We fully test every phone we will get our hands on here at Digital Trends, and after conducting lots of of reviews, we’re confident in recommending whether a selected phone is a great buy for you.
After much debate and soul searching, we landed on the iPhone 14 Pro as our top pick for one of the best phone available right away. One phone doesn’t fit everyone’s needs, so we now have loads of other great picks depending on what you are on the lookout for. Android fans will love the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and people trying to get monetary savings, or who desire a smaller phone, have numerous selections as well.
After all, picking one of the best smartphone is simply a part of the battle — once you have decided which one is for you, you furthermore may must buy it. We have included some handy links to purchase each phone directly, but remember to examine for our deals posts as well, which is able to detail one of the best sales of the moment.
Here’s why the iPhone 14 Pro ultimately triumphed, and our picks for other smartphone categories.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Best phone overall
Pros
- Camera improvements mean great photos
- At all times-on display looks implausible
- Powerful A16 Bionic processor
- Vibrant screen and clear speakers
- Long-term software support
Cons
- One-day battery life
- Modest charging speed
Why it’s best to buy this:Â It’s one of the best smartphone around, with outstanding performance, high-quality beauty, and powerful software.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants one of the best smartphone money can purchase.
Why we picked the iPhone 14 Pro:
In the event you can afford it, the iPhone 14 Pro is totally one of the best smartphone around right away. Apple has done it again, improving on the iPhone 13 Pro with a variety of tweaks and upgrades, ensuring the iPhone 14 Pro is a must-buy. With top-notch performance, a surprising display, versatile cameras, and a few exciting latest additions, the iPhone 14 Pro is a triumph for Apple.
Starting with the design, it might appear like not much has modified, and you would be right in considering so. The iPhone 14 Pro boasts the identical flat, angular design, stainless-steel frame, and toughened glass on the back because the iPhone 13 Pro. This time around, those buying the phone within the U.S. will notice the dearth of SIM tray — that is Apple’s first iPhone that is eSIM only.
The notch has gone too, replaced by a pill-shaped section at the highest of the screen that Apple calls the Dynamic Island. Immediately, that is fairly easy, and it only expands to indicate information on timers, face unlock alerts, Bluetooth connections, and screen and voice recordings — but consider it a piece in progress. Speaking of the display, the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR screen has a 120Hz refresh rate with Apple’s ProMotion, a feature you will not find on the essential iPhone 14. You rise up to 1,600 nits of brightness and a lift to 2,000 in brilliant outdoor sunlight — a handy bump — and Ceramic Shield protecting the display.
Apple’s always-on display not only looks great, but is useful too, with notification alerts, dynamic widgets, and the time and date over your selection of wallpaper. A fast tap wakes controls for audio and music apps, though it’s true the feature may not be excellent news for battery life. You may turn it off though, if you happen to like.
This time around Apple’s offering the iPhone 14 Pro in Space Black, gold, silver, or the gorgeous Deep Purple colorway that appears simply stunning.
Under the hood, the iPhone 14 Pro doesn’t disappoint either, with Apple’s latest A16 Bionic processor providing you with another excuse to decide on the Pro model over the usual iPhone 14. Though there is no immediately noticeable performance boost in comparison with the A15 chip, you are getting Apple’s latest and strongest processor, which is able to handle anything you throw at it. Apple’s solid update record ensures it’ll stay that way for years to return, too. Storage options range from 128GB to 1TB, providing you with ample room for photos, videos, and apps.
Where the iPhone 14 Pro falters barely is battery life. Though it settles down once it gets to know your usage habits, don’t expect the battery to see you thru two days, and prepare to hold a battery pack or make plans for top-up charging with heavy use. There is no charger within the box, only a USB Type-C to Lightning cable, and with a 29W charger, it’s best to see the battery reach full in around an hour. That is consistent with Samsung’s flagships, but a far cry from the fast charging on offer from another brands.
