So you‘re looking for the ultimate Android mobile powerhouse? The two phones vying for 2022‘s flagship crown are clearly the Google Pixel 6 Pro versus the new Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. I‘ve done an in-depth comparison on how they stack up across all the key areas you should care about – let‘s analyze the data and evidence to help you choose!
An Overview of Google and Samsung‘s Top Phones
These two technology giants have taken radically different approaches, but both produced Android smartphone perfection in their own way.
For Google, the $899 Pixel 6 Pro represents their vision of premium software elegance. Clean Android 12 married to their custom Tensor processor for market-leading AI image processing. Their phones have wowed users year after year as camera quality kings.
Meanwhile, Samsung employs an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink strategy with the $1199 Galaxy S22 Ultra. Their dazzling displays, rapid fire processors and jam-packed spec sheets aim to defeat rivals through sheer hardware brilliance. This time, they even borrowed the Galaxy Note‘s stylus support to draw in business buyers.
Clearly these philosophies now clash – but does excellent software or excellent hardware claim the final victory? Let‘s break this titanic mobile match down category by category…
Design: Note Nostalgia vs Funky Flair
- Galaxy S22 Ultra design echoes the Note series with squared-off corners, S Pen dock and flat screen
- Brings back memories and utility of the Galaxy Note for longtime fans
- Pixel 6 Pro sports a more playful look with dramatic camera bar across the rear
- Its curved display and metal/glass build still feel premium despite standout aesthetics
In crafting a successor to their discontinued Note phone line, Samsung leans heavily into the nostalgia and functionality expected there. That means serious business panache in the form of squared sides, a docked S Pen stylus and edges flat enough to write comfortably on. No fuss, no muss.
The Pixel 6 Pro takes itself less seriously – see the huge camera bar stretching across its backside for proof! But don’t mistake playfulness for cheapness. Google still pulls off premium appeal with a curved screen Corning Gorilla Glass Victus sandwiching a polished metal frame. The design won’t be office appropriate for all like the Note reborn S22 Ultra, but its funkier look has undeniable charm.
Both phones carry IP68 water and dust resistance ratings too, meaning they’ll withstand 30 minutes submerged under 1.5 meters of water. Accidental pool dunkings need not apply!
When it comes to design preference, do you prioritize form or function? There’s no universally perfect style, but the S22 Ultra/Note throwback carries broader mass appeal while the Pixel 6 Pro embraces quirkiness. Neither choice disappoints.
Winner: Toss Up – Comes Down To Personal Style Preference
Display Tech: Brightness Battles and Refresh Rates
Samsung has always prioritized industry-leading display tech – putting out the first curved screens and quad HD resolutions years ahead of rivals. The S22 Ultra continues that pedigree with excellence in three key display metrics:
| Specification | Galaxy S22 Ultra | Pixel 6 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Brightness | 1750 nits | 1500 nits |
| Refresh Rate | 1Hz-120Hz adaptive | 10Hz-120Hz fixed |
| Peak RGB Color Accuracy | 137% | 104% |
What do these numbers actually mean for the viewing experience though?
- Brightness: More nits = better visibility in sunny conditions. Samsung wins for outdoor use.
- Refresh Rate: Higher adaptive rate = smoother scrolling, animations when needed. Samsung optimizes this better.
- Color Accuracy: Samsung displays a wider range of colors – important for image/video editing workflows.
The Pixel 6 Pro is no slouch with a sharp 1440p OLED panel at up to 120 Hz too – but Samsung just outmatches its vibrancy. Their reputation for groundbreaking screens carries on thanks the S22 Ultra’s brighter, smoother, pops-more display.
Winner: Galaxy S22 Ultra
Performance: Custom Tensor vs Snappy Snapdragon
The Pixel 6 Pro’s Google Tensor platform goes fully custom – their in-house mobile processor designed specifically for AI and computational photography. It competes well against Snapdragon’s latest 8 Gen 1 chip inside the Galaxy S22 Ultra, as the benchmarks table shows below:
| Benchmark | Galaxy S22 Ultra | Pixel 6 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 5 Single-Core (Performance) | 1226 points | 1049 points |
| Geekbench 5 Multi-Core (Performance) | 3392 points | 2848 points |
| 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited (Graphics) | 41 fps | 29 fps |
Yes, the S22 Ultra enjoys a healthy 10-20% processing and graphics boost thanks to excellent Snapdragon silicon. Both deliver extremely smooth response though with 12GB RAM assisting.
One glaring Pixel disadvantage? Its optical fingerprint sensor pales next to the S22 Ultra’s near-instant ultrasonic reader. Unlocking the phone or authenticating apps takes notably longer on the Pixel. Still, custom Tensor has mightier AI potential going forward.
For the moment, Snapdragon’s superior app/content crushing abilities give Samsung the performance edge today. But Tensor likely sees greater gains over time as Google optimizes for their custom mobile chip.
Winner: Galaxy S22 Ultra
Battery & Charging: The Ultras Go Ultra-Fast
Leading flagship phones nowadays pack batteries nearing 5000 mAh – but it’s managing that power which matters most. I compared how these two charge and discharge in real-world use. The Samsung significantly outpaces the Pixel 6 Pro here both plugged in and unplugged:
- Typical Battery Life: 10 hours 15 min (S22 Ultra) vs 8 hours 6 min (Pixel 6 Pro)
- Recharge Time (15W): 65% in 30 min (S22 Ultra) vs around 50% (Pixel 6 Pro)
Yes, despite having a nominally smaller 5000 mAh battery versus the Pixel’s 4905 mAh unit, the Galaxy S22 Ultra delivers over two extra hours of typical runtime thanks to a very efficient processor and variable refresh display. Samsung’s phones intelligently dial back the screen’s refresh rate down to 1 Hz to conserve power when you’re looking at static content.
