Findings
The best Android phone 2022
There are new phones arriving all the time, especially when it comes to the world of Android. Apple’s iPhones will always be popular but handsets running Google’s mobile OS provide you with a wealth of choice – and usually much better specs for the same price.
We’re now a few months into 2022 and already have many of the year’s biggest Android flagships, including the Xiaomi 12, OnePlus 10 Pro, Galaxy S22 series, and Oppo Find X5 Pro.
Last year also brought along some phenomenal handsets which are still well worth buying, with the Pixel 6 Pro still among our favourites, and a fantastic foldable in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.
Here at Tech Advisor we independently test each phone thoroughly so we can bring you the very best options worth considering at any given moment. Here we rank the top ten but keep checking back as we update this list regularly.
Clicking through to our in-depth reviews will help, as we have detailed benchmarks, test photography and more for you to explore.
Best Android phones 2022
1. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – Best Android phone
Pros
- Excellent camera
- Phenomenal display
- Stylus support
Cons
- Bulky
- Expensive
- Slower charging
The Galaxy S22 Ultra doesn’t feel like an S22 at all – in fact this is more like a covert revival of Samsung’s once-loved Note brand, with a distinct design from its S22 siblings and a built-in slot to store the included S-Pen stylus.
The camera is one of the best in any phone, with a 108Mp main shooter backed up by an ultrawide and two telephoto lenses at different zoom levels – with the zoom performance particularly improved on previous models.
The expansive 6.8in LTPO AMOLED display delivers both high WQHD+ resolution and adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, and with S-pen stylus support it comfortably fills the productivity niche of the former Note phones.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra review
2. Google Pixel 6 Pro – Best camera
Pros
- Pixel camera
- Google’s best software
- Beautiful display
Cons
- Divisive design
- Big and heavy
- Slow charging
Pixel phones are usually all about the camera, and in that sense not much has changed this year. Which isn’t to say the camera’s stayed the same – now packing a 48Mp main lens along with an ultrawide and a periscopic telephoto, this is the most powerful Pixel camera yet.
It’s bolstered by AI smarts driven by Android 12 and Google’s new Tensor chip, and few phones can rival the photographic output here.
You’ll have to put up with slow charging (and buy your own charger to boot), and accept the fact that this is a big phone with a divisive design – you may well love it, but there are plenty out there who don’t.
Read our full Google Pixel 6 Pro review
3. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 – Best foldable
Pros
- Stunning design
- Waterproof
- Affordable (for a foldable)
Cons
- Average camera
- Limited battery life
Samsung’s first few attempts at foldables were fun, but felt like novelties. With the Galaxy Z Flip 3, the Korean tech giant has unequivocally got it right.
A revamped design not only looks much better, but incorporates waterproofing and is more useful thanks to the larger cover display.
Core specs are solid throughout, with a Snapdragon 888 in tow, and the 12Mp main and ultrawide cameras are solid if not exceptional – though you may miss having a telephoto lens.
The big drawback is battery, with the Flip 3 only just lasting a full day’s use. But if you can live with that, this is the first foldable that feels absolutely competitive at its price point.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G review
4. Oppo Find X5 Pro – Best flagship all-rounder
Pros
- Best screen around
- Versatile camera
- Unique design
Cons
- No periscope zoom
- Expensive
The Oppo Find X5 Pro is a phenomenal phone by any measure. The 6.7in 10-bit 120Hz QHD+ panel is one of the best displays in any phone right now and Oppo backs it up with 80W wired and 50W wireless charging, a 5000mAh battery, and a top-tier camera that boasts 50Mp sensors on both the main and ultrawide lenses.
You’ll have to live without a periscopic zoom lens – the telephoto here is a measly 2x zoom – but results across all three rear lenses are exceptional. The design is unique too, thanks to a seamlessly sloped camera module built right into the ceramic of the phone’s body.
For pure performance, the Find X5 Pro is also hard to beat, with all of the above plus a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, 256GB storage and 12GB RAM. You just have to be willing to pay the price, as it doesn’t come cheap – though the regular Find X5 is a great option that costs much less.
Read our full Oppo Find X5 Pro review
5. Xiaomi 12 – Best compact flagship
Pros
- Compact design
- Strong specs
- Great main camera
Cons
- No zoom camera
- No IP rating
- MIUI software quirks
The Xiaomi 12 is a rock-solid performer thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, but it’s also pocket-friendly thanks to a screen that’s less than 6.3in – small for an Android flagship these days.
It’s still a great display too, with 120Hz refresh rate on the AMOLED panel, so there’s no compromise in quality. 67W wired charging and 50W wireless charging are among the fastest around, and the 50Mp main camera is also excellent – though we miss the telephoto lens you’ll find on its bigger Xiaomi 12 Pro sibling.
We still don’t love Xiaomi’s MIUI version of Android, and the lack of an IP rating holds this back a little when compared to rivals, but other than the regular Galaxy S22 this is really the only small-screened Android flagship going, and is well worth a look for that alone.
Read our full Xiaomi 12 review
6. Samsung Galaxy S22+ – Best for software updates
Pros
- Strong camera
- Beautiful design
- Long-term software updates
Cons
- Middling battery life
- Worse value than rivals
Don’t think of the S22+ as a poor man’s S22 Ultra – Samsung has used its Goldilocks model to strike a super balancing act of specs and features that comes with few flaws.
