March is about to end, and when it comes to the smartphone market we had a lot of important releases. Xiaomi’s cost-effective brand – Redmi – has finally introduced its flagship the last part of its cost-flagship contenders in the form of the Redmi K50 series. Also, we saw Realme introducing its Realme GT Neo 3 as a solid contender for the intermediary flagship segment. We also saw POCO expanding its POCO X4 series to more markets and we saw the debut of interesting chips such as the MediaTek Dimensity 8100. Finally, we saw Apple debuting its new iPhone SE 5G after two months of waiting.
We also saw a lot of rumors about mid-year flagships sporting crazily impressive specifications like 200 MP cameras, and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+. That said, March’s end still feels like the beginning of an exciting year for smartphone enthusiasts. We just hope that April keeps this interesting pace with many good releases for the flagship, mid-range, and low-end segments. If you have missed the best smartphone launches of March 2022, this list will bring you some recap. Of course, this is based on our own opinion. And opening differs from one person to another. You’ll find a list of our best picks for March 2022. Feel free to leave your own best pick in the comments section.
BEST SMARTPHONE LAUNCHES OF MARCH 2022
As aforementioned, this list below brings some of the best smartphones launched in March 2022. At least in our humble opinion. Maybe, you’ll think I’m missing a smartphone on this list. Don’t worry, you’ll be free to comment and share your opinion in the comments section. The devices below are those who stole our attention, created hype and anticipation ahead of their release and etc. There are various options in the flagship segment, as well as some devices that get the spotlight in the mid-range segment. Worth noting that this list is not only composed of the devices that perform better but also brings some good contenders that stole the attention due to their appeal, no matter the segment they’re targeting.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
We start our list with the best smartphone launches of March 2022 with the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G. This particular device is the successor of Samsung’s best-selling smartphone series. The Galaxy A50 was a hit, the A51, and the A52 too. So, this particular device has the hard task to overcome its predecessors and top the ranking of Samsung smartphone sales. Considering the specifications, we can see significant upgrades that make this device stand in the over-competitive market. The Galaxy A53 5G probably will sell like hotcakes, especially in emerging markets.
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G shines in the mid-range department with an excellent Super AMOLED display. This panel brings a 6.5-inch diagonal and a center-aligned punch-hole, or what Samsung defines as an “Infinity-O” display. The panel has a Full HD+ resolution with 2,400 x 1,080 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The screen is covered with Gorilla Glass 5, has a 120 Hz refresh rate and 800 nits of brightness. Upon the front, the device looks like its predecessors, but the screen has been improved. The device boasts an IP67 dust-water resistant has the usual glass sandwich body.
Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G packs a mysterious 5 nm chipset. Samsung never publicly revealed the moniker of this chip, but the best speculations point out the Exynos 1280 SoC. It’s a 5 nm processor with ARM Cortex-A78 cores clocked at up to 2.4 GHz and a few power-efficient ARM Cortex-A55 cores clocked at up to 2.0 GHz. The phone comes in multiple variants with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of Internal Storage, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of Storage. There is a rare variant with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of Internal Storage. However, the availability of these variants depends on each market. Interestingly, the device also brings a micro SD card slot for further memory expansion. Samsung still keeps this tradition in the mid-range segment, which is a plus.
The Galaxy A53 5Gp packs a Quad-Camera setup just like its predecessor. However, there are significant improvements such as Optical Image Stabilization on the main 64 MP camera. It has a f/1.8 aperture and PDAF autofocus. The secondary snapper is a 12 MP ultrawide shooter with an f/2.2 aperture and a 123-degrees field of view. Finally, the phone has a 5 MP macro shooter with an f/2.4 aperture and a 5 MP depth-sensing with the same aperture. For selfies and video calls, the phone boasts a 32 MP selfie snapper with an f/2.2 aperture.
The smartphone has stereo speakers but misses a 3.5 mm headphone jack. For connectivity, there is Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1. It also comes with the entire plethora of GNSS navigation systems and there is NFC, although it’s market dependent. The phone charges through a USB Type-C at a max rate of 25W. The device draws its powers from a 5,000 mAh non-removable battery.
