Apple iPhone 14 vs Samsung Galaxy S22

The iPhone 14 has one main rival in the Android world - the Galaxy S22. There are other options out there when it comes to Android smartphones but the reality is that most people opt for either an Apple or a Samsung device, depending on their hardware and software preferences. That's especially true on Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, where a veritable Apple-Samsung duopoly exists

There are a lot of similarities between those two phones, even though on the surface they might look nothing alike. The iPhone 14 is the vanilla model, the benchmark for all other iPhones (no iPhone mini with it, sadly), and the same applies to the "budget" Galaxy S22 which is priced the same at $799 MSRP. That's why we are comparing the two devices with our testing procedures, focusing on areas such as display, camera, performance, or battery life. Let's go.

While the upper models in the iPhone 14 lineup have traded their notches for pill-shaped cutouts, the vanilla iPhone 14 has retained the narrow notch from the iPhone 13 series.

The iPhone 14 measures 5.78x2.82x0.31 inches (146.7x71.5x7.8mm) and sports the same-sized 6.1-inch display as the Galaxy S22 which puts both devices in the same ballpark, when it comes to physical size (the Galaxy S22 measures 5.75 x 2.78 x 0.30 inches (146 x 70.6 x 7.6mm)).

Focusing on the color scheme, the iPhone 14 is available in Midnight, Starlight, Product RED, Blue, and Purple. On the other hand, the Galaxy S22 can be purchased in Cream, Violet, Sky Blue, and Graphite. There is some overlap here, even though the names don't match.

The OLED panel inside the iPhone 14 is the same as the one found on its predecessor - a 6.1-inch, 60Hz screen, which might be seen as a drawback by some users despite the peak 1,200 nits brightness specs. The Galaxy S22 on the other hand, may have a slightly dimmer display, but outdoors in direct sunlight the difference is rather negligible, while Samsung offers twice the refresh rate and once you go 120Hz, those puny 60Hz on the iPhone 14 really detract from the overall experience, especially at the same price. 

Moreover, Apple dropped the ball with color representation, as the S22 has better wide-color gamut coverage than the iPhone 14 whose color chart misses across the spectrum, so if you are buying shoes, better do it on the S22's screen.

There's good news and bad news here - the iPhone 14 comes equipped with the same A15 Bionic chipset we all know (and some of us love) seen in the iPhone 13 Pro series. That's the bad news - the good news is that this chipset is plenty fast and even faster than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Galaxy S22. When it comes to comparing Apple silicon with Qualcomm chipsets things are a bit sketchy, but seeing that the iPhone 14 is powered by the iPhone 13 Pro chipset with penta-core GPU, it gets the Galaxy S22 beat.

As for the RAM situation, there's not much to be compared here, as the way iOS and Android are taking care of apps and processes is a bit different. Just for the sake of numbers we would say that the Galaxy S22 comes with 8GB of RAM while the iPhone 14 is sporting 6GB onboard, a 50% bump from its predecessor.

The iPhone 14 comes with iOS 16 out of the box while the Galaxy S22 is running Android 12 with OneUI 4.1 on top. The software support cycle here is still in iPhone's favor, although Samsung has opted to extend the support to four years of Android updates.

The iPhone 14 does feature some upgrades in its camera system - namely, the larger 12MP main sensor and better 12MP ultra-wide camera taken straight from the iPhone 13 Pro. The front camera has also been updated with a brand-new 12MP sensor with autofocus and OIS.

Speaking of which, the Galaxy S22 is a known variable in the photography equation. The phone comes equipped with a triple camera system - consisting of a 50MP main camera (F1.8), 12MP ultrawide snapper, and a 10MP 3.0x zoom lens. On paper, the Galaxy S22 has the better camera set, but the proof is in the samples, so check them out below.

