We can pinpoint key differences in design and performance between Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra, but they share something in common: Both companies promote these top-of-the-line phones as having amazing, high-quality cameras.
One of the biggest ways the iPhone 14 Pro differs from last year’s 13 Pro, for example, is in its new camera system. Apple’s new premium iPhone has a high-resolution 48-megapixel main sensor and other improvements like the Photonic Engine, which is a new technique that applies Apple’s Deep Fusion processing to images earlier for better detail. When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S22 Ultra in February, it similarly highlighted the 108-megapixel main camera as a major area of focus — particularly the S22 Ultra’s improved low-light photography.
In practice, both phones take impressive photos that are rich with color and detail. As for which one is better, the answer is somewhat subjective and may come down to whether you prefer the way Apple or Samsung processes photos. But in my experience, Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro generally does a better job of producing well-balanced images, while Samsung has a much closer zoom that can’t be matched. Large play-pause toggle00:5306:32Play Sound
Video: iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: Camera Comparison
To test the cameras on both phones, I took the same images side-by-side under various lighting scenarios, ranging from bright outdoor sunlight to dim indoor environments with very little or no light.
iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra Camera Specs
| iPhone 14 Pro | Galaxy S22 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of cameras (rear) | 3 | 4 |
| Main camera resolution | 48-megapixel | 108-megapixel |
| Ultrawide camera resolution | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Ultrawide field-of-view | 120 degrees | 120 degrees |
| Zoom camera resolution | 12-megapixel | 10-megapixel (2 lenses) |
| Zoom | 3x optical zoom in, 15x digital zoom | 3x or 10x optical zoom, 100x digital zoom |
| Aperture | f1.78 (main), f2.2 (ultrawide), f1.78 (zoom) | f1.8 (main), f2.2 (ultrawide), f4.9 (zoom), f2.4 (zoom) |
| Night mode | Yes | Yes |
| Special features | Photographic styles, macro photography, portrait mode with portrait lighting, Apple ProRaw | Directors view, single take, portrait mode, expert raw (separate app) |
| Video recording | 4K at up to 60 fps, action mode, cinematic mode | 8K at 24 fps, 4K at up to 60 fps, super steady stabilization |
| Other details | Photonic engine applies deep fusion earlier in the process for better detail, second-gen sensor shift for image stabilization, new quad pixel sensor that combines every 4 pixels into 1 big 2.44um pixel. Option to use 2x zoom that uses the middle 12 megapixels for full resolution with no digital zoom (good for portrait mode.) Full 48MP photos in Pro Raw | Adaptive pixel combines pixel binning (which blends data from multiple pixels into one giant pixel) with resolution from the main sensor. Laser autofocus sensor for improving focus in close range and low light environments, optical image stabilization |
iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: Bright outdoor sunlight
If you’re shooting photos in outdoor sunlight, you can rest assured that both the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra are capable of capturing excellent photos. In the photo samples below, you’ll notice the photos of the ice cream truck and sidewalk murals are both colorful and well-lit. The biggest difference can be seen in the photos of ducks on the beach. Samsung’s photo is brighter and makes the colors of the river and sand pop more. But Apple’s has more detail and contrast in the pebbles and glass shards on the shore.