Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs iPhone 13 pro max: Which one is best?

Introduction

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra takes the best parts from the Galaxy Note and Ultra lines. But will it be enough to overthrow the iPhone 13 Pro Max? Many people argued between the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the iPhone 13 Pro Max this year. Let’s see which one comes out on top.

In terms of features, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra outperforms Apple. It has an S Pen built-in, an incredible 10x zoom, and a 45W rapid charger. There are cards in Apple’s deck, though. It has an f/1 wide-angle and an f/1.8 ultra-wide camera that is the envy of other phones, and Apple’s A15 Bionic chip is the best in the world.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max comparison isn’t about which phone is superior in specific areas. It’s about which phone is better in the grey areas, which will help us figure out who wins.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs iPhone 13 pro max specs

Price and value comparison between the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the iPhone 13 Pro Max

The 128GB variant with 8GB of RAM on the Galaxy S22 Ultra begins at $1,199. You may get 12GB of RAM by upgrading to 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB for $1,299, $1,399, or $1,599, respectively.

128GB with 6GB of RAM is $1,099 on the iPhone 13 Pro Max. You can choose from 256GB, 512GB, or the new 1TB option to get more space. To use the new ProRes video feature on your phone, the 256GB model costs an extra $100 because you need it to use it. There are two more versions: the 512GB and 1TB versions will cost you an extra $200. This brings the total price to $1,599.

Display comparison: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs iPhone 13 pro max

The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion with a resolution of 2778 x 1284 pixels. Although the Galaxy S22 Ultra has a larger display at 6.8 inches, the Dynamic AMOLED 2X display outperforms its resolution at WQHD+ (3200 x 1440). Compared to the iPhone’s 10Hz to 120Hz range, Samsung claims the adaptive refresh rate crown, ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz.

The S22 Ultra display’s second significant promise is a rise to 1,750 nits of peak brightness, which, if accurate, would far surpass the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 837 peak brightness. We’re currently putting the Galaxy S22 Ultra through its paces in terms of color, accuracy, and brightness and will update this section once we’re done.

While the iPhone may win this round, Samsung is unlikely to go unchallenged in the mobile display. This is why Samsung screens are used by Apple and many of Samsung’s high-end rivals. The Galaxy S22 Ultra takes the victory based on its track record and the benefits we already know it possesses.

Also read: Google Pixel 6 Pro vs iPhone 13 pro max

Performance comparison between the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the iPhone 13 Pro Max

The Galaxy S22 Ultra is the first phone in the US with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU. We’re still testing for our review, so you’ll have to wait. And because the A15 Bionic in the iPhone 13 Pro Max is as safe as me being struck by lightning in my basement as I type this, I’m safe, and so is the A15 Bionic’s dominance. With twice the RAM (12GB vs. 6GB), the iPhone 13 Pro Max can’t compete with Apple’s CPUs right now.

But, as I’ve argued before, flagship phones are more powerful than we need right now. After a day with the Galaxy S22 Ultra, I can promise that you won’t be able to think of anything it can’t do. Of course, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is much better. There is no frame loss whether running PUBG or Genshin Impact on high settings or switching between hundreds of programs while watching picture-in-picture movies.

In a few situations, the distinction may still be noticed today. Using Adobe Premiere Rush, the iPhone 13 Pro Max processed our video editing test in 25.1 seconds. The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s predecessor completed the test in 1 minute and 3 seconds; the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 update won’t reduce the time in half.

Long-term performance is crucial. The iPhone 13 Pro Max’s more excellent headroom and A15 Bionic should keep it running for years. The Galaxy S22 Ultra won’t slow down in a few years, but it will age faster. Consider it if you replace your phone every 4 years or more.

While all phones perform well, the iPhone 13 Pro Max outperforms the others.

Battery life and charging on the iPhone 13 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra

Large phones need large batteries, and none of these phones disappoint. The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 5,000 mAh battery beats the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 4,352 mAh battery. But we’re now testing the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s battery life to see whether its physical advantage transfers.

For Samsung, the iPhone 13 Pro Max boasts the longest-lasting battery of any iPhone. Our Laptop Mag battery test lasted 12 hours 16 minutes of continuous web surfing on 5G with a 150 nits screen.

