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Technology

TechRadar’s year in review: 2022 in phones, TVs, computing and more

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Goodbye, 2022 – and hello to the shiny new world of 2023! Granted, it doesn’t look much different yet, but then we are only a few hours into the new year. 

So, what were our tech highlights of the past 12 months – and what can we expect to see in 2023? In short: lots. Virtually every week brought a massive new product launch or big story in one of the categories we cover, from the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island to the arrival of QD-OLED screen tech in TVs, and from ever-more-powerful graphics cards to AI-powered autofocus in cameras. And 2023 promises to be every bit as exciting, beginning right away with the tech fest that is CES 2023.

If you’re subscribed to TechRadar’s newsletters you’ll already have seen this round up appear in your inbox in the shape of our Year in Review; if you haven’t subscribed yet – well there’s your new year resolution for 2022…

So, without further ado, read on for our 2022 highlights and 2023 predictions.

Phones

Fantastic foldables, and a fuss about Nothing

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 was one of the smartphone highlights of 2022 (Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

2022 didn’t see any great leaps forward in the smartphone space writes Lance Ulanoff, US Editor-in-Chief. We mostly got more of everything – better cameras, brighter screens, and incremental improvements in performance and battery life. But there were some innovations that made the year’s best new phones significantly more interesting than what came before.

Apple officially split its handset line down the middle, finally putting the flagship model in a lower tier with slightly less-than screen technology. We’ve had better cameras on the Pro line for a while, but the iPhone 14 (opens in new tab) line pushes the distinction between Pro (premium) and regular (good enough for most) further. What this means is that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus (opens in new tab) kept legacy screen technology (the notch!), while the iPhone 14 Pro (opens in new tab) and iPhone 14 Pro Max (opens in new tab) got the fungible Dynamic Island (opens in new tab), which I love. Apple was also one of the first, in the US market at least, to do away with the physical SIM slot in favor of an eSIM-only setup.

While Apple reached for the stars with the first satellite SOS system (opens in new tab) on a consumer smartphone, Samsung might be offering the more fully-rounded set of updates across its handset line. It remains firmly committed to the foldable space and, while the Galaxy Z Fold 4 (opens in new tab) and Galaxy Z Flip 4 (opens in new tab) weren’t major redesigns, both handsets feel a lot less like flexible tech oddities and more like super-versatile ‘regular’ smartphones; maybe next year they’ll be a little cheaper. The company’s Galaxy S22 line was generally excellent, with the beefy and S Pen-friendly Galaxy S22 Ultra (opens in new tab) being the highlight – and its Space Zoom (opens in new tab) photography magic remains unmatched in the smartphone space.

Perhaps the most talked-about device was the – in my opinion appropriately named – Nothing Phone 1 (opens in new tab). A lot of people got very excited about a handset with a transparent chassis, but there’s, well, nothing special about this device, other than that it’s a potential competitor for Samsung, OnePlus and, much less so, Apple. I wonder if we’ll be talking about the Nothing Phone 2 next year.

Google packed the year with the Pixel 6, Pixel 6a and the refreshed and more premium-feeling Pixel 7 Pro (opens in new tab) (and 7), which has excellent cameras and some cool tricks like the Magic Eraser (opens in new tab).

What we didn’t get this year was ultra-fast charging, battery capacity breakthroughs, thinner phones, or brand-new screen technologies. I think all of those things are possible in 2023; at the very least, expect iPhones with USB-C, and even some charging-port-free handsets.

Audio

A victorious year for vinyl

No phono stage, no amps, and no extra wires to trip on: vinyl got so much easier in 2022 (Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Ed Choo )

The humble analog record’s surprising renaissance continued in 2022, writes Becky Scarrott, Senior Audio Writer, not only with intriguing new vinyl-plus physical music formats (opens in new tab) touted by Bob Dylan himself, and inexpensive products that allow you to cut your own record (opens in new tab) (and then play it), but with ever-more innovative ways of enjoying your burgeoning collection of LPs and 45s.

The 2021-issue Rega Planar PL1 (opens in new tab) remains one of the best turntables you can buy, but setups that don’t require multiple boxes and a set of passive speakers cluttering up your den were the order of 2022 – see Victrola’s Sonos-certified deck (opens in new tab) for starters. All it needs is a Sonos wireless speaker and the Victrola companion app on your device – plus of course your lovely stacks of wax.

Now headphones: wired audiophile-grade cans got cheaper (see Sivga’s Oriole proposition (opens in new tab)), while the best true wireless earbuds (opens in new tab) and over-ears went to both extremes, with the JLab Go Air Pop (opens in new tab) costing less than a round of drinks (and being ridiculously good for the money) and the Focal Bathys (opens in new tab) setting you back a month’s rent.

In the heavy-hitter arena, the Sony WH-1000XM5 (opens in new tab) arrived, and predictably bettered their own siblings (but only just), and the Apple AirPods 2 (opens in new tab) solidified what we already knew about Apple’s talent in head-tracked Spatial Audio and active noise-cancellation – as long as you stick within the iOS bubble.

And somewhere in the melee, a new King of midrange over-ears emerged: the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (opens in new tab). Gosh those are good…

But perhaps the most exciting development in wireless audio in 2022 wasn’t the actual wireless over-ears (opens in new tab) (or buds) themselves, but the software inside them. Hi-res Bluetooth codecs are advancing at a rate of knots, but the SoC (system on chip) hardware they’re built into is also under near-constant improvement. In December, Oppo went live with a new chip (opens in new tab) that’s claimed to bring Bluetooth wireless resolution up to the standards audiophiles might deem acceptable – and crucially, the chip will fit into earbuds.

