Apple iPhone 17 Air vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Apple iPhone 17 Air is the premium option here, but the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra packs some serious flagship features. In real-world use, the S22 Ultra's quad-camera system with 108MP crushes the single-camera setup on the iPhone, giving photography enthusiasts a lot more versatility. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Air's 3150mAh battery provides up to 26 hours of video playback. Key specs: Display: 6.6" vs 6.8" and Battery: 3150 mAh vs 5000 mAh.
Why compare these? The Apple iPhone 17 Air (high-end) and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (premium flagship) represent different approaches to smartphones. While they may appeal to different budgets, many buyers consider both options. This 2026 comparison helps you decide if the differences justify the price gap.
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Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | Apple iPhone | Samsung Galaxy |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | ✓4.9★ (13 reviews) | 4.7★ (1,325 reviews) |
| Top Strength | Thinnest iPhone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium Titanium chassis | Integrated S Pen with ultra-low latency (2.8ms) |
| Main Drawback | High price for a single-camera system (no Ultra Wide or Telephoto lenses) | Large, heavy, and boxy design can be unwieldy |
| Market Position | Premium | ✓Flagship |
Apple iPhone 17 Air
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Android
4 generations of OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform
Qualcomm Adreno 730
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple iPhone 17 Air vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Apple iPhone 17 Air
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 17 Air | Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.9(13)Best Buy | ★4.7(1,325)Best Buy |
Operating System | iOS | Android |
Software Support | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades | 4 generations of OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates |
Processor | Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform |
Graphics | Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) | Qualcomm Adreno 730 |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5 |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe) | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1) |
Display Size | 6.6" (6.55" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less) |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O Display |
Resolution | 2736 x 1260 pixels (460 ppi) | 3088 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 500 ppi |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display | 1–120Hz (Adaptive) |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum | 1,750 nits (Peak) |
Main Camera | 48MP Fusion (26 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) | 108MP Wide (f/1.8, 85° FOV), Laser AF, OIS |
Ultra-Wide Camera | No dedicated Ultra Wide camera (functionality limited to panoramic stitching via software) | 12MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV) |
Telephoto Camera | No dedicated telephoto lens; 12MP 2x Telephoto enabled by 48MP Fusion sensor (52 mm, f/1.6), sensor-shift OIS | 10MP Telephoto (3x optical, f/2.4) + 10MP Periscope (10x optical, f/4.9); OIS |
Optical Zoom | 1x, 2x optical-quality zoom steps (2x optical zoom range) | 3x, 10x Optical Zoom |
Digital Zoom | Up to 10x | Up to 100x Space Zoom |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps; Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps |
Front Camera | 24MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps | 40MP Front (f/2.2, 80° FOV), PDAF |
Battery | 3150 mAh (Li-ion); Up to 26 hours video playback (20 hours streamed) | 5,000 mAh (Typical) |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher | Up to 45W Super Fast Charging 2.0 (Adapter sold separately) |
Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 (15W); Wireless PowerShare |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz only, no mmWave) using Apple-designed modem; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode | 5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.2; NFC; UWB |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 2 speeds (up to 480 Mb/s); Native DisplayPort output | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Grade 5 Titanium alloy frame (internal aluminum structure); Ceramic Shield back | IP68 (Water resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 min); Armor Aluminum frame; Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
Dimensions | 6.15" x 2.94" x 0.22" (156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm) | 6.43" x 3.07" x 0.35" (163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm) |
Weight | 5.82 oz (165 g) | 8.08 oz (229 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor; Face Recognition |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | Integrated S Pen (2.8ms latency); Samsung DeX; Samsung Knox |
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Apple iPhone 17 Air
iOS
Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine)
Apple 5-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
12 GB (LPDDR5X)
256GB / 512GB / 1TB (NVMe)
Pros
- Thinnest iPhone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium Titanium chassis
- 120Hz ProMotion display finally arrives on non-Pro tier
Cons
- High price for a single-camera system (no Ultra Wide or Telephoto lenses)
- Battery life is shorter than the 'Plus' model it replaces due to thinness
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Android
4 generations of OS upgrades; 5 years of security updates
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform
Qualcomm Adreno 730
8GB / 12GB LPDDR5
128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1)
Pros
- Integrated S Pen with ultra-low latency (2.8ms)
- Versatile camera system with dual telephoto lenses (3x and 10x optical)
Cons
- Large, heavy, and boxy design can be unwieldy
- Battery life is average despite 5,000mAh capacity
Which one is better?
Grab the Apple iPhone 17 Air if you want a super-thin design at only 5.6mm, making it a breeze to carry around.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Air if: you value a sleek, ultra-thin design, want to showcase high-quality selfies with its 24MP front camera, or prefer iOS for its seamless ecosystem.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra if: you shoot a lot of photos with a versatile camera system, need extensive battery life for all-day usage, or want an integrated S Pen for productivity. (6.8" display, 5000 mAh battery)
Quality Seekers
Higher user rating (4.9★ vs 4.7★) indicates better overall satisfaction
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Safe Choice Buyers
More widely tested with 1,325 reviews vs 13
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Premium Buyers
Higher-tier option with more premium features and build quality
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Value Seekers
Better value proposition for buyers who don't need top-tier features
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Bottom line: The Apple iPhone 17 Air edges ahead with a 4.9★ rating compared to 4.7★. However, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra remains a strong contender if its strengths align better with your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which is better: Apple iPhone 17 Air or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?
Apple iPhone 17 Air is the better choice if you prioritize thinnest iphone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium titanium chassis. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra wins if you value integrated s pen with ultra-low latency (2.8ms). Both are rated highly (4.9★ vs 4.7★), so consider your specific needs and budget.
+What are the main differences between Apple iPhone 17 Air and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?
Key differences: Apple iPhone 17 Air offers thinnest iphone ever (5.6mm) featuring a premium titanium chassis, while Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra stands out with integrated s pen with ultra-low latency (2.8ms). Consider that Apple iPhone 17 Air high price for a single-camera system (no ultra wide or telephoto lenses). Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra large, heavy, and boxy design can be unwieldy. Check the detailed specs table above for a complete comparison.
+Where can US buyers get the best price?
For US buyers, Amazon typically offers competitive pricing with Prime shipping, easy returns, and reliable warranty support. We recommend comparing prices on both products using our affiliate links above—prices fluctuate regularly, and you may find sales or deals.
+Is this comparison up to date?
Yes, this comparison is current for 2026. We regularly verify specs, ratings, and availability. Last verified: January 27, 2026. PageBen uses affiliate links for monetization, but our recommendations are research-driven and independent.
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