The phone’s cameras are excellent too, and even the subtle enhancements on offer make a noticeable difference. The 12-megapixel wide-angle lens and 12MP telephoto lenses are still there, with a 48MP fundamental this time around, ensuring loads of detail and powerful color accuracy. It’s also possible to shoot video in as much as 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (fps).
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro is a must if you happen to want one of the best from Apple, though it doesn’t come low cost. Prices start from $999, but you can too find it on almost every major U.S. carrier. It’s truly one of the best smartphone you possibly can currently buy.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Best phone overall
Joe Maring/Digital Trends
Apple iPhone 14
Best phone runner-up
Pros
- Comfortable, high-end construct
- OLED screen looks implausible
- A15 chip performs great
- Good camera upgrades
- Dependable battery life
- Helpful safety features
Cons
- 60Hz display
- No telephoto camera
- eSIM could be a pain for some
Though the iPhone 14 Pro snagged our top spot, its weakness could also be its price. It’s not actually that a lot better than its lower-priced sibling, the iPhone 14, though it does boast a couple of key additions and enhancements.
At $799, the iPhone 14 offers the same high-end construct, 5G connectivity, dependable (though not excellent) battery life, and the newest iOS 16. This time around though, Apple’s left the newest A16 Bionic processor to the Pro and Pro Max models, so the iPhone 14 sticks with the A15 chip. There really is not a noticeable difference in performance here, with the A15 in a position to handle all the things you throw at it, after which some.
You are missing out on the 120Hz ProMotion display though, with only a 60Hz refresh rate on offer. It could be a problem if you happen to play the newest, most demanding games in your phone, but keep in mind you are saving $200 or more over the Pro model. You may also miss out on features just like the always-on display and Apple’s Dynamic Island, only coming to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max — the iPhone 14 retains the familiar notch and appears rather a lot like its predecessor, the iPhone 13.
The cameras listed here are mostly unchanged from the iPhone 13 — though the fundamental camera boasts a rather wider aperture — with some fairly modest enhancements in comparison with the just about entirely latest camera system of the iPhone 14 Pro.
Ultimately, it comes right down to whether these latest features and enhancements are definitely worth the extra $200 to you. Ultimately, the chance to avoid wasting that money could be one which’s hard to show down.
Apple iPhone 14
Best phone runner-up
Joe Maring/Digital Trends
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Best phone with a giant screen
Pros
- Exquisitely premium design
- Beautiful 120Hz display
- Dynamic Island is a joy
- At all times-on screen is gorgeous
- Incredible camera system
- Blistering performance
- Outstanding battery life
- Robust iOS 16 software
Cons
- One in every of the heaviest phones you possibly can buy
- Expensive
Why it’s best to buy this:Â It packs an enormous, stunning screen and feels substantial, and the design won’t fail to impress.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants one of the best big-screen iPhone around.
Why we picked the iPhone 14 Pro Max:
Big phones aren’t for everybody, but if you happen to’re a fan of something more substantial, the iPhone 14 Pro Max ticks all of the boxes, after which some. We actually do mean substantial — this phone is a beast, weighing in at 240 grams and measuring 160.7mm tall. Visually, it looks rather a lot just like the iPhone 13 Pro Max, but you will find lots of the same tweaks and upgrades as on the iPhone 14 Pro. A stunning display, versatile cameras, and sleek design set it other than the gang.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max encompasses a familiar design, with its stainless-steel frame and frosted glass back, yet it feels a cut above the finish and feel of other smartphones out there. In the event you’re buying the phone within the U.S., the dearth of a SIM tray is instantly apparent — as with the iPhone 14 Pro, that is an eSIM-only affair.
Onto that striking screen. The 6.7-inch display packs a 120Hz refresh rate that, combined with iOS 16, ensures buttery-smooth animations. The always-on screen looks great and is handy for dynamic widgets, notification alerts, and more. Colours look beautiful and vivid, with brightness boosted as much as 2,000 nits in direct sunlight — and 1,000 nits of typical brightness — so you will never struggle to see your phone’s screen.
