Tool Reviews

Planning to upgrade your device? In this top of summer 2022, we have collected current and new smartphones from different price segments that are worth your attention.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 6/128GB Graphite Gray

The first place for the representative of this model range has been established in our publications for a long time. Currently, Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 is the most optimal choice in the budget segment, a kind of king of budget people.

The model has a pleasant AMOLED screen at 90 Hz, a well-assembled body and sufficient performance, which is achieved with the help of the Snapdragon 680 processor.

A nice bonus is a relatively stable MIUI shell with a long support period.

Pluses: screen, stereo speakers, price.

Cons: no possibility to shoot 4K, not the best video quality.

Xiaomi Redmi 10C 4/64GB Graphite Gray

Next on the list is Xiaomi Redmi 10C. The model has the same processor and main camera as the previous smartphone, but the manufacturer found an opportunity to make the phone cheaper.

Although the model has an increased screen diagonal, the resolution is only 1650×720, there are no additional camera modules and there is no stereo pair of speakers.

But even with the cons, it’s a solid budget smartphone with a capacious 5,000 mAh battery, a fingerprint scanner, a large screen, and an infrared transmitter to control home appliances.

The model is reliable and functional enough, it will be a good choice for children and teenagers, as well as older people.

Pluses: cost, screen diagonal.

Cons: screen resolution, video and photo quality.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro 128GB Alpine Green

In the spring of 2022, Apple presented the ultimate flagship – the iPhone 13 Pro in the new “Green Alps” color.

The Apple iPhone is a unique phenomenon in the smartphone market, because despite its high cost, it remains the best-seller in markets around the world year after year.

And all because the company from Cupertino improves the cameras, screen and autonomy of its smartphones every year.

For example, the energy-efficient and powerful Apple A15 Bionic processor is responsible for the operation of the new iPhone 13 Pro. Add new camera sensors, perfect autonomy and a case made of steel and glass, and we get an almost perfect device.

Many criticize the brand for the high cost, although in fact most of the Android flagships have long since equaled the price, or even have a higher price.

Pluses: 120 Hz screen, battery.

Cons: price, iOS operating system.

Motorola G60 6/128GB Haze Gray

Motorola G60 is a real hit from a brand that is not very popular in our country. It is a perfectly balanced mid-budget smartphone, a direct competitor and successor to the POCO X3.

The IPS model has a 120Hz screen, an almost pure Android skin, and a 32MP front-facing camera that can even shoot 4K video and has a dedicated LED backlight.

The built-in processor is enough for beginner gamers – the smartphone is equipped with an 8-core Snapdragon 732. The 6000 mAh battery can be charged using the included 20-watt adapter, and NFC support is also announced.

This smartphone is a solid mid-ranger for any task.

Pluses: main camera 108 MP, screen, battery.

Cons: not very energy-efficient processor, camera operation in conditions of insufficient lighting.

Samsung Galaxy A33 5G 6/128GB Black

The Galaxy A3x line of smartphones is breaking sales records and can even compete in popularity with the flagships of the same brand.

The Samsung Galaxy A33 5G is equipped with a powerful octa-core processor of its own production – Samsung Exynos 1280. It is built on a modern 5nm architecture with support for a 5G communication module.

The body of the model is made of high-quality plastic, there are different colors – from black to peach. The smartphone has a built-in 5000 mAh battery with support for fast charging at 25 Watts.

With this power, the smartphone is charged from 0 to 100% in 1 hour 15 minutes, but keep in mind that the kit does not include a charger.

Separately, we note the presence of optical stabilization in the main photo module of the smartphone and the ability to record 4K video. This gives a good potential for creating very high quality videos.

Pluses: optical stabilization of the 48 MP camera, design, wide functionality.

Cons: processor not optimized for games, lack of Always-On-Display.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G 6/128GB Graphite

The prefix FE in the name of Samsung Galaxy S21 means Fan Edition – this version of the smartphone is created for true fans of the line and brand.

Samsung decided to save the money of fans and make the device cheaper. Although the question of reducing the price is always a question of compromises, fortunately, the manufacturer did not abuse it.

The case has a design from the S21 and S22 series, but the back cover is made of plastic; also built in a regular optical fingerprint scanner instead of an ultrasonic one.

The cameras are installed from the previous generation, but they are high-quality and equipped with optical stabilization modules on the main and telephoto lenses.

The smartphone has a high-quality screen, but for some reason the dimming function is not supported, which can be a problem for people who are sensitive to flickering.

