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

Apple has revealed iPhone 14 series back in September 2022. This time, most of the exciting upgrades have landed in the Pro division. So if you plan buy an iPhone 14 model, you might want to consider the 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max variants. The 2022 offerings include an all-new Dynamic Island, Always-On Display support, an A16 Bionic chip, an upgraded 48MP main camera, and more. It’s Apple iPhone 14 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus — a battle between two $999 smartphones. Which 2022 flagship should you buy, Apple or Samsung? Let’s unpack!

Navigate this article:

Specs: Apple iPhone 14 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

Design: The Galaxy S22 Plus doubles the color options

The first thing we notice when we pick up the phones is their design. A modern-looking phone stands out — as well as an outdated phone with a controversial design. The good news is that both the iPhone 14 Pro and the Galaxy S22 Plus have futuristic versions that belong to this era. Although they are similar, they have some key differences that set them apart. Starting with the iPhone 14 Pro, you get a stainless steel build with a matte glass back. The phone is available in four different finishes. On the back we see a noticeable camera bump that has three lenses, a LiDAR scanner and an LED flash. In the middle, as expected, we have the Apple logo, and that’s it.

Similarly, the Galaxy S22 Plus has an aluminum build with a glass back. The triple camera array forms a vertical line towards the edge of the phone — with an LED flash placed on its right side. At the bottom of the phone, the Samsung logo occupies what is otherwise a plain space. While the superiority of the camera layout is a subjective matter, we can objectively agree that the smaller bump on the Samsung phone is more attractive. Additionally, the Galaxy S22 Plus offers eight colors – as opposed to just four. Not to mention that it’s a bit lighter and its frame won’t be as much of a fingerprint magnet. It is true that stainless steel is a higher class metal. However, many might consider this a disadvantage, as it makes the frame heavier and more prone to scratches.

Flipping the phones over, we’re faced with Dynamic Island and a hole punch. Both the Apple iPhone 14 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus have beautiful edge-to-edge displays with different types of cutouts. It’s a subjective matter which hole looks better and less distracting to you. Some people prefer the smaller Samsung punch hole, while other people prefer the software twist included in the Dynamic Island. Ultimately, this round is a win for Samsung – offering more color options, more practical build materials and a smaller camera bump that doesn’t pop out as much.

Display: Choose between dynamic island and static island

In the display department, the first thing you’ll notice is the size difference. The iPhone 14 Pro has a 6.1-inch display, while the Galaxy S22 Plus has a 6.6-inch display instead. More importantly, the iPhone has a higher resolution than the Galaxy phones. So if size matters more than clarity, buy from Samsung. Otherwise, buy from Apple. While both OLED displays support a 120Hz refresh rate, the Galaxy S22 Plus has a gaming 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 significantly smoother.

Both phones support the Always-On Display (AOD) feature, although not everyone is a fan of Apple’s rendition — it’s too bright and vivid. Speaking of brightness, however, the iPhone has a peak brightness of 2,000 nits when outdoors. A Samsung phone maxes out at about half that. So if you tend to use your phone in direct sunlight, you’ll appreciate how easily you can view content on the iPhone screen.

Additionally, both flagship smartphones feature edge-to-edge displays with thin bezels. The iPhone 14 Pro goes for Dynamic Island which houses the TrueDepth camera. Meanwhile, you get a regular punch-hole front-facing camera on the Galaxy S22 Plus. However, it is significant that Dynamic Island has built-in software elements and adapts to the activities you perform. So it might not be as disruptive as you’d assume just because it’s larger in size. Thanks to the TrueDepth camera, you can authenticate with Face ID. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus goes for an in-display fingerprint reader.

It’s hard to pick an objective winner in this round. This is 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. Otherwise, if you prefer a bigger screen, less punch-holes, an in-display fingerprint scanner, a 240Hz refresh rate in gaming mode and a simpler AOD, aim for a Galaxy phone.

