Best value
Apple iPhone SE 3 (2022)
Bells and whistles
Samsung Galaxy S22
Apple’s smallest and most affordable smartphone brings bang for buck, delivering an advanced A15 bionic chip that leaves the competition in the dust. Although the design and features are simple, this is a great entry-level smartphone for the price.
$429 at Apple
Pros
- Great low price point
- Longer battery life
- Ceramic shield screen and back panel
- Fastest processor
Cons
- Single-lens camera can’t compete
- Smaller, darker display
- Fewer color options
Although it’s the smallest of Samsung’s flagship lineup, this handset is much bigger than the iPhone SE and brings a beautiful, bright display to boot. The Galaxy S22 is more expensive, but it comes with a ton of extra features.
$799 at Samsung
Pros
- Bigger, brighter, better display
- Excellent camera and photo quality
- Shoots 8K video
- More colors to choose from
Cons
- Much more expensive
- Slower processor
- Less battery life
When you’re looking at the iPhone SE 3 versus the Galaxy S22, you’re looking at a lower-tier model versus a flagship smartphone, so you can expect that the flagship phone is going to come with more bells and whistles — along with a higher price tag. The Apple iPhone SE 3 is certainly no device to scoff at, however. This is, in my opinion, the best smartphone you can get for the price. Even though it has a simpler build, this little handset does come with a monster processor and a much-improved battery life. Don’t be so quick to dismiss the SE! First I’ll break it down by specs.
Table of Contents
iPhone SE 3 (2022) vs Galaxy S22: Key Differences
| iPhone SE 3 | Galaxy S22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Ceramic Shield front + back and aluminum frame | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ front and back, aluminum frame |
| Colors | Midnight, Starlight, and (PRODUCT)RED | Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, Pink Gold |
| Display | 4.7‑inch LED display | 6.1-inch Amoled 2X display, 120Hz refresh rate |
| Processor | A15 Bionic | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Camera | 12MP Wide rear, 7MP front | Triple lens 50MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide, and 10MP telephoto lens |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB + 4GB RAM | 128GB, 256GB + 8GB RAM |
| Battery | Fast charging (20W charger sold separately), Qi wireless charging | 3,700mAh, Fast charging (charger sold separately), Qi wireless charging |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| headphone jack | None | None |
| Size and weight | 5.45×2.65×0.29 inches, 144 g | 5.75×2.78×0.30 inches, 167 g |
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 12 |
| Price | From $429 | From $799 |
iPhone SE 3 (2022) vs Galaxy S22 Design: Display versus durability
It’s apparent upon first glance that the Galaxy S22 is the more advanced of these two handsets, especially when it comes to hardware and design.
The 2022 edition of the iPhone SE comes with a ceramic shield screen and backplate. That makes it much more resistant to cracking and breaking than previous versions. The Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the Galaxy is more prone to cracks than the ceramic shield screen on the iPhone, but it is slightly more resistant to scratches. Either way, both of these devices are well-built and tough.
One thing I really like about the Galaxy S22 lineup is the color availability. I like to change things up and often buy each new smartphone in a new and interesting color. In total, the S22 offers eight unique colors to choose from, which allows for a slightly more personalized choice. The three colors in the SE lineup seem a bit humdrum to me, but if you’re one of those that has always and will always have a black phone, this may not matter at all.
iPhone SE 3 (2022) vs Galaxy S22 Performance: A15 bionic can’t be beat
With that being said, the Galaxy S22 has double the RAM of the iPhone SE and an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, so during everyday use, the difference in processors may not be immediately evident. The Galaxy is no slouch, but if you’re planning on using your handset to perform extremely rigorous or heavy processes, the iPhone SE is going to beat the S22 when it comes to performance.
The iPhone SE 3 steps into the ring with the blazing-fast A15 bionic chip that blows every other smartphone processor out of the water.
On that same note, the iPhone SE 3 also pulls ahead in battery life. Due to the toned-down display and ultra-efficient processor, the iPhone SE’s battery is going to put out 2-4 hours more of continuous use than the battery of the Samsung S22. Yes, the Samsung’s battery is actually bigger, but the super bright high-performance display of the S22 comes at the cost of battery life. So surprisingly, despite its much lower price point, the iPhone SE 3 wins when it comes to overall performance and efficiency.
iPhone SE 3 (2022) vs Galaxy S22 Camera: Three is better than one
The Galaxy S22 has more lenses with better sensors, so it creates better photos overall, especially in low-light situations. The iPhone SE just can’t produce the same level of detail and exposure. But while the S22 creates better photos in general, the iPhone SE 3 does deliver better photos than any SE before it. That’s because Apple’s computational photography technology enhances the photos automatically, bringing out more vibrant colors, light, and details. So while the Galaxy S22 has the better camera by far, the iPhone SE can create high-quality photography as well.
The S22 creates better photos overall, but the iPhone SE 3 does deliver better photos than any SE before it.
Those same triples lenses on the Galaxy S22 also record 8K video, in contrast to the 4K recorded by the iPhone SE. I will say that the iPhone SE comes with the latest video features released in iOS 15, such as cinematic mode. The Galaxy has similar features, but it may not be as impressive as Apple’s latest in the video arena. Once again, the iPhone SE’s smart technology produces perfectly good video, but the Galaxy S22 does it better simply because it has much more advanced hardware.
iPhone SE 3 (2022) vs Galaxy S22 Price: A clear winner
iPhone SE 3 (2022) vs Galaxy S22: Which should you buy?
If a fancy triple-lens camera and a bigger ultra-bright display are not necessary to your everyday life then the iPhone SE is the better deal for your money. Although it’s a bit smaller and simpler, the SE still packs a lightning-fast processor, a long-lasting battery, and a durable ceramic shield screen. If budget is an issue, you should go for the iPhone SE 3 for sure.
Affordable powerhouse
iPhone SE 3 (2022)
No other smartphone on the market will give you so much power for such an excellent price point. The iPhone SE 3 is super fast and it will last hours longer than competitors between charges.
creative machine
Samsung Galaxy S22
For creators who need the latest in camera and smartphone recording hardware, the Galaxy S22 is the better choice. This handset is more expensive, but it also has a lot more to offer.
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