#Toutiao Creation Challenge# The global smartphone market slowed slightly in 2022, but that has not stopped some manufacturers from making some excellent flagship devices for consumers seeking upgrades.

Global smartphone market slowed slightly in 2022, but that has not stopped some manufacturers from making some excellent flagship devices for consumers seeking upgrades. Devices like the

iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra seem to have not changed much from previous generations, but focus on bringing only a few key feature upgrades while maintaining familiar industrial design. The price of

has not changed much compared to last year, and the price of flagship products is usually 8,000 yuan or more. It's a lot of cash, but manufacturers focus on features like extending battery life and better cameras to ensure consumers feel they've got what they're paying for.

What’s interesting this year is that ultra-high-end and flagship-level devices are on the rise. Taking China as an example, in the second quarter of 2022, smartphones worth RMB 3,000 or above increased by 33%. Foldable devices are now mainstream, with only a few important manufacturers joining the competition. It is worth noting that Google Pixel series and Apple iPhone series. It is rumored that both of these products are developing foldable products.

1. iPhone 14 Professional Edition

This year, all eyes are focused on the 7,800 iPhone 14 Pro and the 1,099 iPhone 14 Pro Max. The entire iPhone 14 series has been safely upgraded in the form of SOS emergency satellite connection and collision detection and some camera improvements. Still, the Pro model has more features.

A similarly split dynamic island replaces the still split screen notch of the Pro series. This new system revolves around punch-hole selfie cameras and Face ID sensors and provides notifications, alerts and shortcuts.

Only the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have won this year's A16 Bionic chipset. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus featured last year’s A15 Bionic. Both chipsets are OK; if you are not a serial upgrader, the newer A16 Bionic will have a longer lifespan.

Apple has installed new main cameras on all four models this year. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus come with an upgraded 12-megapixel wide camera with a larger sensor, f/1.5 aperture and larger pixels for better low-light performance.

The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max come with a new main camera and a 48-megapixel sensor. By default, this is set to combine data from the pixel group into a 12-megapixel image, but if you want to get more details in ProRAW mode, you can create a 48-megapixel image.

All four iPhone 14 models are equipped with Apple's Photonic Engine, providing some top-notch computing photography tools for these devices. None of them got a physical SIM card slot—for the iPhone 14 series released in the US anyway. Apple decided to use eSIM in full this year, which could make the upgrade frustrating.

2. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

If there is no Samsung flagship device Galaxy S22 Ultra, the annual ranking will be complete. It's the Galaxy Note with a better camera or the Galaxy S series with an integrated S Pen stylus. Either way, it is a behemoth, well deserved to finish second.

We tend to use it as a "Note, not Galaxy S". It has the same wide body and blunt rounded edges as the latest Note series. It has the same silo to store the S Pen stylus, and all the operating system tweaks Samsung has refined over the years.

These tweaks include an algorithm that predicts the way you are going to move the S Pen to make it feel more sensitive. It's very impressive, making the digital ink feel like it's flowing out of a physical pen. The

6.8-inch AMOLED screen, with its 120Hz refresh rate dynamically reduced to 1Hz, which is a miracle. It is silky smooth, fast when needed, and helps extend every drop of battery life of the 5,000mAh battery. The

Galaxy S series is known for its camera quality, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra doesn't disappoint.It has a 108-megapixel main sensor with dual-pixel autofocus, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and two 10-megapixel zoom sensors, one with a 3x lens and one with a 10x periscope lens. The starting price of $1,200 for

128GB of storage means that while the Galaxy S22 Ultra is impressive, it’s just the flagship for fans of S Pen.

3. Galaxy Z Fold 4

This year, Samsung continues to advance into its envisioned foldable future. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is launched, and in large part, it is an iterative upgrade to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 3. The changes that happened this year are Samsung's efforts to make foldable devices more or less mainstream. According to ETNews, it is the leader in its class, with nearly 90% of the global market share. Most other smartphone manufacturers are either sprinting to release their own foldable phones or are developing one.

