Nokia G42 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S22
The Verdict
Nokia G42 5G and Samsung Galaxy S22 occupy entirely different market segments. Samsung's flagship delivers superior performance with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, more powerful Adreno 730 GPU, and considerably faster USB-C 3.2 connectivity. The display is dramatically better: 2340 x 1080 resolution versus 1612 x 720, 120Hz refresh rate versus 90Hz, and 1300 nits versus 450 nits brightness. Camera capabilities heavily favor Samsung with 8K video recording, optical zoom, ultrawide and telephoto lenses compared to Nokia's basic 1080p@30fps setup. However, Nokia excels in battery capacity (5000 mAh vs 3700 mAh), repairability with its modular design, and sustainability through recycled plastics. At $249, the G42 5G provides competent daily performance for budget-conscious users, while the S22 at $799 justifies its premium through flagship-tier processing power, imaging prowess, and display technology. Battery life favors Nokia despite lower capacity due to less demanding hardware, but Samsung's wireless charging and superior fast charging speed (25W vs 20W) offer convenience perks. Choose Nokia for practical budget computing and sustainability; select Samsung for performance, photography, and display excellence.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Nokia G42 5G if…
- →Three years of OS updates and three years of security patches
- →Repairability-focused design with easily replaceable parts
- →100% recycled plastic back for environmental sustainability
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 if…
- →Compact flagship with 6.1-inch 120Hz AMOLED
- →Triple camera with 3x telephoto
- →Lightweight at 167 g
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Nokia G42 5G
Pros
- Three years of OS updates and three years of security patches
- Repairability-focused design with easily replaceable parts
- 100% recycled plastic back for environmental sustainability
- 5G connectivity at a budget $249 price
- 5000 mAh battery provides multi-day endurance
Cons
- HD+ resolution is pixelated on the 6.56-inch screen
- Snapdragon 480+ is underpowered for demanding tasks
- 2 MP macro and depth cameras are useless
- Only 20W charging is very slow for the 5000 mAh battery
- 8 MP front camera produces soft selfies
Samsung Galaxy S22
Pros
- Compact flagship with 6.1-inch 120Hz AMOLED
- Triple camera with 3x telephoto
- Lightweight at 167 g
- Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection
- Four years of OS updates from Samsung
Cons
- Small 3700 mAh battery with mediocre endurance
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 runs hot
- Slow 25W charging
- No microSD card slot
- No charger in the box
Full Specifications
| Spec | Nokia G42 5G | Samsung Galaxy S22 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 | Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 193 g | 167 g |
| Material | 100% recycled plastic back, repairable design | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| IP rating | IP52 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 164.6 x 75.8 x 8.5 mm | 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, PDAF | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Depth | 2 MP, f/2.4 | — |
| Front camera | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Macro | 2 MP, f/2.4 | — |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | — | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | — | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB / 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 3700 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.56 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Type | IPS LCD | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 1612 x 720 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 90Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 450 | 1300 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz + 6x1.9 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+ 5G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 |
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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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