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The Best iPhone Alternatives in 2022

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The Best iPhone Alternatives in 2022

Apple is one of the biggest smartphone brands in the world today. It has great marketing and, of course, excellent features that have changed the world since day one.

Its interface is simple and very easy to use. It’s not overwhelming, so even those who are used to using Android phones find it easy to utilize.

Aesthetically speaking, the iPhone also is a cut above the rest. Although simple, it gives off a very sophisticated vibe.

iPhone’s camera is also one of the things that it can talk big about. This is because Apple always makes sure to give the best quality camera.

Another thing that makes iPhones so great is that they offer superior security. In fact, it’s common to hear news about law enforcement agencies having trouble unlocking an iPhone of a suspected criminal, making it the most secure phone on the market.

What’s more, Apple frequently updates the iOS software, so your phone will always be up to date and secure. The best part of it is that iPhone is malware-free. This is thanks to Apple, which tightly controls its app store.

However, of course, it also comes with some flaws. First is, needless to say, its price. iPhones always come with expensive price tags. Even its accessories and repairs are pricey.

It’s not highly customizable either. This means you can’t install custom ROM, and you can’t root it easily compared to an Android device.

Because of these, in spite of its great features, many choose to look for alternatives instead. Fortunately, you have numerous options in the market today that can replace iPhone, especially if you have a tight budget.

01 OnePlus 8 Pro

OnePlus 8 Pro

The OnePlus 8 Pro is the best and most well-rounded phone a Chinese company has ever made, combining literally mind-blowing speed and performance with the best display ever released on a smartphone and a package of premium features that were, for the most part, missing from earlier smartphones. One of the things that makes it great is its speakers. It has Dolby Atmos speakers, so you can enjoy better sound. The OnePlus 8 Pro charges fast too, so you don’t need to wait too long to fully charge its battery. In just a few minutes, you can have your phone fully charged. This is perfect if you’re always on the go. However, it’s not ideal if you’re into phone photography. Unfortunately, its weak point is its camera as its resolution can’t compete with iPhone’s. But, it has different shooting modes to offer, including time-lapse, panorama, nightscape, and pro. Overall, it’s a decent smartphone that can replace iPhone. Apart from its camera, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s features are great. You will still enjoy using it, especially if you’re the type of person who’s always on the go.

Pros

  • Good Speakers with that Dolby Atmos
  • Fast Charging

Cons

  • Resolution of camera
  • Expensive

Specification

  • Price $999.99
  • Dimensions & Weight 6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 inches, 199 g
  • OS Android 10
  • Display AMOLED
OnePlus 8 Pro

02 Motorola edge

Motorola edge

Motorola has been in the industry long before Apple existed, so you can be sure that it will deliver great phones too. One of its creations that can be a great iPhone alternative is the Motorola Edge.   This phone comes in a gleaming blue color and features a curved plastic body with a big camera module. The back panel is attractive, but it rapidly gathers fingerprints and scratches. The Edge is a bit big, measuring 6.9 x 3.0 x 0.4 inches (HWD) and weighing 7.1 ounces. Fortunately, the weight is equally distributed, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods of time.   The 6.8-inch 2,160-by-1,080-pixel LCD display on the phone features a maximum refresh rate of 144 Hz and an adjustable refresh rate of 30 Hz to 120 Hz. Apart from the high refresh rate, this is a step down from last year’s Edge’s OLED panel, but it still functions nicely. The display is bright and clear, with vibrant but accurate colors that are visible from every angle.   However, its battery life is average. So, you might need an extra powerbank for this, especially when you’re traveling. Also, its camera could have been better. Unfortunately, Motorola Edge’s camera can’t give you high-quality photos at night.

Pros

  • Attractive splash-proofed design
  • Excellent 144 Hz OLED display

Cons

  • Average battery life

Specification

  • Price $399.99
  • Dimensions & Weight 6.36 x 2.8 x 0.37 inches, 187.9g
  • OS Android 10
  • Display OLED
Motorola edge

03 Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Samsung is one of Apple’s toughest competitors. And, you guessed it, it also has some phones that can compete with the iPhone. One of them is the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.   If you’re into phone photography, this is one of the best options you have in the market today as it has excellent cameras. It has quad cameras made of a 108 MP main camera, 12 MP ultra-wide camera, 10 MP 10x periscope telephoto camera, and 10 MP 3x telephoto camera plus a 40 MP selfie camera. Furthermore, it has a fast fingerprint scanner. This is a huge plus as not all smartphones today can offer you a fingerprint scanner as fast as Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s.   What’s more, it runs Android 11 and is powered by an Exynos 2100 processor with a 2.9 GHz CPU and up to 16 GB of RAM. There’s also a fingerprint scanner under the display, 5G connection, NFC, HiRes audio, and 256 GB or 512 GB of storage.   The smartphone is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging and 15W fast wireless charging. One downside of it is that it has no slot for a microSD card.