This year the Galaxy Z Fold 4's screen size remains the same, with 6.2 inches on the outside and 7.3 inches on the inside (expanded), but the aspect ratio has been adjusted so it will be a little wider when folded and expanded. It's closer to any other flagship when folded, but it happens to magic when you expand it to full size.

welcomes smoother hinges, as well as less noticeable creases on flexible AMOLED screens. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 runs everything you can throw, as well as 12GB of DRAM. If you want to pay, storage options include 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The most significant improvement in this generation of

is in the camera. Now they are flagship quality, even if they lag slightly behind the Galaxy S22. The 50 megapixel wide sensor with an f/1.8 lens handles images exceptionally and is powered by a 12 megapixel ultra-wide sensor with a 123-degree field of view and a 10 megapixel telephoto lens that provides 3x optical zoom . The only real downside to the

Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the starting price, with the base 256GB storage option starting at $1,800, almost twice the price of other flagships.

4. Galaxy Z Flip 4

No one says that a foldable product can only fold in one direction. To shoot from all angles, Samsung stacks the decks with the classic flip design of the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

Galaxy Z Flip 4 does not open to the mini tablet, but folds horizontally and becomes a nearly square and immediately pocketable miniature device. The compromise of this engineering feat is a decline in battery life and camera quality.

Samsung managed to install a 3,700mAh battery in Galaxy Z Flip 4. That's 300mAh more than the previous Galaxy Flip 3, but in our review, that's not enough to complete the whole day of use. Thankfully, you have wireless charging, so you can place the folded square onto the charger whenever you have the chance.

The two rear cameras are 12 megapixels each. One is wide and the other is ultra-wide, and both are slightly better than the Galaxy Flip 3 in low light due to the larger pixels on the sensor. The best part is that the small cover doubles as a selfie mirror, so you can shoot almost everything with a bigger, better camera.

Samsung's goal is to take advantage of most of the device's mechanisms with a feature called Flex mode. When half open, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 uses Flex mode to turn it into a tripod for taking photos or recording. This is an unexpected benefit of the foldable profile, which offsets some compromises.

is also suitable for price, starting at $999, and you can now create 75 different color options with the Bespoke design service.

5.OPPO Find N

This year's flagship foldable phones can be seen everywhere. OPPO's Find N has joined the market, but is limited to China. This is still a considerable market, as nearly 19% of the world’s population lives there.

OPPO did something that was challenging for every foldable device manufacturer – they folded it into flat. They used the proprietary “bending hinges” that bend the hinge area into teardrops. A little bit of engineering genius means that the two halves of the screen can stay flat with each other when folded.Another benefit of the

hinge is that when it folds completely, it reduces the crease effect on the flexible OLED. It's there, but you have to look closely to see it in most cases.

OPPO does not retain flagship specifications in the rest of the phone. It is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 and comes with 12GB of DRAM. The 4,500mAh battery provides the device with a full day of battery life, and it can be charged in about 70 minutes as long as you use the device's 33W SuperVOOC charger.

OPPO chose a 18:9 ratio when folding the device, with a 5.5-inch screen on the front. This is the normal proportion and size of the non-folding device, while the larger 7.1-inch foldable display expands to a nearly 8.4:9 ratio. The

50 megapixel main camera is impressive, and it also has a 16 megapixel ultra-wide angle and a 13 megapixel telephoto with 2x optical zoom. All of this is included in a device that costs $1,200 (from RMB 7,699).

The only bad sign of this foldable is the average sound quality of the two speakers and the lack of any waterproof or dustproofing.

6.Vivo X Fold

Vivo's X Fold is another unique foldable phone in China, from a brand that doesn't have much popularity in the West. This may not matter, as the X Fold has style, folds vertically to slim down, and comes with a flagship camera cluster.

camera cluster has four lenses. One is a 50 megapixel-wide sensor. One is a 48-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. Then there are two telephoto lenses , one using periscope zoom to provide 5x optical zoom.

powers the X Fold by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. This is the flagship chipset when the device was launched, and every device installed has powerful capabilities. Vivo pairs it with 12GB of DRAM and 256GB or 512GB of internal storage.

The foldable LTPO AMOLED screen opens to an 8.03-inch diagonal with a resolution of 1916 x 2160. The 6.53-inch cover display has a resolution of 1080 x 2520 with a 21:9 ratio.

