iPhone 14 Plus vs Galaxy S22 Plus: which top lives up to its name and delivers more? | Comparative

The iPhone 14 Plus arrived to replace the Mini version, with a proposal to have a larger cell phone than the base version, but without the extra features of the Pro models. On the other hand, there is the Galaxy S22 Plus as the middle model in the Korean top family, seeking to be the best value for money.

In this classic between Apple and Samsung, which smartphone lives up to its name and delivers more to the consumer? That’s what we’re going to find out now, here at TudoCelular.

We start with the design with two very different looks. The iPhone comes with its traditional camera block, which places the lens diagonally. On the other side, is the module aligned to the side of the Galaxy, with the sensors vertically, to give a more modern touch.

Both feature aluminum construction and a glass back, along with added scratch protection and IP68 certification to ensure resistance against dust and liquids. The Korean is what provides a more compact and lighter body than the American rival.

The S22 Plus features a hole-shaped notch, more discreet than the outdated rectangular shape present on the 14 Plus. Not to mention the presence of an ultrasonic biometric reader in it, a solution that Apple has not yet adopted in its devices.

None of them support storage expansion, as there isn’t any microSD card slot on the duo. At the very least, cutting-edge connectivity is guaranteed, thanks to the presence of fifth-generation Bluetooth, sixth-generation Wi-Fi and NFC, for proximity payments.

For the more modern, compact and lightweight design, the first point goes to Samsung.

The iPhone contains an OLED screen that excels in color reproduction, while the Galaxy has a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that stands out for its superior brightness level. The display of the 14 Plus is slightly larger, but loses in front use to that of the S22 Plus.

Both deliver Full HD + resolution, for good image definition, in addition to protection against scratches, either by Apple’s Ceramic Shield, or by Samsung’s Gorilla Glass Victus Plus.

What will break the tie is the refresh rate, which in Korean reaches 120 Hz and guarantees a much greater fluidity than the 60 Hz of the “Apple”.

So Samsung scores one more point here.

Manufacturers did not disappoint in audio and put a stereo system in these devices. They take advantage of the call loudspeaker as a secondary channel, to generate greater user immersion.

The sound power is good in both cases, but the quality of the iPhone is above the competition, as it delivers a better balance between bass, mids and treble. The Galaxy ends up being behind by the unbalanced sound between the two outputs.

These devices do not have a physical headphone jack, nor do they come with any adapters in the box.

Apple’s higher quality sound gives it the point.

In software, we found native iOS 16 on the 14 Plus, and factory Android 12 on the Galaxy. Although Samsung already offers four updates of the “little robot”, it still does not reach the longevity proposed by Apple.

At least, the mobile network won’t be an issue here, as we have 5G compatibility on these two smartphones. The two systems flow well, with the S22 Plus taking advantage of the 120 Hz of its panel, while the iPhone bets on its optimizations to improve the experience.

“Apple” seeks to improve its features with each update, from the lock screen to the privacy control, passing through the management of notifications. But it does not reach the capabilities of the Korean, which has Edge Screen shortcuts and DeX Mode that turns the cell phone into a portable PC as its strengths, in addition to the Always-on Display.

Apple marks the lifetime of updates; and Samsung scores for the most advanced features.

The iPhone has the A15 Bionic platform, against the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 present in the Galaxy. In this battle of very different chips, which one wins? The speed tests we did indicated a comfortable victory for the Apple model, with a 16-second advantage. It was faster both in opening apps and in multitasking.

Moving on to the benchmarks, logic gave, and again we have the 14 Plus above the S22 Plus, whether in AnTuTu or Geekbench indicators. In games, we have nothing to complain about, as these cell phones run all titles with maximum quality and great fluidity, within the compatibility limitations of each one.

For superior multitasking, the iPhone scores one more point.

On one side is the 4,323 mAh battery of the “Apple” smartphone. On the other, the Korean’s 4,500 mAh battery appears. But the numbers do not follow logic in practice. The 14 Plus has an autonomy of more than 28 hours, well above the Galaxy’s just over 20 hours of battery life.

When we start loading, the scenario is reversed. Using a 25W adapter, you can fill the S22 Plus battery in less than an hour. In turn, the iPhone takes almost three times to complete the process.

Greater autonomy for Apple; fastest recharge for samsung. Here we have a draw.

The iPhone comes with a dual set of rear cameras, while the Galaxy has a triple. The 14 Plus’s 12 MP main sensor and the S22 Plus’s 50 MP take pictures with good clarity during the day and hit the dynamic range. But at night, it’s the Korean that comes out on top, recording images with less noise and more visibility.

Their ultrawide does a good job and keeps the colors close to the main one. The two just sin by the absence of autofocus here, to help with macros. Samsung is the only one to put a telephoto lens, which delivers three times optical zoom, for high quality far away photos. This camera also helps in portrait mode, but Apple is not far behind with its software blurring.

With better night shots and more versatility, the S22 Plus gets the point across.

The duo’s camcorder supports 4K video at 60 fps with all cameras. But only the Galaxy supports recordings in 8K at 24 fps. These smartphones offer good quality, efficient optical stabilization, very agile focus and clean audio capture. Apple’s advantage is due to the presence of optimized features, such as Dolby Vision technology and background blur further improved by cinematic mode.

Thus, we give the point to the iPhone.

Their front camera does not disappoint and records high quality photos. But it’s not a surprise that selfies are an Apple strength. The iPhone outperforms the Galaxy in terms of detail and color, as well as portrait mode with fewer errors. Too bad they both end up suffering from noise at night. At the very least, 4K 60fps footage is guaranteed on the front as well.

We have another point for the 14 Plus.

These devices can be officially found in Brazil for official purchase. The iPhone 14 Plus was launched at a cost of BRL 8,600, more expensive than the suggested price of BRL 7,000 for the Galaxy S22 Plus. In the current market, the Korean is already found for less than R$ 5,000 and remains cheaper than the Apple device, still above R$ 6,000.

Therefore, Samsung closes the Comparison with the last point.

If on the scoreboard, it is not possible to say which of these cell phones delivers more; by analyzing each item, it is possible to know the strengths of each of the duo. The iPhone 14 Plus proved to be the best option for those who want a more balanced sound, a longer system life, faster performance and longer battery life.

The Galaxy S22 Plus, on the other hand, is the best alternative if you want a modern design, a screen with greater fluidity, a shorter loading time, or even if you prefer to pay less for a top of the line.

The camera part is the one that is most divided, since Apple provides the best video resources and the highest quality selfies, but it lags behind Samsung in the rear set, especially when we talk about the night mode and the presence of a lens telephoto.

RESULT

Apple iPhone 14 Plus: 6 SPOTS

• more balanced sound
• Longer lasting system
• Faster multitasking performance
• Battery with greater autonomy
• Videos with best features
• More detailed selfies and better portrait mode

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus: 6 POINTS

• More modern, compact and lightweight design
• 120 Hz screen
• System with better features
• Battery with less recharge time
• Rear cameras with telephoto lens and better night mode
• Lowest price in the current Brazilian market

If you had to give a casting vote, would you choose the iPhone or the Galaxy? Which best suits your preferences? You can comment with us in the space below.

(updated Jan 09, 2023 at 7:10 PM)