In the market for a new phone but struggling to choose between Samsung’s Galaxy S22The Google Pixel 7? It’s easy to be tempted by Google’s latest, with its Tensor Gen 2 processor, beefy battery, gorgeous 6.3-inch AMOLED display, and top-notch cameras. But don’t discount the older Galaxy S22, with its powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, compact, pocket-friendly profile, 120Hz display, and Samsung’s market-leading updates promise.
Confused? We will help you make an informed decision when it comes to which phone to buy.
Specifications
| Google Pixel 7 | Samsung Galaxy S22 | |
| Size | 155.6 by 73.2x 8.7mm (6.13×2.88×0.44 inches) | 146 by 70.6 x 7.6mm (5.75 x 2.78 x 0.30 inches). |
| Weight | 197g (6.9 Ounces) | 167g/168g (mmWave), 5.89 ounces |
| Screen size | AMOLED 6.3 inches with 10-90Hz | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 6.1 inches |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 pixels (416 pixels per inch) | 2340 x 1080 pixels (425 pixels per inch) |
| Operating system | Android 13 | Android 13 with One UI 4.1 |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB |
| MicroSD card slot | No | No |
| Processor | Google Tensor Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen1 (Exynos 2220 outside the U.S. |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Camera | Dual lens 50 megapixel wide, ultrawide rear 12MP, front 10.8 MP | Triple lens 50MP Wide, 12MP Ultrawide, 10MP Telephoto Rear, 10MP Front |
| Video | 4K at up 60 frames per second (fps), and 1080p at 60 FPS | 8K at 24 fps and 4K up to 60 FPS, 1080p up to 240 FPS |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ports | USB-C | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes, in-display | Yes (in-display ultrasonic) |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Battery | 4,355mAh
30W wired charging (no box charger) 21W wireless charging Reverse wireless charging |
3,700mAh
25W wired charge (no charger in the box). 15W wireless charging Reverse wireless charging |
| App marketplace | Google Play Store | Google Play Store |
| Support network | Most major carriers | All major carriers |
| Colors | Obsidian. Snow. Lemongrass | Phantom Black, pink gold, green, Graphite Sky Blue Violet, Cream |
| Price | Prices starting at $599 | Start at $800 |
| Buy from | Samsung, Amazon, Best Buy | |
| Review | 3.5 stars from 5 | 4 stars out of 5 |
Design, display, durability
- 1.
Google Pixel 7 - 2.
Samsung Galaxy S22
Google Pixel 7 improves upon the Pixel 6’s design and adds a Gorilla Glass Victus rear panel. It has a glossy, slippery finish that can be slippery and an aluminum chassis. Weighing in at 197 grams, it’s substantially heavier than the Samsung Galaxy S22 and feels weighty in hand, plus it’s not the most pocket-friendly option at 8.7mm thick. Although the under-display fingerprint sensor is inconsistent, you can use Face Unlock which is more consistent, if a little fiddly.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 boasts the same rounded corners, flat display, and top-notch build quality as its predecessor — in fact, it’s virtually indistinguishable from the Galaxy S21. The slim, pocket-friendly design and the 167g weight make this a more practical choice than the Pixel 7. Gorilla Glass Victus is used to cover the glass panel at the rear. The 3.5mm headphone jack, and microSD slot are identical across both devices.
Onto the display: The Galaxy S22’s 6.1-inch dynamic AMOLED 2x display has a 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution, is HDR10+ certified, and packs an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung claims that the refresh rate will drop to minimum 48Hz. In our reviewIt sat at a steady 24Hz even when it was not in use. This screen is among the best on Android phones, offering great viewing angles and excellent visibility in bright sunlight.
The Google Pixel 7’s 6.3-inch OLED display has a 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution and HDR10+ certification, but while the screen may be slightly larger than the S22, its adaptive refresh rate only goes to 90Hz. Though that’s a bit disappointing, any difference in smoothness isn’t really noticeable unless you enjoy playing the latest games on your phone. That said, the display’s refresh rate does drop as low as 10Hz, good news for battery life.
The rear panels of both phones are covered with Gorilla Glass Victus. They have an IP68 rating which allows you to submerge them in freshwater for up to 10 feet for 30 min.
This round is close to calling, but the Galaxy S22’s compact, slim profile, 120Hz refresh rate, and array of colors pips the Pixel 7 to the post.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S22
Performance, battery performance, and charging
- 1.
Google Pixel 7 - 2.
Samsung Galaxy S22
The Google Pixel 7The latest Tensor G2 processor is faster and more efficient than the base Tensor chips. It is capable of handling everything, including multitasking and the most recent games. That’s backed up by 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of non-expandable storage. The Pixel 7 is fast and reliable to use, but we found that scrolling through apps wasn’t quite as smooth as on some more powerful phones, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4. Also, games like Asphalt 9Failing to connect to the server The Pixel 7 gets warm to the touch around the camera sensor (and drains battery life quite heavily) after around 30 minutes of gaming, so if you’re a mobile gamer, it may not be the best device for you.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 sports Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1In the U.S., the Exynos 2220 elsewhere is used. This chip provides outstanding performance whether multitasking or playing high-resolution games. Although the Pixel 7 has 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, our review found frame rate drops and jitters after playing. Mobile Call of DutyAt peak graphics settings, it took approximately 40 minutes. We also noted that the camera’s shutter button occasionally became unresponsive after taking lots of pictures or high-res videos. The compact profile of the S22 can heat up, eventually causing performance to deteriorate.