Samsung Galaxy A73 5G
The next smartphone on our list is the Samsung Galaxy A73 5G. The handset is a higher offering when compared to the Samsung Galaxy A73 5G. However, we have to say that it is still hard to find one on the shelves. It’s more aligned with the premium segment. There are other features that make this device a compelling choice for users who want something more premium-oriented. As the good device that it is, we can say it deserves a place among the best smartphone launches of March 2022.
The Samsung Galaxy A73 5G packs a massive 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. It also comes with a center punch-hole for the selfie snapper. The panel has the same Full HD+ resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, and Corning Gorilla Glass protection. Similarly, it boasts IP67 dust/water resistance.
Under the hood, the phone carries the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC. This particular chipset was present in the last year’s Galaxy A52s 5G. So it’s a bit strange to see it back with the Galaxy A73 5G, but honestly, it can still handle most of the Google Play Store applications and games without any hassle. The phone comes in variants with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, 8 GB of RAM with 128 GB of Storage, and finally 8 GB of RAM with 256 GB of Internal Storage.
In terms of optics, the Samsung Galaxy A73 5G packs a Quad-Camera setup. It’s almost the same as the Galaxy A53 5G, except for the main camera. It has a 108 MP primary snapper with f/1.8 aperture, PDAF, and OIS. It’s one of the few Samsung smartphones in the mid-range department with such a camera, and will soon be followed by the Galaxy M53. The other snappers are the same 12 MP f/2.2 ultrawide camera, 5 MP f/2.4 macro, and 5 MP f/2.4 depth sensors. For selfies and video calls, there is the same 32 MP snapper.
The Samsung Galaxy A73 5G packs Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. There is also NFC and a USB Type-C port. The phone runs Android 12 straight out of the box with One UI 4.0 and draws its powers from a huge 5,000 mAh battery with the same 25 W fast-charging as its sibling. The Galaxy A73 5G looks very similar to its smaller brother, except for the processing unit and the 108 MP camera. Still, it figures among the best smartphone launches of March 2022.
Realme 9 SE
Back in the last month, Realme introduced the Realme 9 Pro and Realme 9 Pro+ smartphones. This month, the company introduced the vanilla Realme 9 5G and the Realme 9 SE. These devices were surprisingly impressive, and some may even consider the Realme 9 SE the best choice over the Pro series. The fact is that the Realme 9 SE certainly is among the best smartphone launches of March 2022. And therefore enters in our list.
The Realme 9 SE is also known as Realme 9 5G Speed Edition. We have to say that the device basically focuses on bringing decent performance and smoothness at a low pricing point. It sacrifices the AMOLED panel on the Pro variants, but there is still a good way to justify this. Instead of an AMOLED, we get a common IPS LCD. The big highlight is a super smooth 144 Hz refresh rate which is not usual on mid-range smartphones. The panel has a 6.6-inch diagonal, with an 84.1 percent screen to body ratio, and 600 nits of brightness. The resolution obviously is Full HD+ with 2,412 x 1,080 pixels. The phone comes covered with a layer of Panda Glass.
Under the hood, we have the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G found on many mid-range smartphones. It has a 6 nm architecture and brings 4 x ARM Cortex-A78 cores clocked at up to 2.4 GHz, plus 4 x ARM Cortex-A55 cores clocked at up to 1.9 GHz. There is also a powerful Adreno 642L for intense gaming tasks. The phone also brings a micro SD card slot for those who want to expand the 128 GB of Storage. It comes in variants with 6 GB and 8 GB of RAM.
The device is still a mid-range phone and cuts some corners in the camera department. We have a 48 MP main camera at the rear alongside two 2 MP modules for macro and depth. Unfortunately, there is no OIS, but there is PDAF autofocus. The selfie snapper is a 16 MP shooter that sits on a top-left punch-hole cutout. The device has a single loudspeaker and brings a 3.5 mm headphone jack for those who enjoy the old port.
In terms of connectivity, there is Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 with LE and aptX HD codecs. GPS is complete with support for all the existing satellite navigation systems and there is a USB Type C port. The phone runs Realme uI 3.0 with Android 132 straight out of the box and brings a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. It draws the power from a 5,000 mAh battery with 30 W fast charging.
