Both the iPhone 14 and Samsung Galaxy S22 are excellent smartphones. We compared each phone in key areas like display, battery life, and cameras. They’re both great options, but we want to make sure you find the device that suits you best.
The S22 is a great Android all-arounder with a gorgeous screen, and the iPhone 14 offers the simple and reliable Apple experience that we’ve come to expect. But whether you should upgrade your phone now depends on the age of your current device, internal specs, and personal preference.
Read on to find out which device is worth the upgrade.
iPhone 14 vs. Galaxy S22 Summary
Apple and Samsung are the biggest names in mobile devices, and for good reason. Their flagship lineups are among the most reliable, powerful, and attractive phones in the market. The S22 offers a stunning display and more customization, but the iPhone 14 has a better battery life, a more consistent camera, and the simplicity of iOS.
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iPhone 14 vs. Galaxy S22: Display
For years, Samsung has had some of the best smartphone displays on the S series lineup, and the S22 is no different in this regard. This device features a 6.1-inch AMOLED display that refreshes up to 120 times per second. It's beautiful, even in direct sunlight, and will have your Disney+ and Netflix streams looking stunning.
The iPhone 14's screen isn't bad by any means—it just can't keep up with the Galaxy S22. You get slightly more pixels with the iPhone 14 despite the same 6.1-inch OLED display, but the refresh rate is locked in at 60Hz. A 120hz screen, like the S22's, will always look smoother and more responsive.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S22
iPhone 14 vs. Galaxy S22: Battery
The iPhone 14 really pulls away in audio playback, standby time, and general longevity while the screen isn't on. Apple has the iPhone 14 quoted for a whopping 80 hours of audio playback compared to the S22's listed 54 hours.
Ultimately, Samsung's S22 display victory cost it the battery category. The 120Hz screen uses more power, resulting in a slightly shorter listed battery life at 18 hours of video playback versus the iPhone 14's 19 hours.
Winner: Apple iPhone 14
iPhone 14 vs. Galaxy S22: Camera
Photo and video quality are subjective regarding processing style and the overall appearance, so we're focusing on consistency, features, and general quality here.
The iPhone 14 runs away with consistency in both photo and video modes. It captures photos with a fast shutter speed to help prevent blur, delivers colours with good accuracy, and the results are almost identical to what the viewfinder shows. Even the in-app cameras for things like Snapchat and Instagram are sharper on the iPhone.
Samsung's S22 still takes nice photos and videos, but they're just a hair behind Apple when it comes to the speed and consistency across different shooting environments and modes. Samsung offers more "fun" options like super slow motion video and a telephoto lens—especially when compared to Apple's "simple is better" approach.
There's no true winner when it comes to quality, as this is quite subjective. Apple's colour accuracy is a bit better, while Samsung's colours have more vibrance and pop to them by default. Low-light quality is solid on both, too, with Samsung favouring a brighter image and Apple producing a more detailed photo.
- 12MP main camera
- 12MP ultrawide camera
- 12MP selfie camera
- 50MP main camera
- 12MP ultrawide camera
- 10MP telephoto camera
- 10MP selfie camera
Winner: Tie
iPhone 14 vs. Galaxy S22: Performance
When evaluating raw performance capability, the iPhone 14’s A15 Bionic processor closely trails the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max's brand-new A16 Bionic processor. However, both phones will fly through everything you throw at them, with the S22 rocking the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Looking at theoretical top-end performance, the iPhone wins. But in regular everyday use, both are among the fastest available.
Winner: Tie
iPhone 14 vs. Galaxy S22: Software
Both Android and iOS have their pros and cons. Android's biggest advantage is the level of customization that's available. Most Android devices, including the S22, give you many options and settings to make your device feel unique. The downside of this is that it can be overwhelming to some people. Android devices also tend to work really well with most non-Apple smart devices. Compatibility with Apple products will vary case by case, but you rarely get full functionality.
Apple's iOS takes the opposite approach, with a simple and streamlined experience that skips out on customization options. Smart devices from virtually every brand will work with the iPhone 14 and iOS devices, and there are optimizations for Apple's own products like the HomePod mini or AirPods.
There's no true winner between the software choices here. It comes down to your preferences and if you have other devices that depend on Android or iOS mobile operating systems.
Winner: Tie
iPhone 14 vs. Galaxy S22: Price
If you're looking to save some of your hard-earned money, the Samsung Galaxy S22 is a bit cheaper than the iPhone 14's $1,099 starting price. Because the S22 is older than the iPhone 14, the price dropped slightly since its release, landing at $969.99. Prices with carriers will likely be pretty similar until the next Galaxy devices release, likely in the first few months of 2023.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S22
iPhone 14 vs. Galaxy S22 Recap
Apple's iPhone 14 is better if you use other Apple devices like an Apple Watch or iPad, enjoy the streamlined nature of iOS, and want a simple and reliable experience. However, anyone looking for extra customization, super slow motion abilities with the camera, or a 120Hz screen will prefer the Samsung Galaxy S22. With both having similar prices, neither is a bad choice.
The S22 may be a better value buy if you get a deal through a carrier, but the iPhone 14 is a slightly better device in a vacuum. The cameras, battery life, and top-end performance are all advantages over the S22.
Methodology: Comparing the iPhone 14 and Galaxy S22
WhistleOut’s team of mobile experts used first-hand experience, online conversation, and technical specifications to evaluate how each device handles different tasks. We examined key areas of each device, including the display, battery life, cameras, performance, software, and price. After comparing all aspects, we selected a winner, and will update our findings as necessary.iPhone 14 vs. Galaxy S22: FAQs
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