Samsung unveiled its next high-end flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, in February. We picked up one of the new Samsung devices and decided to compare it to Apple's top-of-the-line smartphone, the iPhone 13 Pro Max, to see how the two premium phones compare in terms of camera quality.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max, in comparison, includes a 12-megapixel Wide lens, a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide lens, and a 12-megapixel Telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. On paper, Samsung clearly wins in terms of raw specifications, particularly in the optical zoom category.
In actuality, though, both smartphones capture excellent shots, and it might be difficult to choose a favourite from photo to photo, as seen by the photos in our movie and this article. It's worth noting that all of the photographs we're exhibiting were shot in RAW and are right out of the camera using the smartphone's normal settings, with no editing.
Depending on the scene, you'll notice primarily differences in colour temperature. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has a colder tone, whilst the iPhone 13 Pro Max has a warmer tone. The S22 Ultra also has a tendency to boost highlights, and although this can make photographs look clearer, some may find them to be overly washed out as a result.
In certain cases, the iPhone provides more natural lighting for skin tones than the S22 Ultra, however the contrast used by the iPhone can make dark regions darker, leading photographs to lose detail. The iPhone photographs are more colourful and might be more aesthetically beautiful, however this varies greatly depending on the subject matter.
There is a lot of similarities in Portrait Mode. Both the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the S22 Ultra capture excellent portrait photographs, thanks to improvements in edge recognition and bokeh. Of course, the iPhone is more vivid, and in certain photographs, it's a touch clearer. Unfortunately, Samsung is still not very good at skin tones, and the S22 Ultra is no exception.
In terms of video recording, the iPhone has the advantage because it supports Dolby Atmos and ProRes for higher-quality footage for those who want it, but both are more than enough for daily films. Cinematic Mode outperforms Samsung's Live Portrait video option since Samsung limits the capability to faces alone, and the iPhone also outperforms in terms of steadiness. Unlike the iPhone 13 Pro Max, the Galaxy S22 Ultra supports 8K video, but the lack of good stabilisation degrades the quality.
Most individuals are unlikely to choose a smartphone based only on its photographic skills, and the ecosystem plays a significant impact. Someone who has many Apple devices is unlikely to buy an S22 Ultra, while a regular Samsung owner is unlikely to leave that environment for an iPhone.
Most individuals are unlikely to choose a smartphone based only on its photographic skills, and the ecosystem plays a significant impact. Someone who has many Apple devices is unlikely to buy an S22 Ultra, while a regular Samsung owner is unlikely to leave that environment for an iPhone.
In everyday usage, these smartphones are eerily identical, and they both capture stunning, high-quality images that rival those obtained with high-end point-and-shoot cameras, especially when the lighting is favourable. What iPhone users may learn from the S22 Ultra is what Apple may do in the future. Will Apple be able to compete with that 10x optical zoom lens? Rumor has it that a periscope lens with better zoom capabilities is in the works, and Apple is constantly attempting to improve camera technology.
What were your thoughts on the photographs in the video? Make sure to watch it all the way through to see all of the comparisons, and then let us know if you prefer the Galaxy S22 Ultra or the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
