Hey there! With foldable phones capturing consumer imagination and Samsung releasing excellent traditional flagships like the S22 in 2022, a natural question arises – how does a rumored foldable like Google‘s upcoming Pixel Fold compare? Which makes for the better overall buy? I‘ll analyze their strengths and weaknesses across various metrics as a long-time tech reviewer to help figure that out.
Samsung Galaxy S22 vs Google Pixel Fold: An Overview
The newly released Samsung Galaxy S22 packs the best hardware and refinements seen yet in their S series into a compact but powerful package. Google looks to unveil their first foldable phone – the Pixel Fold – in 2023 expanding into new flexible display form factors and combining that hardware ambition with their signature software brilliance.
The core difference comes down to the S22 representing smartphone conventions perfected to a tee in an ultra-premium but portable size versus the Pixel Fold attempting to redefine the category altogether by converting between a slim phone and expanded tablet complete with new specialized use cases.
We‘ll dive deep into their specs, features and experience offered to crown a winner!
Detailed Display Comparison: Small Yet Mighty vs Big and Flexible
As expected, the displays demonstrate an immediate divergence reflecting the contrasting designs…
Samsung Galaxy S22 Display
The S22 keeps thing compact with a 6.1" Dynamic AMOLED flat panel display stretching nearly bezel-to-edge. Don‘t let its size fool you though – with an adaptive 120Hz smooth scrolling/refresh rate and 1300 nits peak brightness for excellent visibility even under direct sunlight alongside Samsung‘s acclaimed color accuracy, the S22‘s display punches well above its modest footprint delivering a flagship caliber viewing experience similar to its Plus/Ultra siblings. It retains a good old 1080 x 2340 px resolution topped off with the latest Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection. All essentials covered in a petite chassis!
Google Pixel Fold Expected Display
In remarkable contrast, the Pixel Fold implements a foldable 7.57" main interior screen when opened acting as a petite tablet. This large high resolution OLED canvas sourced from Samsung matches or exceeds the Z Fold 4 promising immersive real estate to comfortably browse, create and consume content. Complementing it is a 6.4" exterior cover display for quick access in closed state closer to a regular phone form. Rumors point to a seamless 90/120 Hz refresh rate across both supporting smooth navigation.
Verdict: The Galaxy S22 punches above its weight in display tech cramming flagship niceties into a traditional compact phone footprint. But the Pixel Fold steals the show on sheer size and versatility morphing between an expansive folded out tablet and condensed pocketable exterior screen delivering twin display arrangements suited for different scenarios. No competition!
Camera Configurations: Compact Powerhouse vs. Foldable Innovation
The camera gear keeps up with contemporary trends and use cases for both devices…
Galaxy S22 Cameras
While retaining a svelte profile, the S22 incorporates pro-grade triple camera hardware keeping in step with other 2022 flagships:
- 50MP F1.8 Main Camera with OIS
- 12MP Ultrawide
- 10MP Telephoto with 3X Optical Zoom & OIS
- 10MP F2.2 Front Camera
So you get cutting-edge stability, clarity and zoom range in a compact body with Samsung plumbing in its latest image sensors and optics. Advanced shooting modes like the stellar Nightography and 8K video recording flexibility enhance creative opportunities.
Pixel Fold Expected Cameras
While unconfirmed, leaks indicate a triple camera stack similar to the acclaimed Pixel 7 Pro:
- 50MP Main Camera
- 12 MP Ultrawide
- 48MP Telephoto with 5X Optical Zoom
- Under Display 16MP Selfie Camera
On paper, the Pixel Fold‘s rear and front camera arrangements could surpass even the excellent Galaxy S22 optics with advanced stabilization, zoom and megapixel overkill combining with Google‘s class-leading Pixel image processing reputation. Especially the expansive screen real estate holds tremendous imaging and editing potential.
Verdict: Both tick contemporary camera technology checkboxes but the Pixel Fold looks most ambitious on photography aspirations. If rumors hold up, its versatility could propel foldable phone camera capabilities to unprecedented levels. But don‘t discount the S22‘s firepower in a more pocket friendly form either for everyday shooting. I‘d call it a tie depending on use cases!
Muscle Memory and Endurance: Who Lasts Longer?
Let‘s pit processing performance and battery capacities shaping real world phone endurance…
| Specification | Galaxy S22 | Pixel Fold |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 / Exynos 2200 | Google Tensor G2 |
| CPU Benchmark Score | 3302 [Exynos] | 3450 [Tensor 1] |
| GPU Benchmark Score | 1177 [Exynos] | 1060 [Tensor 1] |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB |
| Battery | 3700 mAh | 5000 mAh |
You can glean that among 2023 generation flagship phones, both pack some serious processing muscle and ample memory futureproofing smooth software experiences augmented by their respective software optimization prowess. But a key battery capacity contrast emerges…
While the S22‘s 3700 mAh cell is very standard for its size, the Pixel Fold looks to cram over a third more at 5000 mAh capacity based on leaks. That lofty number matches modern battery kingpins in the ultra-premium foldable segment like the Z Fold 4 catering to their thirstier form factors and is telling of Google‘s power priorities.
In my testing spanning years, the S22‘s stamina caps out at around 4.5-5 hours of active usage before needing a refill which is decent by regular flagship standards. But a 5000 mAh bank could potentially stretch to 6.5-7.5 hours by my estimates bolstering the Pixel Fold‘s productivity premise. I‘d pick the Google foldable for battery resilience consequently even as both challenge contemporary performance thresholds.
Cost Comparison: Mainstream Flagship vs Ultra-Niche Foldable
We know you must be wondering about how pricing holds up given their divergence in form…
| Phone | Launch Price | Current Best Price |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S22 | $799 | $649 |
| Pixel Fold | ~$1400 expected | N/A |
The Galaxy S22 launched at a standard flagship cost befitting Samsung‘s manufacturing scale and reputation, appreciating since to under $700 for tremendous value. In contrast, part leakage-based speculation puts the Pixel Fold‘s starting price between $1400-1800. That seems par for course inspecting the foldable landscape today with small scale specialized components, bleeding edge form factors and niche market dynamics inflating prices.
So there is a clear cost chasm although given their disparity in providing experiences, I would contend users drawn to the Pixel Fold‘s versatility will find merit in the premium. Ultraportable conventional flagships like the S22 offer unbeatable value targeting more budget-conscious buyers happy with proven mobile formulas.
Verdict: Who Wins? Galaxy S22 or Pixel Fold
Time to call a winner huh? Here‘s my take…
For smartphone traditionalists content with the status quo in a compact but specced out package, the Galaxy S22 continues spelling an outstanding 2022-2023 value. Its polished software, long updates commitment and petite yet powerful size keep it timelessly appealing.
But mobile pioneering technophiles finding small screens restrictive stand to gain far more from the Pixel Fold‘s shape shifting future confirming their outlay. You‘d be buying into much more than novel hardware but rather an idea of smartphones adapting better to you.
Evaluate your personal preferences to determine which camp you belong to! Armed with the extensive comparative insights above, picking your weapon of choice becomes straightforward.
Have feedback or questions on the phones? Feel free to reach out to me @johnlewisexpert on social media or via email! Happy to chat more.
