The Galaxy S22 Ultra is a real technological monster. It is equipped with the latest technological advances in terms of performance, adopts a more "serious" look that makes it look more like a Galaxy Note, and above all now integrates the S-Pen.
Released a few months earlier, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the most powerful iPhone currently available. It features Apple's latest A15 Bionic chip, a new ProMotion 120Hz display, and a set of improved photo sensors.
Introduction :
Galaxy S22 Ultra vs iPhone 13 Pro Max: what are the design differences?
The iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra are two visually different smartphones - but equally premium in their choice of materials. The back of the Galaxy S22 Ultra is made of Corning Glass Victus, the same ultra-solid reinforced glass that protects the screen.
The camera sensors blend more into the body of the device, whereas they are gathered in a distinctive cluster on the other models. The S22 Ultra now incorporates a storage sleeve for the S-Pen, as on the defunct Galaxy Note. The S-Pen is definitely the biggest difference between the S22 Ultra and the iPhone 13 Pro Max - if you ignore ecosystem differences.
The 13 Pro Max takes the design launched with the iPhone 12 generation. We have flat edges in the style of the iPhone 4-5S - except that the material is steel instead of aluminum. The smartphone is again a glass sandwich covered by what Apple calls Ceramic Shield - an in-house equivalent of the strongest Corning glass.
The set of photo sensors is raised is gathered in a visually distinct set. This raised element is actually an extension of the glass that covers the back of the smartphone. A small detail that gives this design a lot of cachet. We note the presence of a LiDAR sensor - which is this point under the intermediate sensor.
This sensor is the same one that is integrated in the set of sensors needed for FaceID to work. It gives the smartphone very precise information on the depth of field, which allows it to better calculate the blur effect in portrait photos, for example.
The screen is also very different. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has an Edge screen with curved edges, and hides the selfie sensor in a small punch at the top center of the slab. The iPhone has to do since the iPhone X with a more imposing notch necessary for the operation of FaceID. It is nevertheless slightly reduced on this generation.
The comparison Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max
For the most part, the Galaxy S22 Ultra's spec sheet is very similar to that of the Galaxy S21 Ultra. We have the same set of photo sensors, battery capacity and overall features. Samsung has marginally improved the quality of the photo sensors, but overall, we remain on something very similar to the previous generation.
However, there are two major changes. First, Samsung has chosen to integrate its brand new Exynos 2200 chip with a real AMD mRDNA2 GPU. This is capable for the first time of delivering console graphics with Ray Tracing in mobile games compatible.
The compatibility of this technology is at this stage a big question mark, knowing that in front of it, iPhones are rather well endowed in the video game department. For its part, the iPhone 13 Pro Max uses the latest chip designed by Apple, A15 Bionic. As always, it is extremely efficient, both in terms of execution and energy performance.
It is true, however, that over the years, Apple has been putting forward figures that are a little abstract and whose interest can sometimes be difficult to appreciate. In comparison, the Exynos 2200 chip has the biggest marketing news this year, but again, we'll have to see in the coming months how much the arrival of an mRDNA2 GPU in a smartphone chip can really change the game of mobile gaming.
It also remains to be seen how this chip will also improve the experience of other users, such as mobile professionals. For the rest both smartphones have very bright displays, with particularly balanced color rendering and adaptive 120 Hz refresh for smoother renders.
Both smartphones have excellent sets of photo sensors. We'll refrain from comparing them in this content - to better compare their photo talents in a separate test.
What's the price difference? Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. iPhone 13 Pro Max:
The Galaxy S22 Ultra and the cheapest iPhone 13 Pro Max are offered at exactly the same price of €1,259. At this price you will have the right in both cases to 128 GB of internal storage and 8 GB of RAM in the case of Samsung and 6 GB of RAM at Apple. The price difference increases quite quickly when you go up in the storage options.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max 256GB is thus barely 20 € more expensive than the 12GB variant with the same amount of storage in the S22 Ultra range. That changes quickly: €150-250 difference on the 512 GB models. And we're not talking about the exclusive iPhone 13 Pro Max range, the 1TB variant at over €1,800.
Judge for yourself with this comparison of the price lists of the two models. The price of the S22 Ultra :
- Galaxy S22 Ultra 8/128 GB: € 1,259
- Galaxy S22 Ultra 12/256 GB: € 1,359
- Galaxy S22 Ultra 12/512 GB: € 1,459
- Galaxy S21 Ultra 8/128 GB: €1,199
- Galaxy S21 Ultra 8/256 GB: €1,249
- Galaxy S21 Ultra 16/512 GB: €1,359
iPhone 13 Pro Max price:
- iPhone 13 Pro Max 6/128 GB : 1 259 €
- iPhone 13 Pro Max 6/256 GB: €1,379
- iPhone 13 Pro Max 6/512 GB: €1,609
- iPhone 13 Pro Max 6/1Tb: 1 839 €.
Conclusion: how to decide between the S22 Ultra and the iPhone 13 Pro Max?
If you're on the fence between the S22 Ultra and the iPhone 13 Pro Max, it's probably because you swear by the best, and want the best smartphone experience available in 2022. From there, there can be several profiles. If you're an early adopter, a regular in the ecosystem, and you've been looking forward to a convincing successor to the Note, the Galaxy S22 is probably the best choice you can make this year.
You'll get the ultimate in components, including an exceptionally powerful display, the first mobile chip to feature a true Ray Tracing-capable GPU, and an S-Pen that's as much a part of the device as it is of the Notes. However, depending on how you use your smartphone, all these new features may seem like a gimmick.
If that's the case, you're probably looking for a smartphone that delivers a more established user experience and functionality. In that case, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is probably the best device for you. The appeal of Apple's product operation and ecosystem is well established. Moreover, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is extremely well equipped for 4K video recording, mobile gaming and also offers technologies like 120 Hz adaptive refresh.
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