The Google Pixel 7 Pro Is Android Authority's Pick For Best Phone Of 2022
Every now and then a year goes by in the mobile world where a common and dominant theme emerges in 2022, and that theme has been consolidation. While there have been some exceptions, whether they are original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or established names trying to stand out from the crowd, many of the industry's biggest and best-known names have spent the past 12 months repeating past successes. With global inflation driving up costs for brands and consumers, it's not hard to see how many brands are sticking to a proven formula to weather the storm.
The net effect was a calendar year of phones that were very similar to last year's crop of competitors. The line between good phones and great phones is narrower than ever, but there are still some standouts in the class of 2022.
But what was the best phone of 2022? You've had your say in our Readers' Choice Awards, but now it's time to name Android Authority's Editors' Choice winners of the best phones of 2022 (as well as our top five), as chosen by our editorial and review teams. ..
How we choose the winners
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
"OK" is a loaded descriptor. How do you decide which one is "best", especially when you're dealing with something as complex as a smartphone? After all, these are the devices we carry with us almost every minute of the day. I'm sure everyone has their own expectations. Phones can be judged in a variety of ways, from their raw specs and perceived value for money to objective benchmarks and individual preferences for the look and feel of a particular user interface.
Every year, our experts tackle the biggest consumer tech releases, and we're always faced with a dilemma. Stamping authority is important to us at Android Authority . The hundreds, if not thousands, that we spend testing and analyzing the most subtle changes between competing phones or between generations give us a solid basis for expectations when we call a particular device the best deal of the year. . And it's not just hardware testing, we always make sure to consider more abstract criteria like long-term software commitment and track record, price and value (two different things), market access and more. .
The best phone of the year could take our top prize.
Our process includes everything to select our Editors' Choice for the best phones of the year. Our shortlist includes the most famous and highly rated smartphones of the year, making sure that all the major brands are represented in different price segments. This includes devices sold in the US and worldwide. Our team of experienced leaders and trusted product reviewers then vote on your five favorite phones, ranking them from fifth to first on a scoring system. The phone with the most points wins.
Now let's take a look at the winners (and our runners-up).
Android Authority Phone of the Year: Google Pixel 7 Pro
For the second year in a row, the flagship Google Pixel is up for the biggest awards, but this time it's not just a flagship Pixel, it's a flagship Google . In 2021, we found the Pixel 6 to be an undeniably good balance of standard specs, overall quality, and capabilities. But it will happen in 2022, our hearts and yours. - It was in Big G's "Pro" offer.
And it's not hard to see why when you consider the Pixel 7 Pro's top specs. It starts with a sleek design based directly on the flagship Pixel 6 series camera lineup, using an aluminum body and elegant cutouts for each. A photographer's attention to detail always extends to great cameras that combine Google's computationally intelligent photo with advanced zoom capabilities and new photography techniques like Photo Unblur. Second, custom silicon, one of the benefits offered by Google after its second attempt in the Tensor G2; CPU and GPU power for mental work, the chipset is focused on learning, but it manages to impress with its high performance.
The Pixel 7 Pro is central to Google's growing ecosystem ambitions.
In 2022, Google wanted to expand its horizons with a new portfolio of devices to usurp Apple's dominance as the main ecosystem. However, to get the ball rolling, he needs to offer a high-end phone to realize his ambitions. The phone was a Pixel 7 Pro and what a phone it was.
Google Pixel 7 Pro
Google's best camera • High quality screen • Great battery
The Pixel 7 Pro is the best phone on Google's list.
The Google Pixel 7 Pro takes the best features of the Pixel 6 Pro and makes them even better. Enjoy tons of camera upgrades and fun new software tricks for the same price as next-gen Pixel phones
Runner up: Google Pixel 7
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
The Pixel 7 Pro earned more than a quarter of our voting points from a list of 20 phones. But that doesn't mean we've forgotten about its smaller, slimmer and more affordable brother.
Matching its predecessor's sub-$600 price tag, which still seems too good to be true, the Pixel 7 is probably the easiest phone to recommend in 2022. It doesn't have the bells and whistles of the Pixel 7 Pro. . , and even the missing telephoto lens, low-res 90Hz shutter screen, and slow charging (seriously, Google will fix this in 2023), but the Pixel 7 complements and preserves the modern Pixel experience. All $300 is yours. You can't argue with that.
Third place: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Zarif Ali / Android Authority
What if the world's most successful smartphone maker combined its two flagship devices? That would be the Galaxy S22 Ultra, an instantly recognizable Galaxy Note/Galaxy S Ultra hybrid, but better. If the Galaxy S21 Ultra was the "peak phone", the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the pinnacle of that peak.
However, despite being the best camera phone, offering all the extra features of the S Pen and Cupertino's best software, the rugged Galaxy S22 Ultra still falls short of Google's cheapest price in the alternatives survey. However, for those on a budget, the Samsung powerhouse is still the clear winner.
Fourth place: Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
All Galaxy S Plus users face a difficult dilemma. How do you find the right balance between high-performance Ultra specs and entry-level affordability to get real value? Often, the answer is no, and the Plus version becomes an embarrassing middle ground. This year, however, the Galaxy S22 Plus was a real beauty, easing that balance.
Fifth place: Oppo Find X5 Pro
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
It took Oppo another year to re-enter our top five after finishing fourth in 2020, but the Find X5 Pro deserves a place at the top of the 2022 Smartphone Hall of Fame. , fast charging (both wired and wireless) and a world-class display, the Find X5 Pro wasn't the sleekest phone of 2022, but it was one of the most feature-packed. .
Readers' Choice Award: Google Pixel 7 Pro
Out of the entire list of 32 phones, the winner was the Pixel 7 Pro. Congratulations to the Mountain View giant for not only winning our Editors' Choice award, but also our Readers' Choice Award for Best Phone of 2022.
Check out our Readers' Choice to see how the Pixel 7 Pro fared against a specific Samsung phone in multiple rounds of voting and over 17,000 responses. It was closer than I thought.
As our phone of the year draws to a close, be sure to lock Android Authority for the holidays as we have more 2022 memories, more fun end-of-the-year creations, and more to come. In 2023, we will see what will happen in the world of technology.
Until then, happy holidays from our family to yours!