The promise? Wireless audio over Bluetooth that finally sounds every bit as detailed, clear and impactful as a wired listen. We await 2023 with bated breath…

Computing

New MacBooks shine amid the component wars

The Apple MacBook Pro (M2, 2022), left, and MacBook Air (M2, 2022) (Image credit: Apple / Future)

(Image credit: Christian Guyton)

It’s been a busy year for us tech-heads in the TechRadar Computing Team, with a veritable flood of new devices and components landing in our laps throughout 2022 writes Christian Guyton, Computing Editor. As much as we hate to admit it, Apple looks like the winner of this year in computing tech; its second-generation M2 silicon landed in new MacBook Pro (opens in new tab) and MacBook Air (opens in new tab) models, and proved without a doubt that Apple is taking its chip business seriously.

The other big players in the processor game haven’t been slacking off, though. AMD came out kicking with its new Zen 4 generation of CPUs, headlined by the impressive Ryzen 9 7950X (opens in new tab). It was a short-lived victory, however, with Intel returning to reclaim its processing crown with the incredible Core i9-13900K (opens in new tab) flagship chip.

AMD has been embattled elsewhere, too; the race to produce the best graphics card heated up to a fever pitch in 2022, with Nvidia releasing the phenomenally powerful GeForce RTX 4090 (opens in new tab), only to fall down spectacularly with the RTX 4080 (opens in new tab). Team Red was able to capitalize on this, releasing the excellent Radeon RX 7900 XTX (opens in new tab), one of the best GPUs we’ve seen in recent memory. Unsurprisingly, both flagship cards sold out almost immediately, and stock is still hard to find in many regions.

This was also the year we finally got to see Intel properly step back into the GPU game, with actual desktop cards going on sale and a commitment to a long-term roadmap (opens in new tab), despite the rocky start that Intel’s Arc graphics department endured. This is definitely something we’re excited to see more of next year; a third player in the GPU market, especially one as seemingly committed to budget products as Intel, is only a good thing for consumers. Bring on 2023!

Gaming

A big year for TRG, but a fallow year for games

This year’s biggest release, God of War Ragnarok, was among the titles hit by delays (Image credit: Sony)

(Image credit: Future)

Right at the end of 2021, we launched TechRadar Gaming – and it couldn’t have come at a stranger time writes Julian Benson, Editor-in-Chief, TechRadar Gaming.

2022 was a decidedly odd year in the video game industry. We felt the impact of the pandemic keenly in the release calendar, and while there were a few big releases earlier in the year, namely Elden Ring (opens in new tab) and Horizon Forbidden West (opens in new tab), we endured months of AAA first-party famine before God of War Ragnarok’s (opens in new tab) release in November.

Microsoft was the main victim of delays, with both Starfield (opens in new tab), the highly-anticipated sci-fi RPG, and Redfall (opens in new tab), the co-op shooter from Dishonored’s Arkane Studios, slipping into 2023, leaving the Xbox Series X (opens in new tab)|S without a major first-party release this year. Nintendo, too, had to delay its biggest release, its follow-up to Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (opens in new tab), until May next year. Multiplatform releases weren’t spared either, with both Hogwarts Legacy (opens in new tab), the open-world Harry Potter RPG, and Suicide: Kill the Justice League (opens in new tab), pushed into 2023.

However, the gaps left by major developers created space for smaller games to gain the attention of players. In July, the most talked-about release was Stray (opens in new tab), a game where you play as a cat wearing a backpack exploring a futuristic city populated by androids. Then in August, our own Cat (who is decidedly a human) was caught by an indie RPG called I Was A Teenage Exocolonist (opens in new tab), where you play through a decade of a child’s life on a distant planet, trying to survive the dangers of colony life.

In 2023, we can look forward to all of those aforementioned delayed games, and a batch of big releases that were always due out next year. On top of that we have hardware releases, such as the DualSense Edge (opens in new tab) pro controller for the PS5 (opens in new tab) and PSVR 2 (opens in new tab) virtual reality headset. It’s going to be a busy time to be a gamer (and a games journalist).

Entertainment

A mixed bag for movies, shows, and streaming

Top Gun: Maverick wowed audiences and cemented itself as one of the highest-grossing movies of 2022 (Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

(Image credit: Tom Power)

2022 has been a fascinating year in the world of entertainment writes Tom Power, Entertainment Reporter. The movie, TV, and streaming industries have largely put the perils of the Covid-19 pandemic behind them, but each sector has faced its fair share of challenges over the last 12 months.

First, the positives: we saw the return of true blockbuster films on the big screen. From massive superhero films, such as The Batman (opens in new tab) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (opens in new tab), to somewhat surprising billion-dollar hits like Top Gun: Maverick (opens in new tab), studios stepped up their game to deliver films that took our breath away. On the TV and streaming front, hugely popular shows returned to critical acclaim, such as Stranger Things season 4 (opens in new tab), while new hits like The Rings of Power (opens in new tab), Wednesday, Andor (opens in new tab), Severance, and House of the Dragon lit up our screens.

But it hasn’t been plain sailing for the world’s biggest studios – or for fans of movies and TV shows. Marvel faced (and continues to face) its biggest test yet, with audiences underwhelmed by some of its Phase 4 productions, and accusations of employees enduring intolerable working conditions. Netflix endured a torrid year, losing millions of subscribers (opens in new tab) and cancelling projects left, right and center, while Warner Bros’ merger with Discovery has drawn plenty of criticism, with numerous shows and films inexplicably cancelled at the last minute (RIP Batgirl) or removed from HBO Max without explanation.