As with the iPhone 14 Pro, the notch has gone the way in which of the dodo, with Apple’s Dynamic Island taking its place. Hopefully, it’ll pack more of a punch in the longer term, but right away you need to use it to control timers, manage music apps, show face unlock alerts, and a couple of other handy things.
Relating to performance, Apple’s A16 Bionic chip that we mentioned earlier doesn’t disappoint and might handle anything you throw at it, with as much as 1TB of onboard storage and Apple’s reliable update record.
In our review, the phone’s battery endurance impressed. Once it settles into your usage habits, you possibly can expect the 4,323mAh battery to simply see you thru a day of heavy use. In practice, we saw over seven hours of screen time which included 40 minutes of YouTube, 1 hour and 20 mins of Twitter, over half-hour of browsing on Safari, plus dozens of other apps. With more regular use you possibly can easily expect the battery to see you thru two days on a single charge. Again, there is no charger within the box here, and charging speeds peak at 29W.
The phone’s cameras are versatile and produce excellent results, with a 48MP fundamental, 12MP telephoto, 12MP ultrawide, and 12MP front-facing camera, which packs autofocus for the primary time on an iPhone.
In the event you want one of the best big screen iPhone around, that is the one to get, though the price may cause you to think twice, with prices ranging from $1,099.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Best phone with a giant screen
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Best Android phone
Pros
- S Pen is convenient and highly accurate
- Versatile camera takes great photos
- The most recent processor for power
- Long software support
- Beautiful high refresh rate screen
Cons
- Not very fast battery charging
- Large and heavy
Why it’s best to buy this:Â It’s possibly Samsung’s best ever phone, and one of the best Android phone around.
Who it’s for:Â Anyone on the lookout for one of the best Android has to supply.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra:
Put simply, it’s big, sensible, and one of the best Android smartphone currently available. The biggest of Samsung’s S22 series phones, what the S22 Ultra lacks in pocket-friendly credentials it greater than makes up for with cutting-edge tech. True, it’s massive, but if you happen to’re on the lookout for top-of-the-line smartphones you possibly can buy today, it ticks all of the boxes.
The demise of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra left space for the S22 Ultra to step up as its sort-of alternative. Looks-wise, it takes its design inspiration from the Note 20 Ultra: Sleek yet all business, with its flush camera module, squared-off corners, and sharp lines. It is also one in all the heaviest smartphones around, weighing in at a hefty 228 grams — and it is also not one of the best option for individuals who prefer to make use of their phone one-handed, at a chunky 9mm thick. It’s still a surprising phone though, with a matte finish that is available in a selection of 5 colours: Phantom Black, Phantom White, green, burgundy, and Pink Gold.
The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen with 3088 x 1440 pixels and 120Hz refresh rate impresses from the beginning, covered in Gorilla Glass Victus+, with support for HDR 10+, and a peak brightness of 1,750 nits. This implies all the things looks stunning, even outdoors under the brightest sunlight.
Under the hood, the S22 Ultra packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor within the U.S. (or the Exynos 2200 for those within the U.K. and the remainder of Europe). You get 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of cupboard space — but there is no microSD card slot, so the storage you purchase is all you will ever have. Nevertheless, those are some pretty powerful specs, which suggests this phone can handle anything you throw at it, from multi-tasking apps to the newest demanding games. The 5,000mAh battery will easily see you thru a full day of heavy use or two days of moderate use and Samsung’s added 45W fast charging too, though there is no charger bundled within the box.
As you’d expect from the Galaxy-S range, the camera is impressive too, though it isn’t a large step up from the Galaxy S21 Ultra. You get a 108MP fundamental lens, 10MP periscope zoom, 10MP telephoto, and 12MP ultrawide to the rear, plus a 40MP selfie camera. This time around, Samsung has improved the 3x, 10x, and 30x zoom, so you will notice greater detail and more accurate, natural colours. Notably, the fundamental and wide-angle cameras provide pretty similar results to the S21 Ultra, though.
