Samsung and Apple’s mainstream flagships are finally fighting in the same weight class.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 has been announced, and a subtle reduction in size has pitched it into an even more direct rivalry with the iPhone 13 than previous models. So which compact flagship phone is the best buy in 2022? We haven’t had a chance to fully put the Galaxy S22 through its paces just yet, but we can form some early impressions based on the specs and associated press materials. Here’s how we’re seeing this epic battle between what could be the two biggest smartphone sellers of 2022. The Samsung Galaxy S22 was announced on February 9, 2022. Prices start from $799 / £769 / AU$1,249 for the 128GB model, and move up to $849 / £819 / AU$1,349 for 256GB. In the opposite corner we have the iPhone 13, which arrived into this world on September 24,2021. Prices start from $799 / £799 / AU$1,349 for the entry 128GB model, moving up to $899 / £879 / AU$1,519 for 256GB and $1099 / £1079 / AU$1,869 for 512GB. So if you’re on a budget, the S22 is a hair cheaper, but if you want lots storage only the iPhone has what you need. Samsung and Apple diverged with their design language choices some years ago. The Samsung Galaxy S22 has curved edges (though not a curved display), while the iPhone 13 is all flat edges and sharp corners. Samsung has stuck with its ‘Contour Cut’ camera module on the rear of its phone, which sees it melting into the frame in a pleasing fashion. Apple has gone with a less cohesive and more industrial-looking camera module, comprised of circles framed and lifted by a rounded square. The chief difference when considering the front of these phones is that the Samsung Galaxy S22 goes with a punch-hole selfie camera, while the iPhone 13 uses a much less subtle notch. Apple may have reduced the size of its notch by 20%, and it might house the brilliant Face ID authentication system, but it’s still a bit of an eyesore compared to the Galaxy S22’s solution. It’s worth emphasizing that both phones look a lot like their immediate predecessors. These are both second-generation designs, though the Samsung Galaxy S22 is a little smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S21, bringing it closer to the iPhone 13. The Samsung Galaxy S22 measures 146 x 70.6 x 7.6mm, while the iPhone 13 comes in at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65mm. That’s very similar indeed, and both phones are what we’d term compact – at least by modern standards. There’s a slight difference in weight, with the Samsung Galaxy S22’s 168g making it lighter than the iPhone 13’s 174g. It’s hardly night and day, though. Both phones are IP68 certified too, so they’ll stand up similarly well to dust and water ingress. Both of these phones have 6.1-inch AMOLED displays, after Samsung downsized from the Galaxy S21. That’s just about where the similarities end, however. Apple’s screen is slightly sharper at 1170 x 2532, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 goes with a straight 1080 x 2400, or FHD+.