There’s plenty to look forward to next year, with some big new movies (opens in new tab) slated for release, and highly anticipated TV series set to debut. Still, if 2022 has taught us anything, it’s that the industry can’t rest on its laurels, particularly as the cost of living crisis continues to bite. Dark days may be ahead but, if studios continue to pump out crowd-pleasing content for us to enjoy, 2023 should be a largely better year for fans and creators alike.

Televisions

Bigger, better, brighter, cheaper: TV tech in 2022

Samsung’s S95B, a QD-OLED model that transformed the TV landscape in 2022 (Image credit: Samsung)

(Image credit: Future)

By some measures, 2022 has been a massive year for TVs writes Al Griffin, Home Entertainment Editor. And I’m not just talking about screen sizes, though the year did see the arrival of the first 97-inch OLED and 98-inch QLED models, from LG and Samsung, respectively.

The biggest TV news for 2022 was the arrival of QD-OLED sets, which easily settled in among the ranks of the best 4K TVs (opens in new tab) in a year when there was plenty of tough competition from standard OLED models like the LG C2 (opens in new tab), our top pick for the TechRadar Choice Awards (opens in new tab). QD-OLED merges Quantum Dots with OLED tech to create brighter displays with enhanced color definition, and the results can be appreciated in TV wonders like the Samsung S95B (opens in new tab) and Sony XR-A95K (opens in new tab).

Other important trends to emerge in 2022 were the availability of mini-LED backlight tech in a wider range of TVs, including models from budget brands like Hisense (opens in new tab), along with a much expanded range of 120Hz 4K sets (opens in new tab). A mini-LED backlight lets TVs achieve the high peak brightness level necessary for uncompromised display of HDR sources, while a 120Hz display supports the high-frame-rate gaming that’s possible with next-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles.

What will 2023 bring for TV shoppers? At the upcoming CES tech expo we expect to see companies roll out even better-performing QD-OLED models (opens in new tab) in larger screen sizes, and mini-LED will continue its expansion into more and cheaper sets. There will be better and brighter regular OLED TVs from the likes of LG, and TCL will astound us with a range of ultra-large sets at ultra-low prices. TechRadar will be reporting on all of it in-person live from Las Vegas, so make a point of following our CES 2023 (opens in new tab) coverage.

Cameras

A throwback year, with glimpses of an AI future

The Fujifilm X-H2S led a revival of crop-sensor cameras (Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Mark Wilson)

2022 will go down as the year affordable cameras made a much-needed comeback writes Mark Wilson, Cameras Editor. Full-frame had dominated for the past few years, but in 2022 we saw crop-sensor systems – like Micro Four Thirds and APS-C – make an emphatic return, with a wave of launches. And that was very good news for our beleaguered wallets.

It was Fujifilm, in particular, that delivered the best alternatives to full-frame. Its new flagships, the Fujifilm X-H2S (opens in new tab) and X-H2, pack modern shooting power into small and (relatively) affordable packages. Similarly, the OM System OM-1 (opens in new tab), rising from the ashes of Olympus, rocketed to the top of our guide to the best cameras for wildlife photography (opens in new tab).

2022 was also, finally, a great year for entry-level mirrorless cameras. The Canon EOS R10 (opens in new tab), the spiritual successor to the camera giant’s much-loved line of entry-level DSLRs (known as the Rebel series in the US), became our new best camera for beginners (opens in new tab). For keen hobbyists, we also saw the arrival of the Fujifilm X-T5 (opens in new tab) and Canon EOS R7, two ‘sweet spot’ models that are destined to become big-sellers.

Not that pro shooters were left in the cold this year, as Canon and Sony both introduced compelling full-frame powerhouses. The Canon EOS R6 Mark II (opens in new tab) is a solid upgrade of one of its best cameras, while the Sony A7R V (opens in new tab) showcased the kind of AI-powered autofocus that we can expect to see develop at a rapid pace next year.

That’s the kind of photographic tech I’m looking forward to the most next year. The likes of Dall-E (opens in new tab) and Midjourney have given us a taste of how AI algorithms are set to revolutionize our creative lives in 2023. They could ultimately challenge the definition of photography itself; but this year, I’m excited to see what they can do for mirrorless cameras and phones like the hotly-anticipated iPhone 15.

Fitness

Apple goes Ultra, Fitbit goes wrong

The Apple Watch Ultra signaled Apple’s entry into the ‘rugged’ smartwatch space (Image credit: TechRadar)

(Image credit: Matt Evans)

A year or two ago, we were seeing new fitness products that had been rushed into production during the pandemic, when everyone assumed that exercising at home was going to be the new norm writes Matt Evans, Fitness and Wellbeing Editor. Now, though, outdoor exercise has returned to pre-pandemic levels, and our tech is once again geared towards empowering us to get outside.

Premium smartwatches have gone rugged, with Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (opens in new tab) and the much-vaunted Apple Watch Ultra (opens in new tab) leading the charge. Both are chunkier watches designed for trails and other adventures, with more accurate GPS and reinforced cases to withstand the elements. The Watch 5 Pro has a raised bezel and improved route-tracking features, while Apple went one step further, and made the Watch Ultra a working dive computer. However, neither stole the award for our fitness device of the year: that honor goes to Garmin, king of the adventure watch space, for its excellent Forerunner 955 Solar (opens in new tab).

Sadly, Fitbit didn’t get the memo. After a year of technical issues (opens in new tab) with its existing slate of products, the Fitbit Versa 4 (opens in new tab) and Fitbit Sense 2 (opens in new tab) enjoyed a splashy launch in September, but both failed to improve on their predecessors. The Fitbit Inspire 3 (opens in new tab) fitness tracker fared better, but we were disappointed that Fitbit slashed the Inspire 2’s free Fitbit Premium subscription from one year down to just six months, removing lots of value from the device. Peloton has also suffered badly this year, with rounds of layoffs and bad press overshadowing the launch of its new rowing machine (opens in new tab).

