Smartphones are essential tools for communicating with family and friends,
preserving memories, and getting the latest news. Each year Consumer Reports
tests dozens of new smartphones for performance and durability. The best
smartphones offer a premium design, vivid displays and reliable software.
Foldable phones like Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip open to reveal a large screen, and
camera zoom has reached unprecedented levels.
iPhone 14 Pro
When you pay upwards of Rs 1 lakh for a smartphone, it needs to be special.
It must be powerful, feature premium design and build materials, have an
unbeatable battery life, high-refresh-rate displays and a top-notch camera. It
must also stand out from the competition, which is why Apple’s Pro tier of
iPhones are always so hotly coveted. The iPhone 14 Pro and its Max counterpart
deliver on these promises with the biggest upgrades in years. With features
like Dynamic Island and a 48-megapixel camera, this is an iPhone that’s worth
your hard-earned money.
If you’re upgrading from an older iPhone, the jump in screen size and
quality will be noticeable. You’ll also notice the new face ID functionality,
which can unlock your phone or authenticate payments with just a look. If
you’re a gaming enthusiast, you’ll be impressed by the fluid frame rates that
games like Genshin Impact, Pascal’s Wager (a gritty Bloodborne-style
Souls-like), Dead Cells and Asphalt 9 can run at. Another major upgrade is the
48-megapixel camera, which offers more detail than a 12-megapixel camera and
can shoot video in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. The camera also has a
new “Action Mode,” which stabilizes video while shooting moving objects. In
terms of battery life, the iPhone 14 Pro and its Max counterpart are among the
best smartphones on the market. They can last up to 25 hours on a single
charge. The phones also support 5G connectivity, offer MagSafe compatibility
with accessories and come with emergency SOS through satellite feature that can
help rescuers locate a missing person.
The only real downside is the stingy 128GB of storage, which can be upgraded
to 256GB and then 512GB with an extra cost. Considering how much low-light
photography and 4K video you’ll be shooting, this may not be enough storage
space for some users. Overall, the iPhone 14 Pro is a great option for those
who want to take their mobile photography and videography to the next level.
It’s also a solid upgrade for those who already have an iPhone X and want to
experience a more advanced version of the flagship device.
Pixel 7 Pro
One year after rebooting its flagship Pixel line with the Pixel 6 Pro,
Google continues to tinker with the flagship phone formula, making incremental
improvements to hardware and software that make it stand out. The Pixel 7 and 7
Pro deliver everything you’d expect from a premium Android device: powerful
enough for demanding gaming, stunning three-rear camera photography, a clean
makeover of Android 13, and excellent displays. They also offer top-notch
battery life and feature a clean, easy-to-use fingerprint scanner. The Pixel 7
Pro also has a number of unique features that help it stand out from the
competition. For example, it’s the only phone that has access to Google’s Pixel-exclusive
Call Screen. It allows you to screen calls before answering them so you can
weed out scammers, annoyances from family members, and even robocalls. You can
see their number, caller ID, and other information before you answer, and the
feature is free. It’s a welcome addition to the suite of Call Assist features,
which include Clear Calling.
The Pixel 7 Pro has a stereo speaker setup that delivers impressive volume
and crisp sound. Higher pitches like human voices and stringed instruments
sound great, and there’s little to no distortion at the highest volumes. The
Pixel 7 Pro also supports the latest Bluetooth 5.2 standard, supporting LDAC,
aptX, aptX HD, and AAC (LC/HE) codecs for the best audio experience. While the
Pixel 7 Pro does have a few quirks, it’s still an exceptional device that’s
worth considering if you’re looking for a cutting-edge flagship. It’s fast,
reliable, and offers excellent battery life, and it’s priced well when compared
to Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Moto Edge 30 Ultra
It’s been a while since Motorola has been considered one of the
flagship-grade smartphone brands, but the Edge 30 Ultra is a welcome comeback.
It offers top-notch specs, a competitive 144Hz screen and a 200MP sensor at a
much more reasonable price than options from Samsung or Apple. The Edge 30
Ultra features a pOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, allowing for smoother
graphics and less eye strain than conventional LCDs. The display is also Dolby
Atmos-certified, meaning it can deliver more immersive audio when using
headphones or speakers. Its stereo speakers are fairly impressive, though not
as loud as the ones in many other smartphones of this size.
Running on an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, the Edge 30
Ultra has plenty of power to handle even the most demanding apps and games.
This is backed up by 12GB of RAM, which should be enough to let you multitask
smoothly. The Edge 30 Ultra also has a dual-band Wi-Fi that supports 5G, for
more advanced connectivity options. As with other recent Motorola phones, the
Edge 30 Ultra runs a version of Android that’s close to stock. That means the
software is clean and simple, with just a few Moto-specific tweaks (home icon
shapes, user interface color schemes, fonts and more). It’s also up to date
with Android 12, which isn’t always the case on phones from rivals.
The Moto Edge 30 Ultra’s camera is excellent, too. Its main sensor is a
whopping 200MP model, which means it can produce detailed images that rival
higher-resolution models from other manufacturers. It’s complemented by a
wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens for versatile photography. Another of the
Edge 30 Ultra’s standout features is its gaming-focused Gametime mode, which
blocks notifications and calls to help you focus on your game. The phone’s
upgraded cooling system is evident when you play for long periods, as the Edge
30 Ultra doesn’t get uncomfortably hot to the touch, despite its thin and
lightweight build. It’s also easy to grip thanks to its rounded edges and
comfortable, flat sides.
Asus Zenfone 10
The Asus Zenfone 10 is a small and powerful smartphone that packs flagship
specs like a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 into a compact footprint. It's a great choice
for people who want to have a full-featured smartphone that can easily be
operated with one hand. The phone's size also makes it easy to carry around in
your pocket. The phone's display is quite good too. The panel has a resolution
of FHD, which is more than enough for everyday use. The screen's refresh rate
can go up to 144Hz, which is better than what you get on many other phones
today. This is a welcome feature, especially if you are an avid gamer and you
want your gaming experience to be as smooth as possible.
Another thing that you will like about this phone is its battery life. The
phone comes with a 4,300mAh battery, which is quite large for a compact
smartphone. In our tests, the phone was able to last for several days of standard
use without draining, and it can even take on demanding games if you tweak the
performance settings in its dedicated Game Genie app. Besides the powerful
battery, the phone has plenty of other useful features that make it a great
choice for your next smartphone. It has a fingerprint sensor built-in to its
power button on the side, which makes unlocking the phone quick and easy. The
sensor can register fingerprints from both right-handed and left-handed users,
so it's convenient for everyone.
The camera is quite good as well. The rear camera has a 50-megapixel sensor
with a gimbal mechanism for image stabilization. The front camera has a
32-megapixel sensor for selfies. The camera software is quite advanced, and it
has features like a semantic photo search, which makes it easier to find photos
of certain objects in your gallery. The only downside is that the Asus Zenfone
10 has a limited update support policy. The company only promises two years of
Android OS upgrades, which isn't as long as what competitors offer. Despite
that, the phone is a great pick for people who want a compact smartphone with a
powerful processor and a great camera.
Conclusion
You
don't need a big budget to get great value from a smartphone. Motorola's
minimalist take on Android, for instance, offers a smooth-scrolling screen and
reliable battery life plus up to five years of OS updates. Apple's iPhone 14
Pro levels up with a genuinely useful Dynamic Island and A16 Bionic silicon. Or
go for a foldable with the Galaxy Z Fold 4's useful 6.2in cover display and
massive 7.6in unfolded screen.
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