Apple vs Samsung: The last word head-to-head

Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy lineup are two of the most important names within the smartphone trade. Apple is clearly promoting extra iPhones within the US, grabbing 50% of the smartphone market share within the third quarter of 2022, in comparison with Samsung, which sits in second place with a 24% share of the market. However amount doesn’t at all times point out the highest quality. This information will evaluate the 2 firms alongside each measure, from efficiency and design to ecosystem and safety. Prepared for the final word showdown? Right here’s how Apple’s iPhones stacks up towards Samsung’s Galaxy sequence.

Each Apple and Samsung make a number of the greatest merchandise within the trade. Regardless that each firms make the identical issues with regards to client electronics (telephones, laptops, wearables, and so forth), their core buyer bases are fairly completely different. This has to do with variations in design, value, compatibility, performance, and maybe a little bit of loyalty bias in direction of every model, which have been right here to dispel.

Samsung affords a number of sequence of telephones. The Galaxy A and M sequence are inexpensive choices with high-end specs for many who simply need the fundamentals. The Galaxy S sequence is Samsungs flagship lineup, providing a number of the quickest chipsets and snappiest cameras available on the market. And the Galaxy Z sequence introduced the foldable kind issue bag into trend, nevertheless it comes at a extra premium value.

The vary of iPhones isn’t as vast as what you get with Samsung, as you gained’t discover many funds choices. The iPhone SE is a scrappy mid-ranger that performs higher than it appears, however apart from that, you’re left with the iPhone 14 flagship sequence, whose fashions differ primarily in dimension and energy.

We’ve damaged down Apple’s and Samsung’s lineup of telephones into three classes: entry-level, mid-range, and high-end, to check their product choices at each finish of the value vary. After all, there are at all times great phone deals that may change the bang-for-your-buck worth, however we’ll be going by the usual retail value to maintain issues honest.

Samsung has among the best reputations for locating an important funds cellphone. The Samsungs Galaxy A sequence affords an inexpensive vary of telephones that gained’t make you’re feeling such as you’ve compromised on high quality.

The Galaxy A32 5G hit the candy spot between efficiency, digicam high quality, and worth. It affords 5G connectivity for simply $279, with a smooth and durable design that appears far more costly. The Galaxy A13 5G additionally provides you a two-day battery life and is likely one of the few remaining new telephones to characteristic a headphone jack and embody a charger within the field for simply $249. Nevertheless, some carriers within the US provide the A13 5G for half the value and even without spending a dime.

Final however not least, the most cost effective cellphone from Samsung we’d advocate is the Galaxy A03s. Positive, it’s a fairly fundamental cellphone, however for under $159, you get a beefy battery and a dependable fingerprint reader, plus two OS updates with 4 years of safety updates.

In India, the UK, and a number of other different European nations, Samsung sells its Galaxy M series of funds telephones, providing high-capacity batteries and multi-lens digicam setups. It’s positioned beneath the extra streamlined Galaxy A sequence, though the newer, higher-end fashions have been derived from the A sequence with a number of alterations. As an example, many telephones on this lineup home MediaTek processors.

As for Apple, you gained’t discover an iPhone for lower than $300 except it’s a a lot older mannequin (which doubtless entails outdated {hardware} and software program) or purchased second-hand. That’s simply how it’s with Apple.

The Galaxy A53 5G stands out as probably the most well-rounded, mid-range telephones, packing a four-camera set-up, a 120Hz AMOLED show, a 5,000Ah battery, and 128GB of storage, all for simply $449. Plus, you’re getting Samsung’s unbeatable assure of 5 years of safety and 4 years of OS updates, which implies this cellphone will final you for years.

We haven’t gotten a “Fan version” of Samsung’s newest S sequence cellphone but, however you may nonetheless decide up the Galaxy S21 FE for $699. It’s principally a lite model of the vanilla Galaxy S21, that means you get a bit much less general by way of specs and options, nevertheless it additionally prices much less. Nevertheless, for under $100 extra, you may get the compact Galaxy S22 with a greater chipset, digicam rig, RAM, and the identical out-of-the-box Android 12.