As for 2023,I don’t believe we’re going to see the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for a few years, but more funky stuff, like the Huawei Watch D’s (opens in new tab) on-wrist blood pressure cuff, is set to appear. As the cost of living bites, and production issues continue to plague major retailers, the philosophy of ‘health is wealth’ is going to be pushed rather heavily, with less focus on performance and a greater emphasis on wellness.

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Technology

New OnePlus 11 leak reveals more images, what’s in the box, and the phone’s key specs

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The OnePlus 11 is set to be unveiled in China on January 4th with the international launch expected in India on February 7th. While we’ve already seen pictures of the device, the one and only Evan Blass has posted some fresh images of the phone on his Twitter page along with specs to peruse. Blass has been delivering reliable images and information about upcoming devices well before many of today’s tipsters even knew what a smartphone was.
According to the tweet, the OnePlus 11 will feature a 6.7-inch AMOLED curved display with a QHD+ resolution of 1440 x 3216. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC will be under the hood with the following configurations offered: 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage, 16GB of RAM with 256GB of storage, and 16GB of RAM with 512GB of storage. The phones will employ the fastest LPDDR5X RAM chips with UFS 4.0 storage. OnePlus has spared no expense as far as this aspect of the phone is concerned.

Sony’s 50MP IMX890 sensor will drive the primary camera on the back of the phone. The array also includes a 48MP ultra-wide camera, and a 32MP telephoto lens delivering 2x optical zoom. The front-facing camera for selfies and video chats weighs in at 16MP. Keeping the lights on is a 5000mAh battery with a fast charging capability of 100W. The phone will have an IP54 rating protecting it from a limited amount of dust and water sprays from all directions. Do not submerge the phone on purpose.

The OnePlus 11 will be introduced in China with ColorOS 13.0 installed. The latter is based on Android 13. The handset comes in two colors, Green and Black, and it weighs 205 grams.

Blass’ leak also includes an image showing what will be inside the OnePlus 11 box. Besides the phone, there is a protective cover, a SIM tray pin, a manual, a charger (!), and a USB-C charging cable.



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World

U.S. stocks drop on recession fears, Nasdaq closes at new bear market low

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  • Tesla gains 3.3% in choppy trade
  • Southwest Airlines slips 5.2% on government scrutiny
  • Indexes down: Dow 1.1%, S&P 500 1.20%, Nasdaq 1.35%

Dec 28 (Reuters) – Wall Street’s main indexes ended weaker on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq hitting a 2022 closing low, as investors grappled with mixed economic data, rising COVID cases in China, and geopolitical tensions heading into 2023.

The Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) ended at 10,213.288, the lowest since the bear market began in November 2021 after the index hit a record high. The last time the Nasdaq ended lower was in July 2020. Its previous closing low for 2022 was 10,321.388 on Oct. 14.

“There was no Santa rally this year. The Grinch showed up this December for investors,” said Greg Bassuk, chief executive at AXS Investments in Port Chester, New York.

December is typically a strong month for equities, with a rally in the week after Christmas. The S&P 500 index (.SPX) has posted only 18 Decembers with losses since 1950, Truist Advisory Services data show.

“Normally a Santa Claus Rally is sparked by hopes of factors that will drive economic and market growth,” Bassuk said. “The negative and mixed economic data, greater concerns around COVID reemergence and ongoing geopolitical tensions and … all of that also translating Fed policy is all impeding Santa (from) showing up at the end of this year.”

All 11 of the S&P 500 (.SPX) sector indexes fell on Wednesday. Energy stocks (.SPNY) were the biggest losers, dipping over 2.2% as worries over demand in China weighed on oil prices.

Investors have been assessing China’s move to reopen its COVID-battered economy as infections surged.

“With this current combination of rising cases with an opening up of China restrictions, we’re seeing that investors are concerned that the ramifications are going to spread through many different industries and sectors as it did in the earlier COVID period,” Bassuk said.

The benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX) is down 20% year-to-date, on track for its biggest annual loss since the financial crisis of 2008. The rout has been more severe for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC), which closed at the lowest level since July 2020.

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., December 7, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

While recent data pointing to an easing in inflationary pressures has bolstered hopes of smaller interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, a tight labor market and resilient American economy have spurred worries that rates could stay higher for longer.

Markets are now pricing in 69% odds of a 25-basis point rate hike at the U.S. central bank’s February meeting and see rates peaking at 4.94% in the first half of next year. .

Shares of Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) gained 3.3% in choppy trade, a day after hitting the lowest level in more than two years. The stock is down nearly 69% for the year.

Southwest Airlines Co (LUV.N) dropped 5.2% a day after the carrier came under fire from the U.S. government for canceling thousands of flights.

Apple Inc (AAPL.O), Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) fell between 1.5% and 3.1% as the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield recovered from a brief fall to rise for a third straight session.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) fell 365.85 points, or 1.1%, to 32,875.71; the S&P 500 (.SPX) lost 46.03 points, or 1.20%, at 3,783.22; and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) dropped 139.94 points, or 1.35%, to 10,213.29.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers on the NYSE by a 3.77-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.97-to-1 ratio favored decliners.

The S&P 500 posted seven new 52-week highs and seven new lows; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 75 new highs and 421 new lows.

Volume on U.S. exchanges was 8.59 billion shares, compared with the 11.3 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.

