the previous yr, I’d typically choose up my 10 Professional and use it periodically over no matter different cellphone I used to be reviewing/testing. Why? As a result of its {hardware} is simply so, so good. I really like the dimensions and weight of it, the curved show is elegant with out being too dramatic, and I like the soft-touch end of the glass on the Volcanic Black mannequin. I additionally fairly like how the OnePlus 10 Professional seems — together with the controversial digicam bump.
The OnePlus 10 Professional additionally stays a lot quick in early 2023, largely because of its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. The 120Hz show nonetheless seems glorious, the battery life is reliable, and the 65-watt charging supplied on the U.S. model of the OnePlus 10 Professional is at all times so tough to stay with out when returning to an iPhone or Pixel.
However as good because the {hardware} has aged, I don’t assume the OnePlus 10 Professional is as extraordinary as we speak because it was a yr in the past — largely as a result of software program. OnePlus has since up to date the ten Professional to OxygenOS 13, which takes heavy inspiration from ColorOS. I’ve began to develop used to it in comparison with my first introduction to the software program, however I nonetheless vastly desire OnePlus’s previous strategy to OxygenOS, again when it favored velocity and ease over a UI that now emphasizes something however.
I wasn’t almost as impressed with the OnePlus 10T when it launched a number of months later, however I’m cautiously optimistic concerning the OnePlus 11. If OnePlus can ship a smartphone with the match and inish of the OnePlus 10 Professional, additional enhance the digicam expertise, make the charging even sooner, and tighten up its software program, we might be in for an actual deal with. I nonetheless actually get pleasure from utilizing the OnePlus 10 Professional in 2023, and I’m excited to see what a real successor seems like.
— Joe Maring
Apple iPhone 14 Professional
The iPhone 14 Professional was an actual standout of the iPhone refresh from Apple this yr. Whereas the common iPhone 14 was boring and bland, the iPhone 14 Professional actually stepped it up when it comes to upgrades, and for me, was effectively value the fee.
With the iPhone 14 Professional, the large star was the show. This was the yr that Apple went all-out with the always-on show, which it additionally did in a different way than Android units, although it doesn’t look like everybody was a fan of Apple’s methodology. I actually beloved how the always-on show gave the iPhone new life by having your lock display screen wallpaper fully dimmed, whereas nonetheless exhibiting your notifications and widgets. I’m not a fan of how Apple appeased those that weren’t followers of the characteristic by giving us always-on show settings in iOS 16.2, however I suppose extra choices are good.
Whereas we’re with reference to the show, I’m completely satisfied to see that Apple lastly ditched the notch and gave us one thing a bit of extra helpful with the Dynamic Island. Although I’m a bit of let down with how sluggish help for it has been, it’s enjoyable to see it in motion with native apps, and the animations for it are delightfully whimsical. It was one thing nobody was anticipating when the iPhone was introduced, but it surely’s a characteristic that has numerous potential (as soon as extra apps put it to use, anyway). Hopefully, by the point the iPhone 15 rolls round, with Dynamic Islands on all fashions, app help for it would turn into ubiquitous.
Lastly, although I want the iPhone digicam bumps would cease getting larger yearly, I actually benefit from the 48MP essential digicam improve that Apple went with on the iPhone 14 Professional. Although the true distinction is negligible coming from an iPhone 13 Professional, those that get pleasure from capturing in ProRaw will respect having the complete 48MP decision obtainable for enhancing functions. I need to see the 48MP essential digicam turn into a regular in future iPhones throughout the board, and I can solely hope for the rumored periscope digicam improve for the iPhone 15 Professional Max, or iPhone 15 Extremely, as it might be rumored to be.
— Christine Romero-Chan
Google Pixel 7 Professional
Selecting my favourite cellphone of 2022 has been a ridiculously powerful alternative. I made a decision to finalize my alternative by making it the Android cellphone I used over the Christmas and New 12 months break after I was solely free to make use of a cellphone of my selecting as a result of I had no different cellphone to overview. I first thought concerning the Galaxy Z Fold 4, however handed it by in favor of the Galaxy Z Flip 4, which is only a excellent cellphone. However on the final minute, I slid my SIM card into the Google Pixel 7 Professional, and as anticipated, I didn’t remorse my alternative in any respect.
Whereas Joe has had numerous issues together with his Pixel 7 Professional units, I’ve had virtually none in any respect. Returning to it over the previous few weeks, it has been metronomically excellent. Even the battery life has been excellent, with days of minimal use (round two hours of display screen time) ending with 75% remaining. I didn’t hassle charging it up and simply turned it off in a single day, one thing I did once more the day after because it continued to be so environment friendly.
It takes pictures I completely love, however greater than that, it offers enhancing instruments that permit me rapidly and simply tweak them to my tastes. They don’t at all times want it, however I’ll sit there and edit them only for the enjoyable of it; such is the range and talent of the Google Images app on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Professional. Android 13 is clear and quick, I’ve actually gelled with the brand new design and Fast Settings structure, and notifications have been faultless. After I put my SIM again within the Pixel 7 Professional, it has finished every little thing I needed with none fuss in any way.
There are simply two caveats so as to add right here. Along with the Pixel 7 Professional, I exploit an iPhone 14 Professional on daily basis, and actually, the 2 are equal as my high decisions of the yr. In a perfect world, I’d like a single system that’s in some way a mixture of each. The opposite caveat is, as Joe can attest, not everybody’s expertise with the Pixel 7 Professional would be the similar. Mine is improbable, however yours is probably not, and that’s a severe draw back. Strategy with warning, then, however when you get a great one, it’s actually good.
