We’re wanting ahead to what Apple and Samsung have in retailer for 2022.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET
We are lower than a month away from the brand new yr, and lots of the smartphones that debuted this fall simply made CNET’s record of finest smartphones. 2021 introduced the Google Pixel 6 and Apple iPhone 13 (here is how the 4 new iPhone fashions evaluate), however we’re excited to see what 2022 has in retailer by way of smartphone launches. There’s already lots to stay up for in 2022 — together with new budget-friendly telephones from Samsung and Apple that will launch within the first half of the yr. A large new model of the usual iPhone and a Samsung telephone that might really feel like an actual successor to the Galaxy Note are additionally reportedly within the pipeline for later within the yr.
Get the CNET Mobile e-newsletter
Find the perfect telephones, apps and equipment with our CNET Mobile e-newsletter. Delivered Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Here’s a have a look at the smartphones we’re wanting ahead to most in 2022 based mostly on rumors and studies which have surfaced up to now. Apple iPhone SE 3The 2020 iPhone SE
Angela Lang/CNET
Apple refreshed its $400 finances iPhone for the primary time in 4 years in 2020, however it appears to be like like we can’t have to attend that lengthy for the third-generation mannequin. The iPhone SE 3 might launch within the first half of 2022, based on a word from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that MacRumors reported. It’s anticipated to get 5G help and a lift in efficiency, due to the addition of Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, the identical processor that powers the iPhone 13, based on Nikkei Asian Review. The present iPhone SE, by comparability, runs on Apple’s older A13 Bionic processor from the iPhone 11. The next-generation iPhone SE may additionally be the primary to get Face ID, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote in his Power On e-newsletter. The 2020 iPhone SE and 2016 model each have Touch ID since they nonetheless have the bodily house button. But studies are conflicted over whether or not the following iPhone SE will get a makeover or retain its retro look. Kuo says it’ll doubtless have an analogous design that is the identical dimension as the present mannequin, based on MacRumors, whereas the Chinese tech website MyDrivers suggests it’ll look extra just like the iPhone XR. The second-generation iPhone SE stands out for its stability of nice efficiency, affordability and portability. Based on the studies which have circulated up to now, it feels like Apple plans to broaden on that by giving the iPhone SE some extra trendy options whereas hopefully retaining the qualities which have made it so interesting within the first place. Apple iPhone 14 MaxThe iPhone 13 Pro Max
Patrick Holland/CNET
The iPhone 13 is just some months outdated, however that does not imply it is too quickly to start out speaking in regards to the iPhone 14. The largest upgrades we’re anticipating to see from subsequent yr’s flagship iPhone come all the way down to the digicam, design and display screen dimension choices. But it is the reported iPhone 14 Max that I’m most enthusiastic about, which is alleged to be a super-size model of Apple’s customary next-gen iPhone.Apple will ditch the iPhone Mini and as a substitute add one other 6.7-inch iPhone to the combo subsequent yr, based on Nikkei Asian Review. That means the iPhone 14 lineup might include two 6.1-inch fashions (the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro), and two 6.7-inch variations (the iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max). Apple’s iPhone 14 Max will seemingly be aimed toward those that need a bigger display screen however do not essentially care in regards to the different upgrades that include Apple’s Pro line, like a triple-lens digicam and Lidar sensor. It may very well be a terrific alternative for iPhone followers which were ready for a huge show however do not need to splurge on the $1,099 iPhone 13 Pro Max. There are another thrilling upgrades reportedly in retailer for the remainder of the iPhone 14 lineup that might make it really feel like extra of a leap than the iPhone 13. The Pro and Pro Max variations of Apple’s 2022 iPhone might have a 48-megapixel extensive rear digicam, studies Kuo in a word reported by 9to5Mac. That’s a noticeable leap from the iPhone 13 Pro’s 12-megapixel digicam system. In phrases of design, 2022 could be the yr Apple says goodbye to one of many iPhone’s most polarizing bodily traits: the notch. Kuo additionally notes that the iPhone 14 lineup might have a gap punch cutout for the entrance digicam, however solely on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max fashions. That falls according to a earlier report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman which mentioned Apple has been engaged on a notch-free design for future iPhones.The iPhone 14 lineup will doubtless launch in September, as is often the case with Apple’s main smartphone releases. Samsung Galaxy S22 UltraThe Galaxy S21 Ultra
Sarah Tew/CNET
With its spacious display screen and S-Pen help, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a worthwhile different for Galaxy Note followers. But on the similar time, the S-Pen expertise felt just a little half-baked in comparison with the Note’s performance. For one, the S21 Ultra would not include an S-Pen within the field, there is no slot constructed into the telephone for storing it, and it lacks Bluetooth and gesture help for the S-Pen.But Samsung might handle at the very least a kind of issues with the Galaxy S22 Ultra. A leak from Front Page Tech suggests the Galaxy S22 Ultra might include a storage slot for the S-Pen, making it a lot simpler to maintain monitor of Samsung’s stylus with out dropping it. A built-in slot additionally hints that the S-Pen might come within the field with the S22 as a substitute of being offered individually as an elective accent.Otherwise, rumors counsel that the Galaxy S22 Ultra can have a digicam system with steady optical zoom, based on leaks from Ice Universe. That would end in a crisper, uncropped zoom when switching between focal lengths. All advised, the upgrades we’re anticipating to see might make the Galaxy S22 Ultra an much more compelling alternative for Galaxy Note loyalists, or for these looking for a super-powerful digicam telephone. Samsung sometimes reveals its new Galaxy lineup within the January by means of March time window, so we doubtless will not have to attend for much longer to be taught extra.
