Top Upcoming Smartphones to Watch in 2022

Year after year, smartphone manufacturers release new models to keep the momentum going. While 2020 was a slow year for manufacturers due to the pandemic, 2021 saw the release of some exciting smartphones, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 (Review) and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 (Review), as well as many promising ones that did not make it to India, such as Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

The smartphone launch momentum is expected to continue in 2022, with Qualcomm’s recently announced Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoCs playing a significant role. To name a few, we’re expecting new designs from OnePlus, rumors about an iPhone model with a hole-punch camera from Apple, and an intriguing foldable from Oppo. While there are numerous rumors circulating, here are some of the upcoming phones that have piqued our interest.

Galaxy S22 Ultra (Samsung)

This year, Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra (Review) and Galaxy Z Fold 3 embodied the spirit of a Galaxy Note device by supporting the S Pen, and this is likely to continue with the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Samsung’s upcoming flagship has gotten the most attention in the rumor mill, and it could be the evolution of the Galaxy Note series, given that the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has yet to be replaced.

The ‘Ultra’ model is the most premium model in Samsung’s Galaxy S21 series, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra is expected to include the latest Snapdragon and Exynos hardware, as well as some cool accessories and a new camera setup. A video of dummy units of the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra has also been leaked. The Galaxy S22 Ultra also appears to have a S Pen slot.

The most intriguing rumour that has recently surfaced is that India may finally get Qualcomm Snapdragon variants of the Galaxy S22 models.

S21 FE (Samsung Galaxy S21 FE)

At the lower end of the premium segment, Samsung’s Galaxy S20 FE was a great smartphone with features like an IP68 rating, a quality AMOLED display, and good camera performance. Samsung then released a 5G model called the Galaxy S20 FE 5G, which featured a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor and proved to be a very good all-rounder in our review. And now there’s word on its successor, the Galaxy S21 FE.

In terms of design, the phone appears to be similar to the Galaxy S21 series, but it also draws inspiration from the Galaxy A52s 5G’s (Review) camera module, which has a finish that matches the back panel. Previous leaks have also revealed its expected US price as well as a release date. According to previous rumors, the S21 FE will be announced in India in January 2022, alongside the expected global launch.

Apple 14-inch iPhone Max

The iPhone 12 (Review) was a significant upgrade over the iPhone 11 (Review) in terms of hardware and design, but it was also significantly more expensive, even for the base 64GB storage variant. Apple also released the iPhone 12 mini last year, which had some issues, but it quickly fixed most of them with the iPhone 13 mini (Review) this year, which has improved cameras and battery life. Those looking for a ‘Plus’ version of the standard iPhone, on the other hand, have no choice but to pay a lot more for the Pro Max model, but this could change next year.

According to previous reports, Apple may discontinue the iPhone 14 mini in favor of a larger iPhone 14 Max. As you might expect, the iPhone 14 Max is aimed at customers who want a large-screen iPhone but don’t want to pay the premium for the Pro model. The rest of the features, such as the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini, may remain the same, with the triple-camera setup reserved for the Pro models.

Another rumour suggests that all iPhone 14 models will have 120Hz LTPO displays. The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are also said to have hole-punch displays and in-display fingerprint scanners. According to another rumor, the Pro models will have 48-megapixel primary cameras and 8 GB of RAM.

5G iPhone SE from Apple

While it’s difficult to recommend the Apple iPhone SE (2020) (Review) in 2021, given its price and hardware, it’s still the most affordable iPhone available in India. The first iPhone SE was released four years before the current model, and now the rumor mill suggests that another one is on the way. Known as the iPhone SE 3 or iPhone SE 5G, previous rumors suggested a much larger 6.1-inch display than the current model’s 4.7-inch display. Earlier reports claimed that it would be powered by an Apple A14 Bionic SoC, but newer rumors suggest that it could be the A15 Bionic instead. What has remained consistent in all of the rumors is that it is expected to be released in mid-2022 and will have a single rear camera.

Another intriguing report suggests that the iPhone SE 3 may be the first SE model to use Face ID rather than Touch ID. The iPhone SE 3 is scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2022.

The OnePlus 10 Pro

With each generational update of its phones, OnePlus has made subtle improvements. As mentioned in our review, the OnePlus 9 Pro received a refreshed design and some camera upgrades, making it well-worth its higher price tag. But there appears to be even better news on the way.

A recently leaked render of the OnePlus 10 Pro suggests a redesigned camera module, which retains the three rear cameras found on the 9 Pro but in a new layout similar to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. While the camera setup may differ, the telephoto camera is expected to be the same as the 9 Pro in terms of hardware.

In terms of specifications, the OnePlus 10 Pro is expected to ship with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and a 6.7-inch (1,440 x 3,216 pixels) LTPO Fluid 2 AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The phone is set to be released early next year.

12 Xiaomi

The Xiaomi 12 will be the company’s next premium smartphone without the ‘Mi’ branding. The Xiaomi 12 was only recently rumored and confirmed following the announcement of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. The phone is expected to be released on December 28.

A leaked image also revealed its rear camera configuration, which includes a 50-megapixel primary camera, an ultra-wide angle camera, and a telephoto camera. The phone is expected to be released in three variants: the Xiaomi 12X, the Xiaomi 12, and the Xiaomi 12 Pro. According to a recent report, it will also support 67W fast charging. New 3D renders of the Xiaomi 12 Pro by artists have also surfaced online, along with a leaked photo of the case, which surprisingly matches the render, revealing a completely redesigned rear camera module.

The Google Pixel 6a

With the Google Pixel 5a 5G only available in a few markets around the world, Pixel fans in India are now looking forward to the next model, dubbed the Pixel 6a. There isn’t much known about this upcoming smartphone, but a recent report claimed that it will be powered by Google’s Tensor GS101 SoC, which is found in Google’s recently released Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones. An alleged Pixel 6a dummy unit also leaked, revealing a design that resembles the Pixel 6 series with a similar layout for its rear cameras.

Oppo Find N

Oppo’s first attempt at a production-ready foldable smartphone is the Oppo Find N. The phone will compete with offerings from Motorola, Huawei, and Samsung, the only major manufacturers to have released folding phones to date. What distinguishes the Find N is Oppo’s claim that its Serene Display has a minimal crease that is up to 80 percent less noticeable when compared to the current players in this space.

Oppo’s foldable phone has a metal frame and a fingerprint reader on the side. It has a larger 5.49-inch outer display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and a 7.9-inch inner display. The phone has a total of five cameras, including a selfie camera on each screen and three on the back. Oppo has confirmed that the Find N will only be available in China starting December 23, but we hope the company will release it in other markets as well.