The most affordable iPhone on provide is the iPhone SE for $429. Regardless of sporting an outdated design that hasn’t modified for the reason that iPhone 6, the within of the SE homes Apple’s highly effective A15 Bionic chip, the identical discovered within the iPhone 13 sequence and the iPhone 14/14 Plus. The one issues that maintain again the inexpensive iPhone are its small 4.7-inch display, singular 12MP wide-angle digicam, and it doesn’t characteristic MagSafe, although you may nonetheless wi-fi cost this gadget.

Apple didn’t launch an iPhone 14 Mini this yr, so these hoping for a premium mini gadget should go for the iPhone 13 Mini. It has the identical Bionic 15 chipset, and 12MP+12MP twin rear digicam programs because the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, besides its beginning value dropped to $599, making the 13 Mini a extra engaging proposition.

Now we’re stepping into the premium territory the place telephones will break into the four-digit value vary. The perfect Samsung cellphone for most individuals is the Galaxy S22 Plus. Between a processor that may energy by something, a full-days battery, a triple-camera set-up, and a crisp 120Hz show, that is actually among the best telephones you may get for underneath $1000.

If you’d like the most effective for the most effective, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is an influence consumer’s dream. With a blinding 6.8-inch AMOLED show, it’s a giant cellphone, for certain. However you gained’t discover higher cameras on some other Samsung cellphone, and even maybe within the cellphone market. After all, it’s probably the most costly telephones at $1,199, but additionally one of many solely ones to come back with an built-in S Pen.

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 series of telephones are simply across the nook, and we expect some important upgrades in specs for the S23 Ultra.

iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max are Apple’s present high choices. The iPhone 14 Pro affords loads of bang to your buck with an upgraded processor, a sharper major digicam, and a reimagined show. Nevertheless, it’s the identical value because the S22 Plus however comes with a smaller battery, fewer cameras, and slower charging. The iPhone 14 Professional Max delivers a bigger show and improved battery life but additionally prices extra.

Apart from your conventional flat telephones, Samsung affords some high-end foldable for many who need one thing completely different. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 brings a traditional clamshell design to the trendy age, packs loads of energy, a strong major digicam, and extra for $999. If you wish to fold horizontally, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the most effective pill substitute due to its massive inner show appropriate with the S Pen. Nevertheless, the Fold 4 is the costliest cellphone in Samsung’s lineup at $1,799.

In case you weren’t conscious, Apple and Samsung make extra than simply telephones! Each firms have a rising portfolio of merchandise, together with laptops, earbuds, wearables, tablets, sensible dwelling gadgets, and extra. Apple Macbooks have led the cost in delivering mild and slim laptops for years, however Samsung has adopted their lead with the Galaxy Guide sequence. Samsung has additionally adopted swimsuit in designing higher integration between gadgets, and their merchandise work simply as properly with one another as Apple’s.

To benefit from the AirPods or Apple Watch, you’ll want an iPhone to realize entry to all of the related options. Likewise, to benefit from your Galaxy Buds or Galaxy Watch, you’ll want a Samsung cellphone. Most of your peripherals and equipment will subsequently depend upon which cellphone you select to go along with, and on that entrance, you may’t actually go fallacious both means.

One of many extra main variations, which can be a deciding issue based mostly on how a lot tech you’ve already amassed, is that each one the most recent Samsung gadgets use USB-C ports. With iPhones, you might be restricted to utilizing Apple merchandise to attach with its proprietary lightning port.

Relying on what you search for in a cellphone, this part will be the actual meat and potatoes to deciding which is greatest for you. Listed below are some fast comparisons of Apple and Samsung telephones’ vital {hardware} and tech.

Chips

Samsung has used Snapdragon chipsets for its telephones bought in the US, India, South Korea, and some different nations whereas utilizing Exynos chips for the remainder of the world. Inside all three of the most recent Galaxy S22 smartphones, you’ll discover both the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or the Exynos 2200 chipsets. In line with our benchmark comparison, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 was the higher of the 2. Nonetheless, realistically, the Exynos 1280 within the entry-level Galaxy A53 has sufficient energy underneath the hood for the common consumer, even when it doesn’t compete with the iPhone.