Reporting by Echo Wang in New York; Additional reporting by Amruta Khandekar and Ankika Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Anil D’Silva and Richard Chang

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Technology

The Most Disappointing Phones, Gadgets, and Services of 2022

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Photo: Gizmodo

Although reviews have been mixed, we actually like the Logitech G Cloud. It’s an Android-powered handheld designed to play AAA titles through game-streaming services, in addition to mobile games. You can even play retro titles through emulators like RetroArch. The controls are solid, the hardware feels great, the battery life is astounding, and the seven-inch, 1080P screen is easy on the eyes. The handheld feels a little under-powered, though, and struggles with some of the more processor intensive mobile games currently available, even if your phone would have no issue with them. At $349, it’s only $50 cheaper than Valve’s entry-level Steam Deck. If Logitech knocks the price down a bit for 2023, the G Cloud would definitely be worth considering.

– Andrew Liszewski

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Technology

MKBHD’s Smartphone Awards picks the best phones of 2022

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Every year, popular tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee (better known as MKBHD) holds his own Smartphone Awards, in which he chooses the best smartphones in different categories. While last year the iPhone was awarded in three different categories, Apple’s smartphone lost the spotlight to its competitors at this year’s awards.

Just like last year, MKBHD has set multiple award categories for smartphone. They are:

  • Best Big Phone
  • Best Small Phone
  • Best Camera System
  • Best Battery
  • The Design Award
  • Value Award
  • Bust of the Year
  • MVP (Phone of the Year)

Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of Android smartphones competing for the awards, while Apple currently sells only eight different iPhone models – and just five of them were released this year. Of course, although the awards are based on MKBHD’s own criteria, he considered both technical aspects and his personal experience with each device competing for the awards.

But how does the iPhone compare with all the other Android smartphones?

Best Big Phone

iPhone 14 Pro Max is certainly a big phone with its 6.7 inch screen. However, MKBHD chose Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra as Best Big Phone of 2022. According to the YouTuber, the S22 Ultra takes advantage of the massive 6.8-inch screen with the stylus combined with software optimized for the large screen, the 5,000 mAh battery, and four camera lenses on the back of the phone.

MKBHD also praised the ASUS ROG Phone 6, which is considered a gamer smartphone, in the same category for having “incredible, massive stereo front-facing speakers” and a headphone jack. The Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 also got an honorable mention for having the same thickness as a regular phone when folded.

Best Small Phone

Last year, Apple won the Best Small Phone category with iPhone 13 mini. After all, there aren’t many small phones left on the market, and iPhone 13 mini was essentially an iPhone 13 with premium hardware inside a body with a 5.4-inch screen. But this year, Apple killed the iPhone mini and replaced it with the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.

So the winner of the Best Small Phone of 2022 was the ASUS Zenfone 9. It’s certainly not as small as the iPhone 13 mini since it has a 5.9 inch screen, but it’s still considerably smaller than most smartphones today. With flagship specs, “surprisingly great camera,” a headphone jack, and good battery life, MKBHD says the Zenfone 9 is “easily the best phone in this size.”

Oppo Find N2, which is a foldable phone, got an honorable mention in this category for looking extremely compact when it’s folded.

Best Camera System

Choosing the best camera on a smartphone can be extremely subjective, especially since there are different criteria for photos and videos, and each person has their own preferences when it comes to color level and sharpness. A few days ago, MKBHD shared the results of its blind smartphone camera test, in which Google’s Pixel 6A took first place, while the Pixel 7 Pro came in second.

But what about MKBHD’s preferences? Although he praised the photos taken with the Pixel 7 and Vivo X90 Pro+, iPhone 14 Pro Max won Best Camera System this year.

The YouTuber says that the iPhone has a more solid camera experience, which includes how fast it is to open the Camera app and take a picture, the consistency between all lenses, and how good the device is at shooting video compared to all Android smartphones.

Best Battery

The winner of Best Battery of 2022 is the ASUS ROG Phone 6. Since it’s considered a smartphone for gamers, ASUS put a 6,000 mAh battery inside the phone. At the same time, it supports fast charging up to 65W, which lets users recharges the battery from 0% to 100% in less than an hour.

Last year, iPhone 13 Pro Max won the Best Battery award, and many other reviews also praised the battery life of last year’s iPhone despite the addition of the 120Hz display. However, iPhone 14 Pro Max failed to offer the same battery experience as iPhone 13 Pro Max since Apple kept the battery the same size and added an Always-on Display.

Interestingly, Marques praised the battery life of the iPhone 14 Plus, which beats the iPhone 14 Pro Max since it has a regular 60Hz display without the Always-on feature. As a result, iPhone 14 Plus consumes less power than the Pro model.

The Design Award

The design category is also quite subjective, and even MKBHD agrees with this. And the smartphone that won The Design Award in 2022 is the Nothing Phone. Looking from the sides, the Nothing Phone reminds one of the latest iPhones. However, Nothing Phone has a transparent back full of LEDs that can be used for multiple things like notifications and flash light while you’re filming.

“It definitely skirts the line right between gimmick and feature. […] I find it really neat. I think it’s cool that you can see how much battery is as you’re charging. […] Little things like that. You don’t see a lot of phones trying new stuff.”

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 got an honorable mention in the design category for being a foldable phone that looks much more solid than other foldable phones.

Value Award

Last year, Google’s Pixel 6 won the Value Award, and this year the award was given to the Pixel 7. MKBHD argues that the Pixel 7 is the best in its $599 price range, and it even beats some more expensive flagships with its specs. “It’s so good that it made the [Pixel] 7 Pro kind of feel like not that good of a deal,” he added.

ASUS Zenfone 9 once again received an honorable mention, this time in the Value Award category for offering a “really unique combo” that includes a 120Hz display for $699.

Bust of the Year

The 2021 Bust of the Year was Microsoft’s Surface Duo 2, which has two separate screens and was launched at a $1,500 price tag. This year, however, MKBHD chose the OnePlus 10T as Bust of the Year for having a “pretty big delta between expectations and possibilities versus actual results.”

