iPhone 14 Max vs Galaxy S22+: an even battle

Design and display quality

Moving with the times

Now, we all know that Samsung phones are known for their superb display quality and tech, but one could argue that in recent years iPhones have finally managed to catch up for the most part.Where we usually do see a difference, however, is in the amount of brightness, which is noticeably higher on the Galaxy S22+ than on current iPhone models. There is no information at the moment if Apple will be using brighter screens for its iPhone 14 models.

Another area where the Galaxy S22+ would likely beat the iPhone 14 Max is the screen refresh rate. Once again, only the Pro iPhone models are said to come with displays capable of 120Hz variable refresh rate, whereas the regular 2022 iPhone duo will come with the measly 60Hz that is starting to feel a bit outdated by now. With Samsung, you don’t have to pay up to get this feature.

Speaking of outdated, let’s not also forget the iconic notch, which will likely stay the same on the iPhone 14 and 14 Max, whereas the Galaxy S22+ has a more modern, cleaner-looking punch-hole style display.

Design-wise, the iPhone 14 Max will look, well, like an enlarged iPhone 14. Currently, we don’t have any information on the precise measurements, however, it is said that the iPhone Max will come with the same display size as that on the Pro Max, i.e. 6.7”. The Galaxy S22+ has just a slightly smaller one, at 6.6”.

Apart from its overall look and size, the main difference would likely be the more rectangular, sharp-edge shape of the iPhone, compared to the more rounded, pebble approach with the Galaxy S22+.

Performance and Software

Same old, same old

The iPhone 14 Max, unlike its higher-end Pro siblings, is rumored to keep the same chipset as its predecessor — the A15 Bionic. Now, while this might not make the 14 Max any faster than last year’s models, it is highly likely to outperform the Galaxy S22+, given that the current-gen iPhones already do.When it comes to software, the time when Galaxy flagships used to wait for ages to receive major software updates is over. These days, Samsung offers four years of updates, which is more than most other Android phone makers and just one year less than Apple.

Camera

Less is not more

The obvious difference between these two camera systems is that the Galaxy S22+ has a set of three cameras, one more than the iPhone. More specifically, Apple would probably decide to stick with the 12 MP wide/ 12 MP telephoto camera combo on the iPhone 14 Max, at least judging by previous non-Pro iPhones.

There are no rumors that point at the iPhone 14 Max getting any camera upgrades, though. In other words, we can expect the same performance and quality as the current generation. The Galaxy S22+ is rocking a 50 MP main, 10 MP telephoto, and 12 MP ultra-wide. Both phones take great shots, with the iPhone having an edge when it comes to shooting video.

Audio Quality and Haptics

Information about the iPhone 14 Max’s speakers is rather scarce at the moment, but that is probably because they are going to be the same ones as on the iPhone 13. Despite that, they are still great dual-firing speakers that produce noticeably richer sound than those on the Galaxy S22+.

Haptics have long been a strong suit for iPhones so no need to speculate on Apple’s end. The good news is that the Galaxy S22+ also comes with really good haptic feedback that is much improved compared to the S21+.

Battery Life and Charging

Fast charging wins the race

Last year, the iPhone 13 series managed to surprise us all by consistently providing some of the best battery life from all of the flagship phones we tested throughout the year here at PhoneArena. We expect to see similar results with the iPhone 14 Max this year, alongside a 4,325mAh battery. However, the Galaxy S22+ is no slouch either and will not leave you hanging after a day or so with heavy use.

What makes the difference here is that the S22+ can charge much faster — at 45W, compared to the iPhone’s maximum of 20W. The bad news here is that Apple does not intend to increase that number, at least not this year and with the iPhone 14 series.

iPhone 14 Max vs Galaxy S22+ Specs Comparison

You can check out and compare the full list of specs and features for the iPhone 14 Max and Galaxy S22+ in our comparison page.Everything we know about the iPhone 14 Max is based on leaks, reports, and rumors, so take this information with a grain of salt.

Summary and Final Verdict

There are a few differences between the upcoming iPhone 14 Max and the Galaxy S22+ to keep in mind when choosing between the two. The most eye-catching one, however, is the price, which is supposedly $100 less if you choose the iPhone 14 Max.

But even if the price does not end up being a hundred bucks lower than the S22+, there are still reasons to like Apple’s new model: an expected significantly long battery life, amazing video shooting capabilities, and the awesome speakers, to name a few.

On Samsung’s side, you are likely to get a brighter display with smoother animations thanks to the higher 120Hz screen refresh rate. A big win for the S22+ is also the third camera that you can use to zoom in three times closer. There’s also the much faster charging, which comes in handy when you are in a rush.

To be frank, it’s shaping up to be quite the mixed bag with these two awesome phones. Saying that both are great and that it depends on personal preference is usually the oldest cop-out in the book, but in this case, that is truly what it boils down to.