Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Vs iPhone 14 Plus

Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Starting at

Refurbished price:350.00

Versus €1,445.00 new

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iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Plus
Starting at

Refurbished price:317.00

Versus €879.00 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G, released in February 2022, and the iPhone 14 Plus, launched in October 2022, are both prominent smartphones from their respective manufacturers. While the S22 Ultra integrates a stylus and a versatile camera system, the iPhone 14 Plus focuses on a large display and extended battery life within Apple's ecosystem. Both devices offer distinct user experiences, running on Android (with Samsung's One UI) and iOS, respectively.

Scores

Durability

The expected practical lifespan of these devices is influenced by their release timelines, software support, and repairability.

  • Release Timeline: The Galaxy S22 Ultra was released in February 2022, while the iPhone 14 Plus followed in October 2022. This gives the iPhone 14 Plus a slight advantage in terms of being a newer model.
  • Software Support: Apple typically provides major iOS updates for iPhones for approximately five to six years, with security updates often extending longer, potentially up to seven to eight years. Samsung's policy for the S22 Ultra includes four years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates. Newer Samsung flagships (S24 series and later) receive seven years of updates, but this policy does not retroactively apply to the S22 Ultra.
  • Repairability: The Galaxy S22 Ultra received a low repairability score of 3 out of 10 from iFixit, primarily due to the extensive use of strong adhesive, making battery and screen repairs challenging. Information on the iPhone 14 Plus's specific repairability score is less detailed, but iPhones generally have varying repairability, with some models faring better than the S22 Ultra.

Year of Release

2022

2022

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

OS

Android

iOS

Foldable

No

No

Performance

Both devices offer robust performance for daily tasks, though their underlying architectures differ.

  • Processor Capabilities: The iPhone 14 Plus is powered by a processor that handles demanding applications and multitasking smoothly, providing a responsive user experience. The Galaxy S22 Ultra features a powerful processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in many regions) that delivers ultra-fast performance for multitasking, gaming, and intensive applications.
  • Multitasking and Responsiveness: The iPhone 14 Plus, with 6GB of RAM, offers smooth switching between applications without frequent reloads. The Galaxy S22 Ultra, available with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, ensures a fluid experience even with numerous apps open simultaneously.
  • Battery Behavior: The iPhone 14 Plus is noted for its extended battery life, often lasting through a full day of heavy use and sometimes longer, with some users reporting up to 12 hours of screen-on time. The Galaxy S22 Ultra, with its 5000 mAh battery, generally provides a full day of usage for moderate users, though heavy use, especially with graphics-intensive tasks, can lead to more rapid drainage.

Memory (GB)

8 GB

6 GB

Screen quality

The display technologies on both smartphones provide vibrant visuals, but with some key distinctions.

  • Display Technology and Resolution: The iPhone 14 Plus features a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2778 by 1284 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 458 ppi. The Galaxy S22 Ultra boasts a larger 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a higher resolution of 1440 x 3088 pixels, yielding approximately 500 ppi.
  • Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The iPhone 14 Plus offers a typical maximum brightness of 800 nits and a peak HDR brightness of 1200 nits. The Galaxy S22 Ultra provides a peak brightness of 1750 nits, which can be beneficial for outdoor visibility.
  • Refresh Rate: The iPhone 14 Plus has a standard 60Hz refresh rate. In contrast, the Galaxy S22 Ultra features an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, which can make scrolling and animations appear smoother.

Resolution

1440 x 3088

1284 x 2778

Screen type

Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Super Retina XDR OLED

Audiovisual

Both devices offer advanced camera systems capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos, but with different strengths.

  • Camera System Configuration: The iPhone 14 Plus features a dual-camera system with a 12MP main lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. The Galaxy S22 Ultra offers a more versatile quad-camera setup, including a 108MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and another 10MP periscope telephoto with 10x optical zoom.
  • Photography Performance: The iPhone 14 Plus delivers very good-looking photos in various conditions, with improvements in low-light performance compared to previous generations. The Galaxy S22 Ultra is praised for its comprehensive camera system, offering excellent photography across daylight, low-light, and zoom scenarios.
  • Video Recording: The iPhone 14 Plus supports 4K Dolby Vision video recording at various frame rates. The Galaxy S22 Ultra can record 8K video at 24fps and 4K at 30/60fps, with features like Super Steady video.

Main camera

108 megapixels

12 megapixels

Front camera

40 megapixels

12 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core features, several practical elements differentiate these two smartphones.

  • Connectivity: Both devices support 5G connectivity. The iPhone 14 Plus in the US exclusively uses eSIM technology, while the Galaxy S22 Ultra supports physical SIMs and eSIM.
  • Ports and Sensors: The iPhone 14 Plus retains the Lightning port. It features Face ID for biometric authentication. The Galaxy S22 Ultra uses a USB-C port and includes an in-display fingerprint sensor.
  • Design and Build: The iPhone 14 Plus features a Ceramic Shield front and an aluminum design, weighing 203 grams. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has a glass front and back (Gorilla Glass Victus+) with an aluminum frame, weighing 228/229 grams. It also integrates an S Pen stylus.

Weight

228 g

150 g

Screen size (in)

6.8

6.7

Network

5G

5G

SIM card

Physical SIM + eSIM

eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

Connector

USB-C

Lightning

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G and the iPhone 14 Plus cater to different user preferences, each excelling in specific areas. Users often praise the iPhone 14 Plus for its exceptional battery life, which is frequently highlighted as one of its strongest attributes, capable of lasting well over a day for many. Its large display also appeals to those seeking an expansive viewing experience without the 'Pro' features. Some users, however, note the 60Hz refresh rate as a point of comparison to other modern smartphones.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra is frequently lauded for its versatile camera system, particularly its zoom capabilities, and the integrated S Pen, which offers unique productivity features. Its vibrant, high-resolution display with a 120Hz refresh rate is also a common point of appreciation. Criticisms sometimes revolve around its battery life for very heavy users, especially when compared to some iPhone models, and its lower repairability score.

Users prioritizing an integrated stylus, a highly versatile camera with extensive zoom, and a high refresh rate display may find the Galaxy S22 Ultra well-suited to their needs. Conversely, users who value extended battery life, a large display within the Apple ecosystem, and consistent software updates may lean toward the iPhone 14 Plus. Both devices represent solid choices, and considering a quality-assured refurbished option for either model can be a sustainable choice for consumers.

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