The S22 Ultra also has Samsung’s S Pen, previously found only with the Note series. Samsung has improved the S Pen, reducing the latency to 2.8 milliseconds, and the difference is de facto noticeable over the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s S Pen. For taking notes and sketching, it is a joy, and when not in use it’s stored away in a special slot on the underside of the phone. Add in Android 12 with Samsung OneUI 4.1, Samsung’s handy DeX mode, and an IP68-rating for water resistance, and you’ve gotten top-of-the-line phones on the market. If we needed to say anything negative, it is a behemoth of a phone, there is no charger within the box (though this appears to be the norm nowadays), and there is no microSD card slot. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra starts at $1,050 from Samsung and is seriously definitely worth the investment.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Best Android phone
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
OnePlus 10 Pro
Best Android phone runner-up
Pros
- Attractive and well made
- Interesting camera features
- Fast battery charging
- Vivid and colourful AMOLED screen
Cons
- Unreliable software
- No water resistance
The OnePlus 10 Pro is a simple suggestion for our runner-up best Android phone crown. It looks great, it’s well-made, and the Emerald Forest colorway is strikingly beautiful. With its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, it’s powerful enough to handle whatever you throw at it, with advanced cooling tech that keeps it from overheating when playing the newest games, and as much as 256GB of onboard storage.
What else? A brilliant, colourful 6.7-inch 120Hz display — much like the one on the OnePlus 9 Pro — with adaptive brightness, a beefy 5,000mAh battery that ought to easily see you thru a day and a half of moderate use, and fast 65W charging that takes the battery from full to empty in around 34 minutes all add to the promising package on offer.
While the software could be a bit unreliable and also you’re missing out on any sort of water resistance, the OnePlus 10 Pro is a wonderful Android phone, and a worthy runner-up.
OnePlus 10 Pro
Best Android phone runner-up
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Best low cost phone
Pros
- Pretty design
- IP67 water-resistance
- Camera is great for social media
- Vibrant screen
- Two-day battery life
Cons
- Performance may be sluggish
- Not an upgrade to the A52 and A52S
Why it’s best to buy this: The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G looks good and packs a punch for a budget price.
Who it’s for: Buyers on a budget on the lookout for a secure, good selection that will not disappoint.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
On a budget but want one of the best value to your hard-earned money? Samsung’s A-series phones are generally a wonderful buy, and the A53 5G follows within the footsteps of its predecessors.
Packing a beautiful 6.5-inch 120Hz display, as much as 8GB of RAM, a Samsung Exynos 1280 processor, and as much as 256GB of onboard storage, it is simple to be impressed by the Galaxy A53. It is also one in all the few phones still offering a MicroSD card slot, and the large 5,000mAh battery should easily see you thru two days of use, provided you are not a hardcore gamer. The phone takes around 80 minutes to completely charge with the 25W fast charger (not included).
With an IP67 water resistance rating, 5G connectivity, the identical camera setup because the Galaxy A52 — a 64MP fundamental, 12MP wide-angle, and a pair of 5MP cameras for macro and depth, plus a 32MP selfie cam — improved fingerprint sensor, and Samsung’s industry-leading updates promise, it is simple to see why that is an awesome selection for $350.
It’s true that the performance may be sluggish, the overly-saturated camera colours aren’t for everybody, there is no wireless charging, and it isn’t one of the best device for gaming enthusiasts. But for anyone on the lookout for a reliable phone that will not break the bank, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is the perfect budget buy.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Best low cost phone
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Google Pixel 7
Best phone value
Pros
- Superb camera
- Long battery life
- Eye-catching design
- Vibrant screen
- Years of software updates
- Implausible price
Cons
- Slow charging
- Software bugs
- Poor gaming performance
Why it’s best to buy this:Â It packs an excellent camera, generous updates policy, and long battery life into a surprising form factor.
Who it’s for: Anyone on the lookout for power, beauty, and flagship-level specs at an inexpensive price.