— Andy Boxall
Google Pixel 7
Smartphone cameras aren’t constructed for darker pores and skin. It’s a rule that holds true with all however one model, with some manufacturers even optimizing for lighter pores and skin. I’ve used a number of smartphones this yr, far too many for my household to be happy with as my bubbles go from inexperienced to blue each different week, and one smartphone model I’ve stored coming again to was Google’s Pixel line.
On the primary day of spring, I went out for a beautiful stroll round London, and the following month, I took a visit to Dublin. In December, I took a visit to the Netherlands. Each picture I captured with a Pixel cellphone, I totally get pleasure from and frequently revisit. Primarily, this was as a consequence of Actual Tone, a know-how you discover on Google’s Pixel telephones that makes folks of darker tone look extra true to life. It actually helps if you’re occurring a visit with household and need photos you’d like to maintain.
It’s humorous, after I switched from a Pixel again to an iPhone for different causes, I might virtually instantly cease taking photos due to the comparatively duller, drabber, and extra miserable photos it will seize. Someway, Google not solely nailed the colour of my pores and skin, but additionally the colour of every little thing else too. With all that stated, when it comes right down to it, Google’s Pixel 7 was my favourite cellphone of 2022, with heating points and all. Whereas primarily I used the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Professional, the Pixel 6a and Pixel 7 got here in the direction of the top of the yr. All really feel extremely related the place it counts.
The Pixel 7, significantly the Snow and Lemongrass colours, captured my coronary heart. With a display screen that’s crisp, a digicam that captures clear photos, and a design that appears like jewellery, Google’s newest makes for a compelling bundle. Whereas my choice in the end was the marginally older however cheaper 6 Professional (as a result of I actually needed the telephoto lens and didn’t need to pay up for the 7 Professional), the 7 continues to be a extremely good cellphone.
I actually wouldn’t advocate you rush out and purchase it — there are various higher smartphones, and its well-documented foibles could also be a bit a lot for some at the most effective of occasions. However the coronary heart needs what the center needs, even when it’s not at all times the most effective factor.
— Michael Allison
Nothing Telephone 1
It’s truthful to say this can be a powerful yr for me to select a favourite cellphone, as many fell into what I prefer to name the “however cellphone” class. You realize what I imply; it’s the kind of cellphone you describe by saying, “it’s just like the earlier cellphone, however … .” We had some glorious smartphones come out this yr, however most of them fell into this lure, as if all the foremost smartphone producers got here collectively and determined to take the yr off. Polish some digicam lenses. Tweak a processor. Chill a bit of. Even Samsung’s folding telephones had been largely copy-pasted variations of the earlier yr’s efforts.
All besides the brand new child on the block, Nothing. I’m as stunned at this as anybody, as I used to be initially fairly vocal in my disdain for the Nothing Telephone 1’s Glyph lighting gimmick and Nothing OS. However colour me stunned when it launched, and it was fairly good. In fact, there are kinks to work out, and technically, the Nothing Telephone 1 isn’t pretty much as good a smartphone as, say, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely, Apple iPhone 14 Professional, and even the Google Pixel 7 Professional.
However I really like an underdog, in addition to when an organization tries one thing new. That’s why the Nothing Telephone 1 holds up so effectively in early 2023, just because there’s nothing prefer it. Who else would put a spread of bonkers lights on the again of a smartphone, simply because they give the impression of being cool? Nicely, a number of gaming manufacturers would, however by no means as huge and as daring because the Nothing Telephone 1.
The mission is evident for the Nothing Telephone 2: maintain the Glyph lighting and every little thing that makes the cellphone distinctive, however do it higher. Prime of the checklist to kind out would be the inconsistent digicam high quality, the garbage battery life, and the replace schedule. However these are all widespread pitfalls for brand spanking new Android telephones, and ones most producers are likely to surmount ultimately. The longer term seems vibrant for Nothing, and the Nothing Telephone 2 might simply turn into successful.
— Mark Jansen
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
The one cellphone that stood out for me in 2023 was the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. Regardless of not wanting like a lot of an improve on paper, Samsung added important enhancements over the Fold 3 (which remained in my pocket for over six months throughout 2021/2022).
The upgraded internals, higher optics, superior entrance show, and improved hinge mechanism meant it was much more sturdy than the Fold 3 and captured higher photos – inferior to the Galaxy S22 Extremely, although. I discovered myself maintaining the Fold 4 over the Galaxy S22 Extremely and the iPhone 13 Professional Max as a result of it was merely extra productive than the slab telephones. The added dock within the software program served as a superb instance of how Samsung is pushing itself to ship seamless efficiency on its foldables.
I beloved studying Kindle e-books on my Fold 4. Nonetheless, I’d prefer to have a greater battery backup on a single cost. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 required me to cost it earlier than mattress for my Twitter chronicles. I additionally missed the sharp 10x zoom I bought on the Galaxy S22 Extremely – it made me click on pictures at 10x, and the views I bought had been unreal.
I hope the following Galaxy Fold will get a 10x telephoto lens and lasts a day simply. I additionally wouldn’t thoughts if it’s lighter and slimmer, as a result of carrying the Fold 4 on prepare journeys was a tedious activity. I nonetheless just like the Fold 4 for the productiveness it offers, however I’d prefer to see battery, optics, and design enhancements from the Fold 5 later this yr.
— Prakhar Khanna
Editors’ Suggestions
