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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prefer a phone with a larger screen and a stylus for productivity, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra would be a great option; it also tends to be more affordable. However, if having the latest model with enhanced performance and longer battery life is more important to you, and you are comfortable with the higher cost, then the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max would be the better choice. Both phones offer premium cameras with high-quality photo and video capabilities, but as an Apple product, the iPhone will operate on iOS, whereas the Samsung phone uses Android. Keep in mind the Samsung offers expandable storage via an SD card and a higher screen resolution, which can be important if you value more storage space and sharper display quality. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Best in class for taking photos
- Best in class for recording videos
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
- The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
10.0
8.4
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has best in class overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has very good overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has the best cameras due to its superior software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance across both photos and videos, coupled with an exceptional selfie quality. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra boasts very good camera versatility and exceptional video capabilities, including a highly capable telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom, but it does not match the iPhone in selfie performance or the consistency of photo quality across different lighting conditions.
Photo Quality
10.0
8.5
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes best in class photos, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra takes very good photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers the best selfie quality because it excels in software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance. In contrast, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra also provides very good selfie quality with strong camera versatility, it doesn't quite reach the top-tier performances of the iPhone in the same areas.
Video Quality
10.0
7.4
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes best in class videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra takes good videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes the best videos thanks to its superior video resolution and framerate, along with exceptional software that enhances the video capturing experience. It also leads in video stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality, making it standout for video production compared to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, which still provides good video capabilities, especially in stabilization and dynamic range.
Battery
9.8 Hours
7.8 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has 9.8 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has 7.8 hours of battery life.
Cost
$1,100
$446
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has a price of $1,100 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra costs $446.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is 6.8 inches.
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How the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $446 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Samsung | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 22, 2023 | February 25, 2022 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.8" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 3088 x 1440 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | Yes | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 500 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A17 | SD8G1 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 256 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 10/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Super Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto, Super Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 108 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.8 Hours | 7.8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4441 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 6.3" x 3.02" | 6.43" x 3.07" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.80 oz | 8.04 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6e | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 248 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium | Phantom Black, Phantom White, Burgundy, Green | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Mark Spoonauer | September 2023
"The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a powerful flagship phone that delivers upgrade-worthy features, including a lighter and more compact titanium design, a bigger 5x zoom and a useful Action button. The A17 Pro chip is the fastest around and enables console-quality gameplay, while the battery lasts an epic 14 hours."
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Authority
Eric Zeman | February 2023
"The Galaxy S22 Ultra is a bit of a “greatest hits” compilation of Samsung’s best ideas from former devices. Moreover, it packs much of the same productivity-enabling software as previous Note devices coupled with the power of the S Pen while keeping the total package reasonable in terms of cost. The phone has more features, more cameras, and more software to put to use than many competing phones. It’s a hardcore device that nearly has it all."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
152,100
Recommendations made
86,190
Consumer hours saved
About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
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Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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