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 have some stark variations of their options, however there’s one factor they’ve in frequent: Both corporations champion these high-grade telephones as having refined, spectacular cameras.One of the most important methods the iPhone 14 Pro differs from final 12 months’s 13 Pro, for instance, is in its new digital camera system. Apple’s new premium iPhone has a high-resolution 48-megapixel major 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 in February, it equally highlighted the 108-megapixel major digital camera as a serious space of focus — notably the S22 Ultra’s improved low-light pictures. In observe, each telephones take spectacular photographs which are wealthy with colour and element. As for which one is healthier, the reply is considerably subjective and will come down as to whether you favor the best way Apple or Samsung processes photographs. But in my expertise, Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro typically does a greater job of manufacturing well-balanced pictures, whereas Samsung has a a lot nearer zoom that may’t be matched. To take a look at the cameras on each telephones, I took the identical pictures side-by-side beneath varied lighting eventualities, starting from brilliant out of doors daylight to dim indoor environments with little or no or no gentle.
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 (major), f2.2 (ultrawide), f1.78 (zoom)
f1.8 (major), f2.2 (ultrawide), f4.9 (zoom), f2.4 (zoom)
Night mode
Yes
Yes
Special options
Photographic types, macro pictures, portrait mode with portrait lighting, Apple ProRaw
Directors view, single take, portrait mode, professional 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 photographs in Pro Raw
Adaptive pixel combines pixel binning (which blends knowledge from a number of pixels into one big pixel) with decision from the primary sensor. Laser autofocus sensor for bettering focus in shut vary and low gentle environments, optical picture stabilization
iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: Bright out of doors sunlightIf you are capturing photographs in out of doors daylight, you may relaxation assured that each the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra are able to capturing wonderful photographs. In the photograph samples beneath, you will discover the photographs of the ice cream truck and sidewalk murals are each colourful and well-lit. The greatest distinction might be seen within the photographs 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 thrice 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 cellphone to get a way of how a lot their vary differs, as you may see within the photographs of the freeway signal beneath. There’s no query that Samsung can obtain a considerably nearer zoom than Apple, though it is not very sharp and it’s extremely laborious 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 lifelike 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 photographs that barely blur the background to make the topic stand out extra, the iPhone 14 Pro carried out higher in dim out of doors lighting. In the photographs taken at an out of doors wine bar beneath, the iPhone 14 Pro’s picture is extra correct when it comes to eye and pores and skin colour, and there is typically 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 typically captured extra element.Portrait (common, no Portrait Mode)iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: Night modeBoth telephones are able to taking comparatively brilliant photographs in low-light circumstances, as proven within the photographs beneath of my cat that was taken in evening mode with many of the lights in my condo turned off. But Samsung’s photograph is way more detailed, though 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 just get within the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s picture.iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: MacroWhen it involves close-up macro pictures, the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra every produced colourful, sharp photographs. I barely most well-liked the iPhone 14 Pro’s as a result of I assumed it had somewhat 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 colour when photographing a sidewalk mural, as proven beneath.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 timber. Samsung’s photograph, alternatively, seems a bit washed out in the precise nook the place the bridge is positioned. However, that is the one photograph the place the sort of lens flare was very noticeable.iPhone 14 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: Raw photographsYou can shoot Raw pictures on each telephones, however the means of doing so is a bit completely different on every system. On the iPhone, you may 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 end result is a photograph that also has much more picture knowledge 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 which you could obtain individually to take uncooked photographs in your Galaxy cellphone. It saves the picture in each uncooked and JPEG codecs and likewise consists of controls for adjusting parts just like the ISO, shutter pace and white steadiness. You can even leap straight to Adobe Lightroom proper from the Expert Raw app, which is helpful for modifying on the go.I shot the identical scene beneath utilizing Apple’s ProRaw setting on the iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung’s Expert Raw app on the S22 Ultra. Then, I edited each 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 may nonetheless get sense of how every cellphone typically captures parts like colour, 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 lineBoth the iPhone 14 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra are able to taking sharp, colourful photographs. But they achieve completely different areas, and which one is finest for you’ll rely in your priorities and capturing type. Each cellphone excelled at taking photographs in ultimate lighting outdoor. I most well-liked the iPhone 14 Pro’s digital camera when capturing ultrawide panorama pictures and Portrait Mode photographs. The Samsung, alternatively, is able to a a lot nearer zoom than the iPhone, and I additionally thought the Galaxy S22 Ultra captured higher photographs in difficult lighting circumstances, each indoors and outdoors.
Stephen Shankland/CNET
Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max introduce sweeping adjustments just like the Dynamic Island, a brand new 48-megapixel digital camera system and Apple’s new A16 Bionic processor. All of those upgrades come collectively to make for an expertise that feels contemporary and quick in comparison with older generations.
Read our Apple iPhone 14 Pro evaluate.
Samsung
Samsung’s newest flagship superphone, the Galaxy S22 Ultra has a powerful lineup of specs, together with a quadruple rear digital camera, an enormous, vibrant show and the S Pen stylus you would possibly bear in mind from the Galaxy Note sequence. It comes with a excessive value, however these of you searching for the most effective Android telephones round ought to have this in your brief checklist.
Read our Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra evaluate.