Galaxy S25 • Unlocked vs iPhone SE (2022) • Locked AT&T

The Samsung Galaxy S25, released in February 2025, and the iPhone SE 2022, launched in March 2022, represent distinct approaches to smartphone design and functionality. While the Galaxy S25 offers a modern Android experience with advanced features, the iPhone SE 2022 provides a compact iOS experience with a classic design. These devices cater to different user preferences, primarily differing in their operating systems, display technologies, and camera systems.

When considering the practical lifespan of these devices, several factors come into play, including software support, physical resilience, and repairability.

• Release Timeline and OS Support: The Galaxy S25, being a 2025 release, benefits from a longer expected period of major Android updates and security patches compared to the iPhone SE 2022, which was released in 2022. Apple typically provides iOS updates for 5-6 years from a device's release, while Samsung has committed to several years of updates for its flagship Galaxy S series, often extending beyond the initial purchase period. This means the Galaxy S25 will receive software support for a significantly longer duration.
• Physical Durability: The Galaxy S25 features Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both its front and rear, along with an aluminum body, contributing to its overall resilience. It also boasts an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, allowing submersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. The iPhone SE 2022 utilizes an aerospace-grade aluminum and glass design with an IP67 rating, protecting it from dust and water immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
• Expected Practical Lifespan: Users prioritizing the latest software features and extended security updates will find the Galaxy S25 offers a longer practical lifespan due to its newer release and longer anticipated support window. Both devices are built to withstand daily use, but the Galaxy S25's slightly higher IP rating and newer glass technology may offer a marginal advantage in certain accidental exposure scenarios.

The performance of a smartphone is crucial for daily tasks, from browsing and social media to demanding applications and gaming. Both devices offer capable performance, but they approach it with different hardware generations.

• Processor Capabilities: The Galaxy S25 is powered by a current-generation processor, designed to handle demanding applications and multitasking smoothly. This allows for efficient processing of complex tasks, advanced AI features, and high-fidelity gaming. The iPhone SE 2022 features a powerful chip from a previous generation, which still delivers a responsive user experience for most applications and casual gaming.
• Multitasking and Responsiveness: With 12GB of RAM, the Galaxy S25 is well-equipped for extensive multitasking, allowing users to switch between numerous applications without noticeable slowdowns. The iPhone SE 2022, with 4GB of RAM, manages multitasking effectively within the iOS ecosystem, but users who frequently juggle many active applications might notice a difference in fluidity compared to the Galaxy S25.
• Storage Options: The Galaxy S25 offers storage options starting from 128GB, with a 256GB option also available. The iPhone SE 2022 comes with 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage configurations. Users with extensive media libraries or numerous applications may find the higher base storage of the Galaxy S25 more accommodating.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S25 is equipped with a 4000mAh battery, designed to provide up to 29 hours of video playback and generally last a full day with mixed usage. The iPhone SE 2022 has a 2018mAh battery, offering up to 15 hours of video playback. User experiences suggest the iPhone SE 2022 can last a full day for light to moderate users, but heavy usage, especially with 5G, may require more frequent charging.

The display is a primary interface for any smartphone, and the Galaxy S25 and iPhone SE 2022 offer distinct visual experiences.

• Display Technology and Clarity: The Galaxy S25 features a 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display, known for its vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. Its resolution of 2340x1080 pixels provides a sharp viewing experience. The iPhone SE 2022 has a 4.7-inch Retina HD LCD display with a resolution of 1334x750 pixels. While it offers good color accuracy and clarity for an LCD panel, it does not match the contrast and black levels of an AMOLED screen.
• Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: The Galaxy S25 can reach a peak brightness of up to 2600 nits, making it highly visible even in bright outdoor conditions. The iPhone SE 2022 offers a typical brightness of 625 nits, which is adequate for most indoor and outdoor scenarios but may struggle more under direct sunlight.
• Refresh Rate and Smoothness: The Galaxy S25 boasts a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, which allows for smoother scrolling, more fluid animations, and a more responsive feel during gaming. The iPhone SE 2022 maintains a standard 60Hz refresh rate, providing a consistent but less fluid visual experience compared to higher refresh rate displays.
• Screen Size and Viewing Experience: The larger 6.2-inch display of the Galaxy S25 offers a more immersive viewing experience for videos, games, and browsing, while its minimal bezels contribute to a modern aesthetic. The iPhone SE 2022's smaller 4.7-inch display and traditional bezels result in a more compact form factor, which some users prefer for one-handed use.

Both smartphones offer capable camera systems, but they differ significantly in their hardware and photographic capabilities.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S25 features a versatile triple-camera setup on the rear, including a 50MP wide-angle main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree field of view, and a 10MP telephoto lens capable of 3x optical zoom. The main and telephoto lenses include optical image stabilization. This configuration allows for a wide range of photographic styles, from expansive landscapes to detailed zoomed-in shots. The iPhone SE 2022 has a single 12MP wide camera with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization. While it excels in capturing clear and detailed photos in good lighting, its single lens limits its versatility compared to the multi-lens system of the Galaxy S25.
• Low-Light and Everyday Photography: The Galaxy S25's larger sensors and advanced image processing, including features like pixel-binning, contribute to strong low-light performance and detailed everyday photos. The iPhone SE 2022, despite its single lens, benefits from Apple's computational photography, including Smart HDR 4 and Deep Fusion, to produce well-exposed and natural-looking images in various conditions. However, it lacks a dedicated Night Mode, which can impact its performance in very dim environments.
• Video Recording Quality: The Galaxy S25 supports video recording up to 8K resolution at 30 frames per second, offering high-resolution video capture with Super Steady video mode for stabilization. The iPhone SE 2022 can record 4K video at up to 60 frames per second, with cinematic stabilization. Both devices provide excellent video quality for their respective capabilities.
• Front-Facing Camera: The Galaxy S25 is equipped with a 12MP front-facing camera, suitable for detailed selfies and video calls. The iPhone SE 2022 features a 7MP front camera, which also supports Portrait Mode and Smart HDR 4 for enhanced self-portraits.