It’s true to say that there are many different brands to choose from when it comes to buying a smartphone these days. These include Motorola, LG, Google, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Huawei. It’s also true to say that when the conversation is on smartphones, the two words you will likely hear the most are Samsung and Apple.
Motorola is the third most popular smartphone brand in the United States, with a measly 4.89% market share. OnePlus, in seventh place, has less than 1% market share. It’s clear that the top two players dominate the market: Samsung has a 28.97% market share while Apple has a market share of 56.69%.
If you are planning to buy a new smartphone, chances are it will be either a Samsung or an Apple. But which is best? In this blog post, we will pit Samsung vs Apple and share information that will help you to make an informed decision before settling on one of these brands.
We will take a deep dive into many facets of the smartphone world. This includes looking at everything from the two brand’s current range, phone design, battery life, operating systems, camera, storage, security, value for money, and much more. Let’s get started with this guide to buying the best smartphone.
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The original iPhone, announced in early 2007, is widely regarded as the first modern “smartphone”. Certainly, it was a game changer for the industry and the world itself. The first iPhone had a 3.5-inch screen with a multi-touch display and specs that were quite revolutionary back more than 15 years ago.
Apple hasn’t dramatically changed the design of their follow-up iPhones, highlighting just how much they got right with their first generation model. Still, with each passing year, we have seen updates to the flagship iPhone(s), including a steady increase in size and performance. The latest iPhone 14 range continues to lead the way, making it easy to see why the brand has such a large market share in 2022.
Samsung has been making mobile phones since the 1980s, starting with the SH-100. However, it’s really the Galaxy S series that we should look at, given this is the brand’s flagship line. The first Samsung Galaxy S was released in 2010 and featured a 4-inch Super AMOLED display.
Fast forward to 2022 and the S line continues to serve as the main competitor to the iPhone, with the current Galaxy S22 among the most powerful and impressive phones you can buy. As with iPhone, the flagship lineup features a number of new phones each year (with this year’s lineup featuring the S22, the S22+, and the S22 Ultra).
Speaking of the 2022 range, let’s take a closer look at what is on offer from both Apple and Samsung. Let’s start with the flagship items: the iPhone 14 range and the Samsung Galaxy S range.
As noted, the newest Apple lineup is known as the iPhone 14. These phones were released in September and October 2022 and the “regular” version sports a 6.1-inch OLED display. Also available are the iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max (we said a sad farewell to the iPhone Mini in 2022).
It’s easy for consumers to get confused between these different phones and be unsure of which one to buy. Generally speaking, everyday users will find that the iPhone 14 is perfect for their needs.
The most expensive version is the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is bigger, comes with a longer-lasting battery life, and sports a number of additional features.
As we have already highlighted, the latest Samsung Galaxy S lineup also boasts a number of different options. Again, the regular Galaxy S22 is probably the best choice for the average consumer.
Interestingly, the Galaxy S22 Ultra seems to be a mix of the Galaxy S and the Note, certainly in terms of appearance and given that it features a pen. The regular S22 comes in at 6.1 inches, while the S22 Ultra boasts a 6.8-inch display. The S22 Ultra also comes with the biggest battery life (5,000 mAh compared to 3,700 mAh on the “regular” S22).
While the flagship models of these brands get the most attention, it’s important to note that there are other smartphones available at a reduced price. Let’s take a look at some of these here.
While Samsung has a wider range of non-flagship smartphones, consumers looking for a more affordable iPhone will have to put up with the iPhone SE. However, this is an excellent phone, especially for those looking for something far more affordable than the flagship prices.
The 2022 iPhone SE continues to sport a look that is similar to the iPhone 8, something that many will love while just as many will dislike. The latest version does come with improved battery life, the tried-and-trusted Touch ID, a speedy A15 Bionic chip, and excellent build quality. Owners can also rely on software updates for many years.
If you are keen to own an Apple smartphone but don’t want to stretch to an iPhone 14, then the iPhone SE is absolutely worth your consideration.
The full lineup of Samsung smartphones is really quite impressive. Consumers not interested in the Galaxy S range can choose from the Galaxy Z series, the Galaxy A series, the Galaxy M series, and the Galaxy J series.
For quality smartphones that are reasonably priced, we encourage you to look closely at the Galaxy A series in particular. Here, the Galaxy A52s 5G really stands out.
This smartphone boasts a large display (6.5 inches), a multi-lens camera system (including a 5MP Macro camera, 12MP Ultra Wide camera, 64MP Main camera, and 5MP Depth camera), and a 4,500 mAh battery.