Redmi K50
The next device is our list is one of Redmi’s most anticipated smartphones – the Redmi K50. The device has been in the rumor mill since the last year, but the rumors only became accurate in the beginning of this year. It’s a solid device that serves to debut the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC. A powerful chipset that can offer the same level of performance as the Snapdragon 888. It’s interesting to see Redmi strengthening its partnership with MediaTek bringing Redmi K50 smartphones with MediaTek chips. The device will reach global markets soon as POCO F4 and has all the guts to be among the best smartphone launches of March 2022.
The Redmi K50 packs a gorgeous 6.67-inch OLED display with 3,200 x 1,440 resolution. That’s the first vanilla Redmi K to bring a Quad HD+ resolution and only shows how powerful the Dimensity 8100 is. The phone’s display has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The device has a 120 Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision support, HDR 10+, and 1,200 nits of peak brightness. It comes with a centered punch-hole for the selfie camera. There is an IP53 certification ensuring dust and splash resistance.
The Redmi K50 comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC. This processor was unveiled this month and carries 4 x ARM Cortex-A78 cores clocked at up to 2.85 GHz, plus 4 x ARM Cortex-A55 cores clocked at up to 2.0 GHz. The chip was built on TSMC’s 5nm process and brings a Mali-G610 GPU. The Redmi K50 comes in variants with 8 GB of RAM and 12 GB of RAM. In terms of storage, users will choose between 128 GB or 256 GB of Internal Storage.
The camera setup may not be so impressive at the first sight. After all, it has a 48 MP main camera that is already old considering how trending the 50 MP Sony IMX766 is. However, this snapper brings Optical Image Stabilisation which is still the main selling point. The secondary snapper is an 8 MP ultrawide shooter with 119 FOV, and finally, the third sensor is a 2 MP macro shooter. The selfie snapper is a 20 MP camera.
The Redmi K50 brings stereo speakers but lacks a 3.5 mm headphone jack. In terms of connectivity, it comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. That’s right, the Dimensity 8100 SoC is the first chip to come with support for the newer Bluetooth 5.3 standard, and Xiaomi didn’t leave this fancy feature out of the party. The device comes with tri-band GPS, NFC, IR Blaster, and a USB Type C port. The fingerprint scanner is side-mounted and the phone runs Android 12 with MIUI 13 at the top.
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The Redmi K50 draws its powers from a massive 5,500 mAh battery with 67 W fast charging. That’s the biggest battery in our records to be aligned with this charging rate.
Redmi K50 Pro
The biggest brother in the series also deserves a place in this list as one of the best smartphones launched in March 2022. It’s a device more oriented to the flagship segment and may reach global markets soon as POCO F4 Pro.
The Redmi K50 Pro packs almost the same design as its smaller brother. It brings a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with Quad HD+ resolution of 3,200 x 1,440 pixels and a 120 Hz refresh rate. The panel also supports HDR 10+, Dolby Vision, and has a 1,200 nits peak brightness. It’s covered with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and the same goes for the glass back.
Under the hood, the Redmi K50 Pro is a better offering with the MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC. This processor is the Taiwanese chipmakers’ flagship offering for 2022 and is yet to become popular in the market. It brings a very similar architecture to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, except for the fact that it’s made at TSMC 4 nm foundries. The processor brings 1 x ARM Cortex-X2 core clocked at up to 3.05 GHz, 3 x ARM Cortex-A710 cores clocked at up to 2.85 GHz, and 4 x ARM Cortex-A510 cores clocked at up to 1.80 GHz. The processor brings an excellent Mali-G710 MC10 GPU. The phone has variants with 8 GB and 12 GB of RAM. Storage-wise it ranges from 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB.
The Redmi K50 Pro has a more impressive camera setup led by a 108 MP main camera with PDAF and OIS. However, that’s all, the other two sensors are the same 8 MP ultrawide and 2 MP macro snappers inside of the vanilla smartphone. For selfies and video calls, we have the same 20 MP wide camera.
The Redmi K50 also brings stereo speakers, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3. The device comes with a tri-band GPS and A-GPS. There is an IR Blaster, side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and USB Type-C port. The phone draws its powers from a smaller 5,000 mAh battery with faster 120 W charging. In terms of software, the same MIUI 13 with Android 12 runs in this handset.
