Galaxy S22+ 5G • Unlocked vs iPhone SE (2022) • Locked Verizon

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus 5G, released in February 2022, and the Apple iPhone SE (2022), launched in March 2022, represent distinct approaches to smartphone design and functionality. While both offer 5G connectivity and aim to provide a capable mobile experience, they differ significantly in their operating systems, display technology, and overall form factor. The Galaxy S22 Plus runs on Android, offering a larger, more expansive screen and a versatile multi-camera system, whereas the iPhone SE (2022) operates on iOS, featuring a more compact design with a traditional home button and a single rear camera.

When considering the long-term usability of a smartphone, factors like software support, physical durability, and ease of repair play a crucial role. Both devices, despite their different ecosystems, offer a reasonable lifespan, though with varying approaches to longevity.

• Software Support: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G was launched with Android 12 and is eligible for four years of major Android OS updates and five years of security updates, meaning it will receive major updates until around 2026 and security patches until early 2027. The iPhone SE (2022), released with iOS 15.4, is expected to receive iOS updates for approximately 5 to 7 years, potentially extending its software longevity until 2028-2030.
• Repairability: The iPhone SE (2022) generally receives a moderate repairability score, with common components like the battery and screen being relatively accessible for repair, though specialized tools are often required. In contrast, the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G has been noted for its lower repairability score, primarily due to the extensive use of strong adhesive, which makes disassembly and component replacement more challenging.
• Practical Lifespan: Users can expect both devices to remain functional for several years. The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G offers robust build quality with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both front and back, along with an aluminum frame, providing good protection against everyday wear and tear. The iPhone SE (2022) also features durable glass on its front and back and an aluminum frame, contributing to its resilience.

The performance of a smartphone is central to the user experience, influencing everything from app responsiveness to multitasking capabilities and battery endurance. Both the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G and the iPhone SE (2022) deliver capable performance, though they cater to different user expectations and power consumption profiles.

• Processing Power: The iPhone SE (2022) is equipped with a current-generation processor, enabling it to handle demanding applications and multitasking with notable smoothness. The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G also features a powerful, current-generation processor, ensuring consistently excellent performance across various tasks and applications.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G houses a larger battery capacity, which, for moderate users, can comfortably last a full day with some buffer. Heavy users, however, might find its battery life to be average, with some reports of needing more frequent charging. The iPhone SE (2022), with its smaller battery, typically requires daily charging for most users, and heavy usage may necessitate recharging more than once a day.
• Storage and Multitasking: Both devices offer various internal storage configurations, with the iPhone SE (2022) starting at 64GB and the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G offering larger base storage options. The iPhone SE (2022) comes with 4GB of RAM, which, combined with its optimized operating system, allows for smooth app switching and general multitasking. The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G typically includes 8GB of RAM, providing ample capacity for extensive multitasking and running numerous applications simultaneously without slowdowns.

The display is a primary interface for smartphone interaction, and the quality of the screen significantly impacts the viewing and user experience. The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G and the iPhone SE (2022) offer distinct display technologies and sizes, catering to different preferences.

• Display Technology and Size: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G features a large 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, known for its vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. The iPhone SE (2022) utilizes a more compact 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD display, which provides good color accuracy and brightness, though it does not offer the same contrast levels as an OLED panel.
• Resolution and Refresh Rate: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G offers a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels) and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, resulting in sharp images and exceptionally smooth scrolling and animations. The iPhone SE (2022) has a resolution of 1334 x 750 pixels at 326 ppi and a standard 60Hz refresh rate, which is sufficient for clear viewing but lacks the fluidity of higher refresh rate displays.
• Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G boasts a high peak brightness of up to 1750 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. The iPhone SE (2022) has a peak brightness of 625 nits, which is adequate for most indoor and outdoor scenarios, but may struggle more in direct sunlight compared to the Galaxy S22 Plus.

For many users, the camera system is a critical component of a smartphone, influencing how they capture and share moments. The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G and the iPhone SE (2022) offer different camera configurations and capabilities.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G features a versatile triple-camera setup on the rear, including a 50 MP wide lens, a 10 MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12 MP ultrawide lens. This allows for a range of photographic options, from detailed wide shots to zoomed-in images. The iPhone SE (2022) has a single 12 MP wide camera on its rear, which is capable of producing good images in well-lit conditions.
• Photography Performance: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G generally delivers excellent camera performance with good clarity, colors, and sharpness, and includes improved low-light capabilities. However, some users note that it might not always match the image processing of some competitors, particularly with human subjects or in very challenging low-light scenarios. The iPhone SE (2022) performs well in good lighting, capturing detailed and color-accurate photos, but it lacks a dedicated night mode, which can result in darker and grainier images in low-light environments.
• Video Recording and Front Camera: Both devices offer capable video recording. The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G can record up to 8K video at 24fps and features a 10 MP front camera. The iPhone SE (2022) supports 4K video recording at up to 60fps and has a 7 MP front camera. Users generally find the video quality on both devices to be good, with the iPhone SE (2022) often praised for its video capabilities relative to its class.