As with the iPhone SE, consumers get a lot for less money with the Galaxy A52s 5G. For those looking at buying a new smartphone, click here to find Free Mobile Service.
Okay, now that we have a better understanding of the type of smartphones that are available from both Apple and Samsung, let’s focus on the specs.
While we have mentioned that the original iPhone still bears a resemblance to the modern iPhones, the overall build quality is far greater today. Gone is the rounded, plastic-backed design, replaced with a super sleek glass and stainless steel design. It’s a great complement to say that putting a cover on the new iPhones really does feel like a shame.
One of the most distinctive features of the iPhone is the “notch” at the top of the screen. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have slightly changed the look of the notch, going with a new Dynamic Island notch.
Samsung, too, has moved away from its original plastic design. It also avoids having a notch, going with a “hole punch” that is smaller and visually less intrusive.
In terms of design, there isn’t a lot that separates Apple and Samsung, so it’s really just a question of personal taste at the end of the day.
On the newest iPhones, you will find a Super Retina XDR OLED display, while the newest Samsung models come with Dynamic AMOLED displays. For the everyday user, we can safely say that you will love the display on both Apple and Samsung’s flagship phones.
In terms of screen resolution, Apple is the outright winner (2532×1170 compared to 2340×1080). However, the S22 does benefit from a 120Hz refresh rate, which allows for an incredibly smooth experience when using your smartphone.
When we look at high-end smartphones such as the iPhone 14 series and the Galaxy S series, it’s the cameras that really drive the demand. Unsurprisingly, both Apple and Samsung feature class-leading camera systems. Let’s take a look at the camera systems of both the iPhone 14 Pro and the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The iPhone 14 Pro boasts three rear cameras, including a 48-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 12- megapixel zoom camera. The Galaxy S22 Ultra, on the other hand, boasts four rear cameras, including a 108-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 10-megapixel (2 lenses) zoom camera.
In terms of video recording, the iPhone 14 Pro allows 4K at up to 60 fps, while the Galaxy S22 comes with 8K at 24 fps and 4K at up to 60 fps. If we had to choose a winner here, we would go for the Samsung (just!)
It’s a given that you will take a lot of photos and videos on your smartphone, which means that storage capacity is also very important.
With the iPhone 14 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 ranges, the starting storage capacity is 128 GB, which really should be more than enough for the everyday user.
Looking at the top end, users have the option to choose up to 1 TB of storage, which should be enough for even the heaviest of smartphone users.
Apple uses its own in-house operating system, known as iOS. This gives the brand more control over things like security and updates. On the other hand, Samsung uses Android, which you will also see on a lot of other smartphone brands.
The latest versions of both operating systems, iOS 16 and Android 13, are both excellent. We would say that you shouldn’t base your decision to buy either an Apple or a Samsung smartphone purely on the operating system. At the end of the day, there are pros and cons to both.
Look at the “regular” options here (the iPhone 14 and the Samsung Galaxy S22), the iPhone has a battery size of 3,279 mAh while the Samsung has a battery size of 3,700 mAh. The wired charging speed of the Apple model is 20W, while the Samsung model offers 25W.
The iPhone, it must be said, is ahead of its rival in terms of battery life. If battery life is very important to you, then perhaps the iPhone will be more attractive. That said, the Samsung model does allow for faster charging. Some of the other S22 models even charge at speeds of up to 45W.
Apple has long been considered the more secure of the two operating systems (iOS vs Android). That’s because iOS is a closed system, meaning its source code isn’t released to app developers. Basically, it is more difficult for hackers to find vulnerabilities on smartphones powered by iOS.
Android is more often targeted by hackers, in part because of how many people around the world own an Android phone, but also because it relies on open-source code. It is more likely that an app from the Google Play store will contain malware compared to an app from the App Store.
The reality is that both the iPhone 14 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 ranges are expensive. There really isn’t much between the two, though Samsung is a little cheaper.
Really, it’s up to the consumer to determine which brand offers better value for money. We recommend that you weigh up the different specs, look at what is really important to you (be it camera quality, battery life, etc.), and make a decision based on that.
The bottom line is that Apple and Samsung are the two most popular smartphone brands in the United States—by quite a distance, too. Whether you opt to buy a Samsung or an iPhone as your new phone, you will be making a great decision. It’s up to you to decide ultimately which brand to choose.
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