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Nokia G42 5G vs Samsung Galaxy S22

Updated Apr 2026phones
Nokia G42 5G
Nokia
Nokia G42 5G
$249
6.8/10
VS
Samsung Galaxy S22
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S22
$799
8.4/10
Winner

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.

ValueG42 5G
CameraGalaxy S22
BatteryG42 5G
DisplayGalaxy S22
PerformanceGalaxy S22

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

Nokia G42 5G
Samsung Galaxy S22
Value
8.5
6.8
Camera
5.8
9.0
Battery
8.2
6.9
Display
5.2
9.1
Performance
6.1
9.2

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

SpecNokia G42 5GSamsung Galaxy S22
SoftwareAndroid 13Android 12, One UI 4.1
Body
Weight193 g167 g
Material100% recycled plastic back, repairable designArmor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+
IP ratingIP52IP68
Dimensions164.6 x 75.8 x 8.5 mm146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm
Camera
Main camera50 MP, f/1.8, PDAF50 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Depth2 MP, f/2.4
Front camera8 MP, f/2.010 MP, f/2.2
Macro2 MP, f/2.4
Video1080p@30fps8K@24fps, 4K@60fps
Telephoto10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom
Ultrawide12 MP, f/2.2
Memory
RAM4 GB / 6 GB8 GB
Storage options128 GB128 GB, 256 GB
Battery
Capacity5000 mAh3700 mAh
Charging20W wired25W wired
Wireless chargingNo15W wireless
Display
Size6.56 inches6.1 inches
TypeIPS LCDDynamic AMOLED 2X
Resolution1612 x 7202340 x 1080
Refresh rate90Hz120Hz
Brightness (nits)4501300
Processor
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz + 6x1.9 GHz)Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz)
GPUAdreno 619Adreno 730
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 480+ 5GQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Connectivity
5G
NFC
USBUSB-C 2.0USB-C 3.2
Wi-FiWi-Fi 5Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.15.2

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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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