Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the flagship option here, boasting a stunning 6.9" display that peaks at an notable 3000 nits outdoors. It's perfect for anyone who needs a bright screen for outdoor use or long video playback, offering up to 39 hours of content. Key specs: Display: 6.9" vs 6.8" and Battery: 5088 mAh vs 5000 mAh.
Why compare these? Both the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra are premium flagship smartphones competing in the same market segment. This makes them direct rivals for buyers looking for premium flagship features and performance in 2026. Understanding their differences helps you choose the right one for your specific needs.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | Apple iPhone | Samsung Galaxy |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | ✓4.8★ (126 reviews) | 4.7★ (1,325 reviews) |
| Top Strength | Brightest iPhone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor) | Integrated S Pen with ultra-low latency (2.8ms) |
| Main Drawback | Large and heavy form factor (233 g) | Large, heavy, and boxy design can be unwieldy |
| Market Position | Flagship | Flagship |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
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; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Apple 6-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.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max | Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.8(126)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; hardware-accelerated ray tracing) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform |
Graphics | Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) | Qualcomm Adreno 730 |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5 |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe) | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1) |
Display Size | 6.9" (6.86" 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 | 2868 x 1320 pixels (460 ppi) | 3088 x 1440 pixels (QHD+), 500 ppi |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz) | 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 Main (24 mm, f/1.78), 2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for 24MP and 48MP super-high-resolution photos | 108MP Wide (f/1.8, 85° FOV), Laser AF, OIS |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography | 12MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV) |
Telephoto Camera | 48MP Fusion Telephoto (100 mm, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus; enables 12MP optical-quality 8x zoom (200 mm equivalent) | 10MP Telephoto (3x optical, f/2.4) + 10MP Periscope (10x optical, f/4.9); OIS |
Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical-quality zoom steps (16x optical zoom range) | 3x, 10x Optical Zoom |
Digital Zoom | Up to 40x | Up to 100x Space Zoom |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps (Fusion Main); ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps |
Front Camera | 18MP 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 | 5088 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 39 hours video playback (35 hours streamed) | 5,000 mAh (Typical) |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~20 minutes with 40W 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 and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; 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 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/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; Ceramic Shield back; Aerospace-grade aluminum unibody (with internal vapor chamber) | IP68 (Water resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 min); Armor Aluminum frame; Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
Dimensions | 6.43" x 3.07" x 0.34" (163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm) | 6.43" x 3.07" x 0.35" (163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm) |
Weight | 8.22 oz (233 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; Always-On display; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | Integrated S Pen (2.8ms latency); Samsung DeX; Samsung Knox |
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. | Check Price on Amazon→ | Check Price on Amazon→ |
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
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; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
12 GB (LPDDR5X)
256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe)
Pros
- Brightest iPhone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor)
- Triple 48MP camera system with 8x optical-quality zoom
Cons
- Large and heavy form factor (233 g)
- Fastest charging speeds require purchasing a 40W+ adapter separately
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?
Key specs: Display: 6.9" vs 6.8" and Battery: 5088 mAh vs 5000 mAh.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max if: you need the brightest display for outdoor use, prioritize video playback up to 39 hours, or want top-notch performance with the A19 Pro chip.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra if: you love taking high-resolution photos with a 108MP camera, need the S Pen for productivity, or want a slightly lighter device.
Quality Seekers
Higher user rating (4.8★ vs 4.7★) indicates better overall satisfaction
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Safe Choice Buyers
More widely tested with 1,325 reviews vs 126
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Brightest iPhone display Priority
Brightest iPhone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor)
→ Choose Apple iPhone
Integrated S Pen Priority
Integrated S Pen with ultra-low latency (2.8ms)
→ Choose Samsung Galaxy
Conclusion
With the key differences outlined, the decision should be clearer. Both options deliver quality—choose the one that fits your priorities.
Bottom line: The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max edges ahead with a 4.8★ 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 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max is the better choice if you prioritize brightest iphone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor). Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra wins if you value integrated s pen with ultra-low latency (2.8ms). Both are rated highly (4.8★ vs 4.7★), so consider your specific needs and budget.
+What are the main differences between Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?
Key differences: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max offers brightest iphone display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor), while Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra stands out with integrated s pen with ultra-low latency (2.8ms). Consider that Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max large and heavy form factor (233 g). 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.
Affiliate disclosure
PageBen uses Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This supports independent content for US shoppers.