[MAY 2022] The Best Flagship Android Phones You Can Buy NOW

US and Canada

• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The S22 Ultra is Samsung’s highest end device with the best specifications even if the Fold is the most expensive one. The S22 Ultra inherits the same cameras from the S21 Ultra, with improvements coming in form of improved camera processing. The most notable differences between the two phones are the built-in slot for the S-Pen, the boxy design, and the higher peak brightness of 1750 nits which coupled with Vision Booster greatly improves visibility in high brightness environments. The display has also been upgraded to an LTPO 2.0 panel capable of refreshing down to 1 Hz as opposed to 10 Hz on the S21 Ultra. One of the greatest strengths of this phone is the software update policy which includes 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates. We feel this is the also one of the best Android flagships available on the market since it does a lot of tasks well even if it does not excel at all of them.

• Google Pixel 6 Pro – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The Pixel 6 Pro is the first Google phone with a Google branded chipset inside it along with it’s cheaper sibling the Pixel 6. Since they use the same chipset they also get the same update software support with both of them getting five years of security updates. The camera hardware has finally been updated and this is the first Google phone to have a primary wide angle camera, an ultrawide and a telephoto lens. The 6 Pro shares the prinary and the ultrawide with it’s smaller sibling but uses a Sony IMX586 sensor for the telephoto (which is a periscope lens capable of 4x optical zoom). There are other differences with the Pixel 6. The display now has a slight curvature towards the edges and the panel can refresh between 10 and 120 Hz courtesy of LTPO technology. The aluminium frame is polished unlike the matte frame on the regular variant and the phone comes with 12 GB of RAM unlike the regular variant which has 8. The front camera is different too with the 6 Pro getting a larger sensor with a larger field of view. Google actually manages to undercut most of it’s competition with the price which is why we recommend it as the one of the best options in this segment.

• OnePlus 10 Pro – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet

The OnePlus 10 Pro is the successor to the OnePlus 9 Pro, but the difference between the two phones is minimal, and the 10 Pro is actually deficient in some aspects. Thankfully, the price has decreased to $899 from $969 for the 9 Pro. The display has been upgraded to an LTPO 2.0 panel (The OnePlus 9 Pro was already capable of refreshing down to 1 Hz), and the battery size has increased to 5000 mAh from 4500 mAh. The 10 Pro inherits the same primary and telephoto sensor from the 9 Pro, and trades the ultrawide sensor for a smaller sensor which is capable of shooting up to 150 degrees. The smaller ultrawide sensor means that low light shooting is negatively impacted. The charging speed has been upgraded to 80 W, however the charger included in the box in North America is 65 W because the 80 W charger is incompatible with North American outlets. It is also worth noting that OnePlus claims the 10 Pro is water and dust resistant, but they only certified the T-Mobile variant for IP68.

Other options: The S22/S22+ are considerably cheaper than the Ultra. The S22 is one of the few compact phones available while the Plus gets some of the Ultra’s features like Vision Booster and UWB. The Pixel 6 is significantly less expensive than the Pixel 6 Pro and gets the same primary and ultrawide camera although it has a rigid 6.4 inch OLED display that is at a lower resolution. The Asus Zenfone 6 may be an option for people wanting a smaller option with a 3.5 mm jack. Last year’s models like the S21 Ultra and OnePlus 9 Pro may also be worth buying if they are significantly discounted as they’ll get three and two years of software updates respectively.

Europe

€500-700

• Samsung Galaxy S21 FE – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The S21 FE continues from the S20 FE and brings most of the standout features of the S21 lineup at a lower pricepoint. What would have been a great deal in 2021 is just a decent deal in 2022 as other phones in this price range have caught up. Samsung have also got rid of the Micro SD card slot on the S21 and S22 series and the S21 FE is no excepption. We’re still confident of recommending the S21 FE because of Samsung’s great track record at updates, they’re promising four years of security updates and five years of security updates which is a promise that matches with the much more expensive S22 lineup. This phone may be powered by the Snapdragon 888 or the Exynos 2100 depending on the country which may put off people wanting to avoid Exynos variants.

