The best smartphones in summer 2022: Testing 26 smartphones

All the current smartphone tests in comparison. Those who are looking for a trusty smartphone companion for the hot days have had many interesting choices from smartphone manufacturers in the last few months. In this article, you can find out which devices are personal favorites of our testing team for more than just a day at the lake.

Florian Schmitt, 👁 Florian Schmitt, ✓ Vaidyanathan Subramaniam (translated by Mark Riege), Published 07/06/2022 🇩🇪

The best of the best: These smartphones received the best grades overall

In the last three months, five phones received a "very good" overall rating from us.

The best smartphone (once again) comes from Samsung. The Galaxy S22 as a compact and affordable representative of the flagship series finally impresses with decent nighttime pictures and a higher quality glass surface. We also like the display even better than that of its predecessor. At this point, the price has also dropped significantly, and you can get the smartphone for US$760 from Amazon at the time of writing this article.

In terms of the rating, Google's Pixel 6 Pro follows right behind the Samsung smartphone. With its unusual design — a slim band with the cameras goes across the case — and great display, the Pixel 6 Pro can be quite convincing. At the same time, it is also fast and will receive updates for a long time. On the other hand, it is annoying that the refresh rate of the screen cannot be adjusted in many steps.

The next smartphone following in our ratings is from Samsung again. The Galaxy S22+ also shines with a very bright AMOLED screen and good battery life. Other positive characteristics include great workmanship and accurate GPS. However, the smartphone throttles under load.

The OnePlus 10 Pro is another one of the best smartphones, offering very good workmanship, a beautiful 120-Hz display, and a lot of power. On the other hand, we continue to find the lack of a DC Dimming mode in the OnePlus 10 Pro incomprehensible, since this mode would help limit display flickering.

Another smartphone that we considered "very good" is the Oppo Find X5. Even though it doesn't have an IP certification, and the locating accuracy isn't very high, it still offers a great AMOLED display, a long battery life, and a quick-charge function. The camera is convincing as well.

Our favorites: Editors Choice Awards in summer 2022

Based on our test results during this time period, we take a vote in our testing and editing team to pick the Editors Choice Award. We select those smartphones that stand out with a successful overall package, absolute top performances in particular evaluation areas, or an especially good price-performance ratio, thereby presentin an attractive choice for our editors and testers in their respective category.

realme GT 2

Much more affordable than the realme GT 2 Pro, you can get the realme GT 2 with a slightly older SoC and a few limitations in the camera. On the other hand, the phone charges lightning fast, offers good battery life, elegant case, and sufficient power for almost all the apps.

What remains is the unusual design that is reminiscent of paper, at least in the white or green models. This affordable model also doesn't support wireless charging, and there is no microSD card reader either. However, these shortcomings are acceptable considering the price.

Apple iPhone SE 2022

Apple would do their best to quickly update their designs. Even if you manage to find any other iPhone for barely more than €500 (~US$509) (for example at Amazon.com), the iPhone SE 2022 with its wide display bezels looks very dated at this point. Especially, considering that Apple currently also offers more modern looking smartphones in its portfolio with the mini models such as the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini.

However, no other phone offers so much power, the many 4G frequencies allowing you to use the smartphone worldwide, and the 5G communication standard for so little money. On the other hand, you will also have to live with the 60 Hz display and the not-so-flexible single camera.

Note: Commercial use of the awards graphics may require a license. Additional details.

