Looking for an honest Apple iPhone 17 Air vs Samsung Galaxy S22 comparison in 2026? We scored both smartphones on the same six-dimension framework — performance, battery, display, camera, design and value — using identical methodology, so the numbers below are directly comparable. In our overall scoring the Apple iPhone 17 Air comes out ahead 58/100 to 51/100 — a 7-point gap. The widest gap is in performance, where the Apple iPhone 17 Air pulls noticeably ahead. On price the Samsung Galaxy S22 undercuts the Apple iPhone 17 Air by 452% ($162.99 vs $899), which materially changes the value calculus for budget-conscious buyers.

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Apple iPhone 17 Air narrowly beats the Samsung Galaxy S22 in the smartphones category, especially in performance (benchmark 195 vs 105), scoring 58 vs 51. If you want the better overall smartphones, Apple iPhone 17 Air is the recommended choice.
Picking Apple iPhone 17 Air over Samsung Galaxy S22 means trading these off.
Apple
$899
Scores are relative within the smartphonescategory. Percentages show each dimension's weight in the overall score. A difference of less than 0.5 points is considered a tie.
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
| Spec | Apple iPhone 17 AirW | Samsung Galaxy S22 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.6"✓ | 6.1" |
| Display Type | OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | — | 2340 x 1080 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness | — | 1300nits |
| HDR | — | HDR10+ |
| Protection | — | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| Chipset | Apple A19 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| CPU | — | Octa-core 2.8 GHz |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB |
| Storage Options | — | 128GB, 256GB |
| Main Camera | 48MP | 50MP✓ |
| Aperture | — | f/1.8 |
| OIS | — | Yes |
| Video | — | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Front Camera | 24MP✓ | 10MP |
| Battery | 3400mAh | 3700mAh✓ |
| Charging | 25W | 25W |
| Wireless Charging | — | 15W |
| OS | iOS 19 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Wi-Fi | — | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| USB | — | USB-C 3.2 |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Biometrics | — | Under-display fingerprint |
| Dimensions | — | 146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm |
| Weight | 145g✓ | 167g |
| Price | 899$ | 162.99$✓ |
Buy Apple iPhone 17 Air if…
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 Air if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Buy Samsung Galaxy S22 if…
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S22 if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Apple iPhone 17 Air narrowly beats the Samsung Galaxy S22 in the smartphones category, especially in performance (benchmark 195 vs 105), scoring 58 vs 51. If you want the better overall smartphones, Apple iPhone 17 Air is the recommended choice.
Yes, Apple iPhone 17 Air scores higher overall (83 vs 76).
Samsung Galaxy S22 is cheaper at $162.99 vs $899 for the Apple iPhone 17 Air.
Buy the Apple iPhone 17 Air if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S22 if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Samsung Galaxy S22 has a larger battery (3,700mAh vs 3,400mAh for the Apple iPhone 17 Air), which generally means longer use between charges.
Apple iPhone 17 Air has the larger display (6.6" vs 6.1").
Samsung Galaxy S22 has a higher-resolution main camera (50MP vs 48MP). Note that megapixels are one factor — sensor quality and processing also matter.
Apple iPhone 17 Air is lighter at 145g vs 167g.
Reviewed by VersusMatrix Editorial Team
Last updated: May 21, 2026
Methodology: AI-powered analysis of technical specifications from manufacturer data. Scores are calculated by comparing products across multiple dimensions and normalized relative to the full category database. Our editorial process is independent and not influenced by affiliate partnerships.