Why we picked the Google Pixel 7:
The Google Pixel 7 is a wonderful selection if you happen to’re on a budget but don’t desire to compromise on specs. It shares the identical sleek design because the Pixel 7 Pro, with a similarly outstanding camera, vibrant screen, and excellent battery life.
The Pixel 7’s glass and metal body looks rather a lot just like the Pixel 6 at first glance, though there is no two-tone finish to the rear this time, and the horizontal rear camera bar is aluminum, with each the back and front of the phone protected by tough Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The 6.3-inch OLED display is a hair smaller than its predecessor’s 6.4-inch screen, and the 90Hz refresh rate is a bit disappointing amongst a sea of 120Hz displays. With that said, the screen looks great and you will likely only notice the difference with heavy multitasking or while playing the newest games.
Under the hood, you will find Google’s latest Tensor G2 chip, which is built using a 5nm process, 8G of RAM, and as much as 256GB of storage. The phone runs Android 13 out of the box, with an expanded and more customizable Material You, packs an IP68 rating for water and mud resistance, boasts 5G connectivity, and can receive years of Android updates — plus, battery life is superb.
The fundamental reason to purchase the Pixel 7, nonetheless, is the camera. You are getting the identical 50MP wide-angle, 12MP ultrawide, and 10.8MP ultrawide selfie lens because the Pixel 7 Pro, with all of the familiar features from the Pixel 6 series, including Night Sight, Magic Eraser, Photo and Face Unblur, and more. The Pixel 7 lets you take great shots effortlessly, in almost any lighting conditions.
True, charging is slow, gaming performance is not one of the best, and there have been reports of software bugs, but when you think about that the Google Pixel 7 starts from just $595, it is simple to see why it’s such a solid selection.
Google Pixel 7
Best phone value
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Best small phone
Pros
- Compact and light-weight
- Very powerful
- Touch ID works very well
- Wireless charging
- IP67 water resistance
Cons
- Poor battery life
- 60Hz screen
- 64GB won’t be enough
Why it’s best to buy this:Â Apple’s latest iPhone SE (2022) is a pint-sized wonder that is powerful, reasonably priced, and future-proof.
Who it’s for: Those on the lookout for a future-proof phone that matches of their pocket (and their hand).
Why we picked the Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Finding a really small phone today seems like attempting to find a needle in a haystack, however the iPhone SE (2022) is de facto, truly small, with its tiny 4.7-inch Liquid Retina display with 60Hz refresh rate. Sadly, the design feels a bit dated, cribbing the iPhone 8’s design, with chunky bezels and a Home button with integrated Touch ID.
Looking beyond its size, there’s rather a lot going for the iPhone SE. Under the hood, you are getting Apple’s latest A15 Bionic chip with the identical performance spec because the iPhone 13 Pro. There’s also 4GB of RAM, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of storage, and a good battery, though heavy use may even see you struggle to make it through the day with much left within the tank. You may be up and running fairly quickly with 18W fast charging and Qi wireless charging.
You furthermore mght get a single 12MP rear sensor and 7MP selfie camera, an identical to the previous iPhone SE. However it’s Apple’s software that makes a difference here, with Deep Fusion technology, Smart HDR 4, and Photographic Styles, in addition to improved Portrait Mode. There is no Night Mode though, so shooting in low-light environments could be a challenge.
Add 5G connectivity, iOS 15 out of the box, and 5 – 6 years of OS updates, and it is simple to see why the iPhone SE (2022) is our greatest small smartphone. Yes, the design feels a bit old-fashioned, those bezels are pretty clunky, and there is no charger within the box — but now we’re nitpicking. The iPhone SE (2022) comes priced at an incredible $429, so you will not need to interrupt the bank to afford it.
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Best small phone
Joe Maring/Digital Trends
Google Pixel 6a
Best reasonably priced camera phone
Pros
- Compact, lightweight design
- IP67 water resistance
- Flagship-grade performance
- Excellent cameras
- Clean software
- Years of guaranteed updates
Cons
- Display is simply 60Hz
- Tensor chip runs hot
- Lacking battery life
Why it’s best to buy this:Â It has all the things incredible about Google’s flagship cameras, at a bargain price.