The images from the iPhone 14 are softer, but sometimes show more detail despite the higher S22 camera resolution. Samsung also goes way on the warm side turning most photos yellowish which is usually the prerogative of Apple's shots, yet with the iPhone 14 is introduces better white balance and color credibility than its predecessors have. At night, the photos from the Galaxy S22 also come out sharper but they are also with better dynamic range then, cutting on unnecessary halo around bright light sources and exposing the shadows a bit better than the iPhone 14. As for selfies, the color fidelity, detail, and exposure rounds go to the iPhone, but it really depends on what's in the frame.

While the Action Mode on the iPhone 14 can't be directly compared to what can come out of the S22, the regular 4K 30fps vids certainly can. Samsung's phone exhibits the typical for the brand oversharpening and loss of fine detail compared to the iPhone 14 sample footage below, but Apple's handset shoots with a tad darker exposure. The iPhone 14 video is smoother, though, without skipped frames, and its image stabilization reigns supreme no matter how vigorously you shake it.

The iPhone 14 does feature a small upgrade in the battery department (3279 mAh battery in the iPhone 14, compared to the 3227 mAh piece in the iPhone 13) but 50mAh don't make a huge difference as Apple lists just an hour longer in video streaming mode.

The 3,700mAh cell in the Galaxy S22 beats the iPhone 14 at least in capacity but the nature of the Android and Snapdragon beast is that they consume a lot more energy when paired, plus it has a much faster, 120Hz display and these show during our battery benchmark tests where the Galaxy trails.

As for charging speeds, there's no charger in the retail box of the iPhone 14, and given the fact that charging through the Lightning port maxes out at 27W, things look stopped for the vanilla iPhone 14. For what it's worth, the Galaxy S22 also lacks a charger in the box and uses the same 25W fast-charging tech from the old Galaxy S21, so both are pretty close in that respect.

You can check out a detailed iPhone 14 vs Galaxy S22 specs comparison here.

Apple seems to rely on evolution in the iPhone 14 - some people might demand the new series to have been called 13s. On the other hand, this isn't a bad thing - the iPhone 13 is a very successful device and there's no reason for the successor not to be able to take on the Galaxy S22.

The flagship release cycles of both companies are offset with a couple of months which means that on paper the iPhone 14 will be the newer device. Samsung, however, made sure to equip its $800 phone with a 120Hz display and an optical telephoto zoom camera which the iPhone is lacking. Not only that, but it gives way in display color accuracy and low-light shots, too. The areas where the iPhone 14 excels over the Samsung Galaxy S22 are longer battery life, smoother video, and a faster chipset, especially when it comes to gaming performance.

All in all, if you're looking for a new flagship (and you're swinging between Android and iOS) both devices are viable options that will serve you well, but if we had to choose, we'd pick the faster, 120Hz display and telephoto camera of the Galaxy S22. Unless you are inhabiting the iOS ecosystem, of course, then there will be little incentive for you to switch.

iPhone 14 from Apple: save $40-$620 with a trade-in

You can buy the new iPhone 14 at Apple, where the device is sold at its regular price. If you wish to save, opt for a trade-in. Trade-in discounts vary between $40 and $620, depending on what device you trade in and its condition.

$620 off (89%) Trade-in

$79

$699

This offer is not available in your area.

iPhone 14 Plus from Apple: save $40-$620 with trade-in

You can get the iPhone 14 Plus from Apple as well. You can save with an eligible device trade-in, with credit amounts to as much as $620.

$620 off (78%) Trade-in

$179

$799

This offer is not available in your area.

AT&T iPhone 14 (256GB) at Walmart: save 23% right now

The iPhone 14 is now available to order with a carrier plan from AT&T Walmart. Prices for this device start at $21.64/month for 36 installments. The phone comes with 256GB of internal storage space in Midnight.

$200 off (20%)

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This offer is not available in your area.

Verizon iPhone 14 Plus: get it for FREE with a new line

Get the iPhone 14 Plus for $00.00/mo with Verizon. This offer requires a new line activation and a select Unlimited plan. Your savings will be applied over 36 months.

$830 off (100%)

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This offer is not available in your area.