Apple iPhone 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 delivers a refined experience with its compact 6.1-inch OLED display, efficient A14 Bionic processor, and reliable 12MP dual camera system capable of 4K Dolby Vision video. Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra demands premium pricing at $1,199.99 for its larger 6.8-inch 120Hz display, superior 108MP main camera with dual telephoto lenses, and substantially larger 5000mAh battery supporting 45W charging. Performance-wise, both handle daily tasks effortlessly, though the S22 Ultra edges ahead with faster RAM, higher refresh rate, and advanced zoom capabilities. Battery life heavily favors Samsung, easily outlasting the iPhone 12's modest 2815mAh cell. Camera quality depends on priorities: iPhone excels at color accuracy and video stabilization, while Samsung dominates with megapixel count and optical zoom reach. Budget-conscious buyers seeking a proven, compact flagship should choose the iPhone 12. Those wanting cutting-edge specs, larger display, and extended battery life justify the S22 Ultra's premium cost.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 if…
- →First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- →Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- →Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra if…
- →Built-in S Pen silo is a unique productivity feature
- →Versatile quad-camera with 10x periscope telephoto
- →108 MP main sensor captures excellent detail
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12
Pros
- First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
- A14 Bionic delivers excellent performance and efficiency
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording is a first for any smartphone
Cons
- 60Hz display when competitors offered 90Hz or 120Hz
- Small 2815 mAh battery offers mediocre battery life
- 64 GB base storage is inadequate in 2020
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto lens — only dual camera
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Pros
- Built-in S Pen silo is a unique productivity feature
- Versatile quad-camera with 10x periscope telephoto
- 108 MP main sensor captures excellent detail
- IP68 water and dust resistance
- Four years of OS and five years of security updates
Cons
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 runs hot under sustained load
- Very heavy and thick body
- 108 MP sensor replaced by 200 MP in the S23 Ultra
- Only 8 GB RAM on base storage variant
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 229 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP 10x periscope + 10 MP 3x optical |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X LTPO |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 3088 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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