The best smartphones in summer 2022

Overall Rating	Model	Case Rating	Size	Thickness	Weight Rating	Weight	Display Rating	Display Type	Resolution	Pixel Density	Side Ratio	Screen-to-Body-Ratio	Display Brightness	DeltaE Colorchecker	Refresh Rate	Camera Rating	DeltaE Colorchecker lowlight	DeltaE Colorchecker daylight	Application Performance Rating	PCMark for Android Work 2.0 Score	Gaming Performance Rating	3DMark for A. Sling Shot Ext. (ES 3.1) Un.	GFXBench Aztec Ruins H.T. Onscreen	PUBG Mobile HD	Battery Life Rating	Battery Life WiFi 150 cd/m²	Temperature Rating	Top Idle	Top Load	Audio Rating	max. Audio Output (dB)	Touchscreen Input Rating	Connectivity Rating
77 %	Nokia G11 T606, Mali-G57 MP1	82.3 %	6.50"	8.5 mm	88.9 %	190 g	82.7 %	IPS	1600x720	270 PPI	20:9	82 %	486 cd/m²	5.73	090 Hz	48.6 %	46.04	10.16	63.9 %		9.5 %	969	6		91.7 %	1053 min	87.2 %	30.8 °C	43 °C	72 %	82.6 dB	92.8 %	44.2 %
78.8 %	Realme 9i SD 680, Adreno 610	84 %	6.60"	8.4 mm	88.9 %	190 g	84.7 %	IPS	2412x1080	400 PPI	20:9	84 %	513 cd/m²	3.68	090 Hz	56.2 %	46.95	13.74	65 %		14.3 %	1353	5.1		91.7 %	1056 min	88.3 %	31.7 °C	40.9 °C	66 %	88 dB	94.4 %	45.8 %
87.9 %	Oppo Find X5 SD 888 5G, Adreno 660	90.5 %	6.55"	8.7 mm	88.3 %	196 g	92.2 %	AMOLED	2400x1080	402 PPI	20:9	92.7 %	718 cd/m²	1.3	120 Hz	78.2 %	23.39	4.57	88.6 %	12769	56.2 %	8029	51	30	91.4 %	937 min	91.3 %	29.6 °C	37.5 °C	72.2 %	88.7 dB	95 %	51.6 %
86.1 %	Apple iPhone SE 2022 A15, A15 GPU 5-Core	82.6 %	4.70"	7.3 mm	92.8 %	144 g	90.4 %	IPS	1334x750	326 PPI	16:9	67 %	647 cd/m²	1.44	060 Hz	63.8 %	35.17	10.88	90.7 %		59.8 %		60	59	89.2 %	769 min	88.4 %	29.4 °C	40.5 °C	71 %	85.9 dB	93.9 %	48.5 %
89.2 %	Google Pixel 6 Pro Tensor, Mali-G78 MP20	91.3 %	6.70"	8.9 mm	87.8 %	210 g	93.7 %	LTPO-OLED	3120x1440	513 PPI	19.5:9	89 %	801 cd/m²	0.9	120 Hz	81.4 %	47.12	4.78	81.1 %		61.6 %	7742	32		88.7 %	667 min	92.9 %	27.6 °C	37.3 °C	76 %	84.6 dB	93.9 %	67.7 %
88.1 %	OnePlus 10 Pro SD 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730	87.4 %	6.70"	8.6 mm	88 %	200.5 g	93.8 %	AMOLED	3216x1440	526 PPI	20.1:9	90 %	776 cd/m²	0.79	120 Hz	75.8 %	20.16	9.12	86.4 %		68.6 %	10323	57	60	90.2 %	767 min	85.9 %	31.8 °C	43.2 °C	80.6 %	88.1 dB	95 %	53.3 %
85 %	Realme GT 2 SD 888 5G, Adreno 660	83.6 %	6.62"	8.6 mm	88 %	199.8 g	89 %	AMOLED	2400x1080	398 PPI	20:9	87 %	756 cd/m²	2.14	120 Hz	70.2 %	24.34	10.57	75 %		55 %		42		91 %	964 min	86.5 %	24.7 °C	45.4 °C	75 %	85.7 dB	94.4 %	46.7 %
89.3 %	Samsung Galaxy S22 Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920	92.3 %	6.10"	7.6 mm	90.8 %	167 g	92.8 %	AMOLED	2340x1080	422 PPI	19.5:9	89 %	858 cd/m²	1.9	120 Hz	78.6 %	42.76	5.37	85.2 %	12233	58.3 %	8268	51	30	89.1 %	675 min	93.5 %	28.6 °C	33.7 °C	73.2 %	89.5 dB	93.3 %	66 %
77.6 %	Realme C35 T616, Mali-G57 MP1	82.3 %	6.60"	8.1 mm	88.9 %	189 g	83.9 %	IPS	2408x1080	400 PPI	20:9	84 %	558 cd/m²	4.4	060 Hz	56 %	41.94	13.68	66 %		11.1 %	1109	3.4	30	90.9 %	958 min	90.2 %	25.3 °C	40.9 °C	60 %	85.5 dB	92.8 %	44 %
75.1 %	Motorola Moto G22 Helio G37, PowerVR GE8320	78.6 %	6.50"	8.5 mm	89.3 %	185 g	81.6 %	IPS LCD	1600x720	270 PPI	20:9	84.2 %	431 cd/m²	5.82	090 Hz	55.2 %	46.36	6.05	38.7 %		5.8 %	536	5		91.7 %	1101 min	92.4 %	27.5 °C	35.9 °C	69 %	86.9 dB	87.2 %	44.4 %
88.9 %	Samsung Galaxy S22+ Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920	92.4 %	6.60"	7.6 mm	88.3 %	196 g	92.6 %	AMOLED	2340x1080	390 PPI	19.5:9	90 %	1097 cd/m²	2.5	120 Hz	78.6 %	24.83	5.74	85.2 %	12571	57.3 %	9105	54	30	90 %	788 min	93.5 %	27 °C	35.3 °C	74.6 %	91.3 dB	93.3 %	66.9 %
76.5 %	Samsung Galaxy A13 4G Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1	78.3 %	6.60"	8.8 mm	88.4 %	195 g	85.3 %	PLS	2408x1080	400 PPI	20:9	82 %	506 cd/m²	4.64	060 Hz	49.6 %	44.32	15.27	55.1 %		10.1 %	916	3.3	21	90.4 %	864 min	93 %	26.6 °C	34.8 °C	68 %	83.3 dB	92.8 %	44.5 %
