The best smartphones 2022/2023
Looking for the best smartphones of the year but can’t decide? Are you looking for power, an attractive design and a great camera? Then you’re in the right place. On this list you’ll find the best phones currently available.
Whether you’re power hungry or don’t want to spend a lot of money on a smartphone: We’ll help you decide. We present you the 10 best phones from 2022.
Smartphone Best List 2022
Like every year, at the end of the year we take a look at the best mobile phones of 2022. All devices are among the best smartphones you can currently buy. Since alao is not a manufacturer itself, we can provide an independent mobile phone best list. We are also vendor-independent and therefore guarantee a neutral comparison.
iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max
The new iPhone 14 Pro models may no longer undergo the leaps in development of earlier iPhones – but the top models have been so technically mature for years that each new model, even with minor changes, is assured a place on the top lists. The highlight of this year’s Pro models is the so-called Dynamic Island, which replaces the previous notch.
Camera
Anyone who places a lot of value on photography will not be able to avoid an iPhone. The current iPhone 14 Pro models are also among the best camera smartphones.
Battery
The battery life has been further improved, but there are still many smartphones that last longer. While other smartphone manufacturers already include 85 watt chargers, Apple still uses 20 watts.
Price-performance
The small Pro is available for CHF 1179, the larger one for CHF 1299. However, we advise you not to buy the iPhone 14 Plus. It comes with last year’s A15 chip and is priced close to the 14 Pro (CHF 1049.-). For CHF 130 more, you get better cameras, more power and Dynamic Island with the 14 Pro. We therefore cannot recommend the Plus smartphone.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| – Very good camera- Extreme performance- New notch with added value | – Very expensive in price- Plus model not recommended |
Samsung Galaxy S22+
Like last year, Samsung once again has three current top models on offer. The Galaxy S22+ is a compromise between the entry-level S22 and the S22 Ultra. However, users have to do without the Periscope camera and the S Pen. The display comes with up to 120 Hz and HDR10+. However, there are few innovations in the display compared to last year’s S21 model. Samsung’s own Exynos 2200 chip ensures very good performance, but it lags behind Apple’s chips and Qualcomm’s top chips in terms of performance.
Camera
The camera of the S22+ is good, but not outstanding. Especially in dark environments, the performance of the camera setup drops off sharply.
Battery
The situation is similar with the battery. With a capacity of 4500 mAh, the battery of the S22+ is good, but weakens during games, GPS use and calls. On the other hand, the smartphone charges quickly. The smartphone is fully charged in less than 90 minutes.
Price-performance
The smartphone is now available for under CHF 800 and is a very good deal despite small weaknesses.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| – Good compromise between S22 Ultra and normal S22- Very good charging time- Very good performance for little money | – Camera shots worse than competition- Not a pure Android experience |
OnePlus 10 Pro 5G
The OnePlus 10 Pro 5G does not have to hide from the competition either. The 6.7-inch OLED display shows content crisply and with beautiful colours and is one of the best displays in this price segment. Only the lack of IP certification tarnishes the overall impression somewhat. For a high-end smartphone in this price range, you would expect a certain level of protection against dust and water.
Camera
Unfortunately, the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G does not come close to the camera of a current iPhone 14 model or even the Google Pixel 7. Especially in low-light environments or with zoomed photos, many details are lost in the shot.
Battery
The 5000 mAh battery and the 85 watt charger provide plenty of power – the smartphone is fully charged in just 42 minutes. Unfortunately, poor optimisation clouds the battery life. Despite the battery, the smartphone does not even last 2 days of normal use.
Price-performance
Despite the weaknesses, the 10 Pro 5G is one of the price/performance winners – with a price of CHF 759, it is one of the cheapest top smartphones on this list. Those who place a lot of value on a good camera smartphone will be very satisfied with the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| – Great display- Fast charging- In the meantime quite cheap to have | – No IP certification- Battery life relatively short- Weak camera performance in low-light environments |
Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro
The Google Pixel 7 and the Pro variant set new standards this year and set the bar extremely high for the competition. The smartphone’s 6.7-inch display is slightly smaller than last year, but much brighter. The normal Pixel 7 has a slightly inferior display with only 90 Hz instead of 120 Hz refresh rate. This is quite noticeable in everyday life, for example when scrolling websites.
Camera
The camera mount has been redesigned compared to last year and is now made entirely of metal instead of glass. Even though the normal Pixel 7 lacks the telephoto lens, the camera of the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro deliver excellent photos in all areas. In the DXOMARK ranking, both Pixels occupy top positions.
Battery
The 7 Pro has a 5000 mAh battery, the normal 7 4335 mAh. This provides plenty of endurance. Unfortunately, Google also only provides a 30-watt charger.
Price-performance
With prices of CHF 669 and CHF 869, you definitely can’t go wrong. In contrast to Apple, Google has not increased the prices for its new Pixel phones despite all the delivery problems, but has kept them constant.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| – Pure Android- Very beautiful camera shots- Self-produced processor brings enormous increase in performance- No price increase | – The normal 7 has a worse display- Very long charging times with induction |
iPhone SE 2022
The iPhone SE is powered by the A15 chip, which is also found in the iPhone 13 models and the current iPhone 14 entry-level models. So much power in such a small smartphone is not available from the competition. After the discontinuation of the mini iPhones, the iPhone SE is the smallest mobile phone currently available from Apple.
Camera
If you take a lot of photos with your smartphone and want to keep an eye on the price, you should give the iPhone SE 2022 a wide berth. The only wide-angle camera of the iPhone SE shoots very good photos and videos, but the current SE does not have a telephoto camera or even an ultra-wide-angle camera.