Our testing confirmed that the iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic chipset beat the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Samsung Exynos 2200 concerning CPU efficiency. This benefit prolonged to each single-core and multi-core CPU exams in Geekbench 5. Though, our testing additionally confirmed that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is superior to the A15 by way of GPU efficiency. The Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S22 Extremely delivered higher ends in 3DMark and GFXBench.

As for the most recent A16 Bionic discovered within the iPhone 14 Pro and Professional Max, it does seem to beat out Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, more likely to be present in Samsung’s upcoming S23 lineup, a minimum of by way of CPU. However once more, GPU is a unique story. Our present benchmarks of the Snapdragon Gen 2 eclipse Apple’s newest iPhone, marking a big achievement for gaming potential. Nevertheless, whether or not this efficiency will be sustained in retail handsets stays to be seen.

The takeaway right here is that’s iPhone tends to supply higher CPU efficiency, whereas Samsung tends to supply higher GPU efficiency. So, should you’re going to be taking part in plenty of high-resolution cell video games, for instance, go along with Samsung. However, if you wish to swap between a variety of functions rapidly, an iPhone could also be higher — though the general pace between high-end gadgets is negligible. In case you don’t actually care about both of these and simply need one thing low cost and fewer highly effective, Samsung has loads of funds choices that Apple doesn’t.

Digital camera

For many individuals, cameras have gotten a deciding issue when selecting a cellphone. They’re, in spite of everything, the first technique for capturing and sharing our day-to-day experiences. Nearly all of Samsung telephones have versatile cameras, with funds choices having a minimum of three cameras, together with a major, macro, and ultrawide shooter. With iPhone, in order for you greater than only one 12MP digicam, you’ll must buck up for the flagship sequence, which maxes out at three.

When it comes to sheer energy, there’s one clear winner within the digicam division: Samsung’s S22 Extremely. Its megapixel may on each the back and front, mixed with in-depth management, was sufficient for us to declare it the best phone camera available. It has a quad-camera system together with a stellar 108MP shooter, joined by a 10MP periscope digicam, a 10MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide lens.

See additionally: Samsung S22 Ultra vs. iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max

That being the case, Apple’s newest high-end mannequin, the iPhone 14 Professional Max, is an admirable runner-up. It was the primary iOS gadget to lastly break freed from the 12MP trio, swapping one out for a brand new 48MP sensor. Apple additionally claims a 6x optical zoom vary, although it’s utilizing the 0.5x ultrawide and 3x optical telephoto to get there.

The entrance digicam placement can be starkly completely different on each units of telephones. The Samsung Galaxy S22 will get a punch-hole, center-aligned 40 MP selfie shooter. Then again, Apple continued the getting older notch design with the iPhone 14 sequence, that includes one other 12MP lens as a part of the 14 Professional’s Dynamic Island setup. If selfies are all you’re nervous about, each are strong, so it primarily relies upon should you desire a notch or a punch-hole to take a look at.

Apple is supposedly working with Sony to implement a “state-of-the-art” digicam into its iPhone 15 lineup. Nonetheless, we should wait to see if it may compete with the whopping 200MP rear shooter we anticipate to see on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Show

As for the display you’ll be taking a look at, each Apple’s and Samsung’s flagship sequence of telephones have HDR displays with related peak brightness values. Apple makes use of an XRD OLED show, whereas Samsung provides an additional layer of TFTs with its AMOLED show. Even the cheaper Galaxy A53 will get an AMOLED show, whereas Apple’s extra inexpensive iPhone SE takes a step again with an LCD show. On the subject of sizes, you get extra choices with Samsung because it affords much more telephones at completely different value factors.

Samsung normally makes use of Gorilla Glass safety for many of its telephones. The energy of which normally goes up with the value tag of the gadget, with the strongest being Victus. Apple has used Ceramic Shield for his or her telephones for the reason that iPhone 12 sequence, a brand new sort of glass developed by Corning, the identical designers behind Gorilla Glass. Each iPhone will get the identical Ceramic Defend safety, no matter value.

