Apple iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus: Which phone to buy?

Apple revealed the iPhone 14 series back in September 2022. This time, the most exciting upgrades landed in the Pro division. So if you are planning to buy the iPhone 14 model, you may want to consider the 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max variants. 2022 offerings include an all-new Dynamic Island, Always-On Display support, A16 Bionic chip, an updated 48MP main camera, and more. This is the Apple iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus – the battle between two $999 smartphones. Which 2022 flagship should you buy, whether from Apple or Samsung? Let’s decipher!

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Specifications: Apple iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

Design: Galaxy S22 Plus doubles the color options

The first thing we notice when picking up our phones is their designs. The modern-looking phone stands out – as does the old phone with its controversial design. The good news is that both the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Plus have futuristic designs that belong in this era. Although they are similar, they have some key differences that distinguish them from each other. Starting with the iPhone 14 Pro, you get a stainless steel body with a matte glass back. The phone is available in four different colors to choose from. On the back, we see the noticeable bump of the three-lens camera, LiDAR scanner, and LED flash. In the middle we are expected to have the Apple logo, and that’s it.

Likewise, the Galaxy S22 Plus has an aluminum body with a glass back. The triple camera array forms a vertical line towards the edge of the phone – with the LED flash positioned to the right of it. At the bottom of the phone, the Samsung logo occupies a regular space. While the superiority of the camera design is subjective, we can objectively agree that the smaller notch on the Samsung phone is more attractive. In addition, the Galaxy S22 Plus offers eight colors – as opposed to just four. Not to mention it’s a bit lighter and its frame won’t be nearly as much of a fingerprint magnet. It is true that stainless steel is a sophisticated metal. However, many people may consider it a hoax, as it makes the frame heavier and more prone to scratches.

Turning the phones over, we encounter a dynamic island and a hole respectively. The Apple iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus both feature gorgeous edge-to-edge screens with a different type of cutout. Which piercing looks best and least distracting to you is a personal matter. Some people prefer the smaller hole from Samsung, while others prefer the evolution of the software included with Dynamic Island. In the end, this roundup is a win for Samsung — as it offers more color options, more practical build materials, and a smaller, no-show camera bump.

Display: Choose between a dynamic island and a static mini island

In the display section, the first thing you’ll notice is the size difference. The iPhone 14 Pro has a 6.1in screen, while the Galaxy S22 Plus has a 6.6in instead. More importantly, the iPhone has a higher resolution than the Galaxy phone. So if size matters more to you than clarification, buy from Samsung. Otherwise, buy from Apple. While both OLED displays support 120Hz refresh rates, the Galaxy S22 Plus has a Game Mode that boosts it to 240Hz. So if you tend to play a lot of mobile games, you might want to consider this pro. The animation will probably look noticeably smoother.

Both phones support Always-On Display (AOD), although not everyone is a fan of Apple’s implementation – because it’s so bright and vibrant. Speaking of brightness, though, the iPhone has a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits when it’s outdoors. The Samsung phone is maxed out at about half that. So if you tend to use your phone in direct sunlight, you will appreciate how easy it is to display content on the screen on your iPhone.

Apart from that, both the flagship phones have edge-to-edge screens with thin bezels. The iPhone 14 Pro goes to a dynamic island that houses the TrueDepth camera. Meanwhile, you get a regular front camera on the Galaxy S22 Plus, through a hole punch. Notably, though, Dynamic Island has software stuff baked into it, and it adapts to the activities you’re doing. So it may not be as distracting as you might assume just because it’s a bit bigger. Thanks to the TrueDepth camera, you can authenticate with Face ID. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus uses an in-display fingerprint reader.

It’s hard to pick an objective winner in this round. That’s because every phone has some strengths and weaknesses. If you’re looking for a smaller screen, higher resolution and brightness, Dynamic Island, and more vibrant AOD, then the iPhone is for you. Other than that, if you prefer the larger screen, in-display fingerprint scanner, 240Hz refresh rate in game mode, and simpler AOD, head for the Galaxy phone.