While we wait for the results, Samsung has improved its support for 45W fast charging, compared to the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 23-27W. While the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s smaller battery means it won’t charge as quickly as the Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung has won the day.

Their Qi wireless charging and Apple’s MagSafe charging systems. Because I am a wireless charging convert who has sprayed his house with Qi charging stations and pucks, I found the convenience to be worth the speed trade-off.

It’s a tie until the Galaxy S22 Ultra lab, and field tests come in. It has a more enormous charging edge than the iPhone 13 Pro Max, but I doubt it will outlive it.

Cameras: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs iPhone 13 pro max

The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s hardware has been upgraded, but not the rear camera system. A powerful opponent, the iPhone 13 Pro Max, made significant improvements last year that may pose issues for the S22 Ultra when tested.

The fact that all four iPhone 13 Pro Max sensors are just 12MP may first seem disappointing, yet they are among the best available. The ultra-wide lens, at f/1.8, is equivalent to Samsung’s leading and many other flagships. The telephoto lens on the 13 Pro Max got a mixed upgrade, going from 2.5x to 3x optical zoom while dropping from f/2.0 to f/2.8. The notch’s depth-sensing technology keeps the front-facing camera at f/2.2, one of the best portrait selfies. It enhances the sensors’ already excellent low-light performance.

This phone’s cameras are identical to the S21 Ultra’s. A 108MP wide-angle sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, a 10MP 3x telephoto sensor, and a 10MP telephoto sensor. The front has a 40MP camera with an f/2.2 aperture. Even a year later, nothing beats these sensors for reach and versatility, but unless you need that reach, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has the spec advantage.

Notably, we won’t know how the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 affects the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera processor until we perform more extensive testing. Consider how long Google supported the Pixel cameras with software; Samsung may have upgraded AI and ML in the new CPU without changing the camera sensors.

While a phone with 10x (100x digital) magnification is impressive, the iPhone 13 Pro Max should easily win. The S22 Ultra’s telephoto reach is less likely to generate images than the S22’s center and ultra-wide lenses in low light.

Software comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs iPhone 13 pro max

This isn’t going to be an iOS vs. Android debate; each platform has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Adapting to one or the other may take a week or two, and there are certain lock-in features like iMessage that make moving around a pain, but generally, the operating systems are more similar than they are different.

iOS 15 added several fascinating new features to the iPhone, including the release of FaceTime, a previously locked-in capability that is now open to Windows and Android users. Notification controls have been substantially extended. Improvements to Apple Maps and a new, more powerful Photos app make a better rival to Google Photos. While the Galaxy S22 Ultra runs Android 12 with Samsung’s One UI 4.1 overlay, it has many features, including a new notification panel, privacy upgrades, and a slew of useful features like universal search.

Samsung does boast a few remarkable software features that may persuade some power users to switch. Samsung’s DeX mode, which effectively transforms your phone into a laptop replacement, might be a game-changer for some. The latter is one of the few things that genuinely use all of the superphone’s available power.

Support is maybe the most significant software difference between both phones. While Apple does not provide a particular support pledge, its flagship phones are always supported for 5 to 6 years. In contrast, the Galaxy S22 Ultra will get four major Android upgrades and four years of security patches. Samsung currently leads the Android market in significant OS upgrades, while Google’s Pixel gets an additional year of security patches.

Conclusion

Suppose Samsung provides good battery life in our tests and pushes that area in its favor. In that case, it might send this one into overtime, but for now, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a slight advantage with three categories to Samsung’s two.

These areas are similar among these phones, except for Samsung’s display and Apple’s camera. If you’re already involved in one of the platforms, the choice between iOS and Android may be a no-brainer, yet both phones are incredible in terms of hardware.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra has several unique features, like the S Pen, DeX, and the excellent telephoto reach, that make it an appealing alternative for anybody tired of the same old smartphone features, no matter how well done they are. The iPhone 13 Pro Max, on the other hand, may have the same old smartphone functions, but it does them better than anybody else. For the time being, the 13 Pro Max retains its title as “new king of smartphones.”