MVP (Phone of the Year)

Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra was the 2021 winner of Phone of the Year. But what about this year? The winner for 2022 is Google’s Pixel 7. Just as mentioned before, MKBHD says the Pixel 7 has great value with its good cameras, display and battery, plus “flagship software experience” while it costs much less than other premium smartphones.

With similar arguments, ASUS Zenfone 9 also won an honorable mention as Phone of the Year. In third place, MKBHD chose the Galaxy S22 Ultra for this category, which he defines as “boring” and “expensive,” but at the same time one of the best phones one can get in 2022.

Wrap up

From three categories in 2021, the iPhone has now only been awarded in one of the categories in 2022. And yet, MKBHD pointed out that he prefers the iPhone camera because of its outstanding quality for shooting video.

When it comes to photos, MKBHD has already said in his videos that the iPhone 14 Pro’s camera exaggerates post-processing effects like HDR, which makes some photos look very unrealistic – and personally I agree with that.

What are your thoughts on the results? Would you have a different list than MKBHD for the best phones of 2022? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Business

Tesla, megacap growth stocks pull Nasdaq lower; Dow rises

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  • Tesla slumps on report of reduced output plan
  • China ADRs rise on reopening optimism
  • Indexes mixed: Dow up 0.40%, S&P down 0.11%, Nasdaq down 0.80%

Dec 27 (Reuters) – The tech-heavy Nasdaq came under pressure on Tuesday following declines in some megacap growth stocks and Tesla, while optimism around an economic recovery in China after the country further eased its COVID-19 curbs helped cap losses.

Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) tumbled 8.1% to hit a more than two-year low after Reuters reported that the electric vehicle maker plans to run a reduced production schedule at its Shanghai plant into January. The stock has lost more than two-thirds of its value this year.

Megacap growth stocks Apple Inc (AAPL.O), Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) slipped between 1% and 1.5% as U.S. Treasury yields rose.

The declines made consumer discretionary (.SPLRCD) and technology (.SPLRCT) the worst performers among major S&P 500 (.SPX) sector indexes.

However, sectors closely tied to the economy, such as industrials (.SPLRCI), materials (.SPLRCM) and energy (.SPNY), advanced, helping the Dow Jones (.DJI) to eke out gains.

“What you’re seeing is a battle between investors who are doing year-end tax selling and investors that believe that normal inflows in January will lead to a better market,” said Rick Meckler, partner at Cherry Lane Investments in New Vernon, New Jersey.

Meckler also pointed to thin trading volumes playing its part in market volatility.

Growth stocks have been under pressure this year from a rise in U.S. Treasury yields after the Federal Reserve embarked on an aggressive interest rate hike campaign to tame a surge in inflation, with investors turning to high dividend-yielding value stocks such as energy.

The S&P 500 growth index (.IGX) has tumbled 30% this year, compared with a 7% drop for the value index (.IVX).

U.S.-listed shares of Chinese firms such as JD.Com Inc , Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and Pinduoduo Inc (PDD.O) climbed between 2% and 3.8% after China said it would stop requiring inbound travelers to go into quarantine starting Jan. 8.

Investors are hoping for a so-called “Santa rally” at the end of what has been a largely disappointing month for U.S. equities.

The S&P 500 (.SPX) and the Nasdaq (.IXIC) have lost around 5.7% and 9% so far in December and are on track for their biggest yearly loss since 2008 as the monetary policy tightening sparked worries of the economy tipping into a recession.

Economic data so far has offered little hope. Inflation has cooled further, but not enough to discourage the U.S. central bank from driving interest rates to higher levels next year.

Money markets are pricing in 59% odds of a 25-basis-point interest rate hike at the Fed’s February meeting and expect rates peaking at 4.98% in May. .

At 11:52 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) was up 133.48 points, or 0.40%, at 33,337.41, the S&P 500 (.SPX) was down 4.22 points, or 0.11%, at 3,840.60, and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) was down 83.89 points, or 0.80%, at 10,413.97.

Southwest Airlines Co (LUV.N) shed 4.9% after cancelling thousands of flights, piling more pressure on the S&P 500.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers for a 1.01-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and 1.43-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

The S&P index recorded five new 52-week highs and three new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 61 new highs and 311 new lows.

Reporting by Amruta Khandekar and Ankika Biswas in Bengaluru;
Editing by Vinay Dwivedi and Sriraj Kalluvila

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Technology

The most anticipated phones of 2023

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2022 was a great year for phones, but the tech industry never sleeps, so we’re already looking ahead to 2023’s handsets – and many of them are shaping up to be very exciting.

Leaks and rumors mean we’ve already heard a fair bit about key handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 series and the iPhone 15 line, and they certainly rank among the most anticipated phones of 2023.

But there are less obvious yet no less exciting upcoming phones too, from brands including Xiaomi, Sony and more.

So below, you’ll find the phones we’re most looking forward to in 2023. These are phones that in most cases are likely to be great, and at the very least should be interesting, unusual, or innovative.

Samsung Galaxy S23

(Image credit: @OnLeaks / SmartPrix)

The Samsung Galaxy S23 and its siblings – including the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra – are likely to be the most popular Android flagships of 2023, and we’re expecting to see them early in the year, probably in February.

Leaks suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra could get a monstrous 200MP camera, and that every S23 model will use a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset everywhere in the world, rather than some regions getting an Exynos one.

Beyond that, their specs might not be a million miles from those of the S22 series, but expect camera and screen improvements, even where the core specs are similar. You can see an unofficial render showing the rumored design of the Galaxy S23 Ultra above.