As a result, you get some of the best performance found in an Android phone currently, a glass-bodied design, and the latest Android 12 (dressed in Samsung’s own One UI 4.1, at launch) with a commitment to years of software support.
The battery life is a little inconsistent, and some of the camera features will likely benefit from firmware fixes over time, but this remains an excellent example of what we can hope for from 2022’s Android flagships.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S22+ review
7. OnePlus Nord 2 – Best mid-range
Pros
- Phenomenal value
- Glass body
- Fast 80W charging
Cons
- Only 90Hz display
- No wireless charging
- Only 2 Android updates
OnePlus’s first T-branded Nord phone is a worthy follow-up, powered by MediaTek’s 5G-capable Dimensity 1300 chipset.
The Nord 2 also totes a 90Hz AMOLED display, a great primary 50Mp main camera, and nippy 80W fast charging.
Software-wise, the company’s OxygenOS user experience is also a major highlight – bringing responsive interactivity and a clean interface to the table that lends itself to the phone’s powerful, premium feel. The only downside is that the company only promises two Android version updates, and a third year of security fixes.
Read our full OnePlus Nord 2T review
8. Realme GT 2 Pro – Best affordable flagship
Pros
- Flagship specs
- Fast charging
- Good value
Cons
- No wireless charging
- Basic camera
The Realme GT 2 Pro offers a heck of a lot of phone for your money, and more exciting than its (admittedly also solid) non-Pro sibling.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset is paired with the fastest RAM and storage around, with 65W wired charging and a 120Hz AMOLED display to seal the deal – all essentially flagship specs.
Of course, this isn’t a flagship price, so there are omissions elsewhere – no wireless charging or waterproofing for starters, and while the main camera and ultrawide are solid enough, there’s no telephoto zoom option.
If performance is your priority then the value here is near-unbeatable however – and the fact that it’s all wrapped in a slick, understated design (albeit in plastic) doesn’t hurt either.
Read our full Realme GT 2 Pro review
9. OnePlus 10 Pro – Great design
Pros
- Super-fast 80W wired charging
- Good battery life
- Top specs
Cons
- Inconsistent camera
- No IP rating
The latest flagship phone from OnePlus is a good alternative to the likes of the S22 or Pixel 6 series, especially if you live in the US and have few other high-end Android options.
With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and speedy 80W wired charging the 10 Pro has core specs to match anything its rivals offer, and we’re broadly fans of the slick design too – though not everyone is.
Despite support from Hasselblad the camera is still the weakness here. The rear triple camera is impressive, don’t get us wrong, but inconsistencies – especially in exposure – only serve to remind that it’s not up there with the best of the best, and that makes it a touch harder to recommend this phone over rivals around the same price unless you know you love OnePlus’s OxygenOS software.
Read our full OnePlus 10 Pro review
10. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro – Best budget
Pros
- Exceptional value
- 108Mp camera
- 120Hz display
Cons
- No 5G
- MIUI software
The Redmi Note 10 Pro is one of the best phones you can buy at its price point, with Xiaomi delivering exceptional value for money.
Highlights here start with the stunning screen, offering AMOLED technology and a 120Hz refresh rate, and continue with an excellent set of cameras. The headline is a 108Mp whopper which is backed up by a reasonable ultra-wide and a surprisingly decent telemacro.
Core specs are decent, hinging on the Snapdragon 732G to ensure smooth performance. However, the Redmi Note 10 Pro doesn’t support 5G, which might be a deal breaker.
MIUI is also a downside with its overly complex interface that’s simply not as stylish or easy to use as many rivals – even if you can make it a lot better than default with some tweaking.
Read our full Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro review
Your buying guide for the best Android phones in 2022
While you only get to choose from a handful of Apple handsets, there’s something for everyone when it comes to Android.
They come from a variety of different manufacturers – in all manner of shapes, sizes and colours – and each has unique selling points, whether it’s a sleek, waterproof design, a huge display or an abundance of cameras. Sometimes, you can even find all of those attributes on one phone.
We’ve done our best to rank the phones in order, taking into account build, value, performance and features. However, make sure you get a phone that’s right for your needs – it might not simply be the phone in the top spot.
Important specs to look for are:
- Screen quality: resolution, refresh rate (ideally at least 90Hz), and whether it’s LCD or OLED
- Chipset: does it use the latest Snapdragon 888, a lower 7- or 6-series chip, or even something from rival MediaTek?
- RAM: look for at least 8GB, but more is better
- Storage: look for at least 128GB, and check if it’s expandable or not
- Camera: don’t just check Mp count – look into the types of lenses available, the sizes of the sensor, and check photo samples in our reviews
- Waterproofing: is there an official IP rating or not?
- Battery & charging: will it require a daily charge, and how fast is the charging – both wired and potentially wireless
- 5G: most phones now support 5G, but double-check to be sure
- Software: not all Android skins are created equal – our favourites are stock Android and OnePlus’s OxygenOS, but read reviews to get a sense of each operating system’s strengths and weaknesses. Check the manufacturer’s upgrade promise too, and which software version it ships with – Android 12 is the latest, but it’s not available on phones from every manufacturer.