80.2 %	Realme 9 5G SD 695 5G, Adreno 619	80.7 %	6.60"	8.5 mm	88.8 %	191 g	84.6 %	IPS	2412x1080	400 PPI	20:9	83 %	561 cd/m²	4.33	120 Hz	54.8 %	45.85	16.81	71 %		36.9 %	3098	12		91.5 %	1029 min	87.9 %	25.8 °C	43.1 °C	60 %	84.1 dB	92.2 %	47.2 %
80 %	Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 SD 680, Adreno 610	81.9 %	6.43"	8.09 mm	89.9 %	179 g	92.8 %	OLED	2400x1080	409 PPI	20:9	85 %	701 cd/m²	1	090 Hz	60.4 %	47.18	5.35	63.6 %		14.7 %	1372	5		90.4 %	842 min	93.5 %	30.1 °C	32.8 °C	77.8 %	89 dB	87.2 %	51 %
83.7 %	Oppo Find X5 Lite Dimensity 900, Mali-G68 MP4	80.1 %	6.43"	7.81 mm	90.3 %	173 g	89.2 %	AMOLED	2400x1080	409 PPI	20:9	85 %	583 cd/m²	3	090 Hz	65 %	47.17	6.1	85.5 %		41.8 %	3843	15		90.3 %	877 min	93.4 %	29.1 °C	33.4 °C	79.2 %	91.5 dB	87.2 %	53.7 %
77.7 %	Oppo A76 SD 680, Adreno 610	80.7 %	6.56"	8.4 mm	88.9 %	189 g	87 %	IPS	1612x720	269 PPI	20:9	85 %	562 cd/m²	2.16	090 Hz	48.8 %	46.67	10.59	60 %		16.1 %	1352	11		91.2 %	993 min	92.2 %	23.8 °C	38.7 °C	64 %	82.9 dB	91.7 %	47.9 %
74.6 %	Samsung Galaxy A03 T606, Mali-G57 MP1	78.1 %	6.50"	9.2 mm	88.3 %	196 g	82.6 %	PLS	1600x720	270 PPI	20:9	81 %	419 cd/m²	4.99	060 Hz	46 %	43.6	13.64	50 %		11.5 %	962	6.2		92 %	1097 min	88.9 %	29.5 °C	41.3 °C	54 %	81.9 dB	91.1 %	38.7 %
83.4 %	Samsung Galaxy A53 Exynos 1280, Mali-G68 MP4	85.6 %	6.50"	8.1 mm	88.9 %	189 g	91.6 %	AMOLED	2400x1080	405 PPI	20:9	85 %	730 cd/m²	1.62	120 Hz	65.9 %	32.85	13.69	72.1 %	9824	39.7 %	3746	15	28	90.7 %	886 min	88.5 %	25 °C	44.2 °C	70 %	86.1 dB	93.9 %	46.4 %
81.1 %	Samsung Galaxy M23 SD 750G 5G, Adreno 619	81.6 %	6.60"	8.4 mm	88.2 %	198 g	84.9 %	IPS	2408x1080	400 PPI	20:9	83 %	525 cd/m²	4.57	120 Hz	62.2 %	46.13	11.11	65 %		34.6 %	2910	11		91.3 %	1004 min	87.5 %	28.6 °C	42.9 °C	68 %	89.3 dB	94.4 %	49 %
85.7 %	Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro SD 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730	83 %	6.67"	9.5 mm	87.7 %	220 g	87.6 %	AMOLED	2400x1080	395 PPI	20:9	85 %	637 cd/m²	3.19	144 Hz	71 %	41.31	9.87	84 %		60 %		58	59.8	89.4 %	752 min	85.1 %	25.7 °C	46 °C	76 %	86.2 dB	95.6 %	48 %
83.6 %	Vivo V23 5G Dimensity 920, Mali-G68 MP4	86.7 %	6.44"	7.55 mm	89.6 %	181 g	90 %	AMOLED	2400x1080	409 PPI	20:9	88 %	606 cd/m²	2.3	090 Hz	61 %	46.53	10.04	74.3 %		44.8 %	4249	17	40	90.4 %	887 min	94.8 %	26.6 °C	30.8 °C	75 %	91.6 dB	89.4 %	51.9 %
80.3 %	Huawei Nova 9 SE SD 680, Adreno 610	87.4 %	6.78"	7.94 mm	88.8 %	191 g	89.2 %	LCD	2388x1080	387 PPI	19.9:9	90 %	523 cd/m²	0.6	090 Hz	63.8 %	46.83	5.08	67 %		16.3 %	1367	4.8		89.7 %	795 min	94 %	30.5 °C	31.2 °C	80.6 %	94 dB	88.3 %	46.3 %
85.4 %	OnePlus Nord 2T Dimensity 1300, Mali-G77 MP9	83.6 %	6.43"	8.2 mm	88.9 %	190 g	89.1 %	AMOLED	2400x1080	409 PPI	20:9	87 %	573 cd/m²	2.67	090 Hz	71.8 %	31.39	8.34	76.7 %	9101	52.9 %		31	39.9	91 %	949 min	87 %	25.7 °C	45.7 °C	72 %	87.4 dB	94.4 %	50.9 %
85.9 %	Xiaomi Poco F4 GT SD 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730	86 %	6.67"	8.5 mm	87.8 %	210 g	92.2 %	AMOLED	2400x1080	395 PPI	20:9	86.3 %	806 cd/m²	1.2	120 Hz	61.8 %	43.36	13.69	87.9 %		56.9 %	9873	56	60	89.7 %	747 min	91.9 %	28.7 °C	37.1 °C	74.2 %	86.6 dB	95.6 %	54 %
86.3 %	Realme GT Neo 3 Dimensity 8100, Mali-G610 MP6	82.7 %	6.70"	8.2 mm	89 %	188 g	92.7 %	AMOLED	2412x1080	394 PPI	20:9	87 %	758 cd/m²	1.3	120 Hz	67 %	31.91	9.83	84.3 %	12871	59.6 %		42	40	91.3 %	989 min	84.8 %	32.3 °C	45 °C	75 %	82.5 dB	93.9 %	51.8 %
83.2 %	Samsung Galaxy A33 5G Exynos 1280, Mali-G68 MP4	85.4 %	6.40"	8.1 mm	89.2 %	186 g	92 %	Super AMOLED	2400x1080	411 PPI	20:9	84 %	695 cd/m²	1.3	090 Hz	60.6 %	44.2	9.23	69.8 %		39.3 %	3683	16	30	90.3 %	771 min	92.4 %	30.2 °C	36.1 °C	72 %	88.7 dB	93.9 %	50.4 %