Battery life is a huge difference between these two phones. The Pixel 7’s beefy 4,355mAh battery is far larger than the relatively small 3,700mAh battery on the Galaxy S22. The Galaxy S22’s battery is one of the most compact smartphones launched after 2021, with the exception of the iPhone Mini. With the S22’s modest battery, you should barely expect to get past one day of use — in our review, we got around four to five hours of screen-on time.
The Pixel 7’s battery, in contrast, gave us around six to seven hours of screen-on time. For heavy usage, you can expect to get a full day of battery life. Moderate use may bring this down to two days. The Pixel 7 supports USB Power Delivery 3.0 with up to 30W of wired charging. It can charge up to 50% in just 30 minutes, according to the manufacturer. It takes almost two hours to fully charge the battery from empty. The Galaxy S22 can charge up to 60% in just 30 minutes. A full charge takes around an hour.
It’s worth noting here that in our review, we expressed concerns about the Galaxy S22’s idle battery loss. Even with adaptive refresh rate enabled, this was close to 10% to 15% in a matter of hours. Though updates have improved this, it’s still an issue.
Both phones also support wireless charging — 21W for the Pixel 7 and 15W for the Galaxy S22 — and reverse wireless charging for your earbuds and accessories.
We’re calling this round a tie, as which phone you prefer really depends on your needs. If you’re into mobile gaming, the Galaxy S22 may be a wiser choice than the Pixel 7, despite the overheating and frame rate drops we experienced. Likewise, if excellent battery life is non-negotiable, the Pixel 7 might be a better choice for you, though you’ll need to contend with slower charging speeds.
Winner: Tie
Cameras
The Google Pixel 7’s camera is one of the best smartphones. Google’s camera experience has been excellent for a while, and you’re getting the familiar 50-megapixel main with optical image stabilization (OIS) and laser autofocus, plus a 12MP wide-angle lens. Tensor G2 provides enhanced image processing and boosts the performance of the lenses. There’s also a 10MP selfie camera, which can lack detail and doesn’t always get skin tone right.
Galaxy S22 however, features a triple camera setup. It has a 50MP main, 12MP superwide, and 10MP Telephoto with 3x optical Zoom. The front-facing 10MP selfie camera captures acceptable images, but tends to increase saturation and lighten skin tone.
Both phones take stunning photos in any lighting condition. The Pixel 7 produces vibrant, sharp photos while the Night Sight mode brings out a lot of detail. The Galaxy S22’s main camera takes crisp shots packed with details and impressive colors that appear close to real shades, while the telephoto lens does an impressive job of capturing portrait shots. Night mode support for the S22’s three rear cameras also gives excellent results, even in very dark environments. The Pixel 7 supports 4K video at 60 frames per second, while the Galaxy S22 can capture 8K video at 24 frames per second.
Google’s packed in an array of tools to change up your images, including Photo Unblur (though our results with this were pretty disappointing) and Cinematic Mode, which blurs out the background of photos.
Samsung’s features include Single Take, Super Slow-Mo, and Director’s View, which lets you capture a scene from the front and back using any of the three rear cameras.
We’re giving this round to the Google Pixel 7, as it’s hard to find a better camera on a smartphone right now.
Google Pixel 7 is the winner
Software and updates
Both the Pixel 7 as well as the Galaxy S22 are available. Android 13, though the Pixel 7 is the first device to run Google’s latest operating system out of the box. Samsung skins Android 13 with One UI 5, which is intuitive and easy to use, though some users prefer Google’s stock Android experience.
Google promises three years of major Android update and security updates for the Pixel 7 over five years. Samsung will offer four years of OS updates, five years of security updates, and five years for the Pixel 7.
Both phones are solid and future-proof, but Samsung is just one year ahead of Google with its OS updates.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S22
Extra features
The Samsung Galaxy S22 works well One UI 5.Supports dynamic theming, including preset colors based on your wallpaper. Also, features such as text recognition in the gallery app and widget stacking. Samsung Pay is on hand for online payments, and the app can now store movie tickets, car keys, and driver’s licenses (though availability may vary). The Pixel 7 packs Google Assistant and can suggest relevant emoji when you’re voice texting. You can also access the Google PayOnline payments. Both phones have a 3.5mm camera headphone jackMicroSD card slot or a microSD card slot have been removed from most flagships today.
This round’s a tie, as it will likely come down to whether you’re team Google or team Samsung.
Winner: Tie
Prices and availability
The Google Pixel 7 can be ordered now Prices start at $599 for the 128G model. The Pixel 7 can be traded in for a qualifying device.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 starts from $699 And , while on Samsung’s official website, you can grab the S22 for up to $700 off if you trade in an eligible device.
Overall winner: Samsung Galaxy S22
Though there’s plenty to recommend the Pixel 7The Galaxy S22It is still a clear winner overall. With its powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, generous updates promise, slim profile, and 120Hz refresh rate display — not to mention the wide range of colors to choose from — it’s our pick of the two phones. That’s not to say that the Pixel 7 isn’t also a great buy. If you’re not into mobile gaming and you’re looking for the best camera around, plus all-day battery life, the Pixel 7 is an excellent pick.
Editors’ Recommendations