However maybe the most important distinction between the 2 firms concerning display specs is Samsung’s dedication to outdo Apple’s gadgets with a lot sooner refresh rate panels. Identical to their predecessors within the iPhone 13 sequence, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have 60Hz shows. In distinction, even mid-range choices just like the Galaxy A53 5G get a clean and snappy 120Hz show, as does the whole Galaxy S22 sequence. If you’d like that on the most recent iPhone, you’ll have to contemplate spending much more to get one of many iPhone 14 Professional fashions.

Apple’s development of reserving the best refresh charges for his or her premium flagships is longstanding and more likely to proceed. With Samsung, the whole lineup’s show normally consists of the identical speeds. It’s simply a type of issues the place in case you have skilled 120Hz, it’s laborious to not discover a distinction in pace with something much less.

Battery

How do the battery life and charging speeds evaluate between Apple’s iPhone and Samsung Galaxy sequence? Nicely, iPhone batteries have been smaller and slower to cost throughout the board for the most recent flagship lineups. The vanilla iPhone 14 had a 3,279mAh battery, lasting as much as 20 hours throughout video playback. Restricted to 20W charging through the lighting port, it took round half an hour to get a depleted battery to 50% in our testing and was noticeably slower with the 7.5W wi-fi Qi charging.

The comparable Galaxy S22 had a 3,700mAh financial institution with 15W wired charging and 15W wi-fi charging, which was barely downgraded from the S21 flagship and didn’t carry out as properly underneath heavy utilization in our testing. Nevertheless, the S22 Plus’s 4,500Ah unit supplied the most effective battery life and charging speeds from Samsungs complete lineup, much more so than the S22 Extremely. Our testing confirmed the S22 Plus may usually be topped up from 0% to 100% in simply over 50 minutes and simply reached the 50% mark in underneath 25 minutes.

See additionally: Samsung S22 vs iPhone 14

The disparities have been even greater for the premium flagships. In comparison with the S22 Extremely 5,000mAh battery with 45W quick charging, the iPhone 14 Professional solely boasted a 3,200mAh battery with solely 27W wired charging. This meant the S22 Extremely may simply maintain fixed utilization with anyplace between 25%-35% left within the tank on the finish of the day, with the identical recharge occasions because the S22 Plus. Then again, we discovered it virtually unimaginable to complete a day with greater than 20% remaining battery utilizing the iPhone 14 Professional, and took roughly 80 minutes to finish a full cost — round half an hour greater than the Galaxy S22 Plus.

General, you are inclined to get higher batteries and charging speeds with a Samsung Galaxy than with an iPhone. In case you’re on a good funds and simply want one thing that may final lengthy on a single cost, you may get a beefy 5,000Ah battery with Samsung’s Galaxy A53 5G and Galaxy A13 5G. The most affordable iPhone SE has lower than half that at 2,000mAh.

Right here at Android Authority, we are able to’t assist however be a little bit biased towards Google’s working system. Android is an open platform providing extra alternative, versatility, and customization, to call a couple of execs. Nevertheless, Samsungs One UI does add a variety of bloatware on high of inventory Android, making it straightforward to get misplaced in all of the icon placements, countless settings, and pre-installed apps you doubtless gained’t ever use. However, on the flip facet, it does allow much more customizability with unique apps similar to GoodLock. Take a look at our weekly winners for #aahomescreens on Twitter if you wish to see some examples.

However there are some things that even we admit iOS does better. For starters, iOS tends to be an easier and smoother expertise. That is partly as a result of Apple’s Bionic chip with a sooner CPU, however the consumer interface itself is an instance of the saying “much less is extra.” There are not any app drawers to cover issues, and the easier controls are extra intuitive.

Relating to software program help, Samsung affords as much as 4 OS updates and 5 years of safety updates for his or her flagships, together with the Galaxy S sequence, Z sequence, and select A series devices. Samsung was true to its “as much as” wording this previous yr, totally delivering on its promise. Previous gadgets, such because the Galaxy S20 and Notice Sequence, have obtained three years of OS updates and 4 years of safety updates.

Nevertheless, the gold customary of software program updates remains to be held by Apple, providing affords as much as six OS updates on common. iPhone customers may also obtain them as quickly as they launch, whereas Samsung has to attend to get the replace from Google, work on it, optimize it to your gadget, after which ship it out to its customers, which might take a couple of months.