Who it’s for: Someone who prizes camera quality, but doesn’t wish to spend the earth.
Why we picked the Google Pixel 6a:
We have included the Pixel 6a on the strength of its camera, but don’t think meaning the remainder of the phone is weak. The Google Pixel 6a is a particularly strong smartphone for the worth, with a flagship processor, compact design, and years of updates. However it’s the camera that basically makes it stand out from the gang.
At first glance, you’d expect the cameras to be a little bit of a letdown. The Pixel 6a uses a pair of 12MP lenses: a fundamental lens and an ultrawide lens. That is much lower than the megapixel counts in most competing smartphones, but don’t rely just on the paper stats. The Pixel 6a takes well balanced but vibrant shots in a variety of lighting, and expertly uses HDR to capture tougher scenarios, like direct sunlight. The Night Sight mode is not pretty much as good as in costlier Pixel phones, but it surely’s still good, especially at this price.
As mentioned, the remainder of the phone is impressive too. The Pixel 6a uses the identical Tensor chip present in the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, so it has flagship-level performance and should not balk from any of the newest 3D games. It does run hot under load though, so control that. Battery life doesn’t shine as much, being largely limited to a single day. Chraging can be fairly slow at just 18W.
The display looks good, due to the Full HD+ resolution. It is proscribed to a 60Hz refresh rate, which is a disappointment, but it surely’s otherwise positive for the worth. The clean Android software is a giant highlight though, and so are the guaranteed updates for years to return.
With a starting price of $449, it is also extremely well priced. In the event you’re on the lookout for a wonderful camera phone, but don’t desire to pay flagship prices, then the Pixel 6a is top-of-the-line options around.
Google Pixel 6a
Best reasonably priced camera phone
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Best foldable phone
Pros
- Usable cover screen
- Excellent multitasking features
- Inner screen is great for games and video
- Reliable and fun camera
- Water-resistant and sturdy materials
Cons
- Heavy use kills the battery
- Slow charging
Why it’s best to buy this:Â Folding phones are the longer term, and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is essentially the most powerful foldable around.
Who it’s for: Anyone on the lookout for a strong phone in a foldable form factor.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4:
Cannot determine whether you like your phone or tablet more? With Samsung’s latest foldable, you need not select. Now in its fourth generation, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 boasts some great improvements over its predecessor, ensuring it isn’t just an awesome folding phone — it’s a wonderful smartphone in its own right.
The fundamental reason most individuals desire a foldable is, in fact, those dual screens. This time across the Z Fold 4 will not be quite as tall, or as slim because the Z Fold 3, so it feels more comfortable to carry, particularly one-handed. The outer display is a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen, with a large 7.6-inch display inside. It’s like hiding a tablet screen inside your smartphone, and each screens boast a 120Hz refresh rate too.
There’s much, way more on offer here, though. The Z Fold 4 is powered by Qualcomm’s latest and strongest Snapdragon 8+Gen 1 processor, with 12GB of RAM and as much as 1TB of onboard storage. It is a powerhouse that is excellent for productivity or playing the newest games on that gorgeous screen. Speaking of productivity, the Z Fold 4 runs Android 12L and Samsung’s own OneUI 4.1.1 interface, with latest features just like the Taskbar for multitasking. There’s an improved hinge, and IPX8 water resistance rating too, so this foldable will stand the test of time.
With its plethora of improvements, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 doesn’t come low cost. The starting price is around $1,520 from Samsung. That is a number of dollars, but in case your heart is ready on Samsung’s best foldable, the Z Fold 4 is the one to get. Immediately, you possibly can nab the 512GB model for lower than the model with 256GB of onboard storage, too.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Best foldable phone
Joe Maring/Digital Trends
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Best flip phone
Pros
- Flatter design looks and feels implausible
- Bespoke customization is unmatched
- Excellent fundamental display
- Blazing fast performance
- Good, fun cameras
Cons
- Battery still only lasts a day
- Limited cover screen functionality
Why it’s best to buy this:Â It looks great, boasts fast performance, and has a fun foldable form factor and bespoke colorways.