Pros

  • Excellent cameras
  • Blazzing fast fingerprint scanner

Cons

  • No microSD card slot

Specification

  • Price $743.50
  • Dimensions & Weight 6.5 x 2.98 x 0.35 inches, 227.0g
  • OS Android 11
  • Display AMOLED
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

04 Samsung Galaxy S22

Samsung Galaxy S22

Another entry from Samsung is the Galaxy S22. The Galaxy S22 is an incredible, if not revolutionary, upgrade over last year’s Galaxy S21. If you want premium features for less than $1,000, this is the Samsung phone to get. One of the things that will capture your attention is Samsung Galaxy S22’s small display. Apparently, its dimensions are only 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm and it weighs 168 g, but don’t be fooled by how small it is as it offers a bright colorful display, which neither iPhone nor Samsung’s previous phones can compete with. On top of that, it has unrivaled Android update support. Samsung now promises four years of software updates in addition to five years of security support. This puts the Galaxy S22 closer than any other Android phone to Apple’s level of long-term support. Another point to note is the fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy S22, which, like previous Samsung models, is located just beneath the display. I found the sensor to be quite sensitive and easy to find; there’s no latency and few misreads. Unfortunately, though, it only offers limited storage options.

Pros

  • Small yet sweet display
  • Unrivaled Android update support

Cons

  • Limited storage options

Specification

  • Price $699.99
  • Dimensions & Weight 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm 168 g
  • OS Android 12 One UI 4.1
  • Display Dynamic AMOLED
Samsung Galaxy S22

05 Samsung Galaxy S22+

Samsung Galaxy S22+

The Samsung Galaxy S22+ combines top-of-the-line connectivity and performance with the best combination of features and size for the money, making it the flagship Android phone. The Samsung Galaxy S22+ offers a bright screen and punchy display. This is thanks to its dynamic OLED. In addition to that, it has a dependable reception, decent cameras, and a long battery life. None of this is surprising; in the United States, Samsung’s Galaxy phones are the default pick for most Android users, and certainly for existing Samsung device owners looking to upgrade. The Samsung Galaxy S22+ offers fast 45W charging too. This is great if you’re always on the go and on your phone as you won’t have to wait too long to fully charge your device. The S22+ is like the “middle child” of the S22 lineup, lacking an S Pen and being less compact than the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The S22+ strikes the finest balance of performance, value, and portability of the three this year. However, it has a small battery. Also, if you like posting selfies, this might not be the phone for you as the photos you get can look a little washed out.

Pros

  • Bright and punchy display
  • Faster 45W charging

Cons

  • Slightly smaller battery

Specification

  • Price $799.99
  • Dimensions & Weight 157.4 x 75.8 x 7.6 mm, 196 g
  • OS Android 12 One UI 4.1
  • Display Dynamic AMOLED
Samsung Galaxy S22+

06 Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

Of course, who could forget about the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra? The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is an upgraded Galaxy Note with a speedier S Pen, improved camera, brighter display, and faster charging. Overall, this is a fantastic phone. This new beast includes the Galaxy Note’s finest features as well as a slew of other enhancements. Yes, there’s an S Pen built-in, but this flagship has a lot more going on as Samsung attempts to top multiple lists of the finest smartphones on the market today. For starters, Samsung improved the S Pen’s responsiveness by making it 70 percent faster with reduced delay. The display is also brighter and more vivid compared to other smartphones. Plus, its 45W charging is faster than normal. The cameras on the Galaxy S22 Ultra are the most significant changes, as Samsung aims to surpass the iPhone 13 Pro Max, and it can, actually, as it can take better low-light photos. Plus, it features an AI-boosted portrait mode. However, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra asks for a lot of money for a device that comes with low RAM. But, if you’ll look closer at its other features, it still can be a pretty decent alternative for an iPhone.

