Thanks to God, we have reached the end of 2022 successfully. It's time for you to read one of the articles to our Best Devices 2022 series. In this article it is for the best Mid-Premium Smartphones, where it can be said to be an alternative option if you cannot afford the best flagship device of our choice.
Choosing criteria
There is no price limitation and the device is evaluated based on the features included.
6-inch screen and above.
Good performance with a mid-range chip.
Good camera capabilities.
Using Android 12.
Has been officially launched in Malaysia.
Third Place – Samsung Galaxy A73 5G
This device is a device that I personally did not think Samsung could offer. It is an almost completely complete device, the dream of all tech enthusiasts to have what the Galaxy A73 has to offer on all flagship devices. It will also likely be Samsung's last device under the series, as the Galaxy A7x is reportedly being discontinued.
Although we feel that this device is among the most complete and solid, we have to put it in third place because there are other competitors that are more interesting. But for the Samsung Galaxy A73 5G, it comes with a large screen size, OLED type panel, acceptable camera and audio capabilities and the rarest thing seen on a mid-range device is that this device has IP67 protection.
Not forgetting that through One UI, Samsung provides the best update support. True, the competition is more or less the same – but so far only Samsung has been consistent with monthly updates, security vulnerability patches and being among the fastest to receive operating system updates. This Samsung offer is difficult to chase by Realme, Xiaomi, Vivo and other brands active in the production of premium mid-range devices.
Specifications: 6.7” SAMOLED FHD+ HDR10+, 120Hz, Snapdragon 778G (4 X 3.0 GHz Kryo 570 Gold + 4 X 2.5 GHz Kryto 570 Silver), 8 GB RAM, 256GB storage, 108+12+5+5 MP (Main), 32 MP (Selfie), 5000 mAh (25W), IP67, Android 12 (already received Android 13).
Price: RM2099 (8/256 GB)
Second Place – Oppo Reno8 Pro
It goes without saying that in this category, Oppo devices never miss a beat. If last year's Reno6 Pro was in second place this year, Oppo Reno8 Pro was. We call this device the best photography device, where for a mid-range device the camera performance is flagship-level. What Oppo has done with this device is a bold move, because it really puts a flagship feature instead of just words or gimmicks like competitors.
Oppo has always tried their best to offer the best photography capabilities for all their devices. For example, the Remo8 Pro includes a MariSilicon X chip to further improve photography capabilities such as photos and videos at night or in dark environments. Reno8 Pro also comes with a beautiful, sexy design that looks premium.
We also list this Oppo device because of its improved ColorOS software. The Oppo Reno8 Pro is a great device if you want innovation, value photography and intend for long-term use.
Specifications: 6.67” AMOLED, FHD+, 120Hz, Dimensity 8100 (4 X 2.85 GHz Cortex-A78 + 4 X 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55), 12GB RAM, 256GB internal storage, 50+8+2 MP (Main), 32 MP ( Selfie), 4500 mAh (80W), Android 12.
Price: Starting at RM3499 (12/256 GB)
Champion – Nothing Phone (1)
For the first time we choose a champion from a new brand that is still a year old, the Nothing Phone (1). For a long time we debated whether this device was worthy or we should award it to another brand. But the Nothing Phone (1) is the choice because first of all it is the design. Nothing uses a different design than the others, giving this brand a unique transparent back panel.
Then, Nothing also tried to innovate in restoring LED notification lights through the Glyph system. With Glyph, not only the back of the device will light up but the lights will also move to the beat of the ringtone.
Nothing Phone (1) is also a mid-range device that is almost fully equipped. It supports wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, offers a good 50MP dual-camera, a flat body on every side including the screen, and most importantly solid software. Phone (1) runs Nothing OS which is similar to native Android and focuses on an open ecosystem.
For example, Nothing is the only Android device that can display the battery status of the AirPods Pro when tethered. Then Phone (1) also supports NFT display, can be a Tesla car key and supports Android version updates for 3 years and 4 years for security patches.
What Nothing has to offer is very interesting. If you're wondering, why is Oppo Reno8 Pro's review score higher than Nothing Phone (1), but Phone (1) is crowned the winner? This is because the review is based on the early version of Nothing OS. Now after receiving several critical updates, its user experience is now the best in terms of performance, camera, audio, and overall for a premium mid-range device of 2022.
Specifications: 6.55” OLED FHD+ HDR10+, 120Hz, Snapdragon 778G+ (1 x 2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 + 3 x 2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 + 4 x 1.8 GHz Cortex-A55), 8/12 GB RAM, 256GB storage, 50+50 MP (Main), 16 MP (Selfie), 4500 mAh (33W), IP53, Android 12 (Android 13 in test).
Price: Starting at RM1499 (8/128 GB)
That's it for the list of Best Devices 2022 for the Mid-Premium Phone category. We hope this list will help you choose the device you want to buy for use until 2023 or a few more years. If you have a different taste or a different budget, we also have other categories in this list of the Best Devices 2022. You can go to the top, where we provide links to other lists.