Galaxy S22+ 5G Vs Google Pixel 8 Pro

Galaxy S22+ 5G
Galaxy S22+ 5G
Starting at

Refurbished price:£167.00

Versus £1,174.01 new

See options
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Starting at

Refurbished price:£253.00

Versus £960.91 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus 5G, released in February 2022, and the Google Pixel 8 Pro, launched in October 2023, are both prominent Android smartphones. While the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G offers a balanced flagship experience with a focus on display quality and camera versatility, the Pixel 8 Pro emphasizes advanced computational photography and an extended software support commitment. Both devices run on the Android operating system, providing users with a wide range of customization and application options.

Scores

Durability

The practical lifespan of a smartphone is significantly influenced by its release date and the manufacturer's commitment to software updates. These factors determine how long a device will receive new features, security patches, and remain compatible with the latest applications.

  • Release Timeline: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G was released in February 2022, making it an older model compared to the Pixel 8 Pro, which launched in October 2023. This difference in release year directly impacts their remaining software support windows.
  • Software Support: Samsung typically provides four years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates for the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G. In contrast, Google has committed to an extensive seven years of OS upgrades, security updates, and feature drops for the Pixel 8 Pro, extending its support well into 2030.
  • Repairability: The Pixel 8 Pro generally receives a moderately low repairability score due to factors like glued screens and soldered components, making DIY repairs challenging. Google has made efforts to improve repairability across its Pixel line, offering manuals and OEM parts, with the Pixel 8 scoring similarly to some contemporary devices. Information on the specific repairability score for the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G is less consistently available, but modern smartphone designs often present similar challenges.

Year of Release

2022

2023

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

Foldable

No

No

Performance

Performance in smartphones is about more than just raw speed; it encompasses how smoothly the device handles daily tasks, multitasking, and demanding applications, alongside how efficiently it manages its power resources.

  • Everyday Responsiveness: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G, powered by a capable processor from its generation, handles daily tasks, web browsing, and social media with smooth responsiveness. The Pixel 8 Pro, featuring a newer generation processor, offers a fluid user interface and opens applications quickly, providing a consistently snappy experience.
  • Demanding Applications & Gaming: For intensive use like gaming or heavy multitasking, the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G can experience warming and some performance throttling after extended periods. The Pixel 8 Pro is designed to handle high-demand tasks and gaming smoothly, though some users have noted it can get warm, particularly on 5G networks or during charging.
  • Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G features a 4500 mAh battery, which generally provides sufficient power for a full day of moderate use, though heavy usage, especially with 5G, can lead to more frequent charging. The Pixel 8 Pro comes with a larger 5050 mAh battery, often delivering all-day battery life even with heavy use, and supports faster wired and wireless charging.

Memory (GB)

8 GB

12 GB

Screen quality

A smartphone's display is a primary interface, and its quality significantly impacts the user experience, from casual browsing to multimedia consumption.

  • Display Technology & Clarity: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G features a 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Pixel 8 Pro sports a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display, known for its sharp resolution and excellent clarity.
  • Brightness & Outdoor Visibility: Both devices offer high peak brightness levels, ensuring good visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G can reach up to 1750 nits peak brightness, while the Pixel 8 Pro's display can achieve up to 2400 nits peak brightness, making it one of the brightest available.
  • Refresh Rate & Smoothness: Both phones feature adaptive refresh rates for smooth scrolling and responsive interactions. The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G has a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The Pixel 8 Pro's LTPO display can dynamically adjust its refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz, which can contribute to power efficiency.

Resolution

1080 x 2340

1344 x 2992

Screen type

Dynamic AMOLED 2X

LTPO OLED

Audiovisual

The camera system is a critical component for many users, and both the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G and Pixel 8 Pro offer advanced capabilities for photography and videography.

  • Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G includes a triple camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The Pixel 8 Pro also features a versatile triple camera system, with a 50MP main, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 48MP telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom.
  • Photography Performance: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G delivers strong performance in various lighting conditions, with improvements in low-light photography and enhanced detail. The Pixel 8 Pro is highly regarded for its computational photography, producing images with natural colors, excellent detail, and strong low-light capabilities, often balancing vibrant and realistic tones.
  • Video Recording & Front Camera: Both devices are capable of high-resolution video recording. The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G can record up to 8K at 24fps, and features like Auto Framing enhance video capture. The Pixel 8 Pro records videos at up to 4K 60fps and offers a 10.5MP front camera with autofocus.

Main camera

50 megapixels

50 megapixels

Front camera

10 megapixels

10.5 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core features, several practical elements contribute to the overall user experience and daily usability of a smartphone.

  • Connectivity: Both the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G and Pixel 8 Pro support 5G connectivity, along with modern Wi-Fi standards (Wi-Fi 6/6E for S22 Plus 5G and Wi-Fi 7 for Pixel 8 Pro) and Bluetooth for wireless accessories.
  • Physical Design & Materials: The Galaxy S22 Plus 5G features a glass front and back with an aluminum frame, offering an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The Pixel 8 Pro also uses a glass front and back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) with an aluminum frame and an IP68 rating. The Pixel 8 Pro is slightly larger and heavier than the S22 Plus 5G.
  • Security & Ports: Both phones utilize USB-C for charging and data transfer. For biometric security, the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G includes an in-display fingerprint sensor. The Pixel 8 Pro offers an under-display fingerprint scanner and Face Unlock with a high level of Android security.

Weight

195 g

213 g

Screen size (in)

6.6

6.7

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Physical SIM + eSIM

Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus 5G and the Google Pixel 8 Pro cater to slightly different user priorities, reflecting their respective release timelines and design philosophies.

Users often praise the Galaxy S22 Plus 5G for its vibrant display, solid build quality, and a well-rounded camera system that performs reliably in various situations. Some common criticisms have revolved around its battery life, particularly under heavy 5G usage, and occasional heating during demanding tasks. Despite these points, many users find it a capable device for everyday use, offering a balanced experience between screen size, performance, and camera capabilities.

The Pixel 8 Pro is frequently lauded for its exceptional camera performance, especially its computational photography features that produce detailed and color-accurate images. Its extended software support commitment is also a significant positive for users seeking long-term device longevity. However, some users have noted that while performance is generally smooth, it might not always match the raw power of some competitors, and there have been occasional reports of the device getting warm. Battery life, while improved over previous Pixel models, is generally considered good but not always class-leading.

Users prioritizing an extended software support timeline and advanced computational photography, particularly for still images, may find the Google Pixel 8 Pro well-suited to their needs. Those who value a bright, vibrant display and a versatile camera system with strong video capabilities, along with a slightly more compact design, might lean towards the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus 5G. Both devices represent quality-assured options, and considering a refurbished model can be an eco-friendly alternative for either choice.

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