Realme GT Neo 3
The Realme GT Neo 3 now figures as one of the closest competitors for the Redmi K50. The specifications are very similar with some obvious differences, but the fact is that Realme really seems to be targeting the Redmi K50 with this handset. The device is available in China, but will soon reach other markets as Realme GT Neo 3, or even as OnePlus 10R. Anyway, it’s among the best smartphone launches of March 2022 and showcases Realme’s prowess in the fast-charging department.
The Realme GT Neo 3 flaunts a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a Full HD+ resolution of 2,412 x 1,080 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio, 120 Hz refresh rate, and HDR 10+ support. The phone is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Worth noting, that this is the first Realme smartphone to come with a centered punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera.
Under the hood, the Realme GT Neo 3 brings the same MediaTek Dimensity 8100 processor found within the Redmi K50. This processor apparently will be one of the most recurring choices for the “cost-effective flagship” segment this year. The phone has variants with 6 GB, 8 GB, and even 12 GB of RAM. In terms of storage, it has 128 GB and 256 GB of Storage.
The Realme GT Neo 3 has a better camera setup than its major competitor, or at least, a better main camera. It packs the 50 MP Sony IMX766 snapper with PDAF and Optical Image Stabilization. The other sensors are an 8 MP ultrawide shooter with f/2.3 aperture and a macro shooter with 2 MP resolution. The triple-camera setup has a Dual-LED dual-Tone flash helper. The phone brings a simpler 16 MP selfie snapper upon the front.
The handset also brings stereo speakers without a 3.5 mm headphone jack. There is dual-band A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO and QZSS GPS systems. The phone brings NFC and has a USB Type-C 2.0 port. Unlike its competitor, there is an in-display fingerprint scanner. It also runs Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0 running at the top.
There are two versions of the Realme GT Neo 3. The regular version has a bigger 5000 mAh battery with 80 W fast-charging. There is a 150W version that comes with this crazily-fast 150 W charging rate. However, it has a smaller 4,500 mAh battery.
iPhone SE 5G or iPhone SE (2022)
The iPhone releases aren’t frequent, but Apple has been changing this with the iPhone SE series. Even though this device lineup seems to be updated in a two-year schedule, it figures as an early-year iPhone release. The iPhone SE 5G was unveiled after much anticipation and unlike the previous rumors does not bring significant design changes. The big secret is in the internals since this device has basically the same processing unit as the iPhone 13. Another of its highlight is on the 5G connectivity. Due to its more affordable price tag, the phone has the potential to be one of the best-selling iPhones in 2022. Time will tell. Anyway, it deserves a place among the best smartphone launches of March 2022.
Apple is calling this device simply as iPhone SE (2022) so we’ll keep this moniker in mind. The device has a very classic iPhone design resembling the iPhone SE from 2020. That means a tiny 4.7-inch Retina IPS LCD display with 625 nits of typical brightness. The phone has a 1,334 x 750 resolution to be more precise which is slightly beyond a standard HD display. The phone comes with IP67 water and dust resistance and thick bezels at the top and bottom. The bottom one houses a classic Home button with the Touch ID fingerprint scanner embedded.
The iPhone SE 2022 packs the same Apple A15 Bionic processor found within the iPhone 13 series. That means the same level of performance as Apple’s current flagship devices. The device brings 4 GB of RAM which is an upgrade over its predecessor. In terms of storage, users will find it in variants of 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB.
The iPhone SE 2022 has a modest camera setup with a 12 MP resolution and f/1.8 aperture. However, it brings optical image stabilization which is a plus. There is also a Quad-LED dual-tone flash and the phone can record 4K videos at 60 fps. The selfie snapper is a tiny 7 MP module with an f/2.2 aperture. The handset has stereo speakers but keeps the Apple tradition without a 3.5 mm headphone jack. There is also NFC for contactless payments and, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, and GPS. The charging is done through Lightning USB 2.0 port, and there is no kind of fast charging. The battery is a tepid 2,018 mAh unit, and despite all the optimizations, we can’t see this lasting an entire day without charging. Anyway, there is 18 W fast-charging.