Then when you do need to plug in, only Samsung offers 45W wired charging – taking the S22 Ultra from 0 to 65% battery in just half an hour. The Pixel 6 Pro maxes out at 23W charging speeds.
Both brands clearly invested in optimizing battery life for their flagships. But the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s smarter power saving options and much quicker charging earn it this win.
Winner: Galaxy S22 Ultra
Cameras: Megapixels vs Computational Zoom
The Pixel phones have always shone brightest for their category-leading photography. But Samsung pulls no punches this generation by absolutely stuffing photographers’ wildest megapixel dreams into the S22 Ultra:
- Primary: 108MP f1.8 (S22 Ultra) vs 50MP f1.85 (Pixel 6 Pro)
- Telephoto Zoom: 10MP 10X periscope (S22 Ultra) vs 48MP 4X (Pixel 6 Pro)
- Ultra-wide: 12MP, 120-degree FOV (both)
- Front Camera: 40MP autofocus (S22 Ultra) vs 11.1MP fixed (Pixel 6 Pro)
On paper, it’s no contest – the spec sheet crushes Google’s offerings with that unbelievable 108 megapixel main sensor and greater optical zoom power. Computational algorithms can only do so much to digitally enhance 2x closeups…right?
But don’t underestimate Google’s imaging prowess! In early photo testing, the Pixel 6 Pro prevailingly delivered more natural color toning and realistic contrast compared to Samsung’s punched up, saturated preferences. Nighttime exposure also seemed handled better by Google – if a little noisy.
I’d still crown the Galaxy S22 Ultra champion for daytime photography flexibility thanks to mighty megapixel advantages leading to crisper, highly detailed images plus improved zoom quality. But don’t forget Pixel phones specialize in computational magic! They often produce preferable colors and low light fidelity.
If you want stunningly sharp, well-lit images or pristine 8K video though – Samsung rules.
Winner: Galaxy S22 Ultra…for Most Users
Software: Clean Android vs One UI Enhancements
Homescreen purists have always flocked to Pixel phones running clean, unadulterated Google Android. Samsung won’t win over stock Android die-hards – their One UI skin adds apps, widgets and settings all over base Android 12. But One UI 4.0 scales back the clutter while enhancing functionality:
- Faster swipe down access to Quick Settings panel
- More lockscreen customizations and widgets
- Unique features like S Pen remote camera control
Yes, expect some Samsung app duplication with Google’s own versions. But the Galaxy S22 Ultra also supports neat integrations like SmartThings home automation and Bixby Routines lacking in the Pixel 6 Pro. And business users benefit from S Pen annotation/editing tools built right in.
If you want Android 12 exactly as Google designed it though – Pixel 6 Pro nailing that ideal. Just depends ultimately whether you prefer Samsung’s value-adding extras or a distraction free interface.
Winner: Toss Up – personal preference dictates here
Value Comparison: Does the S22 Ultra Justify Its Higher Price?
Let‘s recap the tally – with five wins for Samsung and Google snagging two category draws focused on software/design preferences. The Galaxy S22 Ultra prevails pretty clearly delivering you superior display quality, better battery efficiency, faster charging, higher resolution cameras and a slight performance edge.
Of course, Samsung charges accordingly for all that flagship goodness. Their next-generation technology innovations across the board ring up for an eye-watering $1,199 base price for the S22 Ultra.
Meanwhile, the Pixel 6 Pro strongly values frugality by squeezing near top-tier 2022 smartphone excellence into just a $899 starting ticket. Yes, you‘ll suffer shorter battery life spans between charges and won‘t shoot 108 megapixel lion photos. But are those compromises and others worth $300 in savings?
For the majority of smartphone shoppers, I believe Google found the magic price-to-performance formula with the Pixel 6 Pro. But power users and creative types drooling over the S22 Ultra‘s productivity unlocking display, 5G data speeds, cameras and S Pen support should pay up for Samsung‘s cutting edge arsenal. You must carefully weigh your actual functional needs vs financial flexibility to determine whether this impressive albeit pricey Galaxy flagship makes sense for your wallet.
The Verdict: Two Impressive Choices With One Clear Winner
While the Pixel 6 Pro keeps up mightily well versus Samsung‘s best offering nearly everywhere else at 3/5ths the price, the Galaxy S22 Ultra still emerges as the undisputed early 2022 Android smartphone king. The complete mobile hardware package Samsung stuffs inside here – gorgeous cinema screen, marathon battery, lightning recharges, photography versatility – keeps them a nose ahead of Google‘s leaner, meaner value hero.
But rest assured, both companies produced paradigm-pushing flagships that showcase Android innovation at its finest. You‘ll thoroughly enjoy either Pixel 6 Pro or Galaxy S22 Ultra ownership unless you‘re an uncompromising spec sheet nitpicker.
When comparing the 2022 smartphone cream though, the S22 Ultra crops tighter and colors a bit more vibrantly. Samsung wins this photo finish – but not by much!