Google Pixel 8

A Google Pixel 7 (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)

The Google Pixel 7 only launched in October 2022, but it and the Pixel 7 Pro were so good that we’re already eager to see what Google cooks up for the Pixel 8.

So far we haven’t heard much about this phone, other than that it will probably use a Tensor 3 chipset, support satellite communications, and that it might have 12GB of RAM, but we expect class-leading cameras and generally strong software.

Stay tuned for more information, because leaks and rumors are sure to start emerging in greater quantities as we get closer to the phone’s launch.

Google Pixel Fold

An unofficial render of the Google Pixel Fold (Image credit: FrontPageTech)

The Google Pixel Fold is a phone that we’ve been hearing about for years, and more recently there have been suggestions that it might land in either Q1 2023, or May 2023.

Based on the rumors so far, the Google Pixel Fold might have a 7.6-inch foldable OLED screen, a 5.8-inch cover display, and a Tensor – or more likely Tensor G2 – chipset. It could also look like the phone in the image above, which sources claim shows the design of the Pixel Fold.

There’s disagreement on the cameras, but they might impress too, with one leak pointing to a 64MP / 12.2MP / 10MP rear camera combination.

We’d take all of this with a pinch of salt for now, but this could end up being one of the few non-Samsung foldable phones that’s worth getting excited about.

iPhone 15 Ultra

An iPhone 14 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Obviously the entire iPhone 15 line is enormously anticipated, but it’s the intriguing talk of an iPhone 15 Ultra that has us the most excited.

This phone could land in place of an iPhone 15 Pro Max according to rumors, and could have better cameras than even the iPhone 15 Pro, including a long-range periscope snapper, along with a focus on battery life, a titanium frame, and a very high price.

This probably won’t be out until September 2023 if it lands at all, but it’s a phone you might want to get saving for, as the iPhone 15 Ultra could be extremely expensive.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

A Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is set to be Samsung’s next foldable flagship, but we’re not expecting to see it until August 2023, so there’s a while to wait.

As such, we also don’t know much about it yet, but an early leak points to it using the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and having similar cameras to the Galaxy Z Fold 4.

If nothing else, expect it to have a big foldable screen so it can double as a tablet, coupled with a similarly big price tag.

Sony Xperia I V

A Sony Xperia 1 IV (Image credit: Future)

The Sony Xperia I IV was one of the most interesting phones of 2022, thanks among other things to a continuous optical zoom camera. That’s a feature you won’t find on other brands, and it helped Sony’s flagship stand out from the crowd.

So far we haven’t really heard anything about the Xperia 1 V, but we’d expect it will offer similarly unusual cameras, plus a great screen and flagship power – along with, hopefully, some innovative surprises. Look out for it around the middle of 2023.

Xiaomi 13 Pro

A Xiaomi 12 (Image credit: Xiaomi)

The Xiaomi 13 Pro has actually already been announced, but so far it’s only available in China, with a global launch expected in early 2023.

This phone has a 6.73-inch 1440 x 3200 OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 4,820mAh battery with 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, a top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, and up to 12GB of RAM.

It also has water resistance and a premium design as you’d expect, but the most exciting aspect of the Xiaomi 13 Pro is its cameras, which include a 50MP f/1.9 primary camera with a big 1-inch sensor, which should help it take better shots than most phones.

It also has a 50MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, and a 50MP f/2.0 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. And if that’s not enough for you then there’s also talk of an even more accomplished Xiaomi 13 Ultra, although we haven’t heard much about this yet.

OnePlus 11

(Image credit: @OnLeaks / SmartPrix)

The OnePlus 11 will probably land within the first few months of 2023, and leaks suggest it won’t be joined by a standalone OnePlus 11 Pro – or rather, the OnePlus 11 will be the OnePlus 11 Pro in all but name.

So expect this phone to compete with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus or Ultra, despite the rumored lack of a Pro, Plus or Ultra suffix.

Leaks point to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, up to 16GB of RAM, a 6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED screen, a 5,000mAh battery with 100W charging, a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide camera, and a 32MP telephoto one with 2x optical zoom.

You can see how the OnePlus 11 might look in the unofficial render above.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

A Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 (Image credit: Future)

Along with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, we’re also looking forward to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, which is likely to be the better seller of the two, thanks to a more palatable price.

This upcoming clamshell foldable phone will reportedly use the top-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, have a 3.3 or 3.4-inch cover screen (up from 1.9 inches on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4), and will have a less visible crease than the current model.

That all sounds very promising, but Samsung will have its work cut out to stay at the top of the clamshell foldable heap, thanks to tough competition from the likes of Oppo and Motorola.

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Business

Apple Japan hit with $98 mln in back taxes- Nikkei

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TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) – Apple Inc’s (AAPL.O) Japan unit is being charged 13 billion yen ($98 million) in additional taxes for bulk sales of iPhones and other Apple devices to foreign tourists that were incorrectly exempted from the consumption tax, the Nikkei newspaper said.

Citing unidentified sources, the Nikkei reported on Tuesday that bulk purchases of iPhones by foreign shoppers were discovered at some Apple stores with at least one transaction involving an individual buying hundreds of handsets at once.

Japan allows tourists staying less than six months to buy items without paying the 10% consumption tax, but the exemption does not apply to purchases for the purpose of resale.

Apple Japan is believed to have filed an amended tax return, according to Nikkei.

In response to a Reuters’ request for comment, the company only said in an emailed message that tax-exempt purchases were currently unavailable at its stores. The Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau declined to comment.

