An Eye on Mobile - The Flagships

Purchasing a new smartphone in 2022 can be intimidating, especially with so many great options on the market. Let’s take a look at what some of the top models out there might look like in terms of features and price points.

Google Pixel 6 Pro

The Pixel 6 Pro is an impressive device with a 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display and a polished aluminum body, as well as its Tensor chip–--a collaboration between Google and Samsung–--which enables software and hardware optimization. The new Android 12 operating system runs like a champ on it.

Pixel phones are used by many content creators because of their high-quality cameras and software optimization. The Pixel 6 Pro has three main cameras: a 50 MP wide-angle lens with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 48 MP telephoto lens with OIS, and a fixed 12 MP ultrawide angle lens. It also claims a 5,003 mAh battery with 84 hours of battery life, an under-display fingerprint sensor, and 23W fast-charging. With three colors available (Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, and Stormy Black) and a price tag of $899, you’ll be sure to find a Pixel 6 Pro that fits your needs.

Google Pixel 6 Pro
Body: Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus front and back
Display: 6.71-inch LTPO AMOLED; 1,440 x 3,120 (~512 ppi); 120 Hz
OS: Android 12
Chipset: Google Tensor
Memory: 12 GB RAM; 128, 256, 512 GB of onboard storage
Expandable Memory: None
Cameras: Rear - 50 MP 25mm; 48MP 104mm telephoto with 4x optical zoom; 12 MP 17mm. Front - 11.1 MP 20mm 
Sounds: Stereo speakers, no headphone jack
Battery (battery endurance rating): 5,003 mAh (84 hours)
Security: In-display fingerprint sensor
Miscellaneous: IP68 water and dust resistant
Other versions: Google Pixel 6

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

The iPhone 13 Pro Max sports a stainless steel frame and Gorilla Glass on the front and back, as well as a 1,284 x 2,778 resolution, 6.7-inch Super Reina XDR OLED display, all powered by Apple’s proprietary 15 Bionic chipset. It has a comparatively lower 6 GB of RAM, but with Apple’s exceptional software optimization, you’ll hardly notice.

The 13 Pro Max also features three rear-facing cameras, including a 12MP wide-angle lens with sensor-shift (a technology used in many high-end cameras that stabilizes the sensor rather than the lens), a 12 MP 77 telephoto lens with traditional OIS, and a 12 MP ultra wide-angle lens. The device also has sensor shift technology and optimization for iOS 15.2. With a powerful 4,352 mAh battery with 121 hours of battery life, as well as 27W fast charging capabilities, you won’t fear running out of charge anytime soon. Instead of a fingerprint sensor, the device features Apple Face ID security software. The iPhone 13 Pro Max also has IP68 protection from dust and water, making it quite durable and tidy. It is available in Graphite, Gold, SIlver, and Sierra Blue for $1,099 from the Apple store and most wireless carriers.

iPhone 13 Pro Max
Body: Stainless Steel frame, Gorilla Glass front and back
Display: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED; 1,284 x 2,778 (~458 ppi); 120 Hz
OS: iOS 15.2
Chipset: A15 Bionic
Memory: 6 GB RAM; 128, 256, 512 GB, 1 TB of onboard storage
Expandable Memory: None
Cameras: Rear - 12 MP 26 mm; 12 MP 77mm telephoto with 3x optical zoom; 12 MP 13mm; Front - 12 MP 23 mm
Sounds: Stereo speakers, no headphone jack
Battery (battery endurance rating): 4,352 mAh (121 hours)
Security: Face ID
Miscellaneous: IP68 water dust resistant
Other versions: iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 mini

Samsung Galaxy s21 Ultra

The Galaxy s21 Ultra features a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 1,440 x 3,200 resolution housed in an aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and back. It also runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip with 12 or 16 GB of RAM, depending on your chosen model. It runs the operating system Android 11 with Samsung’s One UI 3.1, but it could run Samsung’s latest UI, One UI 4.0 and Android 12 pretty soon.

This device also features four different cameras: a 108 MP wide-angle lens with OIS, a 10 MP telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom with OIS, another 10 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS, and a 12 MP ultrawide lens. The front-facing camera has an impressive 40 MP. In regards to security, there is an in-display fingerprint scanner. Furthermore, users will not be wanting for battery life with a 5,000 mAh battery and up to 114 hours of life plus 25W fast charging. The device has additional features such as IP68 water and dust resistance, as well as s-pen capabilities. Available in a number of matte finishes: Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, and Phantom Brown, the Galaxy s21 Ultra starts at $1,199.99 and can be purchased from Samsung or at one of the major carriers. 

Samsung Galaxy s21 Ultra 5G
Body:  Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus front and back
Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X; 1,440 x 3,200 (~515 ppi); 120 Hz
OS: Android 11; One UI 3.1
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
Memory: 12 or 16 GB of RAM; 256 or 512 GB of storage
Expandable Memory: No
Cameras: Rear - 108 MP 24mm; 10 MP 240mm periscope telephoto; 10 MP 72mm telephoto; 12 MP 13mm; Front - 40 MP 26mm
Sounds: Stereo speakers
Battery (battery endurance rating): 5,000 mAh (114 hours)
Security: In-display fingerprint sensor
Miscellaneous: IP68 water and dust resistant; s-pen compatible
Other versions: Samsung Galaxy s21, Samsung Galaxy s21+, Samsung Galaxy FE

These top-shelf smartphones are far from the only options available. For other options, consider the OnePlus 9 Pro and Sony’s Xperia PRO-I.

With so many smartphone developments this year, what are your plans? Be sure to share them with us in the comments, and check back next week for some value-based smartphone picks.