Honor X9
Honor is back to relevance with timely releases. The company has unleashed some of its flagship smartphones in the last month and is expanding its efforts into the global markets. This week, the company has launched the Honor X9 with compelling specs for the mid-range segment. The device is a solid 5G contender for the affordable market and we can list it among the best smartphone launches of March 2022.
The Honor X9 flaunts a 6.81-inch LCD IPS screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a punch-hole cutout. The panel has a Full HD+ resolution with 2,388 x 1,080 pixels. Under the hood, the handset carries the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor which brings a 6 nm manufacturing process. This chipset brings 2 x ARM Cortex-A78 cores clocked at up to 2.2 GHz, plus six ARM Cortex-A55 cores clocked at up to 1.8 GHz. The phone comes in a single variant with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of Internal Storage.
The camera setup is modest but serves well the affordable segment. There is a simple 48 MP shooter with f/1.8 aperture and PDAF. The other two sensors are a 2 MP macro and a 2 MP depth unit. For selfies and video calls the phone counts with a 16 MP selfie shooter.
The Honor X9 brings Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5.1. It also has NFC, GPS, and a USB Type-C port. Unfortunately, the phone runs Android 11 with Magic UI 4.2. But hopefully, it will get an update to Android 12 and Magic UI 5 in the future. There is a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and a 4,800 mAh battery with 66 W fast-charging. The charging speed is one of the most impressive aspects in this handset, especially when some flagships haven’t half of it.
Realme 9 5G
We’ve listed the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition above, and now it’s time for the vanilla device to make an appearance in this list. The phone is among the best smartphone launches of March 2022. After all, it’s a solid contender for the mid-range segment with 5G connectivity.
The Realme 9 5G flaunts a 6.5-inch IPS LCD screen with 600 nits brightness and 90 Hz refresh rate. It has a Full HD+ resolution with 2,400 x 1,080 pixels and 20:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the phone brings the MediaTek Dimensity 810 5G SoC. For those unaware, this is a 6 nm chip with 2 x ARM Cortex-76 cores clocked at up to 2.4 GHz and 6 x ARM Cortex-A55 cores clocked at up to 2.0 GHz. The device has a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. It comes in variants with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, and 6 GB of RAM with 128 GB of Storage.
The Realme 9 5G has a triple-camera setup with a 48 MP main camera, 2 MP macro, and 2 MP depth sensors. The phone also has a 16 MP selfie snapper fitted inside of a top-left punch-hole cutout. It can record videos at 1080p with 30 fps. Unlike the largest majority of devices in this list, the Realme 9 5G brings a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
The smartphone comes with Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, and GPS. The phone has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, USB Type C 2.0 port, and a 5,000 mAh battery with 18 W fast-charging.
iQOO Z6 5G
The last device to come along the best smartphone launches of March 2022 is the iQOO Z6 5G. As usual, in the Z lineup, this handset is a mid-range contender with 5G connectivity. Is a solid device bringing the traditions of this hardware and gaming-focused smartphone brand?
The iQOO Z6 5G packs a 6.58-inch IPS LCD screen with a Full HD+ resolution of 2,408 x 1,080 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The display refreshes at 120 Hz and brings a waterdrop notch which is unusual among 5G mid-range phones nowadays. Under the hood, the phone brings the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G, the same as the Honor X9. The handset comes with plenty of variants. It has 4 GB of RAM, 6 GB or 8 GB of RAM. When it comes to storage, the device has 128 GB of Internal Storage.
The iQOO Z6 5G packs a triple-camera setup. It has a 50 MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture with PDAF. There is also a 2 MP macro shooter, with a 2 MP depth-sensing module. The phone also has a dual LED flash and a 16 MP selfie snapper. The phone has dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, and a USB Type C port.
The iQOO Z6 5G brings a 3.5 mm headphone jack and runs Android 12 with Funtouch OS 12. The device has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Finally, we have a huge 5,000 mAh battery with 18 W fast-charging support.
BEST SMARTPHONE LAUNCHES – CONCLUSION AND DISCLAIMER
The above smartphones compose our list of best smartphone launches of March 2022. Of course, there may be other options that passed through our selection. If you think that there is any other device that deserves a place in the list, feel free to leave it in the comments section below. Also, feel free to check our list with best smartphone launches of February 2022.