Performance: Apple’s A16 Bionic catches the dragon

In the performance department, Apple has plenty of tricks up its sleeve. Starting with the basics, the iPhone 14 Pro offers up to 1TB of storage. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S22 Plus maxes out at 512GB. So, if 512 GB of built-in memory is not enough for you, the iPhone can offer up to double that amount. Speaking of memory, the Galaxy S22 Plus offers 8 GB of RAM, while the iPhone 14 Pro settles for just 6 GB. However, it is worth emphasizing that more RAM does not necessarily reflect faster performance. iOS is a more efficient operating system than Android OS. It goes without saying that the processor the device packs plays an important role in this department.

The iPhone 14 Pro has an Apple A16 Bionic chip, while the Galaxy S22 Plus uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Looking at the relevant performance tests and benchmarks, the iPhone scores higher in the relevant single-core and multi-core performance tests. Additionally, its GPU also performs better compared to its counterpart. The impressive aspect is that the A16 Bionic chipset is also more efficient than the Qualcomm chip. As a result, it has a higher overall score. This doesn’t surprise us at all — since Apple has been miles ahead in the mobile SoC department for quite some time now. While both the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Plus are solid phones, the former will likely offer you a smoother experience.

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

Smartphones have replaced dedicated digital cameras for many. We have reached the point where these advanced camera systems are producing mesmerizing results. And as we continue to document our lives on online and offline platforms, camera quality is becoming an aspect many users consider before making a purchase. Fortunately, both the iPhone 14 Pro and the Galaxy S22 Plus have excellent lenses that should gracefully capture and immortalize your memories. However, there are several differences between them.

For starters, both have triple rear camera systems. These include prime/wide, ultra-wide and telephoto lenses. Looking at the specs table above, you’ll notice that those on the iPhone — in most cases — have a better aperture and/or resolution. However, the differences are not too great, and both phones produce recordings that belong to our time. Above, the gallery includes samples taken 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 images to view larger versions. I’m not going to list which shots I personally prefer, because that’s a subjective thing.

However, the front camera is a different story. On the iPhone 14 Pro, you get a TrueDepth camera — which has 3D mapping capabilities. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S22 Plus offers a regular, lower-resolution selfie camera. Some people might prefer to sacrifice camera quality for a smaller screen notch. Other users would prefer the advanced TrueDepth camera with Face ID support — despite taking up more screen space. Objectively, the iPhone 14 Pro has better overall camera specs. Which outputs you prefer depends on your taste.

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

As for the battery, both phones can last a full day of average use on a single charge. However, the filling technologies they pack differ significantly. For starters, the Samsung phone offers a USB Type-C port — which allows for faster data transfer speeds and is more universally accepted. On the contrary, the iPhone 14 Pro still uses a ten-year-old Lightning port. While both ports workThe iPhone is inferior.

In addition to wired charging, both phones also support wireless charging. In Samsung’s case, you get Qi support on the Galaxy S22 Plus. On the iPhone 14 Pro, you get support for Qi and MagSafe. Although, in terms of wireless charging, Samsung offers a certain feature that truly stands out. The Galaxy S22 Plus supports Wireless PowerShare — which lets you charge other Qi-enabled accessories through your phone. This feature is currently missing on iPhones. As a result, this round is a winner for Samsung, thanks to the superior port and reverse wireless charging capabilities it includes.

Bottom line: size probably matters

In this battle, we broke down the essential aspects of both the Apple iPhone 14 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus. As noted above, the iPhone 14 Pro wins the performance and camera rounds. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S22 Plus is superior in terms of design and battery technology. As for the screen, it’s a tie — because different people are looking for different things.

Note that these phones are not the same size. The Apple phone has a 6.1-inch screen, while the Samsung has 6.6 inches. So if you have the desired size, this will probably close the battle. Similarly, if you are tied to a particular ecosystem and are unwilling to diversify, then you may not have a choice here. In the end, you have to weigh the pros and cons that we’ve broken down and decide which purchase better suits your needs and expectations.

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