• Google Pixel 6 – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The Pixel 6 is the first Google phone with a Google branded chipset inside it. The chipset is paired with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage (depends on country). The camera hardware has finally been updated with the primary camera now opting for the Samsung GN1 sensor with a 12 MP ultrawide to keep it company. Pictures and videos are among the best in the category. Unlike previous Pixels the 6 isn’t smaller but is mainly a cheaper alternative to the 6 Pro and the money required to pay for the upgrade to the Pro may be considered questionable unless one really wants the 120 Hz LTPO display, 12 GB of RAM and the telephoto camera. The switch to the Google Tensor chip also means the Pixel gets a minimum of five years of security updates. This phone is definitely the best value product in this category and is strongly recommended unless you do not like Google software or have had issues with their quality control. Unfortunately, it is not available all across Europe with sales being restricted to France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the UK for the moment.

• OnePlus 9 Pro – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet

The 9 Pro is an evolutionary upgrade over the 8 Pro. The display is now an LTPO panel but battery life has not improved and may have even regressed due to the inefficiency of the Snapdragon 888 which is paired with 8/12 GB of RAM and 128/256 GB of storage. The primary and telephoto cameras seem similar to the 8 Pro’s but the biggest change has been made to the ultrawide which has a new, larger sensor the IMX766 which may possibly be the best ultrawide on any flagship phone. OnePlus claims the colours on the camera app have been calibrated by Hasselblad and there are more things to come from the partnership however overall performance is similar to the 8 Pro for the most part. Overall, this is not a very inspiring upgrade but is a great option for the price as it has received a pricecut from last year

Other options: The Realme GT2 Pro brings an LTPO2 AMOLED display that is capable of refreshing between 1-120 Hz and the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and can be found under 700 at times. We do not recommend any phones from Xiaomi at this price unless a compact option is desired because they are not competitive with the hardware on the other phones and the software experience on Xiaomi phones leaves a lot to be desired. The Xiaomi 12X and 12 could be considered if a compact option is desired. However, the 12X was launched with Android 11 out of the box and may not get long-term software support and the 12 has massive problems with overheating.

Over €700

• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The S22 Ultra is Samsung’s highest end device with the best specifications even if the Fold is the most expensive one. The S22 Ultra inherits the same cameras from the S21 Ultra, with improvements coming in form of improved camera processing. The most notable differences between the two phones are the built-in slot for the S-Pen, the boxy design, and the higher peak brightness of 1750 nits which coupled with Vision Booster greatly improves visibility in high brightness environments. The display has also been upgraded to an LTPO 2.0 panel capable of refreshing down to 1 Hz as opposed to 10 Hz on the S21 Ultra. One of the greatest strengths of this phone is the software update policy which includes 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates. We feel this is the also one of the best Android flagships available on the market since it does a lot of tasks well even if it does not excel at all of them. The S22 Ultra is powered by the Exynos 2200 in Europe aso that may be a deal-breaker for certain users who have had a poor experience with Exynos chipsets in the past.

• Google Pixel 6 Pro – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The Pixel 6 Pro is the first Google phone with a Google branded chipset inside it along with it’s cheaper sibling the Pixel 6. Since they use the same chipset they also get the same update software support with both of them getting five years of security updates. The camera hardware has finally been updated and this is the first Google phone to have a primary wide angle camera, an ultrawide and a telephoto lens. The 6 Pro shares the prinary and the ultrawide with it’s smaller sibling but uses a Sony IMX586 sensor for the telephoto (which is a periscope lens capable of 4x optical zoom). There are other differences with the Pixel 6. The display now has a slight curvature towards the edges and the panel can refresh between 10 and 120 Hz courtesy of LTPO technology. The aluminium frame is polished unlike the matte frame on the regular variant and the phone comes with 12 GB of RAM unlike the regular variant which has 8. The front camera is different too with the 6 Pro getting a larger sensor with a larger field of view. Google actually manages to undercut most of its competition with the price which is why we recommend it as one of the best options in this segment. Unfortunately, it is not available all across Europe with sales being restricted to France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the UK.

