Every Major Brand’s Flagship Phone, Ranked Least To Most Expensive

With top brands like Samsung and Motorola launching new flagship phones in 2022, consumers have more options than ever before in the smartphone market.  Flagship phones feature the most advanced technology and represent the best features a brand has to offer. Of course, top-of-the-line phones come with top-of-the-line prices, so it’s a good idea to evaluate how these offerings compare in terms of value for the price.

This ranking of the flagship phones offered by major brands available in North America is based on the advertised list price for each smartphone. Buyers can also check with their mobile carriers or Amazon for better deals.

Nokia G400 – $239

Nokia retains its status as one of North America’s most recognized brands (perhaps due to its memorable, meme-able, indestructible 3310 series). However, the recently announced G400, set to be released later this year, is not in the same class as the flagship offerings from other brands.

Still, for the affordable $239 list price, it boasts impressive features, including a 6.5″ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 48MP rear camera, and 6 GB RAM with 128GB storage. These specifications make it stand out as a great value in the low-to-mid-price smartphone market.

TCL 20 Pro 5G – $529

Though it is perhaps better known for its TVs, TCL has been releasing smartphones under its own name since 2019. Although its focus is on budget range smartphones, TCL’s top offering, the 20 Pro 5G, has advanced features, despite its mid-range price tag.

It features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, although its 60Hz refresh rate makes for a less smooth experience when viewing videos and games with a high frame rate. Its 48MP Quad rear camera is comparable to other phones in its price range. It also features wireless charging capability and 6GB RAM and 256GB storage. What it lacks in technical advancements it makes up for in its more affordable price, which could appeal to shoppers on a budget.

Google Pixel 6 Pro – $899

Consumers looking for top-of-the-line performance at a more affordable price will likely be drawn to Google’s impressive flagship, the Pixel 6 Pro. One outstanding feature of Google’s flagship is its impressive triple rear camera, with a 50MP main camera, 48 MP telephoto camera, and 12MP ultra-wide camera situated in a horizontal bar that makes for a unique and interesting design.

Additionally, the Pixel 6 Pro sports a 6.7 inch AMOLED display, 12 GB RAM and 128 GB of storage in the base model, and a fast-charging battery that is wireless charging capable. Unlike its closest competitors, Samsung and Apple, Google’s Pixel 6 Pro does not support face unlock, but many users likely consider this a minor detail considering the overall features that the Pixel 6 Pro offers.

OnePlus 9 Pro – $969

It’s worth noting that OnePlus has announced that its newest flagship, the 10 Pro, is set to be released in North America by the end of March 2022.  However, since the 10 Pro’s list price was not available at the time of writing, this ranking covers the 9 Pro.

The most outstanding feature of the 9 Pro is its lightning-fast battery charging, which will appeal to consumers who don’t want to worry about carrying a portable charging bank. With 60W wired and an impressive 50W wireless charging, the OnePlus 9 Pro can go from empty to 100% charged in around 30 minutes – and OnePlus phones include a charging brick, so there’s no need to pay for extra accessories. The specifications of the 10 Pro indicate that OnePlus has sped up wired charging even more, so shoppers looking for reliable battery power may be drawn to OnePlus’ flagships.

Motorola Edge + – $999

Motorola’s upcoming flagship was announced at the end of February 2022 for release “in the coming months.” Although a firm release date is not yet available, the specifications that have been released prove that Motorola is ready to be a contender in the flagship game.

The Edge+ has a 6.67 inch AMOLED with an impressive 144Hz refresh rate. In addition to its 50 MP main and 50MP macro and ultra-wide rear cameras, it also boasts a 60MP front camera for crystal-clear selfies. For a limited time, Motorola is offering a discount of $100 off the list price on pre-orders, so buyers who are willing to wait for the unknown release date can get a great deal on 2022’s newest flagship. Until it’s released, it’s hard to tell how Edge+ will perform among the other flagship phones on the market.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max – $1099

When it comes to brand loyalty, Apple has a great track record, and thanks to the improvements in iPhones it’s made over the years, chances are that it will continue to satisfy devout iPhone users.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is as advanced as flagship phones get. It has a 6.7 inch LED display with adaptive refresh rates of up to 120Hz, Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, and 128MB of storage in the base model. Its impressive triple rear camera also features a Lidar scanner, which ensures that users get quality photos even in low-light conditions. With a battery life of up to 28 hours of video playback and fast charging capability, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has long-lasting power. Considering all of these advanced features, it’s easy to see why Apple continues to dominate the North American smartphone market.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – $1199

One of the most anticipated releases of 2022 so far, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the latest smartphone from one of North America’s dominant brands.  In addition to its impressive specifications, including a massive 6.8 inch AMOLED display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, the Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with an S pen Stylus (much like the Galaxy Note did).

Its quad rear camera is also impressive, boasting a 108MP main camera, two 10MP telephoto lenses, and a 12MP ultra-wide lens.  All of these advanced features require a lot of power, and the S22 Ultra features a sizable 5,000 mAh battery that supports fast charging and wireless charging to keep users connected. Its considerable price reflects the fact that this is one of the most powerful Android phones on the market.

Asus ROG 5s Pro – $1299

It may not be one of the most affordable phones for gamers, but ASUS’s ROG 5s Pro might be the most powerful. ASUS is perhaps best known for making laptops, but the brand’s ROG phones have proven popular with serious mobile gamers due to their impressive specs.

The ROG 5s Pro has a 6.78 inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a huge 6,000 mAh battery that supports extremely fast 65W wired charging, although it does not support wireless charging. Though it is on the higher end of the price range, it comes with 16GB RAM and 512 GB storage, making it comparably priced to Apple and Samsung’s 512GB models. The ROG 5s Pro is aimed at gamers, but provides impressive features for anyone in the market for a truly powerful smartphone.

Sony Xperia 1 III – $1299

Sony’s entry into the flagship phone market is the Xperia 1 III. Interestingly, one thing that sets the Xperia 1 III apart is more of a throwback than a technological advancement: unlike the flagships from other top brands, the Xperia 1 III still has a 3.5mm headphone jack, appealing to shoppers who haven’t gotten on board the wireless headphone trend.

Of course, this isn’t the only highlight of the Xperia 1 III. Sony lenses are featured in the cameras of many flagship phones, so it’s no surprise that the Xperia 1 III features a top-of-the-line quad rear camera. Consumers who are looking for a phone that delivers professional-quality photos may be drawn to the Xperia 1 III, despite its hefty price tag.