Samsung Galaxy A73 5G vs Galaxy S22 5G: The Ultimate Showdown

Choosing between Samsung's mid-range and flagship phones can be tough. The Galaxy A73 5G offers impressive features at a more accessible price, while the Galaxy S22 5G boasts top-tier performance and premium features. Let's break down the key differences to help you decide which one is the perfect fit.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S22 5G is the clear winner for performance and camera quality, thanks to its flagship chipset and advanced features. However, the A73 5G provides excellent value with a vibrant display and long battery life, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A73 5G Samsung Galaxy S22 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, March 172022, February 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, April 22Available. Released 2022, February 25
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.7 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.30 in)146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm (5.75 x 2.78 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight181 g (6.38 oz)167 g / 168 g (mmWave) (5.89 oz)
 IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~87.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED Plus, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROW
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 642LXclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging25W wired25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 3700 mAh
Misc
ColorsGray, Mint, WhitePhantom Black, White, Pink Gold, Green, Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet, Cream, Bora Purple
ModelsSM-A736B, SM-A736B/DSSM-S901B, SM-S901B/DS, SM-S901U, SM-S901U1, SM-S901W, SM-S901N, SM-S9010, SM-S901E, SM-S901E/DS
PriceAbout 600 EUR$ 172.63 / C$ 304.00 / £ 186.11 / € 198.01
SAR1.14 W/kg (head)1.03 W/kg (head)     1.15 W/kg (body)
SAR EU1.28 W/kg (head)     1.42 W/kg (body)1.21 W/kg (head)     1.59 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 85h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 745496 (v8), 881428 (v9) GeekBench: 3682 (v5.1) GFXBench: 69fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A73 5G

  • Excellent value for money
  • Long battery life
  • Vibrant AMOLED display
  • Stylish design
  • 5G connectivity

  • Less powerful processor
  • Mediocre camera compared to flagship
  • Slower charging speeds (no wireless charging)

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G

  • Flagship performance
  • Superior camera system
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Wireless charging (including reverse)
  • Premium build quality

  • Higher price
  • Shorter battery life than A73
  • Can get warm under heavy load

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S22 5G's display shines with its higher peak brightness (982 nits vs A73's ~800 nits), offering better visibility in direct sunlight. Both phones feature vibrant AMOLED displays with smooth 120Hz refresh rates, but the S22's slightly smaller size and higher resolution contribute to a sharper image. The A73's larger screen might be preferable for media consumption.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S22 5G's camera system is a major upgrade. It offers better image processing, improved low-light performance, and more versatile shooting options. While the A73 5G takes decent photos, the S22 consistently delivers superior results, especially in challenging conditions. The S22 also typically has better video recording capabilities.

Performance

The Galaxy S22 5G's Exynos 2200 (or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1) significantly outperforms the A73 5G's Snapdragon 778G. Expect faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive gaming experience on the S22. The A73 handles everyday tasks well, but struggles with demanding games at higher settings.

Battery Life

Both phones offer endurance ratings of 85h, suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage. However, the A73 5G's larger battery capacity (5000mAh vs S22's ~3700mAh) might give it a slight edge in real-world scenarios. Charging speeds are identical at 25W wired, but the S22 adds 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy A73 5G is ideal for users who prioritize battery life, a large display, and a stylish design without breaking the bank. It's great for everyday tasks, social media, and casual photography. The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G is perfect for power users, mobile gamers, and photography enthusiasts who demand the best possible performance, camera capabilities, and premium features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Galaxy A73 5G good for gaming?
The A73 5G can handle casual games, but demanding titles may require lower graphics settings for smooth performance. The S22 5G is a much better choice for serious mobile gaming.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Both phones will receive several years of software updates from Samsung, but the S22 5G, being a flagship, may receive updates slightly sooner and for a longer duration.