The table above shows all the smartphones tested during the time period with their overall and partial ratings in our detailed tests, together with a selection of important measurements and benchmarks. You can find all the results and details in the linked reviews.
You can order the table by each of the columns by clicking on the respective column header, such as "Weight," for example.

Additional interesting smartphones in summer 2022

Of course, it is always interesting when Samsung updates its bestseller from the Galaxy A5x series. The Galaxy A53 5G (available from Amazon starting from US$314 at the time of this writing) brings a bright AMOLED display with fast response times, which is surely one of the highlights of the smartphone. The camera performance in low-light scenarios is significantly more convincing than it used to be. However, Samsung shot itself in the foot again with the SoC selection, whose performance capabilities are rather mediocre. The smartphone is also unable to keep up with the competition in terms of WLAN speeds.

Those looking for a gaming smartphone can choose from two different models from Xiaomi: The Poco F4 GT is an affordable gaming smartphone with a great vibration motor and its own triggers, but you should also consider the high heat development and lack of OIS in the camera before purchase. The Black Shark 5 Pro is a bit more expensive, but it also offers slightly better camera equipment and an OS that has been optimized particularly for gaming.

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Editor of the original article: Florian Schmitt - Managing Editor Mobile - 1140 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2009

I initially wrote about gaming laptops when I joined Notebookcheck in 2009. I was then involved with the setup of the comparison portal Notebookinfo and worked with social media concepts for large companies like BMW and Adidas, while also returning to work for Notebookcheck in 2012. Nowadays, I focus on smartphones, tablets, and future technologies. Since 2018 I have been Managing Editor for mobile device reviews, working alongside my colleague Daniel Schmidt.

contact me via: @FloSchmi26, LinkedIn, Xing

Translator: Mark Riege - Translator - 510 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018

Having worked as a programmer for 20 years (medical devices, AI, data management systems), I've been following the computer scene for many years and especially enjoy finding out about new technology advances. Originally from Germany but living in the US, I've been working as a translator more recently, with Notebookcheck allowing me to combine my interest in new devices and translation. Other interests include Buddhism, spending time in Tibetan monasteries, and translating ancient Tibetan texts.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > The best smartphones in summer 2022: Testing 26 smartphones

Florian Schmitt, 2022-07- 6 (Update: 2022-07- 7)