It’s that point if you solid a watch again on the months that had been, and choose and select the highlights of the 12 months that may quickly be previous. Like yearly, 2022 too had its share of smartphone improvements. Some labored, some didn’t, and a few had been introduced however have taken their time coming to units. All stated and performed, there was loads to speak about on the smartphone featurescape in 2022. If we needed to cherry-pick ten options in smartphones launched on this 12 months that stood out, we might go along with the next.
Desk of Contents
Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Professional/ Professional Max: sheer notch dynamite
When Apple launched the iPhone X, it introduced alongside the notorious notch which polarised the tech world. There have been those that completely liked it after which there have been those that hated the very sight of it. After protecting it largely the identical (Apple solely lowered the scale of it a bit) for the subsequent three generations, Apple lastly modified the anatomy of the notch on its flagship choices of the 12 months, the iPhone 14 Professional and the iPhone 14 Professional Max. Whereas the brand new notch, the Dynamic Island didn’t obtain as a lot hate because the OG notch did, there have been some individuals who didn’t just like the appears to be like or the performance it delivered to the desk. We disagree with that lot as a result of the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Professional Max is one in all our favorite options to have launched on a smartphone in 2022. In contrast to different manufacturers that deliver various kinds of notches on their smartphone simply as a placeholder for the entrance digicam, Apple at all times did extra with the notch on the iPhone and with Dynamic Island, the Cupertino tech large has taken it to a different stage. What was a giant black stationary rectangular block on the highest of our iPhone shows, was now become a shape-morphing tablet that modified the best way we interacted with our new iPhones. It added seen performance to the cellphone as an alternative of simply being a design aspect or finishing up features within the background (the earlier Notch was very practical in spite of everything, driving face ID). Apps like Maps or Apple Music introduced life to the seemingly fundamental tiny black tablet on the highest of our iPhones, bundled it with quite a few animations and data. This was not simply pleasant visually, but in addition very useful in sensible life as properly. We didn’t must unlock our cellphone to search for instructions or see when the subsequent flip was coming as a result of the Dynamic Island harboured that data proper on the highest of the locked show. Equally, most of our music controls had been current proper on the Dynamic Island and might be simply accessed. By making the notch on the iPhone interactive, Apple gave us an all-new strategy to talk with our iPhones. And judging by the variety of Dynamic Island apps bobbing up all world wide, it is just a matter of time earlier than it turns into an Android staple too.
Glyph UI on the Nothing Telephone (1): A lit new means of smartphone life
Very similar to Dynamic Island and the unique notch, many hated the flashy tiny LEDs on the again (known as the Glyph UI) of the Nothing Telephone (1) as properly. They had been seen as one thing that was solely there to seize consideration and had been not likely practical. We thought the identical after we first used the cellphone, however utilizing the Telephone (1) for some time made us realise that the Glyph UI on the cellphone is definitely very helpful, though we love the flashy aspect of its existence as properly. We’re all for a smartphone design that stands out and this one screams completely different in all languages. The LEDs on the again of the Telephone (1) include flash in addition to performance bundled too. The charging indicator on the again of the Telephone (1) truly is available in very helpful if you end up charging your cellphone in public. You possibly can hold it face down and control the cost ranges with out having to fret about notifications popping all around the show. One other nice contact is you could assign explicit ringtones and Glyph patterns to your contacts, which let you know who is looking with out having to select up the cellphone. The cellphone additionally switches to silent mode when it’s positioned face down and the LEDs blinking in numerous patterns will let you know who is looking, all with out having to look. The Music Visualization function on the Telephone (1) is kind of attention-grabbing as properly. It was erratic initially however after a couple of updates, the LEDs blink alongside the music which is a good get together trick. Hopefully, Nothing will hold including new features to Glyph UI by means of updates within the coming days. It’s a completely new means of utilizing a smartphone, and one which is at the moment distinctive to the Telephone (1).