This is the first foldable device equipped with an under-screen fingerprint sensor . It also has a 4,600 mAh battery with 66W fast charging, which can be fully charged in 37 minutes. Vivo also offers 50W fast wireless charging and 10W reverse charging for your other devices.

It sells for 8,999 yuan in China, which is about US$1,400. Its only real drawback is that it has no global availability as it is an exclusive product in China.

7. OnePlus 10 Pro 5G

OnePlus started out as a fighting underdog, with a huge killer, invite-only smartphone that promises flagship performance at a mid-range price. Now, they have become a major competitor in multiple regions around the world, beating Google in 2021 US smartphone sales.

Last year, they merged with another Chinese smartphone maker OPPO, and fans feared that OnePlus' spark would be stifled. A year later, it seems that everything that happens is that OnePlus has access to OPPO's supply chain and has the ability to scale.

OnePlus 10 Pro 5G is "the most advanced smartphone the brand has released to date". It’s a flagship with all the high-end features you might want, and while the base purchase price of $799 is pretty considerable, it’s cheaper than similar devices from Samsung or Apple.

The device's camera cluster was developed in partnership with Hasselblad and is part of OnePlus' $150 million investment, which will end in 2024. On OnePlus 10 Pro 5G, the Hasselblad brand is highlighted in Hasselbladder form within the camera cluster and camera app - the brand "Pro" mode that allows you to manually control content like ISO, shutter, EV, focus and white balance.

The application controls a 48-megapixel main lens, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens. You can record 8K video at 24fps, 4K video at 30/60/120fps, or 240fps at 1080p or 480fps at 720p.

The icing on the cake is that the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G is 5G compatibility with each of the three largest mobile data operators in the United States, Verizon, AT&Th and T-Mobile.

8. Xiaomi 12S Supreme Edition

Another mobile phone on our list that is only available for Chinese markets is also the only mobile phone in the group that cannot be folded. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra starts at 5,999 yuan ($885), and comes with 8GB DRAM and 256GB of internal storage.

Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 of Qualcomm powers this device, and there is a 12GB DRAM version if you pay an extra. The screen is 6.73 inches 3200 x 1440 pixel AMOLED with a refresh rate of 120Hz. You will get Dolby Vision support and the MIUI operating system of Xiaomi has deep customization options.

The device has leather on the back and surrounds a metal camera island, which looks more like a DSLR than a smartphone. The circular camera cluster was developed in collaboration with the Leica , which works with the 1-inch 50-megapixel Sony main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). There is also a 48-megapixel wide-angle lens and another 48-megapixel lens with OIS and 5x optical zoom.

This main sensor is the largest sensor on any smartphone today and has received praise from critics. The camera app has two Leica modes that provide "vibrant" or "real" color accuracy for your photos. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said, "The next generation Ultra will be available in our global market!"

9. Google Pixel 6a

Google's mid-range Pixel this year is Pixel 6aa. It is powered by the same flagship Tensor chipset as the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro and has a very similar design. For just $449, you can get most of the Google Pixel-only features for an affordable price.

With features like Magic Eraser, you will get a humble Android experience that allows you to use an AI spray gun to remove unwanted elements from your photos.

Google also promises that the Pixel 6a will receive an Android version update by 2025 and a security update by July 2027. Here are three other major Android versions and five years of security fixes.

Pixel 6a also has an impressive camera setup that allows for high-quality photos relatively easy. It's not as good as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, but very, very close. Google is known for its computational photography, and there is an astonishing proportion of photos taken with the device's camera that is goalkeeper.

You cannot get the laser autofocus feature of the flagship Pixel device. You don't get a telephoto lens from the Pixel 6 Pro, either, but neither does the Pixel 6. What you get is still almost magical at times.

Unlike these two flagships, the Pixel 6a only has one configuration. You will get 6GB of DRAM and 128GB of internal storage. The dust/waterproof performance is poor, and the protection level on the flagship is IP67, not IP68.

It is worth mentioning that Google's Pixel 7 product line was released in early October 2022 and will soon enter SlashGear's review platform. The Google Pixel 7 series will most likely replace the Pixel 6a on this list, or take a new spot on the list until the end of this year!