There’s one question I keep asking myself the longer I spend with the Google PIxel 7 Pro. “How come this is $300 less than the Galaxy S22 Ultra?”
And it’s a very legitimate question. After all, as you will see in our Google Pixel 7 Pro Review, this is a very formidable flagship, with some of the best cameras, a screen the same size as the S22 Ultra, and a beautiful premium design. And the new Tensor G2 chip is pretty powerful and unlocks all sorts of cool features like Photo Unblur.
Do not misunderstand. Me Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra shows why this phone has passed our best android phone list for months It offers one of the brightest and best OLED displays on a mobile device, faster performance than the Pixel 7 Pro through its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, and a built-in S Pen.
Our Pixel 7 Pro vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra The matchup goes into a lot of detail with multiple rounds of competition, but I personally think the new Pixel stands out big time for two reasons: value and cameras.
Pixel 7 Pro has better cameras
The Galaxy S22 Ultra has a sharper main camera that goes up to 108MP, compared to 50MP on the Pixel 7 Pro. And Samsung also wins on the front zoom with dual telephoto lenses (3x and 10x). But in terms of overall image quality, I’d give the Pixel 7 Pro the edge based on my tests.
Take a look at the photo samples below.
Let’s start with this portrait mode shot from both phones. The Galaxy S22 Ultra gives me a slimmer face (which I’m not complaining about), but I look too softened and my complexion looks washed out. The Pixel 7 Pro shot has a bit of shadows, but my skin tone looks more natural and my jacket is much more detailed.
In this shot of stained glass lamps, you can tell the Pixel 7 Pro’s shot is too dark, but I like how it captures more detail and color than the S22 Ultra, which is once again too aggressive to light everything. I wish I could get a photo somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, but the Pixel 7 Pro has the upper hand here in my opinion.
There are times when the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s brightness advantage puts it over the top. And this is a case in point with this wire art of a dog. I’d be more likely to share the Samsung shot than the Pixel 7 Pro image.
When it comes to night mode, the Pixel 7 Pro has a clear advantage over the S22 Ultra in this shot. For one thing, it captured the image faster. And the image of the hydrangea flower in the dark itself comes out a lot clearing the photo of the Pixels. The Samsung image was so blurry that I took it twice and it came out the same way.
Indoors, the Pixel 7 Pro offers more natural colors and sharper details on the rock on the left side of the image. But I credit Samsung for delivering a brighter overall picture, especially on the right side of the skull where more teeth can be seen. There’s just a yellow tint to the shot that shouldn’t be there.
The Pixel 7 is more portable
The Pixel 7 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra are big phones, but I like that Google’s phone is shorter and lighter than Samsung’s. The Pixel 7 Pro measures 6.1 x 3 x 0.35 inches and weighs 7.5 ounces, compared to 6.4 x 3 x 0.35 inches and 8 ounces for the S22 Ultra.
I find the Pixel 7 Pro easier to use with one hand and weighs less in my front pocket when carrying it. My only complaint with the Pixel 7 Pro is that its back is more slippery.
The Pixel 7 Pro is much cheaper
This is the main reason to opt for the Pixel 7 Pro instead of the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The Pixel 7 Pro starts at $899 / £849 / AU$1,299 for a base model with 12GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. For $999 / £849 / AU$1,499, you can jump up to 256GB or get 512GB for $1,099 / AU$1,599.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra starts at a much higher price of $1,199.99 / £1,149 / AU$1,849 for 128GB storage and 8GB RAM. The 256GB version will set you back $1,299.99 / £1,249 / AU$1,999, and the 512GB is $1,399.99 / £1,329 / AU$2,149. And you can go up to a 1TB model ($1,599.99 / £1,499 / AU$2,449), which Google doesn’t offer.
Pixel 7 Pro vs Galaxy S22 Ultra: my bottom line
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a few key advantages, including battery life. Samsung’s device lasted 9 hours and 50 minutes compared to 8:04 for the Pixel 7 Pro. And Samsung’s screen gets brighter. But in terms of what you get for the money, the Pixel 7 Pro is my hands-down winner.
The Pixel 7 Pro offers better photo quality, a larger screen, and a sleeker design for hundreds less. And especially in this economy, that’s a huge win.
Next: See also our Camera shootout between Google Pixel 7 and iPhone 14 to see which phone wins.