• Oppo Find X5 Pro – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The Find X5 Pro is a minor refresh over the Find X3 Pro with most of the upgrades being focused on improving on some of the shortcomings from last year. The phone should get through one day of moderately heavy usage thanks to the larger battery and more efficient LTPO 2 displays. The camera hardware is almost identical to last year however the microscope lens has been removed. There is a new custom imaging chip that is supposed to improve the overall imaging experience. This is also the few phones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in Europe along with its closely related cousin the OnePlus 10 Pro. We have picked the X5 Pro over the 10 Pro because of it’s superior cameras and extras like the IP68 certification

Other options: The Xperia 1 III and 5 III are a dying breed of flagships which retain the Micro SD card slot and headphone jack. They also have no cutouts in their displays unlike virtually all the options in this section. The Galaxy Flip 3 and Fold 3 may also be options for people prioritizing a folding phone over an overall flagship experience. They’re also one of the few Samsung phones guaranteed to be powered by a Snapdragon chipset in Europe.

India

₹30,000-40,000

• Realme GT2 – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The GT2 is a minor upgrade over the GT with a vastly improved primary camera and bigger battery. Some cuts have been made with the phone omitting the headphone jack. The vegan leather option on the GT has now evolved into a biopolymer-based finish to the GT2. The GT2 is no longer the highest end phone from Realme and thus misses out on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Realme are also providing three years of Android OS updates and 4 years of security patches which is better than most of the competition in this segment.

• IQOO 9 SE – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The IQOO 9 SE is the successor to the IQOO 7. In fact, the only changes are the design and the processor otherwise the rest of the package is similar. We’d recommend the 9 SE over the IQOO 7 if one can increase their budget as it comes with Android 12 out of the box and will receive updates for longer. The only cons are the lack of the telephoto camera and the software which has a lot of pre-loaded applications.

• Xiaomi 11T Pro – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The 11T Pro is a mid-year refresh of the Mi 11X Pro with a tweaked design, bigger battery and faster charging. It is also one of the few Xiaomi phones to get three years of software updates and four years of security patches. The camera system is underwhelming as both the primary and ultrawide sensor are outmatched by older phones like the S20 FE 5G. Xiaomi’s custom Android interface MIUI is heavily polarizing as it rips-off design elements and adds a lot of pre-loaded services but also offers a lot of customization options.

Other options: The OnePlus 9 and 9RT may be considered but both phones are targeted at different audiences. The 9 is more camera focused and has better sensors although it lacks OIS on the main sensor. The 9RT is more gaming focused and has a higher touch sampling rate. Both are generally priced over ₹40,000 but are frequently available around ₹35,000-40,000 with cash offers and discounts. The IQOO 9 may also be available under ₹40,000 with cash offers and discounts and has better cameras than the IQOO 9 SE and 11T Pro. The Galaxy S20 FE 5G and the Motorola Edge 20 Pro may be considered if updates or a stock Android experience are the priority. The Asus 6Z may be a more compact option for those desiring a smaller form factor.

₹40,000-50,000

• Realme GT2 Pro – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The GT2 Pro is the cheapest device with an LTPO 2.0 display and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor in India and is the only LTPO capable panel that isn’t curved. The cameras are a massive upgrade from the GT as it gets the IMX766 with OIS as the primary and the JN1 as the ultrawide. There is no telephoto lens but Realme have taken a leaf out of Oppo’s book and added a microlens camera. The back is biopolymer-based or glass depending on the finish. This is also the only Realme phone with a metallic frame. Realme have committed to three years of Android updates and four years of security patches for the GT2 series.