The iPhone maker’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook visited Japan earlier this month and announced that the company had invested more than $100 billion in its Japanese supply network over the last five years. read more

($1 = 132.9000 yen)

Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru, Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Kenneth Maxwell

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Technology

Why Galaxy S FE phones aren’t updated the same day as their non-FE cousins

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Whenever Samsung releases a new software update for the Galaxy S20 or Galaxy S21 lineup, many people assume Samsung will include the Galaxy S20 FE or the Galaxy S21 FE in the rollout, only to find out their device doesn’t get the same update as its non-Fan Edition model most of the time.

Why is that, though? Why don’t those FE smartphones get new updates along with the other models in the lineup? Well, there’s no official answer to that question, but it’s probably because Galaxy S FE phones launch many months after their non-FE counterparts.

Fan Edition Galaxy S models are launched separately, updated separately

The FE models get mostly the same hardware as the non-FE models, which should make updating them all at the same time an easy process. Still, for some reason, Samsung treats the Fan Edition devices differently. Other than the fact that FE models launch months after their standard Galaxy S cousins, their aggressive pricing could also be a reason that factors in here.

Thankfully, Samsung doesn’t discriminate when it comes to the level of software support any of these phones get, FE or non-FE. Both the Galaxy S20 FE and the Galaxy S21 FE were/are eligible for three and four major OS upgrades like their cousins.

In fact, the Galaxy S21 FE will get an extra big upgrade compared to the Galaxy S21, S21+, or S21 Ultra when support ends, as delays in its announcement resulted in the device launching with a newer version of Android out of the box. And with 2023 less than a week away, the Galaxy S22 FE — if it exists — will likely follow in the S21 FE’s footsteps and launch running the latest Android and One UI software.

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Technology

Google to bring up the heat to Samsung with its future phones

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Details about all upcoming Pixel smartphones from Google have been leaked, thanks to a new report from Android Authority. The company’s smartphone launch strategy for 2023, 2024, and 2025 has been revealed. According to the publication, Google might launch as many as fifteen smartphones over the next three years.

Interestingly, Google plans to launch foldable devices as well, including a clamshell foldable and a side-by-side foldable, which will go directly against the Galaxy Z Flip and the Galaxy Z Fold series. It means that Samsung will not only have to compete with Google on the non-foldable smartphone front but also in the foldable smartphone realm in the coming years.

Google’s planning to launch a Galaxy Z Fold competitor in H1 2023

Google is planning to launch two smartphones in April/May 2023. One of them will be the Pixel 7A, which is codenamed ‘Lynx.’ This phone, as you might have guessed, will be a more affordable alternative to the Pixel 7. According to the report, the Pixel 7A will have the same price as the Pixel 6A: $449.

The second device will be the Pixel Fold, a side-by-side foldable smartphone similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 4. This device is codenamed ‘Felix,’ and according to the report, will be priced at $1,799, which will put it in direct competition with the Galaxy Z Fold lineup. Unfortunately, details about its specs are scarce at the moment.

Pixel 8 series is coming in H2 2023

Around the fall of 2023, Google plans to launch the Pixel 8 lineup. Similar to this year’s Pixels, the Pixel 8 will have two devices, the Pixel 8, which is codenamed ‘Shiba,’ and the Pixel 8 Pro, which is codenamed ‘Husky.’

While the Pixel 8 Pro will have a similar screen size and dimensions as the Pixel 7 Pro, Google will reportedly shrink the screen size and overall form factor of the Pixel 8, which means that it could go directly against the Galaxy S23. Both the Pixel 8 series phones are said to feature a chipset codenamed ‘Puma,’ and you can expect Google to market this SoC as Tensor G3.

Google may or may not launch Pixel 8A in H1 2024

In the first half of 2024, we could see the launch of Pixel 8A, which is codenamed ‘Akita.’ However, Google might launch this smartphone only if it sees good success with the Pixel 7A. Else, the company may scrap the plan to launch the device.

Seemingly, Google is also thinking of launching Pixel A-series smartphones once every two years rather than launching one every year. If the brand does launch the Pixel 8A, it will reportedly be priced at $499, which will be $50 costlier thane its predecessor.

Pixel 9 series could arrive in H2 2024 with three phones

The Pixel 9 series will reportedly arrive in the fall of 2024, and interestingly, it will have three phones, and this lineup would look like Apple’s iPhone series.

There will be the Pixel 9, which will be similar to the iPhone 14. Then there will be the Pixel 9 Pro—codenamed ‘Caiman’— like the iPhone 14 Pro. The third device—codenamed ‘Komodo’—will be in the league of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. All three phones would come with the ‘Redondo’ chipset, and Google will most likely call it the Tensor G4.

Along with it, Google could also launch a successor to the Pixel Fold. Reportedly, it would get specific about the second-gen foldable only after seeing consumer response for the ‘Felix.’

Galaxy Z Flip rival from Google could come in 2025

Google’s 2025 lineup of smartphones could heavily be influenced by the success or failure of its 2023 and 2024 devices. But what’s more important is that Google is planning to launch a clamshell foldable smartphone in 2025, which could go directly against the Galaxy Z Flip series.

Google’s flip-style phone will most likely launch alongside the Pixel 10 lineup, which will have three devices. The first one would be the Pixel 10, which will be the base variant in the lineup. There will be two Pixel 10 Pro models, one with a smaller screen size and the other with a larger screen size.

That being said, Google might also drop its plan to launch a clamshell Pixel phone, and in that case, the company could launch four non-foldable pixel phones, which would include the Pixel 10 in small and large sizes and the Pixel 10 Pro in small and large size. This strategy, once again, would be similar to Apple’s.

So, it looks like Google’s smartphones launching in 2023, 2024, and 2025 will be heavily influenced by Apple’s and Samsung’s current lineup of flagship devices. More importantly, Google is going to compete with Samsung on many fronts in the near future, and if Samsung wants to be ahead in the race, it definitely has to up its game.

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