Apple iPhone XS vs Samsung Galaxy S22+
The Verdict
Comparing these $999 flagships reveals significant generational progress. Samsung's Galaxy S22+ dominates with a larger 6.6-inch 120Hz AMOLED display (1750 nits) versus iPhone XS's 5.8-inch 60Hz OLED (725 nits), making scrolling noticeably smoother. Camera-wise, the S22+ offers a 50MP main sensor with 8K video capability and superior ultrawide flexibility, while the iPhone XS provides excellent computational photography with its dual 12MP setup and optical zoom. Battery capacity heavily favors Samsung (4500 mAh vs 2658 mAh), supporting faster 45W charging and 15W wireless charging. Processing power leans toward the S22+ with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and 8GB RAM versus Apple's A12 Bionic with 4GB RAM. However, the iPhone XS excels in iOS optimization, reliability, and long-term software support. For modern features like 5G, USB-C, and Wi-Fi 6E, the Galaxy S22+ is objectively superior. Choose Samsung for cutting-edge specs and battery longevity, or iPhone XS only if locked into Apple's ecosystem.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone XS if…
- →First 7nm A12 Bionic chip in a smartphone
- →eSIM support for dual SIM capability
- →Excellent Super Retina OLED display
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S22+ if…
- →Larger 4500 mAh battery than S22
- →45W fast charging support
- →Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone XS
Pros
- First 7nm A12 Bionic chip in a smartphone
- eSIM support for dual SIM capability
- Excellent Super Retina OLED display
- Improved Face ID speed over iPhone X
- Premium stainless steel build
Cons
- Small battery at 2658 mAh
- No ultrawide camera
- 5W charger in the box
- Minimal upgrade over iPhone X
- No Night mode for camera
Samsung Galaxy S22+
Pros
- Larger 4500 mAh battery than S22
- 45W fast charging support
- Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
- Bright 1750 nits display
- Same triple camera as S22 Ultra minus periscope
Cons
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 throttling issues
- No S Pen support
- $999 places it in Ultra territory from competitors
- No microSD expansion
- No charger in the box
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone XS | Samsung Galaxy S22+ |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 12 | Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 177 g | 195 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, glass back | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm | 157.4 x 75.8 x 7.64 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2658 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.8 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | Super Retina OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2436 x 1125 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 725 | 1750 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz + 4x1.6 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | 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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