• Motorola Edge 30 Pro – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The Edge 30 Pro is also powered by the 8 Gen 1. The hardware for the primary and ultrawide sensors is also similar to the GT2 Pro’s except Motorola uses an Omnivision sensor instead of the IMX766. The display is not as good as the one on the GT2 Pro as it’s lower resolution and does not use LTPO tecnology. Software is a mixed bag. Motorola’s Android skin is very close to what is on a Pixel but Motorola aren’t particularly good at updating their phones and their commitment to updates is worse than the competition at this price.

• Vivo X70 Pro – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The X70 Pro only makes the list because it’s cameras are the best in class. In fact, you will not find anything more versatile unless you are willing to spend ₹30,000+ extra for the X70 Pro+. The chipset is the weakest of the trio since it is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 which would have been a decent choice for an upper midrange phone but is questionable at this price. Vivo’s FunTouchOS is polarising but they have committed to three years of software updates on the X70 series and the X70 pro has already received the Android 12 update.

Other options: The Galaxy S21 FE is often available under ₹50,000 with cash offers and discounts and is the phone to get if updates are the most important criteria. The ROG Phone 5S could also be considered if a gaming phone with multiple ports is desired as it is the only Snapdragon 888+ phone that has a headphone jack in India.

Over ₹50,000

• Samsung Galaxy S22/S22+ – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet – S22 / S22+

The S22 and S22+ are essentially the same phone in two different sizes since they share the same design language and cameras. There are a couple of extra features on the S22+ that aren’t on the S22, it’s display has the same Vision Booster technology as the Ultra and it has support for UWB which isn’t on the S22. Samsung have also switched to a Snapdragon processor in India this year. The S22 and S22+ are smaller than their predecessors so the batteries have also been reduced in size from last year. The S22 is one of the only compact Android phones available in India but battery life may not be the greatest.

• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The S22 Ultra is Samsung’s highest end device with the best specifications even if the Fold is the most expensive one. The S22 Ultra inherits the same cameras from the S21 Ultra, with improvements coming in form of improved camera processing. The most notable differences between the two phones are the built-in slot for the S-Pen, the boxy design, and the higher peak brightness of 1750 nits which coupled with Vision Booster greatly improves visibility in high brightness environments. The display has also been upgraded to an LTPO 2.0 panel capable of refreshing down to 1 Hz as opposed to 10 Hz on the S21 Ultra. One of the greatest strengths of this phone is the software update policy which includes 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates. We feel this is the also one of the best Android flagships available on the market since it does a lot of tasks well even if it does not excel at all of them.

• Vivo X70 Pro+ – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet

The X70 Pro+ may have the most versatile set of cameras and is the only phone to have some sort of stabilization on all its rear cameras. Unlike the X70 Pro, Vivo haven’t made any compromises with the hardware and the X70 Pro+ gets all the highest end specs including an LTPO display and the Snapdragon 888+ processor. The only real problem is the software, for ₹80,000 the X70 Pro+ is still preloaded with a lot of third-party bloatware. Like the X70 Pro the X70 Pro+ will also get three years of software updates and is currently on Android 12.

Other options: Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3 can be considered if a folding phone is the priority but the cameras and battery life aren’t at par with the S22 lineup. The OnePlus 10 Pro may be an option for OnePlus users looking at a high-end OnePlus phone although we’d recommend looking at the Realme GT2 Pro as well as the hardware differences between both phones are minimal. OxygenOS12 is a visual overlay over ColorOS12 so the software differences between the two are minimal although the OnePlus has fewer pre-loaded applications. The IQOO 9 Pro may be considered as an updated X70 Pro+ with worse camera hardware and an update policy that’s not as good. Finally there’s the Xiaomi 12 Pro which has good pre-order pricing but reviewers have uniformly reported poor battery life and overheating issues.