Clear again on the Nothing Telephone (1): Making the innards the celebs
For fairly some time, a lot of the smartphone world has been churning somewhat predictable and regular-looking smartphones. Manufacturers that dared to go down a distinct design route had been a uncommon sight and had been typically seen solely within the premium value phase. Carl Pei, nonetheless, introduced again numerous design pleasure to the cellphone world when his new firm, Nothing, launched its first cellphone, the Telephone (1). The again of the cellphone not solely got here with eye-catching LEDs that introduced an entire new interface to our cellphone lives (learn above), but in addition was clear, giving it a really edgy and completely different look. The again didn’t completely present you what was contained in the cellphone (among the components had been tactfully coated) and saved issues refined by giving us a glimpse of just some very aesthetically pleasing innards of the cellphone. The end result might need polarised some opinions, however the truth is there was no different cellphone that appeared remotely like this within the Indian market. The Glyph UI additionally lit up round these internals each time a notification got here in, highlighting their presence. We aren’t too positive too many will copy this cellphone again as it is going to take some doing, not like parts like flat sides and color variants. All of which makes it one of many largest design highlights for us in 2022.
10X optical zoom on the Galaxy S22 Extremely: Tremendous zoom on a cellphone!
Cameras have turn out to be one of the necessary options of smartphones at the moment, so it’s hardly stunning that digicam specs on telephones are bettering by the day, particularly within the premium phase. One space the place progress has been comparatively restricted has been optical zoom, so we had been pleasantly shocked to see a large 10X optical zoom on a smartphone in 2022. We’ve seen smartphones with ridiculous quantities of digital zoom (particularly from Huawei’s well-known P sequence) however that’s principally all about cropping photos which ultimately implies that you lose out on a ton of element. There are telephones that supply some quantity of optical zoom with the most typical being 3X, and a few telephones take it to even 5X. However Samsung determined to take the optical zoom sport to a distinct stage in 2022 by introducing a whopping 10X optical zoom to its flagship cellphone of 2022, the Galaxy S22 Extremely, by means of a 10-megapixel periscope telephoto lens. This can be a sort of optical zoom which is never seen even in digital cameras, not to mention a smartphone. With it, zooming right into a topic on a smartphone all of the sudden grew to become way more than the equal of transferring a step or two nearer to the topic. We truly might take photos of birds from a protected distance with out disturbing them and nonetheless get spectacular particulars of their plumage. We’ve actually not seen this type of optical zoom efficiency from a smartphone earlier than and so hope different manufacturers be part of the zoom bandwagon in 2023.
Quad audio system on the Xiaomi 12 Professional: The sultans of smartphone sound
Whereas different manufacturers targeted primarily on shows and cameras, in 2022 Xiaomi determined to take a highway much less travelled and made a flagship that not solely stood out within the digicam and show departments but in addition had its audio system as USPs. Sure, you learn it proper – the audio system. The Xiaomi 12 Professional noticed Xiaomi return to the premium cellphone phase in India in 2022, and whereas the smartphone got here with flagship-level specs in all facets, what made it very completely different from different units had been the quad audio system that the smartphone. Most flagship telephones have a tendency to return with two audio system, however Xiaomi doubled that quantity with the Xiaomi 12 Professional. It was the primary cellphone within the Indian market that was launched with 4 audio system– two woofers and two tweeters. The entire system was tuned by Harman Kardon. Consequently, Xiaomi 12 Professional delivered maybe the most effective sound expertise now we have ever had with a smartphone by way of loudspeaker efficiency. Whether or not it was gaming or watching content material or just listening to music, the Xiaomi 12 Professional simply knocked it out of the audio park every time. They had been undoubtedly not the loudest audio system on a smartphone that now we have skilled however the high quality was chic with the audio having nice physique and stability to it.
120W charging on the Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge: Loopy quick charging on an reasonably priced cellphone
Quick charging has been round on smartphones for some time now with the likes of Sprint, Warp and VOOC cost changing into a part of the geek vocabulary. Nonetheless, actually quick charging had been the protect of the premium phase, and also you needed to fork out a reasonably penny for it. Xiaomi modified that by launching the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge in 2022. Sure, the cellphone had very mid-segment specs by way of processor, show and cameras, however it got here with a function which at the moment was not seen even within the premium phase – assist for 120W charging, and with a charger within the field as properly. The end result was a 4,500mAh battery that acquired charged in about twenty minutes. The phase had by no means fairly seen something prefer it, and by the top of the 12 months, different manufacturers had been paying Xiaomi essentially the most flattering tribute by together with equally speedy charging at cheaper price factors. However to the 11i HyperCharge goes the credit score for yanking tremendous quick charging out of the premium zone and into the extra mainstream one.
