Kelly Choos 
Smartphones are inherently a personal choice, and the choice to buy phones is not easy. Apple, Samsung and OnePlus are the biggest names in high-end smartphones, while those wanting a budget phone can choose between Xiaomi and Realme. If the second half of 2022 is any indication, the mobile phone market should be hot. All the big names in the smartphone market are coming up with new models to woo consumers despite rising inflation and economic uncertainty. Apple is expected to launch the next iPhone installment in September, while Samsung and OnePlus are also gearing up to launch new flagship smartphones in August. If you’re in the market for a new phone, keep an eye out for these upcoming smartphones.
iPhone 14 Pro
At the top of our “most anticipated” smartphone list is the iPhone 14 Pro. The hype for the iPhone 14 Pro/Max is real, making it a perennial favorite among Apple fans. The idea behind the iPhone 14 Pro would remain the same as last year’s model: a phone with little extra power, better cameras and more punch. We wouldn’t be surprised to see a beefed-up camera system on Apple’s high-end smartphone, with rumors suggesting it could have a 48-megapixel main camera. Apple has improved the Pro line’s camera over the past few years, but the resolution has remained at 12 megapixels.
And if you’re tired of seeing the annoying notch at the top of the iPhone screen, good news awaits. For the first time since the iPhone X launched in 2017, Apple will remove the current notch and replace it with a pill-shaped hole and a small circular hole to accommodate the selfie camera and FaceID. Other updates most likely include a powerful A16 processor, pro-grade front camera with autofocus, always-on display, and maybe some design tweaks. But all of these improvements could come at an additional cost, with reports suggesting the prices of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are set to increase by $100 to $1099 and $1199 respectively.
With limited availability, pre-order the phone (1) before it goes on sale. And get an exclusive reward. Invite only. Register now at: https://t.co/AKTOkTLzq4 pic.twitter.com/hLMeUgIeVX
– Nothing nothing) June 24, 2022
Nothing Telephone (1)
Ever since former OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei announced his London-based Nothing brand, it feels like Pei has been on a mission to make everyday tech more fun. Nothing hopes that a few design quirks can help its products differentiate themselves from their rivals. Its ear (1) helped Nothing brand itself as a cool, hippie tech brand, but Pie now wants to take on established brands like Apple and Samsung by making a smartphone.
The Phone 1 smartphone is presented as a marvel of design with a back that appears to be made of a transparent material. The device also has illuminating light strips on the back of the phone, something you won’t find on any modern smartphone. But the real risk is Nothing’s decision to stick with a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and dual rear cameras. The on-board specs don’t scream premium, especially compared to Realme’s smartphones which offer better specs in the mid-range segment.
Our understanding is that Pei’s Nothing isn’t preying on consumers who want a phone with the best and biggest specs. The intention is clearly to establish a premium brand that focuses on tech products with a certain style and personality. Whatever the fate of Nothing Phone (1) when it arrives on July 12, Pei has shown that it dares to launch a new smartphone while competition is at its peak. More importantly, Nothing Phone (1) comes at a time when innovation in the phone market no longer exists and every smartphone looks the same.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 debuted in 2021 with a starting price of 00. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that Samsung has been instrumental in creating a niche market for foldable phones. Its attempt to bring foldable phones closer to mainstream smartphones with the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 last year was successful. The Flip 3 is the most polished foldable phone we’ve used, and it’s the closest to being the only foldable phone we’d confidently recommend.
But Samsung still has a lot to prove that a large consumer base wants a foldable device. The upcoming Z Flip 4 may change the perception of foldable smartphones among mainstream smartphone users. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the next Z Flip get a faster Snapdragon processor and a slightly tweaked design. But what we expect from the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is to have longer battery life, better cameras and more software features.
The whole approach of a flip phone opening into a full-size smartphone works, but what has to be done is bring the price of the Galaxy Z Flip down to $700 from $1,000 to bring in the foldable phones in the general public.
OnePlus 10T
For most people looking for a premium smartphone in the coming months, the OnePlus 10T remains the safest bet. One thing that favors OnePlus as a brand is that its phones are always reliable and work exactly as they were marketed. They’re easy to use, look cool and premium, and offer the best software experience on an Android smartphone. Based on the leaks, the OnePlus 10T will likely retain the original OnePlus 10 Pro design.
However, the display will be flat and the alert slider will not be there. Expect more or less the same specs as the OnePlus 10 Pro, but expect slightly better performance on the ‘T’ model, thanks to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. We don’t see any dramatic difference between the OnePlus 10 Pro and the upcoming OnePlus 10T, but that’s exactly the general state of the smartphone market. Many of the soon-to-be-announced smartphones are inherently not new but reimagined styles of previous models.
A 1 inch camera sensor is a big deal on a smartphone. (Image credit: Xiaomi)
Xiaomi 12s Ultra
Rather than look like the smartphones we already own, Xiaomi is trying to do something different with the 12s Ultra. And that’s positive news in the smartphone space that seems unexciting and outdated. The 12S has one thing that no other smartphone has in the mainstream phone market: a 1-inch camera sensor. A 1-inch camera sensor is a big deal on a smartphone, something only found on high-end cameras like the Sony RX100 camera. The larger size allows the sensor to have more light, which results in better photos. Of course, it won’t replace a DSLR, but it could be a step up from normal smartphones. Since the 12S Ultra was “co-engineered with Leica”, we have high hopes for Xiaomi’s latest flagship. But is the 1-inch camera sensor enough for Xiaomi to gain popularity in the high-end smartphone market?
For Xiaomi, the biggest challenge remains the image it has made in the minds of consumers. Despite many attempts, Xiaomi was unable to present itself as a premium brand in India. Xiaomi had a formidable portfolio of high-end phones, but its devices never made it to the big league. The 12s Ultra might change that, but for now Xiaomi is limiting the device to China. This is another sign that proves that Xiaomi is not confident to release its most sophisticated smartphone in international markets, especially in Europe and India.
