Which smartphone brand surprised you the most in 2022?

2022 had something for everyone in the smartphone landscape, ranging from innovative flagships (Sony Xperia 1 IV, Xiaomi 12S Ultra) and conservative upgrades (S22 Ultra, iPhone 14) to budget superstars (Redmi Note 11, Pixel 6a).

Now that we’re winding things down, we thought it would be a good idea to ask you about the smartphone brand that surprised you the most in 2022. Go ahead and make a selection below, and leave a comment if you’d like to explain your choice.

We’re specifically talking about smartphone brands that surprised you in a good way, rather than companies that surprised you for all the wrong reasons. So don’t go choosing HTC for its embarrassing “metaverse phone” shenanigans.