Every year, smartphone brands renew their very own flagship lineups to bring the greatest and bleeding-edge technology to consumers. From improved processors to better cameras, each new iteration promises to be their best ones yet.
However, as time goes on, some models stand the test of time and remain great choices even after newer models have been released.
With that, let’s talk about some of the 2022 flagship models that are still worthy to have this year.
Table of Contents
Apple iPhone 14 Pro
I know that Apple has yet to announce the ‘iPhone 15’ series in September but hear me out.
iPhone 14 Pro Max (left) and iPhone 14 Pro (right)
The iPhone 14 series is available in four models: the vanilla iPhone 14, 14+, and the pro models iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max.
What sets the iPhone 14 Pro apart from the rest of its siblings is its essence as an Apple ideal flagship. It boasts the most powerful chip yet, the A16 Bionic, compared to the standard models’ A15 chipset. We actually published an article discussing why you should not buy the standard iPhone 14s, and the chipset is just one of several factors.
Also, the iPhone 14 Pro is not significantly different from the Max variant, with just a slightly more compact screen size of 6.1 inches compared to 6.7 inches, respectively. The rest of their features are pretty much the same, making the iPhone 14 Pro a more sensible choice since it has a significantly lower price tag than the 14 Pro Max, coming in at Php 70,990 for the 128GB storage (almost 8K price difference).
And let’s not ignore the Dynamic Island, which took the tech space by storm and is only available on the pro variants. To this day, no other phone makers have tried to fully emulate this feature, making it a clear win for the iPhone 14 Pro.
Asus ROG Phone 6
The Asus ROG Phone 6 series is still an absolute beast in 2023! Its vanilla variant, the Phone 6 is already rocking it with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip that’s super-fast and responsive, making it perfect for running demanding apps and games.
Plus, the AMOLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate is totally smooth and will make your scrolling and gaming experience even better. And let’s not forget about the triple-lens rear camera system, featuring a 50MP wide-angle lens, a 12MP ultrawide-angle lens, and a 5MP macro lens.
If you’re a gamer who’s constantly on the go, the Asus ROG Phone 6 is the perfect phone for you. With its massive 6000 mAh battery and 65-watt fast charging, you can charge up your phone in just 42 minutes from 0% to 100%. And with advanced features like steady charging and bypass charging, you can ensure that your battery lasts longer and performs better.
The most interesting about this phone is its subtle gaming aesthetics, with a distinctive ROG logo on the back. There’s also a built-in thermal fan to keep it cool even during intense gaming sessions and physical buttons for added control on all your mobile games.
The Asus ROG Phone 6 offers these wide range of features at an attractive price of just Php 47,995 for the 12GB and 256GB combo.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Despite being released in early 2022, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a flagship phone that continues to be great in 2023.
The device’s screen is not only large and gorgeous, but it’s also a true nightmare for glare, thanks to the Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. With a peak brightness of 1750 nits, you can enjoy an immersive viewing experience without a hassle under the sun. Plus, the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and optimized viewing, no matter what’s on the screen.
Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and its as powerful as you expect.
Not only does the phone boast a quad camera setup, but its 108MP main lens is also capable of bringing you stunning night videography. And let’s not forget about the 100x zoom, which works like magic.
Additionally, the built-in S Pen is a unique feature that makes the phone more user-friendly and versatile, especially for people who take notes or draw on their phones.
Samsung’s One UI is not only visually appealing, but it also provides a longer software support to its users, which means that you can enjoy the latest updates and features for a longer period of time—probably until 2026 based on their four-year OS update policy.
You can get the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra at a lower price now at Php 58,392 according to their official website.
Xiaomi 12 Pro
Although the Xiaomi 12S Ultra has more to offer, it is not yet officially available in the Philippines, but the Xiaomi 12 Pro still ticks a lot of boxes of being a flagship device.
Firstly, this device boasts a solid camera department with all three rear lenses (main, ultrawide, and telephoto) having a 50-megapixel count. The Sony IMX707 sensor is used in the primary camera, and the super large sensor captures up to 120% more light and far more details in night photography.
The Xiaomi 12 Pro is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor with ‘LiquidCool’ technology. Its cooling system consists of an ultra-thin 2900mm² super-big vapor chamber, which is larger than any previous models, and three layers of massive graphite sheets that efficiently reduce the core temperature.
Its display panel is a standout feature, with a 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display that applies an adaptive refresh rate feature. In one single swipe, the display can adjust from as low as 1Hz to as high as 120Hz, providing a smooth and responsive experience for users while saving battery life.
It has a wild 120W HyperCharge feature that allows for lightning-fast charging to its 4600mAh battery cell. It has two modes: the Smart 120W Xiaomi HyperCharge Boost mode, which charges the device to 100% in just 18 minutes, and the Standard mode, which charges the device to 100% in only 24 minutes. Additionally, it has 50W wireless turbo charging, which charges the device to 100% in 42 minutes, and 10W reverse wireless charging.
The Xiaomi 12 Pro is now at Php 46,999 via Xiaomi’s official Lazada 14 store.
vivo X80
Finally, the vivo X80 which boasts Zeiss-tuned rear camera system (50 + 12 + 12MP) combined with vivo V1+ chip which focus on improved night mode and cinematic shooting capabilities.
Zeiss also provides different scenes giving you more photography features.
The vivo X80 is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9000, which is a flagship chip at the time. It is based on TSMC’s 4nm manufacturing process and has an octa-core CPU with a maximum clock speed of 3.05GHz, making it highly responsive and fast even when running demanding apps and games.
The display is one of the key features of the vivo X80. It boasts a large 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with up to 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits peak brightness, making it perfect for streaming videos or playing games. The high refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and seamless transitions, while the peak brightness ensures that you can use the device even in bright outdoor settings without any issues.
In addition, the device is equipped with a 4500mAh battery that supports fast charging up to 80W. This means that you can charge the device quickly and efficiently.
Despite its impressive features, the vivo X80 comes at an affordable price point. Its official price is Php 45,999, which is a great deal considering the high-end specifications and features that it offers.
Author’s note: This list only covers those officially released in the Philippines in 2022. Pricing information retrieved as of May 23, 2023.
