New and rumored AT&T phones in 2022: iPhone SE, Galaxy S22, Pixel 6A and more - CNET
✔️ – Paris/France.
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Choosing a new phone upgrade is never easy. In the world of tech, there's always something new around the corner, and with Verizon and AT&T adopting 36-month installment plans, the phone you upgrade to will likely be the one you use in the future. course of the next few years. So trying to figure out when the "best time" to upgrade is can be tricky.
Here are some of the phones you'll want to watch out for this year and when we think they might arrive based on past trends and rumours.
Read more: What you need to know about the change of operator in 2022
A note on why you should buy a 2022 phone if you have AT&T
Before we get to the actual devices, it's worth a quick mention of why with AT&T in particular you should be looking for a 2022 device: 5G support and those long payment times.
AT&T is gearing up for a big 5G upgrade sometime in the second half of the year that should dramatically improve its service using what's known as midband spectrum. The carrier plans to cover 200 million people with its midband networks by the end of next year, and download speeds are expected to regularly reach several hundred megabits per second, with peaks of 1 gigabit per second.
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AT&T focuses on two types of midrange spectrum, known as C-band and 3,45 GHz. The former is what Verizon and AT&T have already started rolling out and is often used for 5G internationally, making it easy to find and activate in a number of phones that are already available like the Samsung Galaxy S21, Google's iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 and Pixel 6. The operator already has a list of devices that support C-band.
The 3,45 GHz spectrum, however, is not as common in phones today and AT&T has not committed to upgrading earlier devices to support this network. (Making things a little more confusing, AT&T is labeling both midband flavors, as well as its millimeter-wave network, as "5G Plus.")
Future flagship phones, starting with the Galaxy S22 lineup (and likely including many phones below), are expected to work with all flavors of AT&T's 5G. Since you can lock yourself into a 36-month commitment when upgrading, getting a phone that works with all of AT&T's 5G variants should be kept in mind.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra, left, S22 Plus and S22.
Richard Peterson/CNET
Galaxy S22
Samsung's latest Galaxy S phones are usually the first major phones of the year, and for the US, that trend continues. The latest Galaxy phones feature the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, improved cameras and, at least on the S22 Ultra, a slot for Samsung's S Pen stylus. All three phones will also work with all of AT&T's 5G networks.
When are they coming out? The new Galaxy phones hit stores on February 25. Pricing starts at $800 for the standard Galaxy S22, $1 for the S000 Plus, and $22 for the S1 Ultra.
The new iPhone SE is expected to retain a similar design to the current iPhone SE, above.
Angela Lang/CNET
Apple iPhone SE 3
Apple's budget iPhone got a new 2022 upgrade. Well, pretty fresh. The new model features a nearly identical design to the second-generation iPhone SE (which itself is similar to the iPhone 8) – meaning yes to a home button and big bezels, but no Face ID or to a larger screen – but now supports low-band and mid-band 5G networks. The new SE also runs on Apple's A15 processor, the same chip as the iPhone 13, and has better battery life.
AT&T has confirmed that the new iPhone SE will not work with its future 5 GHz midband 3,45G network. It also doesn't support AT&T's millimeter wave 5G network. You can read more about the different names and flavors of 5G here.
When is it coming out? Apple's latest iPhone SE is available for pre-order on March 11 and goes on sale March 18. Prices start at $429 for a 64GB model.
Rumored Pixel 6A.
OnLeaks/91Mobiles
Google Pixel 6A
Like Apple, Google is rumored to be working on a new, more affordable version of its Pixel line. The successor to last year's Pixel 5A, according to 9to5Google, the Pixel 6A will feature Google's Tensor chip and dual rear cameras: a 12,2-megapixel main shooter and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens. An 8-megapixel camera will end up on the front.
A report from OnLeaks and 91Mobiles revealed that design-wise, the phone will feature a similar look to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, including the camera bar at the top rear of the phone. The screen will measure 6,2 inches in diameter, with a fingerprint reader inside the screen.
When is it coming out? Google typically releases its Pixel A series updates in the summer, with the Pixel 5A announced in August last year and the Pixel 4A lineup announced around the same time the year before. That said, it's possible the phone will show up at the company's annual Google I/O developer event, where the Pixel 3A debuted in 2019.
Samsung's Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3.
Lexy Savvides/CNET
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4
Samsung has been consistent in updating its foldable phones every summer. While rumors are pretty thin on what to expect for 2022, if you're a fan of foldable devices, there are two to watch out for. Korean news site The Elec reports that the Z Fold 4 will follow the lead of the S22 Ultra and include a slot for an S Pen stylus.
When are they coming out? Samsung has used its late summer launch to roll out updates to its Z line of phones in the past, so if this trend continues, those could arrive in August or September. Last year's Z series was announced in August.
A first render of Jon Prosser's iPhone 14, designed by Ian Zelbo.
Jon prosser
Apple iPhone 14
While the iPhone SE 3 is seemingly imminent, the next major iPhone update isn't expected to arrive until the fall. Among the many rumored changes and improvements for this year's flagship line of iPhones are regular processor and camera upgrades, with the Pro and Pro Max possibly getting 48-megapixel rear shooters, up from 12 megapixels found on previous iPhones. .
However, the biggest change in the iPhone 14 might be the front camera placement for the 14 Pro and Pro Max. Rumors suggest Apple may finally be ditching the notch and opting for a hole or pill-shaped cutout instead.
We now believe that Apple will have a hole + pill design on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models. The smaller hole won't be invisible… The two-hole concept will be unique to Apple, like the notch, not similar to all of Huawei's pill designs… Let's check out these new renders pic.twitter.com/Udt8cTKzPZ
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) January 12, 2022
When are they coming out? Apple usually announces its major iPhone upgrades in September.
Google's foldable Pixel is rumored to have a similar design to Oppo's Find N, above.
Eli Blumenthal/CNET
Google Pixel 7, 7 Pro and Pixel Notepad
Google is rumored to be working on a few big Pixel upgrades this year, including successors to the Pixel 6 line and a new foldable Pixel. According to 9to5Google, the Pixel 7 lineup will feature a second-generation version of Google's custom Tensor processor as well as an updated Samsung modem for connecting to cellular networks. A recent leak from OnLeaks and SmartPrix appears to show the 7 Pro's design, which is similar to last year's Pixel 6 Pro style.
Rumored Pixel 7 Pro.
OnLeaks/Smartprix
The outlet also reported that the company is working on a foldable Pixel which it says could be called the Pixel Notebook. Not much is known about this device, although it should run on Google's Tensor chip. 9to5Google also says the price might be more affordable than the $1 Samsung charges for the Z Fold 800, and the design might look more like Oppo's Find N.
When are they coming out? Google has traditionally made its big Pixel updates in October. Analyst Ross Young tweeted that the foldable phone, in particular, could arrive in October.
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