The Samsung Galaxy S22 is a series of Android-based smartphones designed, developed, manufactured, and marketed by Samsung Electronics as part of its Galaxy S series. Unveiled at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event on 9 February 2022, the series serves as the successor to the Galaxy S21 series and Galaxy Note 20 series. We bring you the Samsung Galaxy S22 Review.
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Samsung Galaxy S22 Review: Specs
- OS/Software: Android 12, One UI 4.1.
- Rear Camera: 50MP + 10MP + 12MP
- Front Camera: 10MP
- Display: 6.1 inches | 1080 x 2340 pixels’ resolution
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 / Exynos 2200
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 128/2566GB
- Battery: 3,700mAh fast charging| 25W wired, 15W wireless
- Colors: Phantom Black, White, Pink Gold, Green, Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet, Cream
Pros
- Most affordable Galaxy S22 model
- Bright, colorful display
- Improved zoom and low-light photos
- Solid performance
Cons
- Average battery life
- No microSD card support
- Not a huge improvement over S21
Samsung Galaxy S22 Review: Design
The Galaxy S22 has a great design. This device has a design similar to preceding S series phones, with an Infinity-O display containing a circular cutout in the top center for the front selfie camera. All three models use Gorilla Glass Victus+ for the back panel, unlike the S21 series which had plastic on the smaller S21.
However, Samsung has refined the design, giving the S22 a more angular look. The front and back are flat slabs of glass, held together by a nearly flat aluminum frame. The device feels great, as well. The glass on the back is frosted, so the phone is incredibly smooth to the touch, and you don’t have to worry about collecting fingerprints. The Galaxy S22 color list consists of Green, Pink Gold, Phantom Black, and Phantom White.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Review: Display
This device comes with a 6.1-inch screen, smaller than on the S21 boasting of a Full HD+ AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung makes up for that deficit by having a smaller black bezel around the screen, and no intrusive notch.
The screen is as bright and attractive as any we’ve seen. The adaptive refresh rate (10Hz to 120Hz) makes every movement in scrolling, videos, and games look smooth. You won’t struggle to see the Galaxy S22 screen in bright sunlight. High refresh rates can burn through charge quickly, so you can lock the refresh rate at 60Hz if you want to extend battery life, or at 120Hz if this isn’t a concern for you.
The display also houses the in-display fingerprint sensor, which works very well. Unlike a certain Google phone, it’s very fast and responsive. All in all, you won’t be disappointed with this display.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Review: Camera
The Galaxy S22 features the same basic camera setup that Samsung used for the Galaxy S21, but with some notable improvements to the hardware. There are still three lenses, but some of the sensors backing them are different.
The 12MP ultrawide f/2.2 camera is virtually unchanged, but it’s now grouped with a new 50MP f/1.8 main camera and a 10MP f/2.3 telephoto. That last camera has far fewer pixels than the S21’s 64MP sensor but keeps the zoom at 3x (the S21 listed the zoom as hybrid; this is optical zoom).
The 12MP ultra wide angle camera manages to keep up with the primary sensor, and images seem to match up nicely between the two sensors. The 10MP telephoto sensor, which Samsung downgraded from the 64MP sensor on the S21 makes it quite not impressive. Though It’s decent enough in certain situations, but colors don’t reproduce quite as well. The cameras have clearly improved on the Galaxy S22, particularly when it comes to low-light shots and portrait pictures.
Samsung Galaxy S22 review: Performance
Samsung has equipped all members of its S22 line with the latest mobile chipsets. In the US, that’s the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, while outside the US and Asia the Galaxy S22 runs on Samsung’s own Exynos 2200. Both processors are paired with 8GB of RAM, and either 128GB or 256GB storage.
That’s good news in one sense, as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 powers some of the best performance we’ve seen from an Android phone. The S22 has more than enough power for casual mobile tasks (web browsing, app work) and extra juice for videos, games, 4K video shooting, and editing. The 8K video shoot was a stuttering disaster, but otherwise we were pleased.
In terms of storage, the 256GB max without the option of a microSD upgrade is simply not enough. This is also a 5G phone, which means you can enjoy blazing-fast mobile connectivity where you can get a decent signal. One other thing to take note of is the fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy S22, which is right under the display as it is on previous Samsung models is very responsive and easy to locate.
Samsung Galaxy S22 review: S Pen
The S22 Ultra is the first S series phone to include a built-in S Pen, a hallmark feature of the Galaxy Note series. The S Pen has better latency at 2.8ms, reduced from 26ms on the Note 20 and 9ms on the Note 20 Ultra and S21 Ultra (note that the S21 Ultra had S Pen functionality, but was not included with the phone), and marked the introduction of a ‘AI-based co-ordination prediction system’. The S Pen also supports Air gestures and the Air Action system.
Samsung Galaxy S22 review: Software
The Galaxy S22 debuts with Samsung’s One UI 4.1 interface for Android 12. If you like previous iterations of Samsung’s One UI, this edition will suit you just fine. Samsung has added customization and privacy features. You can see which apps are requesting permissions, and managing those permissions is a bit more streamlined. With the Galaxy S22 series, Samsung and Google are bringing a live sharing feature to Google Duo that lets you view photos and take notes with the people on a video call.
There is Samsung’s increased software support starting with the Galaxy S22. The phone maker now promises four years of Android software updates in addition to five years of security support. That brings the Galaxy S22 closer to Apple’s level of lengthy support than any other Android phone maker.
Samsung Galaxy S22 review: Battery and charging
Users are never happy when companies cut battery sizes, but that’s just inevitable with the much smaller Galaxy S22 size, and it comes with a 3,700mAh battery, a downgrade from the 4,000mAh cell used on the S21 (a 5% decrease in size).
Don’t expect wonders out of a smaller battery, but not quite a huge decline either. In terms of everyday use, the Galaxy S22 will get you through the day. The phone doesn’t ship with a charging adapter, just the USB-C cable but you can use any compatible 25W adapter or charge wirelessly via a Qi adapter.
READ: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Review
Samsung Galaxy S22 review: Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S22 went on sale on February 25 in the US, March 3 in Australia, and March 11 in the UK. You can pick up the Galaxy S22 with 128GB storage for $799 / £769 / AU$1,249, or with 256GB for $849 / £819 / AU$1,349.
Samsung Galaxy S22 review: Verdict
The Galaxy S22 may be small, but it packs a lot of power thanks to the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. This makes multitasking a breeze, and the triple camera setup is just as impressive with the new 50MP primary sensor. It has the promise of long support and updates, and it doesn’t hurt that the phone itself looks very good.
Recommended if…
- You want a flagship with the latest Snapdragon chipset
- You prefer smaller phones that can fit in your hand or pocket
- You want great software support
- Not recommended if….
- You prefer large displays
- You absolutely need microSD card support
Not recommended if….
- You prefer large displays
- You absolutely need microSD card support
