Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

Our Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra leads on camera hardware with a 108MP main sensor to the Apple iPhone 16 Plus's 48MP, plus a 40MP selfie camera against 12MP, and the S22 Ultra 5G has the sharper display at 500 PPI to 460. The iPhone 16 Plus is the lighter phone at 199g against 228g. The S22 Ultra 5G doesn't just win on price; it holds its own on specs too, which makes it the easy pick unless something specific draws you to the iPhone 16 Plus.

If you'd rather pay up front, the S22 Ultra 5G is the cheaper buy at £250 SIM-free.

Expert Rating
4.2
12 reviews
4.6
10 reviews
Screen
6.7" 6.8"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED AMOLED
Resolution
2796 x 1290 1440 x 3080
Pixels Per Inch
460 500
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 108 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 40 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A18 (3 nm) Exynos 2200
Battery
4,674 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 12
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e-SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth
5.3, A2DP, LE 5.2, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm
Weight
199 grams 228 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts
£32.79/mo (£9.00 upfront) -
SIM-free
£510.00 £249.99

Prices updated 26 July 2026

Apple iPhone 16 Plus Apple iPhone 16 Plus Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Expert Rating 4.2
12 reviews
4.6
10 reviews
Screen 6.7" 6.8"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED AMOLED
Resolution 2796 x 1290 1440 x 3080
Pixels Per Inch 460 500
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 108 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 40 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A18 (3 nm) Exynos 2200
Battery 4,674 mAh 5,000 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
OS Apple iOS Android 12
SIM Type nano-SIM and e-SIM Nano SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE 5.2, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm
Weight 199 grams 228 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes
Contracts £32.79/mo
£9.00 upfront
-
SIM-free £510.00 £249.99
Prices updated 26 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Apple iPhone 16 Plus

24 Months

128GB

Black

Refurbished

10GB

Data

£32.79 per month, £9 upfront.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

128GB

Phantom White

Refurbished

From £249.99

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.7", the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has the sharper display at 500 pixels per inch versus 460, and the Apple iPhone 16 Plus uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a 108 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £249.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comes in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra use?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is powered by the Apple A18 (3 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra uses the Exynos 2200.

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is the more portable of the two: it's 29g lighter at 199 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm, and is slimmer at 7.8mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is rated IP68 - Dust and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra run?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus runs Apple iOS and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra runs Android 12. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.