Audio message transcription on the Google Pixel: Now, you may learn voice messages
There’s much more to Google’s iconic Pixel vary of telephones than simply extraordinarily good cameras. Beneath that placing exterior lie some severe software program smarts. And one in all our favourites was the transcription of voice notes which got here with the Pixel 7 sequence. Whereas transcription (changing voice to textual content) has at all times been a Pixel forte, the transcription of voice messages is especially helpful as a result of it allows one to search out out what’s on an audio message with out truly having to listen to it – one thing which is commonly not potential (you could be in a crowded place, for example). All voice messages delivered on the Google Pixel 7 and seven Professional on the Google Messages app include a transcription field which helps you to see what precisely is within the message with out having to listen to it. And the transcription is true on level too. It’s quick, it’s handy and somewhat sensible. It was one in all our favorite options of 2022 and we so hope it involves extra units and messaging companies in 2023.
The audio jack on the Redmi K50i: This jack just isn’t over the hill
Whereas the three.5mm audio jack just isn’t but historical past, 2022 noticed it begin disappearing from the premium mid-segment. Most telephones with a price ticket in extra of Rs 25,000 ditched the audio jack. Which is why it was an enormous shock when Xiaomi included the three.5mm audio jack in its Redmi K50i which was launched at Rs 25,999. And it was not a run-of-the-mill audio jack however fairly a strong one as properly, able to driving mid-level headphones, saving you the necessity to spend money on an entry-level DAC. It was a basic case of an previous function exhibiting us that it was nonetheless helpful as we all of the sudden found that utilizing earphones didn’t at all times imply stepping into Bluetooth pairing mode or checking battery ranges on buds or TWS. We aren’t over-optimistic concerning the 3.5mm audio jack’s future however it will be great if manufacturers continued to supply it even at greater value factors.
The secondary show of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4: A second show that really helps and can be utilized simply
We’ve been seeing telephones with a secondary show for some time now. The RAZR 2 had an exterior show that allow you to see some fundamental data, the Yota Telephone actually had an e-reader on its again and in 2021, the Mi 11 Extremely got here with a tiny secondary show within the digicam unit to allow you to examine the time and take selfies. Samsung nonetheless, added actual worth to the secondary show with the exterior show on the Galaxy Z Flip4 launched in 2022. The 1.9-inch show was not very giant however it was greater than ample for finishing up quite a few features with out having to open the cellphone. You obtain and reject cellphone calls, learn messages and even reply to them (utilizing a pre-written response) and management music and system settings, other than a bunch of different actions (together with taking selfies). What made the Z Flip4’s secondary show particular was simply how easily it labored and the way it hit the golden imply between being giant sufficient to make use of and consider simply with out being too obtrusive. It might be an amazing possibility within the premium phase, particularly for these of us who prefer to hold our telephones face down or just don’t like unlocking our telephones for each activity.
Samsung’s Android updates: Moving into the Pixel’s league…or Galaxy!
Point out fast software program updates for Android units and it’s a truthful likelihood that the majority people will suppose that you’re referring to Google’s Pixel vary, which will get Android updates often and in a well timed method. Nicely, 2022 noticed Samsung get into Android replace mode and ship spectacular outcomes, despite having a large portfolio of units unfold throughout completely different value segments. Because the 12 months ends, Samsung was one of many few manufacturers that had quite a few telephones up to date to Android 13, and these weren’t simply flagships but in addition mid-segment units. What’s extra, a lot of the OS updates had been easy and error-free. The model additionally shocked many with its dedication to supply Android OS and safety updates for quite a few years for a lot of of its units, lastly placing Android updates the place they belonged – in a distinguished place on the spec sheet. It’s anticipated that different manufacturers will comply with swimsuit – some are already doing so – and that’s terrific information for all these utilizing Android units.