Battery
Even though the iPhone SE 2022 has an A15 chip, by foregoing current technologies such as a 90 or even 120 Hz display and the shrunken camera setup as well as the smaller display, the battery does not need as much battery power as its bigger brothers. Nevertheless, the runtime is similar to that of the Pro models despite the significantly smaller battery.
Price-performance
With a price of CHF 479, the iPhone SE is considered the entry-level iPhone, but it still packs a lot of power. Thanks to Apple’s update policy, updates are guaranteed for many years.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| – Good camera shots- Good performance despite smaller size- Very good price for an iPhone | – Display edges seem out of date- Only one wide-angle camera on board |
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
What the iPhone SE is for Apple fans, the A53 5G is for Samsung fans. Samsung’s mid-range smartphone comes with very good battery performance and a great display. iPhone SE owners can only dream of the 120 Hz refresh rate. The A53 5G does not show any other weaknesses either. The Exynos chip ensures a performance that is unparalleled among Android smartphones in this price range. Nevertheless, the Galaxy A53 cannot match the performance of a premium smartphone. The iPhone SE has the edge here.
Camera
You shouldn’t expect any photo miracles in this price range. The A53 5G comes with an ultra-wide, macro and depth camera in addition to the normal wide-angle camera, which take good photos, but you shouldn’t expect too much from them.
Battery
On the other hand, the battery is impressive: With a capacity of 5000 mAh, the smartphone can easily last several days. As with the high-end smartphones, Samsung no longer includes a charger. This is all the more disappointing because the A53 5G cannot be charged wirelessly.
Price-performance
With a price of CHF 350, the smartphone has a very good price-performance ratio.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| – High refresh rate of 120 Hz- Perfect for beginners- Very strong battery | – Somewhat weak for more complex games |
Oppo Find X5 Pro
Oppo has come a long way and is no longer just an insider tip. The current Find X5 Pro has even made it onto the best list of the German consumer organisation Stiftung Warentest. The high-contrast and bright OLED display sets new standards and offers an adaptive refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hz.
Camera
The Oppo Find X5 Pro is also at the forefront of photography. The camera setup takes great, razor-sharp pictures. Only in HDR does the phone weaken.
Battery
The Oppo Find X5 Pro has one of the best batteries on the market. The device is fully charged in just under 40 minutes thanks to the included 80 W charger. Wirelessly, it also has a very good 50 watts.
Price-performance
The smartphone can now often be found for less than CHF 1000 and is therefore ideal for many people who do not want to spend more than CHF 1000 on a top smartphone.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| – Very short battery charging time- Very good camera shots- One of the best displays on the market | – Successor is already in the starting blocks |
Xiaomi 12
The Xiaomi 12 (now without the “Mi” in its name) also occupies a place on this list as a good upper-class smartphone. Although it is not quite as powerful as its big brother 12 Pro in terms of performance, it even scores better in some tests. The beautiful display, which is curved at the edges, and the up to 120 Hz refresh rate make both normal everyday use and gaming an extremely pleasantly fluid experience. Unfortunately, Xiaomi has not given its top smartphones IP certification this year either. Therefore, you’d better not let it get wet and keep it away from dust. That’s a pity.
Camera
For a mid-range phone, the Xiaomi 12 takes good photos, even if you should not expect top-class quality. Especially in low light, the picture quality suffers.
Battery
The Xiaomi 12 is one of the few phones where the non-pro model is better. Especially in terms of battery life, the regular 12 is ahead.
Price-performance
For a price of less than CHF 600, you get a very well-made device.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| – Strong processing power- Good price-performance ratio- Better battery than the big Pro brother | – Successor is already in the starting blocks- Not waterproof |
ASUS ROG 6D Ultimate
Hardcore gamers will be satisfied with the ASUS ROG 6D Ultimate – and the trade press also has nothing but praise for the current gaming smartphone. ASUS was already represented on our best list last year with its previous year’s smartphone. The 165 Hz OLED display is unparalleled, and the powerful chip provides the necessary power.
The exterior is also very gaming-focused: Clear angles, edges and also the RGB lighting underline the smartphone’s gaming design, but don’t appeal to everyone. Ultimately, it comes down to your preferences.
Camera
The focus of a gaming smartphone is of course on: Gaming. Accordingly, you should not expect snapshots from the camera setup. Nevertheless, the individual cameras take beautiful, detailed photos.
Battery
So much power also requires a strong battery: the phone has 6000 mAh. However, this is not quite enough to compensate for the high power consumption. Especially in stand-by mode, the phone loses an extraordinary amount of battery.
Price-performance
In terms of price, it is also at the upper end: at CHF 1399, it is one of the most expensive devices on this list.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| – Very good display with very high refresh rate- Many special features for gamers | – Gaming design is a matter of taste- Not suitable for non-gamers |
The top 3 in terms of battery, camera, display and price-performance
| Place | Battery | Camera | Power | Price/Performance |
| 1. | Samsung Galaxy A53 | Google Pixel 7 Pro | iPhone 14 Pro Max | Oppo Find X5 Pro |
| 2. | Xiaomi 12 | iPhone 14 Pro Max | ASUS ROG 6D Ultimate | Xiaomi 12 |
| 3. | iPhone SE 2022 | Google Pixel 7 | iPhone 14 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S22+ |
Conclusion: Great mobile phone plans are just a few clicks away
No one can go wrong with the above smartphones – they are among the best phones you can get at the moment. Despite the pandemic and supply problems, the manufacturers have managed to improve their smartphones even further, even if this year one or two price screws have been turned.
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