iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Galaxy S22 Ultra
Short answer: the Galaxy S22 Ultra gives you more hardware for the money: a 120Hz QHD+ screen, a 108MP camera with 10x periscope zoom, a 5000 mAh battery, 45W charging and a built-in S Pen. The iPhone 12 Pro Max wins on video, iOS smoothness and resale value. Both are older flagships now, so condition and battery health matter more than spec sheets.
Updated 15 November 2026
Design and build
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a flat stainless steel frame, matte glass back, Ceramic Shield front and IP68 rating. It weighs 228 g and is 7.4 mm thin. The Galaxy S22 Ultra uses an Armor Aluminium frame with Gorilla Glass Victus+, a curved screen and a built-in S Pen. It is also IP68 and also weighs 228 g, but it is thicker at 8.9 mm.
The iPhone feels like a solid flat slab. The Samsung feels more like a note-taking tool, with the S Pen tucked into the bottom.
Display
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 6.7 inch Super Retina XDR OLED at 1284 x 2778, 60Hz, with 800 nits typical and 1200 nits HDR peak. The S22 Ultra has a 6.8 inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X at QHD+ (1440 x 3088), 1-120Hz adaptive, with up to 1750 nits peak.
This is a clear win for the Samsung. Scrolling is much smoother at 120Hz and the screen is brighter in Pakistani summer sunlight.
Performance and chipset
The iPhone uses the Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) with a 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU. The S22 Ultra uses either the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or the Exynos 2200 (both 4 nm), depending on region.
Both still run daily apps, WhatsApp, YouTube and PUBG smoothly. The A14 runs cooler in long gaming sessions. The S22 Ultra chips are known to get warm under heavy load, so ask which chip your unit has; the Snapdragon version is usually preferred.
Cameras
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has three 12MP cameras: main with sensor-shift OIS, ultra-wide and 2.5x telephoto, plus LiDAR for faster focus at night. The S22 Ultra has a 108MP main with OIS, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto and 10MP 10x periscope.
For zoom the Samsung is far ahead; 10x shots of a stage or a cricket match are possible on it. Selfies are sharper on its 40MP front camera too. For video, the iPhone is more stable and consistent, with Dolby Vision HDR recording. The S22 Ultra can also record 8K at 24fps.
Battery and charging
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 3687 mAh battery with 20W wired, 15W MagSafe and 7.5W Qi charging. The S22 Ultra has a 5000 mAh battery with 45W wired, 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging.
On paper the Samsung lasts longer and charges faster. On older phones, though, battery health decides real backup, so always check it. Our iPhone battery health guide (iPhone Battery Health: How to Check It and What Is Normal) explains the numbers.
Specs side by side
- Chipset: A14 Bionic vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200
- Display: 6.7 inch 60Hz OLED vs 6.8 inch QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED
- Peak brightness: 1200 nits vs 1750 nits
- Main camera: 12MP vs 108MP
- Zoom: 2.5x telephoto vs 3x + 10x periscope
- Front camera: 12MP vs 40MP
- Battery: 3687 mAh vs 5000 mAh
- Charging: 20W wired, 15W MagSafe vs 45W wired, 15W wireless
- Port: Lightning vs USB-C 3.2
- Weight: 228 g vs 228 g
- Launch software: iOS 14 vs Android 12, One UI 4.1
Software and updates
The iPhone 12 Pro Max launched with iOS 14 and still runs current iOS in 2026, but it is close to the end of its major updates. It does not support Apple Intelligence. The S22 Ultra launched with Android 12 and Samsung promised four Android upgrades and five years of security updates, so it is also in its last stretch of support. Neither is a phone to keep for five more years.
Non PTA and SIM notes in Pakistan
Our iPhone 12 Pro Max units are used Non PTA phones, checked before dispatch, with 100% battery health shown on the page. Our Galaxy S22 Ultra stock is Non Custom box pack. A Non PTA phone 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 features work normally. Read how to check PTA status (How to Check PTA Status of Any Mobile Phone).
The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a nano-SIM plus eSIM. The S22 Ultra has nano-SIM plus eSIM, with dual nano-SIM on some variants. Every order comes with a 7-day checking warranty.
Who should buy which
Buy the Galaxy S22 Ultra if you want a 120Hz screen, big zoom, the S Pen, a bigger battery and faster charging.
Buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max if you already use an iPhone, record a lot of video, or want a phone that is easier to resell later. If your budget stretches, the iPhone 13 Pro Max adds ProMotion 120Hz and a bigger battery; see iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 13 Pro Max (iPhone 12 Pro Max vs iPhone 13 Pro Max).
