OnePlus 10 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S22: Which should you buy?

The OnePlus 10 Pro has taken a different launch approach from its predecessors. It arrived exclusively in China in January 2022, and now it’s ready to take on the rest of the world. That, of course, means going toe to toe with the best that Samsung has to offer. We’ve had plenty of praise for the changes in the Galaxy S22 series, so it will take a lot for OnePlus to capture the top slot. Now it’s time to see which device is right for your pocket in our battle of the OnePlus 10 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S22.

Our verdict: OnePlus 10 Pro review | Samsung Galaxy S22 review | Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus review

In this comparison, we’re sticking with the basic Galaxy S22 models — and skipping the Ultra — since the OnePlus 10 Pro is priced right between its Samsung foes.

OnePlus 10 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S22

Design and display

Design has always been at the forefront for both Samsung and OnePlus, and it’s never been more apparent than this year.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 series looks almost exactly like its predecessor, yet the quality of life changes make a big difference. The sleek Contour Cut camera housing is back for another year, and the materials have taken a step forward. The Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus sport Gorilla Glass Victus Plus on both the front and back panels. Samsung also moved to Armor Aluminum frames for a little extra toughness around the edges.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 series offers slightly flatter, almost iPhone-like edges this year, making the phones easier to hold. You’ll find identical button layouts on both, with the USB-C port and a down-firing speaker occupying the bottom edge. Samsung’s power button and volume rocker lie on the right side and come in aluminum finishes that match the frame.

While Samsung’s latest flagships are a case of perfecting what works, the OnePlus 10 Pro heads in a new direction. It ditches the traditional corner-mounted camera array for a much larger unit that seems to melt into the aluminum frame. You can’t possibly miss it — the camera bump stretches over halfway across the device itself. OnePlus adopted Gorilla Glass Victus as well, though only for the display. The rear panel is crafted from Gorilla Glass 5 instead, which is still plenty tough.

OnePlus once again kept the USB-C port and a speaker along the bottom edge and split the volume and power controls between both sides. You can control power from the right side while the volume rocker sits on the left side.

Once you move around to the front of each device, the OnePlus 10 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S22 battle becomes a little easier to tell apart. Yes, both series tap into Gorilla Glass Victus, and yes, both use punch hole selfie cameras, but that’s where the similarities start fading away.

Both of Samsung’s devices sport flat panels, and both come in smaller than the OnePlus flagship. The Galaxy S22 is the smallest of the bunch at 6.1-inches, while the Galaxy S22 Plus falls in the middle at 6.6-inches. Samsung’s AMOLED duo offers 120Hz refresh rates with Full HD+ resolutions (1,080 x 2,340). The displays also have comfortable 19.5:9 aspect ratios. You can achieve 1,300 nits of brightness on the Galaxy S22, while the S22 Plus tops out at 1,750.

The OnePlus 10 Pro, on the other hand, sports a larger 6.7-inches waterfall Fluid AMOLED display with a 1,440 x 3,216 resolution. It’s slightly taller, with a 20:9 aspect ratio. It matches Samsung’s 120Hz refresh rate and is capable of up to 1,300 nits of brightness.

Hardware and cameras

OnePlus may have tweaked its camera design, but one thing hasn’t changed — Hasselblad is back for another year. It promises to take the partnership further, incorporating lessons learned from the first iteration. The Natural Color Calibration with Hasselblad means that each of the OnePlus 10 Pro’s cameras can shoot in full 10-bit color.

While you might not notice every little color change, you’re bound to notice the new 150-degree ultrawide camera. It’s not quite as sharp as last year, but it can capture more of the world around you. OnePlus says that it shoots at 110-degrees by default, but you can adjust the view or try Fisheye mode in the settings menu. The primary 48MP camera remains the same as last year, a custom-designed Sony sensor exclusive to OnePlus devices. We round out the cameras with an 8MP telephoto lens for 3.3x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom.

See also: The best camera phones you can buy

Samsung’s cameras might look the same as last year, but there are some significant changes on board. The 12MP primary shooter has been upgraded to a 50MP option, while the telephoto lens dropped from 64MP 1.1x optical zoom to 10MP 3x optical zoom. This should allow for better everyday results while still offering plenty of potential for zoom. Finally, Samsung kept its ultrawide lens at 12MP, though the 120-degree field of view isn’t as wide as what OnePlus can offer.

