I'd buy a Galaxy S22 on Black Friday over an iPhone 14

Opinion
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published

Grab a bundle if you spot one

Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple with other colors
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Every year my friends ask me what phone to buy, especially when it’s Black Friday deals season. This year I’m just going to point to this easy answer: buy a Samsung Galaxy S22 if there’s a deal on Black Friday. Get it in your favorite color. No matter the deal, just get it, because the phone is already a great pick, so a bundle or a discount would make it even better. 

I know what you’re thinking. Apple has a brand new iPhone 14. What if there’s a Black Friday iPhone deal? Skip it. There are never great deals on Apple products. You may see a slight discount or a bundle that gives you a discount if you also buy AirPods. You won’t see the sort of deals you’ll see on a Samsung phone. 

If it’s a bundle deal on the Galaxy S22, go for it. We’ve enjoyed all of Samsung’s various peripheral devices. We’ve seen deals on the Galaxy S22 that include wireless earbuds, and if there’s any price break on the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, go for it. Those are a great set of earbuds.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro with one in and one out of case

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

I would even tell you to go all-in on Samsung’s ecosystem. The Galaxy Watch 5 is my favorite Wear OS watch. I prefer the style of Google’s new Pixel Watch, but it’s amateur in performance compared to the Galaxy Watch. The Galaxy Watch 5 is refined and reliable, and the battery isn’t terrible.

I'm not joking, get the Samsung, not the iPhone

Wait. This is satire, right? I’m really recommending buying a Samsung S22, and not even the big bad Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra or the silly flip-folding Galaxy Z Flip 4, over an iPhone 14? Either I hit my head this morning, or I've started drinking the Samsung Kool-Aid. 

Nope. Without reservation, I can say the Galaxy S22 is the better choice when there are Black Friday deals to consider. 

Samsung’s Galaxy S22 is a tiny bit thinner, lighter, and easier to hold than the iPhone 14. The screen is a bit brighter, and Samsung gives its base model the 120Hz refresh rate that the base model iPhone lacks. I also prefer Samsung’s always-on display to Apple’s version, but it doesn’t matter because the iPhone 14 doesn’t even have an always-on display option. 

Whether it’s catching a network signal or just using Wi-Fi reliably, when I am going into tough wireless conditions, I grab a Samsung

If you want more cameras, Samsung gives you more cameras with three lenses, including a big 50MP main camera and a 3X optical zoom. The iPhone 14 doesn’t even have a real optical zoom lens, just the 12MP main camera, and an ultra wide lens.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Bora Purple detail

Galaxy S22 in Bora purple (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Then there’s Samsung’s engineering and technical expertise. I have used hundreds of phones in my time reviewing smartphones, and Samsung phones handle wireless signals better than Apple phones. Whether it’s catching a network signal or just using Wi-Fi reliably, when I am going into tough wireless conditions, I grab a Samsung. There’s a reason why PC Magazine uses Samsung phones exclusively in its Best Mobile Networks testing.

The Samsung phone charges faster. It has USB-C and does a great job connecting to other devices like monitors and keyboards. You get 256GB instead of 128GB of storage. Samsung has been running a deal that gives you twice the storage for the same price. Apple charges a huge premium for that.

About FOMA - the fear of missing Apple

What will you be missing if you don’t get the iPhone? Only the stuff that is exclusive to Apple, and I’ll tell you, as someone who has switched back and forth many times, it is a good idea to break your reliance on Apple. You may not switch this Black Friday, but you’ll switch some day.

Keep messaging your friends on iMessage, but move your important contacts to a platform like WhatsApp. Definitely start synchronizing your Apple Photos library with Google Photos. Google’s service is platform agnostic, so you can use it on any phone and even on your desktop web browser. 

If you’re relying on iCloud for your email instead of a universal service like Gmail, please know with peace and love that people have been judging you for this. This is the 2022 equivalent of having an Aol.com email address. 

Samsung Galaxy S22 edge

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

In any case, if the reason that you scoff at a deal on a Galaxy S22 is that you are physically addicted to Apple’s platform, maybe it’s time to recognize you have a problem and break the addiction, whether or not you keep your iPhone.

I’m not saying the Galaxy S22 is a better phone than the iPhone 14 (though, it might be), I’m saying they are both great phones. You may not have considered the Galaxy S22, but you should, especially if there is a Black Friday deal. You’re likely to find a better bargain, and you’ll take home a device that is worth every cent.

Philip Berne
Philip Berne
US Mobiles Editor

Phil Berne is a preeminent voice in consumer electronics reviews, starting more than 20 years ago at eTown.com. Phil has written for Engadget, The Verge, PC Mag, Digital Trends, Slashgear, TechRadar, AndroidCentral, and was Editor-in-Chief of the sadly-defunct infoSync. Phil holds an entirely useful M.A. in Cultural Theory from Carnegie Mellon University. He sang in numerous college a cappella groups.

Phil did a stint at Samsung Mobile, leading reviews for the PR team and writing crisis communications until he left in 2017. He worked at an Apple Store near Boston, MA, at the height of iPod popularity. Phil is certified in Google AI Essentials. He has a High School English teaching license (and years of teaching experience) and is a Red Cross certified Lifeguard. His passion is the democratizing power of mobile technology. Before AI came along he was totally sure the next big thing would be something we wear on our faces.