Now enjoying:
Watch this:
iPhone 13 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra: Spec breakdown
6:04
Samsung Galaxy S21 FESamsung’s Galaxy S20 FESamsung’s budget-friendly Galaxy S20 FE earned a CNET Editors’ Choice Award in 2020 for the unbelievable worth it supplied for the value. With 5G, nice efficiency, and a multilens digicam, it was a much-needed finances possibility that match properly alongside the premium Galaxy S20 lineup.Now, Samsung is planning to launch a sequel known as the Galaxy S21 FE in January, based on the Korean new web site DDaily. However, if that report seems to be true, the telephone will solely be out there in Europe. That can be a loss for the US, the place Samsung is the second-largest smartphone maker behind Apple.Another side I’m interested by, although, is how Samsung plans to distinguish this yr’s “Fan Edition” telephone from different midrange choices just like the $500 Galaxy A52 5G, which affords related options. There’s an opportunity Samsung might worth it someplace in between the $800 Galaxy S21 and $500 Galaxy A52 5G, probably touchdown it within the $600 to $700 vary. That might make it a pleasant possibility for many who need a telephone that feels a bit premium however is not fairly as costly because the S21 household.As for what we are able to anticipate from the Galaxy S21 FE, Samsung’s subsequent midrange telephone might have a 6.4-inch display screen with a 2,340 by 1,080 decision and three cameras that embody a 32-megapixel, 12-megapixel and 8-megapixel lenses, based on specs that appeared on China’s TENAA Certifications web site, which MyFixGuide reported. It might additionally include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, based on a leak that surfaced on the Google Play Console, which was additionally noticed by MyFixGuide. That may very well be a technique during which Samsung distinguishes the Galaxy S21 FE from the Galaxy A52 5G, which comes with a much less {powerful} Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G chip. The Galaxy S21 FE can also be anticipated to be related in look to the Galaxy S21, as proven in renders printed by prolific leaker Evan Blass. OnePlus 10 ProThe OnePlus 9 Pro
Andrew Hoyle/CNET
OnePlus made a reputation for itself by providing telephones with {hardware} capabilities that might compete with the likes of Samsung at cheaper costs. More lately, its premium “Pro” lineup has gained notoriety, with CNET’s Andrew Hoyle calling the OnePlus 9 Pro “the best phone OnePlus has ever made.”If the rumors maintain true, the identical could also be mentioned for the OnePlus 10 Pro, which is anticipated to come back with some digicam updates. Renders from high-profile leaker OnLeaks and offers web site Zouton declare to point out a redesigned digicam bump on the OnePlus 10 Pro. The digicam system seems to incorporate three lenses just like the OnePlus 9 Pro, however with a brand new association that extra intently resembles the quadruple-lens digicam setup on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Otherwise, the telephone is anticipated to come back with a 6.7-inch 1,440 pixel AMOLED display screen with a 120Hz refresh charge, a 5,000 mAh battery and 128GB or 256GB of storage, based on Zouton, which additionally studies it’ll launch within the first half of 2022. It’s too quickly to understand how vital of an improve the OnePlus 10 Pro shall be over its predecessor. But if digicam upgrades actually are in retailer for OnePlus’ subsequent high-end telephone, it might handle certainly one of our solely complaints. While the OnePlus 9 Pro’s digicam is sweet, based on CNET’s Andrew Hoyle, there’s positively room for enchancment.Looking for extra recommendation in regards to the telephone you presently have? Check out our information to the Galaxy S21’s finest options, the iOS 15 settings it’s best to change in your iPhone, and tips on how to get essentially the most out of your Pixel 6.