The model has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, a 15-watt wireless charger with support for reverse charging of portable devices, and a powerful vibration motor.

Pluses: flagship design, dust and moisture protection IP68, functionality.

Cons: no eSIM, price.

OnePlus Ace 8/128GB Black

Since its inception, OnePlus has positioned its smartphones as reasonably priced models for true tech geeks.

Over time, the brand added new lines, which is how OnePlus Ace appeared – a new representative of budget high-performance smartphones. Its heart is the MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Max chip – a truly flagship-level processor.

The screen is made of OLED technology, it has a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a peak brightness of 950 nits. The body is made of ordinary plastic, but considering the cost of the model, this is not surprising.

A nice bonus is a super fast and powerful 150 Watt charger that can charge a smartphone from 0 to 100% in a mind-boggling 17 minutes!

Of course, there are controversial points in the functionality – the smartphone can overheat during long-term loads, the electronic stabilization works strangely during video recording.

But fortunately, the manufacturer can fix this with further software updates.

Pluses: powerful processor, 150W fast charging, price.

Cons: overheating under heavy load, video quality.

OnePlus 10 Pro 8/256GB Black

Immediately after the budget representative of this company, in our list, the top flagship OnePlus 10 Pro is the ultimate all-in-one solution.

The smartphone is made of aircraft aluminum, tempered glass and ceramics. The 6.7-inch screen is covered with ultra-modern protective glass Gorilla Glass Victus with an excellent oleophobic coating.

Only practicality and functionality of the waterfall screen are in doubt, the risk of breaking it is much higher. We hope that in the future manufacturers will switch to the usual solutions with flat screens.

The model is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, and the memory uses UFS 3.1 technology. The cameras are represented by three modules of 48, 8 and 50 MP, and were configured by the Hasselblad company. Another difference between this smartphone and all other flagships is the hardware sound mode switch.

In general, the OnePlus company produced a good stable flagship, which of course has certain drawbacks: flickering of the screen and not the most powerful charging. But everything is leveled by its cost and software with extended support.

Pluses: powerful functionality, a wide range of photo opportunities, adequate price/quality ratio.

Cons: limited possibilities of shooting video on an ultra-wide lens, a low level of progress compared to the previous generation.

Xiaomi Poco F4 6/128GB Moonlight Silver

Xiaomi Poco F4 is the newest smartphone in our summer TOP, it was introduced recently. The model is positioned as a popular sub-flagship and will compete with Realme GT Neo 2, Poco F3 and Xiaomi 12X.

The phone has a modern, trendy design with flat edges – smartphone manufacturers are gradually moving away from designs with smooth lines.

A balanced and well-executed Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor, a competitor of MediaTek Dimensity 8100, works inside the model without overheating or throttling.

The bright AMOLED screen at 120 Hz is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 5, and the camera unit is based on a 64 MP sensor with built-in optical stabilization.

There are stereo speakers on the top and bottom of the smartphone, the sound is clear and loud enough.

The low capacity of 4500 mAh is compensated by fast charging of 67 Watts.

Pluses: the ability to shoot 4K – 60 fps, high-quality screen, balanced performance.

Cons: questionable photo quality, imperfect software operation.

Google Pixel 6 8/128GB Stormy Black

It is impossible not to add to our list the Google Pixel 6 – that year’s flagship from Google, because it is in great demand among fans of the Android operating system.

It was in this generation that the design was updated, the model is made of aluminum and tempered glass, in a variety of colors.

This time, Pixel 6 is presented with its own development – the Google Tensor processor. It really provides high speed in applications, but not the best autonomy. Although now the model has fast charging at 30 Watts, and even wireless charging at 21 Watts with the possibility of reversible charging.

Let’s note the screen created using AMOLED technology at 90 Hz – bright, with rich colors and minimal flickering. Unfortunately, 120 Hz is only available in the Pro version.

Also, the model has a pleasant vibration, which you want to compare with the iPhone, and high-quality stereo speakers.

The Pixel line of smartphones is well known for its incredible camera. Fortunately, nothing has changed in this generation – photos are just as detailed and contrasty, and video is stabilized and sharp.

Pluses: non-standard design, high-quality cameras, excellent software performance.

Cons: problematic fingerprint scanner, throttling with significant processor loads.

We hope that our buyer’s guide will help you choose a new smartphone, and we wish you successful shopping with Hotline!

Author: Roman Gumen