Pros

  • Huge battery capacity
  • Best camera performance

Cons

  • Without micro SD card support.

Specification

  • Price $999.99
  • Dimensions & Weight 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm, 229 g
  • OS Android 12 One UI 4.1
  • Display Dynamic AMOLED
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

07 OnePlus 9

OnePlus 9

The OnePlus 9 addresses the most visible issue of previous OnePlus flagships. Thanks to a collaboration with Hasselblad, the cameras now have improved color correction, and both conventional and ultra-wide images look amazing. Given the comparatively low price you’re paying for great specs and very rapid charging, the loss of a telephoto lens and other flagship features available on its Pro sister isn’t too much. The OnePlus 9 is a good option if you’re looking for a flagship Android phone at a reasonable price. The OnePlus 9 – coupled with the OnePlus 9 Pro – is the newest flagship from a company that, while adjusting its phone strategy to compete directly with other premium handsets, has always struggled in one area, cameras. To solve this shortcoming, OnePlus has formed a three-year partnership with Hasselblad, a famed photography business, to improve the photo quality of its smartphones. But, the camera isn’t the only thing you should take a look into. What makes the OnePlus 9 another great option is that it offers a great UI performance. Plus, it has powerful loudspeakers, which makes it stand out in the sea of smartphones on the market today. However, if you’re into a phone’s aesthetics, this phone might not be the one for you due to its plastic frame. This material makes the phone feel less premium. But, overall, it’s actually a decent choice.

Pros

  • Great UI performance
  • Powerful loudspeakers

Cons

  • Plastic frame

Specification

  • Price $629.00
  • Dimensions & Weight 6.31 x 2.92 x 0.34 inches, 197.0 g
  • OS Android 11
  • Display Fluid AMOLED
OnePlus 9

08 OnePlus 9 Pro

OnePlus 9 Pro

The OnePlus 9 Pro is the pinnacle of the company’s work over the last couple of years, and it’s the first time a OnePlus smartphone has felt complete. It has top-of-the-line processing power, a fantastic camera, and all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a flagship smartphone today. This is a phone that can truly compete with the top phones from the most well-known companies.   What makes it stand out all the more is its 4K 120 fps mode. This is great if you’re into phone photography or videography. However, its telephoto camera lacks nightscape, so you might want to skip filming at night. Another weakness of the OnePlus 9 Pro is its price tag. It comes at a premium price, and there’s no doubting that the OnePlus 9 Pro is a costly phone. But, with its features, it’s actually worth its price.

Pros

  • Excellent 4K 120 fps mode
  • Great display performance

Cons

  • Telephoto camera lacks Nightscape

Specification

  • Price $1069.99
  • Dimensions & Weight 6.43 x 2.9 x 0.34 inches, 192.7 g
  • OS Android 11
  • Display Fluid AMOLED
OnePlus 9 Pro

09 Sony Xperia 1 III

Sony Xperia 1 III

Sony is also one of the best brands out there that are undeniably good at producing excellent smartphones. And if you’re wondering if it has something that can replace iPhone, it does, the Sony Xperia 1 III. The Xperia 1 III resembles previous smartphones in appearance. It would be identical to last year’s Xperia 1 II if it weren’t for the matte surface. Sony has maintained its distinctive elongated smartphone form factor while improving the screen and cameras. But don’t be discouraged as it has improved its features. First off, its camera, if you’re into phone photography, this device might be the one for you as it has capable cameras that are augmented by feature-rich applications. It also has a gorgeous 4K 120 Hz screen and high-end parts. This will make your user experience even better. However, its battery life is mediocre. If you’re on your phone often and impatient when charging, this isn’t the phone for you.

Pros

  • Advanced photo and video capture
  • High-end build

Cons

  • Battery life is average

Specification

  • Price $859.00
  • Dimensions & Weight 6 x 2 x 0.4 inches, 186 g
  • OS Android 11
  • Display OLED
Sony Xperia 1 III

Jan

Apr 29, 2022

52 Articles Published

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We're not just tech junkies, but we're also tech experts. Each and every "Best of.." list on TechJunkie is curated by our content-area subject matter experts to provide a well-rounded, unbiased perspective to help and inform you, our reader. Our lists are constantly reviewed and updated, so you can be sure you're reading relevant and up to date information.

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