Who it’s for: Anyone on the lookout for their first foldable with a cute, compact design.
Why we picked the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4:
If the Z Fold 4 looks like overkill but you are interested in foldables, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is the phone for you. With some minor but marked improvements over its predecessor, it’s one of the best mainstream foldable in the marketplace right away, and it’s lovable as well.
This time across the Z Flip 4 has a frostier matte finish on the rear that does an awesome job minimizing fingerprints, with a flatter frame and barely refined hinge that offers it a more compact footprint than the Z Flip 3. Do not be fooled by its cute form factor though — it’s seriously durable, due to its IPX8 water resistance rating, Armor Aluminum frame, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
The fundamental display is a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and impressive 1,200 nits of brightness, offering excellent viewing angles, and though the crease is noticeable, you will begin to subconsciously ignore it the more you employ the phone. Flex Mode is a handy feature that mechanically moves the app you are using to the highest a part of the screen, allowing the underside half for use for controls.
The 1.9-inch cover screen boasts the identical 512 x 260 resolution as its predecessor and is superb for checking notifications, viewing calendar appointments, or sending a fast reply to texts. Using the duvet screen fairly than always flipping the phone open and closed may even help conserve battery life, so it’s a great habit to get into.
The Z Flip 4 is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, with 8GB of RAM which may be limiting for serious multitasking, and as much as 512GB of onboard storage. It’s powerful enough to play essentially the most graphically demanding games, though it does get a bit warm.
Running Android 13 and Samsung’s One UI skin out of the box, the Z Flip 4 will get 4 major Android updates and five years of security patches, making it a wonderful futureproof selection.
There is a dual camera setup to the rear with 12MP fundamental and 12MP ultrawide lenses, plus a 10MP selfie camera. Samsung claims the fundamental sensor is 65% brighter than on the Z Flip 3, meaning the phone takes pretty good night-time shots.
One other area that is seen improvement is battery life. The three,700mAh battery gets a 500mAh bump over its predecessor, though it’s going to still only see you thru a single day of use.
With its minor but necessary improvements, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is ready to be every bit as much of a bestseller because the Z Flip 3. You may pick it up starting at around $900 from Amazon.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Best flip phone
Incessantly Asked Questions
What’s an unlocked smartphone?
A locked smartphone is tied to a selected carrier’s network, so in case your phone is locked to Verizon, for instance, you possibly can only use it with a Verizon SIM and repair plan. An unlocked smartphone may be used on any network. In the event you’ve paid in full to your phone, then it needs to be free to unlock. We’ve got a guide that may show you easy methods to unlock a phone on every carrier. It’s also possible to buy some great unlocked phones that may work with any carrier straight out of the box.
Can smartphones get viruses?
While it is feasible to get viruses on iPhones or Android phones, what most individuals mean after they say “virus” is malware. Technically, the term virus means software that infects a bunch, inserts itself into an existing program, after which spreads that infection by self-replicating. They’re a really small percentage of malware and very rare on smartphones, but malware is not. You need to definitely take into consideration easy methods to protect your smartphone from hackers because a bit common sense can prevent from having to work out easy methods to remove malware out of your phone.
What should I do with my old smartphone?
Probably the most obvious thing to do together with your old smartphone is to pass it on to another person. If you must gift it, then make certain to wipe it first; we now have guides on easy methods to wipe your Android phone and easy methods to factory reset an iPhone. It’s possible you’ll also wish to turn that old phone into money, through which case you’ll be wanting to read up on easy methods to sell your smartphone. It’s possible you’ll determine to maintain it as a spare in case your latest smartphone breaks, but you can also repurpose it with the proper apps. It’s higher to pass it on to someone who can use it or find one other use for it than let it languish in a drawer. In the event you cannot consider a great strategy to reuse your smartphone then consider donating it or recycling it.
How long should a smartphone last?