Performance: Apple’s A16 Bionic Draws the Dragon

In the performance department, Apple has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. Starting with the basics, the iPhone 14 Pro offers up to 1TB of storage. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S22 Plus has a maximum limit of 512GB. So if 512GB of built-in storage isn’t enough for you, your iPhone can offer up to twice as much. Speaking of memory, the Galaxy S22 Plus offers 8GB of RAM, while the iPhone 14 Pro settles on just 6GB. Though, it is worth emphasizing that higher RAM does not necessarily reflect faster performance. iOS is a more efficient operating system than Android. Not to mention that the processor packages the device plays an important role in this department.

The iPhone 14 Pro packs an Apple A16 Bionic chip, while the Galaxy S22 Plus uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Looking at related performance tests and benchmarks, the iPhone scores higher in the relevant single and multi-core performance tests. In addition, its GPU performs better when compared to its counterpart. The impressive aspect is that the A16 Bionic chipset is also more efficient than the Qualcomm chip. As a result, I got a higher overall score. This doesn’t surprise us at all – Apple has been going miles in the mobile SoC department for a while now. While the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Plus are both rugged phones, the former is likely to provide you with a smoother experience.

Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Plus have similar rear systems

Smartphones have replaced custom digital cameras for many people. We have reached a point where these advanced camera systems are producing amazing output. As we continue to document our lives on both online and offline platforms, camera quality becomes an aspect that many users look at before making a purchase. Fortunately, the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Plus both feature excellent lenses that should safely capture and immortalize your memories. However, there are some differences between the two.

For starters, both have triple rear camera systems. These include main/wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses. Looking at the specs table above, you’ll notice that iPhones – in most cases – have a better aperture and/or resolution. Though, the differences are not very significant, and both phones produce shots that belong to our times. Above, the gallery includes samples shot on the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. Note that both phones have identical camera systems, so even with the smaller Pro iPhone, you can get the same results. Below is a gallery shot using the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus. You can click on individual photos to view their larger versions. I won’t mention which shots I personally prefer, as this is a subjective matter.

But the front camera is a different story. On the iPhone 14 Pro, you get the TrueDepth camera – which has 3D mapping capabilities. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S22 Plus offers a regular selfie camera with a lower resolution. Some people may prefer to sacrifice camera quality for the sake of the smaller screen cutout. Other users prefer the high-end TrueDepth camera with Face ID support – even though it takes up more screen space. Objectively speaking, the iPhone 14 Pro has better camera specifications. Which products you prefer depends on your taste.

Battery: Unlike the Galaxy S22 Plus, Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro doesn’t like sharing

Moving on to the battery, both phones can last a full day of average use on a single charge. However, the shipping technologies that you pack vary greatly. For starters, the Samsung phone offers a USB Type-C port – which enables faster and more globally reliable data transfer speeds. On the contrary, the iPhone 14 Pro still uses the old Lightning port. While both ports workthat the iPhone is inferior.

Aside from wired charging, both phones support wireless charging as well. In the case of Samsung, you get Qi support on the Galaxy S22 Plus. On the iPhone 14 Pro, you get Qi and MagSafe support. Though, in terms of wireless charging, Samsung offers a certain feature that really makes it stand out. Galaxy S22 Plus supports Wireless PowerShare – allowing you to charge other Qi-enabled accessories through your phone. The feature is still missing on iPhones at the moment. As a result, this roundup is a win for Samsung, thanks to the superior port and reverse wireless charging capabilities it includes.

Conclusion: size probably matters

In this fight, we’ve broken down the fundamental aspects of both the Apple iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus. As seen above, the iPhone 14 Pro wins the performance and camera rounds. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S22 Plus is superior in terms of design and battery technologies. As for the screen, it’s a tie – different people look for different things.

Keep in mind that these phones do not have the same size. The Apple phone has a screen size of 6.1 inches, while the screen size of the Samsung phone is 6.6 inches. So if you have a size preference, this will probably end the fight. Likewise, if you are tied to a particular ecosystem and don’t want to diversify, you may not have a choice here. In the end, you have to weigh the pros and cons that we have broken down and decide which purchase best suits your needs and expectations.

Which of my 2022 machines will you buy and why? Let us know in the comments section below.