One of the most important features of the Samsung telephoto lens is the potential for 3x optical zoom. This allows Samsung’s latest flagship lineup to support Expert Raw, which gives you in-depth, DSLR-like control over your images.

As for the batteries, Samsung has decided to step back this year. For the first time in a long time, it made the batteries smaller on its flagship lineup. Both the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus take 300mAh cuts, down to 3,700 and 4,500, respectively. The Galaxy S22 also remains on 25W wired charging, provided you have a compatible USB PD PPS charger. Samsung’s middle child S22 Plus hops to 45W wired charging, though you’ll have to supply your own charger — there isn’t one in the box.

Outside of the wired speeds, both devices pack 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.

OnePlus, on the other hand, stayed steady with a 5,000mAh cell. It’s a pair of 2,500mAh cells, but the capacity is enough to match the bigger Galaxy S22 Ultra. One area where it surpasses Samsung is the speed. The OnePlus 10 Pro is capable of up to 80W wired charging in international markets or 65W wired charging in the US. You also get 50W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging.

Under the hood, the OnePlus 10 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S22 battle works out to a draw. Both pack the powerful — and hot — Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor with 8GB of RAM as the standard. You can grab 128 or 256GB of storage across the board, but the OnePlus 10 Pro offers a few extra options. It offers a 256GB version with 12GB of RAM for a little extra punch.

See also: The best phone charging accessories

Price and colors

Samsung kept its Galaxy S22 prices right in line with those of the Galaxy S21, and we can’t really complain about that. The Galaxy S22 kicks off at $799 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, or you can double your space for just $50 more. The same rules apply for the Galaxy S22 Plus, though it starts at $999 for the same base configuration. If you have some money to burn, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the most expensive of the bunch at $1,299 and stretches to $1,599 for a 1TB version.

OnePlus found a way to trim the asking price for its latest flagship, falling from $969 down to $899. For your money, you get 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There will also be a version with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage, but we don’t have pricing information just yet. If it can come in under the price of the Galaxy S22 Plus, OnePlus could have a winner on its hands.

Save some money: The best Samsung Galaxy deals | The best OnePlus deals

We liked the Phantom colors of the Galaxy S21 series, with their satin finishes, so it’s nice to see them back for another year. Samsung might have moved away from the two-toned designs, but the base colors are still pretty good. You can get the phones in Phantom Black, Phantom White, Pink Gold, or Green. If you don’t mind waiting a little while, there are Samsung-exclusive options: Cream, Graphite, Sky Blue, and Violet.

The OnePlus 10 Pro keeps its colors on the simple side, you can choose from either Volcanic Black or Emerald Forest. Both colors offer a slightly textured matte finish that should keep fingerprints at bay — just be careful not to leave marks on the camera array.

OnePlus 10 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S22: Specs

OnePlus 10 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S22: Which should you buy?

We’ve covered a lot of ground, hitting the basics for two of the most popular Android flagships, but now it’s time to decide. It’s time to ask yourself which phone you should buy. We can’t give you a solid answer because your personal preference will have to play a role. Both the OnePlus 10 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 series opt for excellent materials, pushing mobile photography to new heights. The pricing is just about even, too.

However, we’ve seen Samsung make some significant improvements over last year. The upgraded camera and improved materials go a long way considering the costs haven’t changed. Yes, Samsung shrank the battery and display, but that resulted in one of the most pocketable flagships we’ve seen in quite a while. It’s also nearly impossible to top Samsung’s update commitment — four years of Android versions and five years of security patches.

OnePlus might have an advantage with a 12GB and 256GB configuration, but we’ll have to wait and see how much it costs. The display is also the largest of the bunch, but the waterfall design might not be for everyone. Samsung can’t beat 65W (in the US) or 80W (international) wired charging, and OnePlus still includes a brick in the box. The OnePlus 10 Pro is only set for three years of updates, but that’s still a solid mark. We’ll just have to see whether Oxygen OS feels like its own skin or if it moves ever closer to Color OS.

Have you decided on your next phone? Has the promise of Hasselblad tuning pulled you away from the Samsung Galaxy? Let us know below.