All of the Galaxy S22 series phones have a designated group of people they are targeting with unique specs. Personally, I like the mix of size and high-end features of the S22 Plus. But, for a majority of people, I think the least expensive S22 and the top-tier S22 Ultra are the most interesting to consider. I’ll focus on those devices here, along with how they compare with Apple’s iPhone 13 and 13 Pro.
TL;DR
Pros:
S22 Ultra has a very usable 10x optical zoomThe S Pen on the Ultra is compelling if you want a stylusS22’s 6. 1-inch screen size feels compact in the hand
Cons:
S22 Ultra is hard to use single-handedlyS22’s battery life may be disappointing when its stressed
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The Pros and Cons of the Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Galaxy S22 Ultra is Samsung’s best of the best. It’s for people who want the latest features and specs. You’ll also have to put up with its size if you want those things. While the Ultra’s fancy Infinity-O Quad HD+ Dynamic Amoled 2X display comes in at 6.8 inches, it feels bigger. It’s not even a full inch larger than the S22’s 6.1-inch display, but it certainly feels like it in the hand or pocket.
In fact, while the size is nice sitting on the couch, I had a hard time carrying it around and using it on the go. If you’re already comfortable with a big phone, then don’t worry about it. If you’re coming from a smaller phone, just be aware that it can seem large.
The most notable feature of the S22 Ultra is the camera system. On the back, it features a 108 megapixel wide lens, a 12 megapixel ultrawide lens, a 10 megapixel telephone lens with a 3x optical zoom, and a 10x telephoto lens with a 10x optical zoom. There is a 40 megapixel camera on the front.
Having a 10x optical zoom on a phone is fun. Even inside a gymnasium, watching my son play basketball, I was able to get very useable shots from across the court. Being zoomed in so much can be tricky to get accustomed to, but I quickly found myself encountering all kinds of instances that could benefit from the extra reach.
Be aware that outside at night the 10x zoom is basically unusable. The photos are almost too pixelated. This is especially compared with the standard wide lens, which can be used with Samsung’s night mode and takes pictures that look good.
I didn’t do any benchmarking of the phones because that’s not relevant to most people. I used them in everyday situations and tried to gauge how they responded and felt to use. There is 12GB of RAM on the S22 Ultra options with 256GB of storage and up. I apparently wasn’t doing anything that made me notice the extra RAM because I didn’t feel constrained with 8GB on the S22.
I did notice the superfast, 45 watt charging speed that comes when plugged into a high-watt wall charger. (This compares to an iPhone 13 Pro’s 23 watt wired charging speed and an iPhone Pro Max’s 27 watt wired charging speed.) My unscientific test of letting the Ultra die completely and plugging it into a 100 watt charger yielded a battery life of 91 percent in about 60 minutes. While this might not be the feature that you buy a phone for, the extra charging speed is something that can be put to use in everyday life.
The S22 Ultra shares the same new processor and other features as the other S22 phones, including Wi-Fi 6E.
The Pros and Cons of the Galaxy S22
The Galaxy S22 is physically the smallest of the bunch and thus has the lowest capacity battery. Interestingly, the S22 did shrink a tiny bit from last year’s S21. The S22 feels good to hold and is easy to use single-handedly. The design is very similar to last year’s S21, but there are some new colors and textures on the back.
Constant cellular internet access, such as streaming video, does drain battery faster than downloading a video to the phone and watching it locally. Modems, bright screens always on, and games that are constantly using the CPU strain the battery the most on mobile devices.
I didn’t press the battery life by roaming around a city, stressing cellular connectivity while also streaming videos and playing games. In my more casual use, the battery life on the smallest phone was adequate, but not great. If you are going to push the phone to its limits with tasks that drain battery faster than others, you may be frustrated.
I was impressed overall with the photos taken with the S22. To my eye, they were in line with the newest Pixel 6. Personally, I prefer some of the minor nuances in coloring or lighting on the latest iPhones, but they are all very close. Plus, Samsung does offer some interesting augmented reality and photo modes built into the native camera app.
Comparing the S22 Series With the iPhone 13 Pro
The iPhone 13 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.68 inches, so even people who have used that phone might feel like the S22 Ultra is too big for them in normal situations. I loved the big, bright display, but only in situations where I wasn’t rushing or I could sit and use the phone. Trying to carry it in my pocket was uncomfortable at best.
The S Pen on the S22 Ultra is a really good stylus, and having a clickable button on a small piece of plastic is amazing. I never found myself missing the pen when I wasn’t using it, though. It’s great for drawing and can work for handwriting, but I don’t do either of those things enough to warrant a built-in stylus, even if it is good. The same is true on an iPhone. I wouldn’t buy an iPhone 13 Pro Max if it came with a small Apple Pencil.
After a few weeks with two of the three new S22 series phones, I still prefer the photos that my iPhone 13 Pro takes. They’re very close and not every situation will be the same, but in general, I lean toward the photography from the latest Apple phones. Beyond that, it would be a very close toss-up between the two platforms.
Should You Buy a Galaxy S22 or S22 Ultra?
Generally speaking, the S22 Ultra is the most compelling phone because it’s the most unique with all the bells and whistles. It’s also the largest and most expensive. For anyone who needs or just really wants a stylus for drawing or doodling, you won’t be disappointed by the Ultra. The 10x optical zoom is also a fun bonus to a solid camera system.
In terms of value, however, I like S22. It’s more than capable, even providing a few extra features than the similarly priced iPhone 13. The battery life might be a little disappointing, but it shouldn’t cause buyer’s remorse. Plus, I like that Samsung has promised four years of support for these new devices. It provides a little more comfort when choosing among a worthy lineup of phones.
Buy at Samsung from $799.99.
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