Realistically, it’s best to expect to get two to 3 years out of your smartphone. You may extend the lifetime of any smartphone by taking proper care of it and it is often price purchasing for good protective cases. There are also loads of excellent waterproof phones to pick from nowadays. The issue with many Android phones is that the manufacturers and carriers are slow to push out software updates, so the software can turn out to be dated and even insecure over time. With that said, Samsung recently set latest standards for updates, promising 4 OS updates and five years of security updates on select Galaxy devices including the Galaxy S22 series, Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4, and predecessors the Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3. Apple can be known for its lengthy updates promise, while Google offers three years of Android OS updates and security updates for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.
Do phones cause cancer?
The query of whether mobile phone radiation is dangerous remains to be hotly contested in some quarters. It’s technically classified as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” but that puts it in the identical category as coffee, gasoline, and nickel. There have been many studies, but we still lack any scientific evidence to offer a definite answer to the query someway. Most official bodies, including the Federal Communications Commission, Center for Disease Control, and National Cancer Institute agree there is no proven link right away, but in addition acknowledge that we want more research.
How do prepaid phones work?
Prepaid cell phones work just like all other phone, but they arrive with out a monthly contract or long-term commitment. You normally pay for service prematurely. If you buy a prepaid phone they have an inclination to return with a hard and fast variety of minutes, text messages, and possibly a hard and fast amount of mobile data. This removes the prospect of any overage charges. If you run out, you just top up by buying more minutes, texts, and data in chunks.
Which operating system is best for you?
That is where things get personal. Picking a smartphone operating system is a large deal. You’re buying into a whole ecosystem of apps and compatible products if you make a choice from Android and iOS.
Apple’s iOS is gorgeous, easy, and simple to make use of, and the App Store offers one of the best app selection conceivable. Every aspect of iOS is curated by Apple, and it shows. Android is more open and it has fewer rules, which suggests more customization options, but it surely also signifies that manufacturers and app makers can willfully ignore Google’s Material design language and do whatever they need, sometimes rendering Android unrecognizable and cluttered. Android is gorgeous, as seen on Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, but you do not at all times see it like that.
Since Apple is the one company that makes iPhones, it also has complete control over software updates. As such, iPhone owners at all times get essentially the most recent and best iOS experience possible. Android users haven’t got that luxury. Unless you own a Pixel device — and fairly few Android users do — you could have to attend months to get software updates.
Software updates contain security fixes, which keep your phone secure from malware, viruses, and hackers. Android is essentially the most heavily targeted mobile operating system because it is and away the biggest, so that is something you’ve gotten to consider when considering phones from firms which have a less-than-stellar track record of releasing updates.
In contrast, Apple can patch security flaws and send the updated software to all iPhone users immediately. Since most users update their software when prompted, most iOS users are shielded from these very real threats. Apple’s iOS also offers full encryption with no compromises.
In the event you still have not found what you are on the lookout for, then we even have ideas about one of the best rugged phones, best phones for teenagers, and one of the best gaming phones.
How we test
A phone is so way more than its spec sheet. Your entire life is stored on it, out of your photos and contacts to your music and your favorite apps. For that reason, we take great care once we review phones to recommend only the very best on the market.
We use each phone we review as our day by day driver for an prolonged period to check out all of the features. We do benchmarks, play games, take photos, plunge them in water, and use them until their batteries expire. Then we charge ’em up and do all of it yet again. We test devices like real people use devices. We’re not in some stuffy lab performing obscure tests. We’re running across the cities we live in using these phones identical to you employ your phones. Then we take into consideration each phone as compared with its competitors to decide: Do you have to buy this phone or something else? If the reply is “something else,” we inform you what to purchase as a substitute.
Smartphone innovation has peaked, and the variety of radical latest features that come out every year is shrinking. As such, if you’re buying a phone, you are buying a tool that will probably be with you 24/7 for several years. It is a large choice, and things like apps, a product ecosystem, customer support, and security needs to be necessary aspects in your buying decision.
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