As a result of iOS is Apple’s proprietary software program, it additionally provides them extra management over the end-user expertise. This enables for higher RAM administration, smoother software program integration, and consumer safety. Nevertheless, the draw back is that this places customers inside Apple’s so-called walled backyard, not like Android’s open-source mannequin. Which means should you’re utilizing an iPhone, you solely get apps out there from the one and solely App Retailer, whereas Samsung telephones can side-load apps or set up them from various third-party shops.

Most apps can be found on both working system, however extra Android apps are usually out there than iOS apps. After all, some apps are unique to iOS and others to Android. For instance, if all your folks use iMessage, you’ll have to have an iPhone to benefit from its options, lest you seem as a inexperienced SMS bubble on their telephones.

When it comes to an ecosystem, it was once that Apple blew all different opponents away with options like AirPlay and AirDrop. However Samsung and Google are rapidly catching up with equal options similar to Nearby Share. The ecosystems now look nearer to being tied with Samsung’s burgeoning portfolio of merchandise. Samsung has additionally improved upon SmartThings and is working with Matter for faster sensible dwelling setups to rival Apple’s HomeKit.

Finally, the worth you get from a cellphone is dependent upon what you might be on the lookout for and the way you need to use it. For essentially the most half, the iPhone 14 lineup and the Galaxy S22 lineup have been across the similar value. The vanilla fashions have been each $799, and the S22 Extremely was $100 greater than the iPhone 14 Professional Max. As we noticed within the {hardware} and tech part, the higher bang to your buck on the bottom fashions would have been the S22, and the upper price ticket on the S22 Extremely within reason justified, given the higher specs. Samsung’s wider number of smartphones additionally means you may anticipate finding an excellent deal irrespective of your funds.

That being stated, Android telephones are inclined to depreciate sooner than iPhones. Samsung truly retains its worth higher than others in its class, however nonetheless not as a lot as Apple. This implies you usually get a better trade-in worth for an iPhone when it’s time to improve gadgets. Plus, you may normally promote them for extra and sooner, given how in style Apple merchandise are.

Then again, iPhones are dearer to restore than Samsung telephones. Apple shops are infamous for charging excessive charges, primarily as a result of Apple has solely the instruments able to opening and fixing iPhones. And their lately launched self-repair service was far from ideal for a lot of iPhone customers. That’s unhealthy information should you are inclined to drop your cellphone lots. Conversely, you may usually take Samsung telephones to any trusted technician to restore, and their newest iFixit program appears like a promising, environment friendly restore resolution.

So which model comes out on high in our final showdown? In case you have been anticipating this text to settle the iOS vs Android debate ceaselessly, we’re sorry to disappoint. Yearly this query is requested, and the reply largely stays the identical — it relies upon. Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy are a number of the greatest telephones within the enterprise, however which is the “greatest” is dependent upon what you need to use the cellphone for, which ecosystem you need to be part of, and which working system you favor.

By highlighting all the professionals and cons of each Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy, we hope you might have sufficient data to find out which facet will higher fit your wants. For essentially the most half, Samsung Galaxy telephones have higher {hardware}, cameras, battery life, and show for the value than the iPhone affords. However regardless of the tech in your hand being of higher high quality, a Samsung cellphone might depreciate in worth sooner than an iPhone. As ironic as that will sound, the recognition of the iPhone performs a giant half available in the market.

iPhones additionally have a tendency to supply higher safety, extra frequent updates, and a extra built-in ecosystem, although Samsung is rapidly catching up. After all, that each one comes at the price of staying inside Apple’s proprietary system. If you wish to customise your cellphone to look precisely as you need and have choices the place you store for apps, then Samsung is the way in which to go. Moreover, should you’re procuring on a funds, Samsung has some nice mid to low-range choices, whereas most iPhones will value you a fairly penny, even previous years’ fashions.

If that wasn’t sufficient components to contemplate, don’t neglect about Google’s lineup of Pixel telephones, of which the Pixel 7 Pro gained each our Readers and Editors Choice awards for 2022. Just a few meals for thought as a 3rd possibility if neither the Samsung Galaxy nor the Apple iPhone satisfied you to purchase one.