Galaxy S25 Ultra vs iPhone SE (2022)

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, released in 2025, represents a high-end Android smartphone, while the iPhone SE 2022, launched in March 2022, offers a compact iOS experience. These devices cater to different user preferences, with the Galaxy S25 Ultra focusing on advanced features and a large display, and the iPhone SE 2022 prioritizing a familiar design and portability. The primary distinctions lie in their operating systems, overall form factor, and the breadth of their feature sets.

The expected practical lifespan and software support differ between these two devices, largely due to their release timelines and product categories.

• Release Timeline and Age: The Galaxy S25 Ultra, released in 2025, benefits from being a newer device, offering a longer period of current software and security updates compared to the iPhone SE 2022, which was released in March 2022.
• OS Support Duration: Samsung's flagship Galaxy S series, including the S25 Ultra, is eligible for up to seven years of major Android OS and security updates. The iPhone SE 2022, running iOS, typically receives software updates for approximately five to six years from its release.
• Build Materials and Durability: The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a titanium frame and Corning Gorilla Armor 2 for enhanced scratch resistance and drop protection, along with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The iPhone SE 2022 utilizes a glass front and back with an aluminum frame and has an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.

Performance capabilities vary significantly between these two smartphones, reflecting their different design philosophies and target users.

• Processor Capabilities: The Galaxy S25 Ultra is equipped with a current-generation processor, enabling it to handle demanding applications, intensive multitasking, and graphic-heavy games with fluidity. The iPhone SE 2022 features the A15 Bionic chip, which provides robust performance for everyday tasks, smooth app navigation, and capable gaming, though it offers less headroom for future, more demanding applications compared to the S25 Ultra.
• Battery Behavior: The Galaxy S25 Ultra includes a larger 5000mAh battery, designed to support extended usage throughout the day, even with its powerful features and large display. The iPhone SE 2022 has a smaller 2018mAh battery, which means users who engage in heavy usage may find themselves needing to charge more frequently.
• Storage Options: The Galaxy S25 Ultra offers generous internal storage configurations, typically starting from 256 GB and going up to 1 TB, providing ample space for large files, applications, and media. The iPhone SE 2022 is available with storage options up to 256 GB, which is suitable for many users but may be limiting for those with extensive storage needs.

The display experience on the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone SE 2022 presents a clear contrast in size, technology, and visual fidelity.

• Display Technology and Size: The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a large 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high contrast. The iPhone SE 2022 comes with a more compact 4.7-inch Retina IPS LCD, providing accurate colors and good viewing angles, but with a less immersive experience due to its smaller size and older technology.
• Resolution and Brightness: The S25 Ultra boasts a high resolution of 1440x3120 pixels, resulting in sharp images and text, and can reach a peak brightness of 2600 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. The iPhone SE 2022 has a resolution of 750x1334 pixels and a typical maximum brightness of 625 nits, which is sufficient for most indoor and outdoor use but less brilliant than the S25 Ultra.
• Refresh Rate and Features: The Galaxy S25 Ultra offers an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, contributing to smoother scrolling and more responsive interactions. It also supports an S Pen for precise input. The iPhone SE 2022 has a standard 60Hz refresh rate, which is adequate for general use but does not offer the same level of visual fluidity.

The camera systems of the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone SE 2022 are designed for different photographic approaches and user expectations.

• Camera System Versatility: The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a versatile quad-camera setup, including a 200 MP wide-angle primary camera, a 50 MP ultrawide, a 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 50 MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom, offering extensive photographic flexibility and advanced zoom capabilities. The iPhone SE 2022 is equipped with a single 12 MP wide-angle rear camera, which is capable of capturing good quality photos in well-lit conditions.
• Photography Performance: The S25 Ultra excels in various lighting conditions, with advanced computational photography, improved low-light performance, and features like Nightography and AI zoom. The iPhone SE 2022 delivers accurate colors and crisp details in bright daylight, leveraging its processor for efficient image processing, but it lacks a dedicated Night mode, which can result in more noise in low-light photos.
• Video Recording Quality: Both devices offer capable video recording. The Galaxy S25 Ultra supports 8K video recording at 30fps and 4K at up to 120fps, with features like HDR10+ and stereo sound recording. The iPhone SE 2022 can record 4K video at up to 60 frames per second, providing sharp details and good dynamic range, with built-in image stabilization.