Galaxy S22 Ultra vs iPhone 13 Pro Max
Short answer: buy the iPhone 13 Pro Max for smoother long-term performance, excellent video, strong battery life and better resale value. Buy the Galaxy S22 Ultra for the built-in S Pen, a sharper QHD+ screen and much longer zoom with its 10x periscope. Both were 2021 to 2022 flagships, so condition and battery health matter as much as the model.
Updated 11 November 2026
Design and build
The S22 Ultra has a boxy shape with curved screen edges, an Armor Aluminium frame and a built-in S Pen. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has flat edges, a stainless steel frame and a matte glass back. Both are IP68.
The iPhone is heavier at 240 g against 228 g for the S22 Ultra, and its steel frame feels very solid but shows scratches. The S22 Ultra is taller and narrower in the hand. Both are big phones, so test one-hand use if you can.
Display
The S22 Ultra has a 6.8 inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen at QHD+ (1440 x 3088), 1 to 120Hz and up to 1750 nits. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 6.7 inch Super Retina XDR OLED with ProMotion (10 to 120Hz) at 1284 x 2778 and up to 1200 nits in HDR.
Both are smooth and colourful. The Samsung panel is sharper and brighter outdoors, while the iPhone has a flat screen with a notch at the top. If you write or sketch, the S Pen on the big Samsung screen is a real advantage.
Performance and chipset
The iPhone 13 Pro Max uses the A15 Bionic with a 5-core GPU. The S22 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200, depending on region. Peak speed is close, but the A15 is more efficient and stays cooler.
In Pakistan's hot summers the S22 Ultra can warm up during long gaming sessions or video calls, and it may lower its speed. The iPhone holds its performance more steadily, which also helps it feel fast for longer.
Cameras
The S22 Ultra has a 108MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, a 10MP 3x telephoto and a 10MP 10x periscope. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has three 12MP cameras (main with sensor-shift OIS, ultra-wide with macro, 3x telephoto) plus a LiDAR scanner.
For far zoom, the S22 Ultra clearly wins thanks to its 10x lens. For video, the iPhone is better: 4K 60fps with very stable footage, ProRes and Cinematic mode. Photos are close in daylight; the iPhone gives more natural colours, the Samsung more punchy ones.
Battery and charging
The S22 Ultra has a 5000 mAh battery with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a 4352 mAh battery with 20W wired and 15W MagSafe charging. Even with a smaller battery, the iPhone 13 Pro Max usually lasts longer because the A15 is so efficient.
The Samsung charges faster with the right adapter. On a used iPhone, check battery health in Settings first: our used iPhone 13 Pro Max units have 100% battery health.
Specs side by side
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 / Exynos 2200 vs A15 Bionic (5-core GPU)
- Display: 6.8 inch QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED vs 6.7 inch 120Hz OLED ProMotion
- Rear cameras: 108MP + 12MP + 10MP 3x + 10MP 10x vs 12MP + 12MP + 12MP 3x, LiDAR
- Front camera: 40MP vs 12MP
- Battery: 5000 mAh vs 4352 mAh
- Charging: 45W wired, 15W wireless vs 20W wired, 15W MagSafe
- Port: USB-C vs Lightning
- Stylus: built-in S Pen vs none
- Weight: 228 g vs 240 g
- Launch software: Android 12, One UI 4.1 vs iOS 15
Software and updates
The S22 Ultra launched with Android 12 and was promised four major Android upgrades, so it is close to the end of its upgrade path. The iPhone 13 Pro Max launched with iOS 15 and still gets the current iOS version, but it does not support Apple Intelligence. In general Apple keeps older iPhones updated for longer.
Non PTA and SIM notes in Pakistan
Our iPhone 13 Pro Max units are slightly used Non PTA phones with 100% battery health. A Non PTA iPhone is not registered with PTA's DIRBS, so a local SIM works only for a limited time unless you register it and pay the PTA tax. Wi-Fi and all other features work normally. See PTA tax on mobile phones (PTA Tax on Mobile Phones: How It Is Calculated and Paid).
Our Galaxy S22 Ultra is a Non Custom box pack unit that is PTA Patch Approved, so a local SIM works normally.
Who should buy which
Buy the iPhone 13 Pro Max if you want reliable performance, great video, good battery life and strong resale value, and you are fine with Lightning.
Buy the Galaxy S22 Ultra if you want the S Pen, 10x zoom and a local SIM that works without paying PTA tax. For the next step up, see Galaxy S23 Ultra vs iPhone 14 Pro Max (Galaxy S23 Ultra vs iPhone 14 Pro Max).
