This story is a part of Focal Point iPhone 2022, CNET’s assortment of stories, suggestions and recommendation round Apple’s hottest product.
Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra are totally different in some ways, however there is a frequent issue between them: Both firms pitch these high-end telephones as having nice cameras. One of the most important methods the iPhone 14 Pro differs from final yr’s 13 Pro, for instance, is in its new digital camera system. Apple’s new premium iPhone has a high-resolution 48-megapixel most important sensor and different enhancements just like the Photonic Engine, which is a brand new approach that applies Apple’s Deep Fusion processing to pictures earlier for higher element. When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S22 Ultra again in February, it equally highlighted the 108-megapixel most important digital camera as a significant space of focus — notably the S22 Ultra’s improved low-light pictures. In observe, each telephones take spectacular pictures which are wealthy with shade and element. As for which one is best, the reply is considerably subjective and should come down as to if you like the way in which Apple or Samsung processes pictures. But in my expertise, Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro usually does a greater job of manufacturing well-balanced photos, whereas Samsung has a a lot nearer zoom that may’t be matched. To check the cameras on each telephones, I took the identical photos side-by-side underneath varied lighting situations, starting from vibrant outside daylight to dim indoor environments with little or no or no mild.
iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra Camera Specs
iPhone 14 Pro
Galaxy S22 Ultra
Number of cameras (rear)
3
4
Main digital camera decision
48-megapixel
108-megapixel
Ultrawide digital camera decision
12-megapixel
12-megapixel
Ultrawide field-of-view
120 levels
120 levels
Zoom digital camera decision
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 (most important), f2.2 (ultrawide), f1.78 (zoom)
f1.8 (most important), f2.2 (ultrawide), f4.9 (zoom), f2.4 (zoom)
Night mode
Yes
Yes
Special options
Photographic kinds, macro pictures, portrait mode with portrait lighting, Apple ProRaw
Directors view, single take, portrait mode, skilled uncooked (separate app)
Video recording
4K at as much as 60 fps, motion mode, cinematic mode
8K at 24 fps, 4K at as much as 60 fps, tremendous regular stabilization
Other particulars
Photonic engine applies deep fusion earlier within the course of for higher element, second-gen sensor shift for picture stabilization, new quad pixel sensor that mixes each 4 pixels into 1 massive 2.44um pixel. Option to make use of 2x zoom that makes use of the center 12 megapixels for full decision with no digital zoom (good for portrait mode.) Full 48MP pictures in Pro Raw
Adaptive pixel combines pixel binning (which blends information from a number of pixels into one large pixel) with decision from the primary sensor. Laser autofocus sensor for bettering focus in shut vary and low mild environments, optical picture stabilization
iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: Bright outside sunlightIf you are capturing pictures in outside daylight, you’ll be able to relaxation assured that each the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra are able to capturing wonderful pictures. In the photograph samples under, you may discover the pictures of the ice cream truck and sidewalk murals are each colourful and well-lit. The greatest distinction might be seen within the pictures of geese on the seashore. Samsung’s photograph is brighter and makes the colours of the river and sand pop extra. But Apple’s has extra element and distinction within the pebbles and glass shards on the shore.iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: ZoomThe iPhone 14 Pro can zoom as much as 3 times optically and 15 instances digitally, whereas the Galaxy S22 Ultra has an optical zoom of 3x or 10x and can even zoom digitally as much as 100 instances. I used the utmost zoom stage on every telephone to get a way of how a lot their vary differs, as you’ll be able to see within the pictures of the freeway signal under. There’s no query that Samsung can obtain a considerably nearer zoom than Apple, though it is not very sharp and it’s extremely exhausting to focus when zooming in at 100x. Using the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 100x zoom does not appear very sensible except you actually need to see one thing that is very distant and do not essentially care about picture high quality.iPhone 14 Pro 15x digital zoom/Galaxy S22 Ultra 100x digital zoomHere’s how they carry out at a way more real looking 10x zoom. Both are very clear, however the textual content on the signal is brighter and bolder within the iPhone 14 Pro’s picture.
iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: PortraitsWhen it involves Portrait Mode pictures that barely blur the background to make the topic stand out extra, the iPhone 14 Pro carried out higher in dim outside lighting. In the pictures taken at an outside wine bar under, the iPhone 14 Pro’s picture is extra correct when it comes to eye and pores and skin shade, and there is usually extra element within the face. Samsung appears to have struggled with the lightning for this shot, though the colour of the topic’s beard does look extra correct.Portrait ModeIn the identical photograph with out Portrait Mode turned on, I most well-liked Samsung’s photograph. The Galaxy S22 Ultra usually captured extra element.Portrait (common, no Portrait Mode)iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: Night modeBoth telephones are able to taking comparatively vibrant pictures in low-light circumstances, as proven within the pictures under of my cat that was taken in night time mode with many of the lights in my house turned off. But Samsung’s photograph is way more detailed, regardless that the iPhone’s image is a bit brighter. The iPhone 14 Pro’s photograph is softer and lacks the element and readability within the cat’s fur that you simply get within the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s picture.iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: MacroWhen it involves close-up macro photographs, the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra every produced colourful, sharp pictures. I barely most well-liked the iPhone 14 Pro’s as a result of I assumed it had slightly extra depth to it. But it is also a bit washed out in comparison with Samsung’s photograph, so it is a robust name. iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: UltrawideThe iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra every have a 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera with a 120-degree field-of-view. Both cameras captured crisp element and shade when photographing a sidewalk mural, as proven under.
But the iPhone 14 Pro did a greater job of capturing this tree-lined scene at an area park. The iPhone 14 Pro’s photograph feels extra balanced, and there is a good quantity of distinction between the bridge, sky and bushes. Samsung’s photograph, then again, appears a bit washed out in the correct nook the place the bridge is positioned. However, that is the one photograph the place one of these lens flare was very noticeable.iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: Raw picturesYou can shoot Raw photos on each telephones, however the strategy of doing so is a bit totally different on every gadget. On the iPhone, you’ll be able to select to shoot with Apple’s ProRaw setting, which mixes the customization of a uncooked file with some parts of Apple’s computational pictures. The consequence is a photograph that also has much more picture information than the usual picture you’d usually seize on an iPhone, however with a few of Apple’s photo-processing smarts.Samsung, in the meantime, presents an app known as Expert Raw that you could obtain individually to take uncooked pictures in your Galaxy telephone. It saves the picture in each uncooked and JPEG codecs and in addition contains controls for adjusting parts just like the ISO, shutter velocity and white steadiness. You can even soar straight to Adobe Lightroom proper from the Expert Raw app, which is helpful for modifying on the go.I shot the identical scene under utilizing Apple’s ProRaw setting on the iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung’s Expert Raw app on the S22 Ultra. Then, I edited every one in Adobe Lightroom and exported them to the JPEG file format so that they are simply viewable on this story. Even although they have been compressed, you’ll be able to nonetheless get an excellent sense of how every telephone usually captures parts like shade, element, texture and lighting.In the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s photograph, I turned down the highlights, boosted the shadows and made another minor changes. For the iPhone 14 Pro’s picture, I bumped up the publicity, distinction and shadows. iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: The backside line
Both the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra are able to taking sharp, colourful pictures. But they reach totally different areas, and which one is greatest for you’ll rely in your priorities and capturing model. Each telephone excelled at taking pictures in superb lighting outside. I most well-liked the iPhone 14 Pro’s digital camera when capturing ultrawide panorama photographs and Portrait Mode pictures. The Samsung, then again, is able to a a lot nearer zoom than the iPhone, and I additionally thought the Galaxy S22 Ultra captured higher pictures in difficult lighting circumstances, each indoors and outdoors.