Galaxy S22 Ultra Reviews: The Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra are likely to be the most recommended Android phones in their segment. The step forward that the South Korean brand took in 2021 with the Galaxy S21 – which received multiple accolades – has been amplified with this new family of devices which, although familiar in many ways, perfects what was a formula for success.
Of these two new models, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is, without a doubt, the most eye-catching. Both for its technical specifications – which I will talk about later – and for its design, which takes a different path both from the rest of the family and from its predecessor.
Galaxy S22 Ultra Reviews
The exterior finish of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, however, conveys familiar sensations. And I don’t mean that as a negative. The mobile is a polished version of the Galaxy Note 10+ and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Two phones that in turn are reminiscent of another iconic smartphone: the Nokia Lumia 920. What do they have in common? The particular combination of curved sides with a completely flat top and bottom.
This philosophy, added to the great refinement of the chassis, allows the Galaxy S22 Ultra to achieve this feeling off-road machine so characteristic of the family to which it happens spiritually – the Galaxy Note. Feels like a product without a doubt premium, robust, and able to respond to all situations… A technological Swiss army knife, without neglecting aesthetics. A sort of Range Rover of telephony.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra is – and looks like – a technological Swiss army knife. A sort of Range Rover of telephony. The S22+, on the other hand, would look more like a Ferrari Roma. Modern, sophisticated, and upscale.
If I had to pursue the analogy in the automotive world, the Galaxy S22+, its little brother, would undoubtedly be the equivalent of the aesthetically pleasing Ferrari Roma. It’s refined, modern, premium, and attractive.
And yes, the aesthetics of this model is not exactly a revolution compared to what we saw a year ago. Corn what is not visible in the images is the refinement process that Samsung has done with this product.
The selection and processing of materials are more precise, the aluminum sides are flatter, the range of colors available is quite attractive, and the frames that surround the screen have been reduced to the minimum expression… So many advances are minor, however, they have a rather noticeable impact on the aftertaste that the product leaves after spending a few minutes with it.
Personally, I must admit that, if I had to stick to one – considering only its aesthetics – I would opt for the S22+. In the same way that I would opt for a Ferrari Roma rather than the Range Rover. The identity that Samsung defined with the Galaxy S21 appealed to me at the time, so this polished version had every chance of repeating its success.
shine where ever
In the field of screens, praise is repeated again with the Galaxy S22. Samsung is undoubtedly the leading company when it comes to OLED screens for smartphones refers to. And, when it looks like they’ve reached the top, they surprise us again with an even more advanced panel.
The screens we have in the Galaxy S22 are, in a nutshell, exceptional. Large dimensions, very bright, well-calibrated, more energy efficient, compatible with multiple video standards in HDR, with dynamic refresh rates of up to 120 Hz, etc.
Samsung always shines with the screens of the Galaxy S. And this new generation is no exception.
As per usual, the Ultra’s screen is a bit more advanced in some ways (QHD+ instead of FHD+, for example), though unless you’re knowledgeable or demanding you probably won’t notice the differences.
It’s garish, as always, that Samsung enables a mode that oversaturates colors by default, but that, honestly, is a losing battle. If you want to have fidelity, go to the system settings and change the display profile to the most neutral. This way you will see the content as the creator actually created it or you will edit the images properly.
In the case of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, its panel is also S-Pen compatible which in this generation is immersed in the device’s own chassis – unlike the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which was also compatible, but had to buy a separate case to store the style-.
Is the S-Pen useful? Well, the answer is that a lot depends on who you are or what you’re doing with the phone. Personally, I find it useful in specific situations – like editing a photo – but not much else. However, I know people who get a lot out of it. If this is your case, having it now on your device will please you.
When it comes to performance, Few complaints can be made about two phones with the latest Exynos chip. On a daily basis, everything works perfectly on these phones. However, two points must be made:
- The first is that the Qualcomm model – which is not sold in Europe – is still superior to the Exynos variant. The difference is nothing to worry about, but it’s a shame that this region is, once again, receiving a significantly inferior variant.
- The second is that Samsung and Qualcomm have an outstanding issue of achieving better-sustained performance, as this new generation of chips heats up relatively easily and phones perform quickly as a result. This is not a problem in the majority of situations, but it is also not something that should not be criticized. Especially if you take into account that companies like Apple manage to maintain their performance.
Photography remains a mainstay of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and S22+
And how are the cameras? Well, honestly, up to what is expected of a product from a brand like Samsung with such a high cost. This is no surprise in the case of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, as the previous model showed great strength in this area; but the step forward is appreciated in the case of the S22+, which incorporates a new main sensor, as well as a renewed telephoto lens which, this year, is optical – and not hybrid or digital, as on previous occasions.
That it is optical, while it may seem minor, is important. The way a 70-75mm equivalent lens distorts the image is different from the way a 20-25mm equivalent lens distorts it. And that, when you take pictures, it shows.
Generally speaking, both phones produce very good results in both day and night photography. The identity of Samsung in the processing is noticeable in some aspects of the processing, even if the processing is much less aggressive than before, when the South Korean brand tended, for example, to oversaturate the images. These are honestly cameras I’d trust to go on the road with, as they’re advanced enough and consistent enough that I don’t have to worry about them.
In the case of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, I have to particularly mention its 10x telephoto lens, which offers extra versatility and also produces quite good results in a wide range of situations. Personally, I love that Samsung continues to bet on these long-range telephoto lenses without giving up an intermediate point like the 3X. In addition: I would like this idea to extend to other brands such as Google or Apple.
As for the video, the results are quite acceptable. The problem is that here Samsung and the rest of the brands are several steps behind Apple. If we take the North American company out of the equation, the videos captured with the S22 are pretty good. Perhaps one of the best in its segment. But if we introduce the iPhone 13 into the comparison, it is completely unbalanced.
Made to last longer
Another interesting point of the Galaxy S22 is its software. Yes, they come with the latest version of Android. And also with the latest OneUI. But what counts is not that: it is Samsung’s pledge that these phones will receive four major Android updates —that is, they will hit Android 16—and five years of security updates.
This step forward is excellent news for buyers of this phone. Especially since renewal times are getting longer and high-end phones, as a rule, usually last a long time without incident. other brands of smartphones Android should take the same position.
More brands should follow Samsung’s path of supporting its products for so long.
Finally, autonomy. And in this area, we can make both positive and negative readings. The positive is that both phones are capable of completing a day of normal use with no problem. The downside, on the contrary, is that competing phones – such as the iPhone 13 series – are able to stick around longer with a similar usage pattern.
Luckily, both models support wireless charging as well as fast charging up to 45W, so the power juice can be scooped up quite easily. Of course: in case some ignorant people don’t know, neither phone includes a charger in the box.
Are the new Galaxy S22+ and Galaxy S22 Ultra worth it?
I have no hesitation in saying that the Galaxy S22+ and Galaxy S22 Ultra They are safe bets in their segment. And, in the Ultra’s case, it’s probably the absolute best phone we’ll see in the first half.
This does not mean that they are perfect or idyllic in every way. Details like battery life, video, or sustained CPU performance could be better. But both models make up for that with great cameras, top-notch screens, and a refined chassis, among other things.
Competition, yes, is not exactly rare. Apple’s iPhone 13 series is undoubtedly its main rival, as in previous years. And some proposals from Xiaomi and Oppo could also scratch some sales if they play their cards right. So, despite the obvious strength of the new products,
Samsung can’t rely on its go-to-market strategies – and production, given the chip shortage – if it wants to turn the good work done on both phones to the next level.
