Samsung Galaxy S22+ review
The Samsung Galaxy S22 lineup features the regular S22 model as its most compact flagship. Unlike previous models, the S22 doesn't break the mold with significant innovations, instead opting for consistency. Despite this, it still offers an impressive package. The phone's design is similar to last year's S21 but is slightly smaller and easier to handle. It features a 6.1-inch AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution, fast 120Hz refresh rate, and IP68 water and dust resistance. The screen is sharp and contrasty, although not as advanced as the Plus or Ultra models. The S22's performance is top-notch, thanks to its high-end four-nanometer chipset. Battery life, however, is unimpressive, with a smaller capacity than last year's model. Charging speeds are still respectable, though. The camera system delivers excellent results across all modes, including night mode and video recording. Portraits from the main camera are exceptional, with spot-on subject separation, while telephoto shots have impressive sharpness and detail. Low-light performance is also commendable, especially when using Night mode. 4K footage from the main camera is flagship-grade, with great detail and dynamic range. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S22 offers a solid compact Android flagship experience. While it may not feature groundbreaking innovations or massive upgrades over its predecessor, its performance, cameras, and software support make it a worthwhile recommendation for those seeking a premium mid-size smartphone.
Build Quality and Design
The Samsung Galaxy S22+ boasts a premium design that is sure to turn heads. While it may seem like a repeat of last year's model, the subtle tweaks are noticeable. The compact size makes it easy to wield in one hand, and the Gorilla Glass Victus+ back panel provides a satisfying grip. One of the notable changes from the previous S21 model is the use of Armor Aluminum for the frame, which adds a touch of sophistication to the overall design. The phone's IP68 rating ensures that it can withstand accidental splashes or drops in water. The 6.1-inch AMOLED display is a stunning feature, with a crisp 1080p resolution and a fast 120Hz refresh rate. The screen looks sharp and vibrant, with great contrast and color accuracy, making it perfect for gaming, video streaming, or simply browsing the web. Build quality-wise, the Galaxy S22+ feels solid and well-made, with a seamless integration of the various components. The phone's edges are smoothly curved, providing a comfortable fit in the hand. Overall, the design is sleek and premium, making it a joy to hold and use on a daily basis. While there may not be any revolutionary changes from last year's model, the subtle refinements and attention to detail make the Galaxy S22+ a compelling choice for those seeking a compact Android flagship. The phone's premium build quality, combined with its impressive display and feature set, make it a solid recommendation for anyone looking for a high-end smartphone experience.
Battery Life
While the Samsung Galaxy S22 is an excellent compact flagship phone, its battery life is a major letdown. With a capacity of 3,700mAh, which is smaller than last year's model, the S22 falls short in providing a day's worth of usage. In our tests, the phone scored an endurance rating of 85 hours, which is unimpressive considering its size and power consumption. Heavy users will likely find themselves needing to top up the battery mid-day, making it less convenient for those who rely on their phone throughout the day. Charging speed is decent, with the phone going from zero to around sixty percent in half an hour using Samsung's 25 watt adapter. However, this doesn't make up for the poor battery life. If you're someone who uses your phone extensively throughout the day, you may want to consider a phone with a larger battery capacity or more efficient power consumption. For casual users, the S22 should still provide enough juice to get through the day, but it's not ideal. Overall, while the Samsung Galaxy S22 is an excellent compact flagship phone in many ways, its disappointing battery life is a major drawback that may deter some potential buyers.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy S22 boasts a compact and premium design, but what truly stands out is its stunning display. Measuring 6.1 inches diagonally, the flat AMOLED screen features a 1080p resolution, making it ideal for everyday use. One of the standout features of the S22's display is its fast 120Hz refresh rate. This provides a silky-smooth visual experience, perfect for gaming and multimedia consumption. The refresh rate is adaptive, meaning it adjusts based on your activity to save energy – a thoughtful touch that ensures optimal performance. The screen itself is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+, which not only adds durability but also contributes to the display's overall brightness. With max brightness reaching almost 760 nits in manual mode and up to 800 nits when auto-adjusting, the S22's display excels in bright environments. Color accuracy is another area where the S22 shines. The screen produces vibrant colors that are faithful to their natural tones, making it perfect for content creators or anyone who values visual fidelity. In terms of overall display quality, the Samsung Galaxy S22 delivers a top-notch experience. It offers an excellent balance between brightness, color accuracy, and refresh rate, making it suitable for a wide range of users. Whether you're watching movies, browsing through photos, or gaming on the go, this device's display won't disappoint. While not revolutionary in terms of innovation, the S22's display is a testament to Samsung's continued commitment to delivering high-quality visual experiences. With its impressive specs and durable construction, it's an excellent choice for anyone seeking a premium smartphone with a standout display.
Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S22 boasts an impressive camera setup, identical to its plus model counterpart. At the heart of this camera system is a 50-megapixel primary sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). This main camera produces excellent photos with plenty of detail and well-balanced colors. The dynamic range is also stellar, capturing both bright highlights and dark shadows with ease. However, there are some minor drawbacks to note. The main camera can sometimes appear soft, particularly in darker areas or when zooming in. Over-sharpening is another issue that can be noticed in certain situations. Nonetheless, the Detail Enhancer mode within the 50-megapixel resolution offers additional detail without compromising overall quality. The telephoto camera, boasting a 10-megapixel sensor, excels at capturing three times zoom photos with impressive sharpness and detail. These photos are slightly upscaled from their native 10-megapixels, but they still offer excellent quality. While portraits taken with the main camera or telephoto camera are top-notch, those captured by the latter appear softer. The ultrawide camera provides solid results for this type of lens, with reasonably sharp and detailed images that don't suffer from over-sharpening or aggressive noise reduction. Colors from the ultrawide camera match closely to those of the other two cameras. Low-light performance is another area where the Galaxy S22 excels. The main camera's performance in dim conditions is excellent, with a high level of detail and great dynamic range. Noise levels are kept low, and turning on Night mode results in a more balanced exposure with better contained highlights. In contrast, the telephoto camera performs well in low light when using Night mode, but can appear soft at times. The ultrawide camera struggles with noise and low-light performance, but still manages to capture sufficient detail. The 10-megapixel front-facing camera produces impressive selfies with good sharpness and detail, as well as wide dynamic range. Autofocus is also quite consistent, although it would be great if the colors matched those of the other cameras better. In terms of video recording, the Galaxy S22 delivers top-notch results across all its cameras. The main camera's 4K footage boasts excellent detail and sharpness, with true-to-life colors and nice dynamic range. Zoomed 4K videos from the telephoto camera are equally impressive, offering a very clean look with plenty of sharpness and detail. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S22's camera system is solid and reliable, capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos in various conditions. While it may not offer any groundbreaking innovations, its excellent performance makes it a great choice for those seeking a compact and premium Android smartphone experience.
Price and Value
The Samsung Galaxy S22 is the compact flagship option in this year's lineup, and while it may not bring any groundbreaking innovations, it still offers an impressive package at a reasonable price. As we delve into the details, it becomes clear that consistency rather than creativity has been the driving force behind its design. With a starting price of [insert price], the Galaxy S22 is positioned as the most affordable option in the series, yet it doesn't feel like a compromise on quality. The design is sleek and premium, with a 6.1-inch AMOLED display that boasts a 1080p resolution and a fast 120Hz refresh rate. While not the best on the market, it's still competitive and offers great color accuracy. Inside, you'll find a high-end chipset that provides smooth performance, making it suitable for everyday use. The cameras are also impressive, with excellent detail and dynamic range in good lighting conditions. However, low-light performance is where they fall short, although night mode can help to some extent. In terms of value, the Galaxy S22 offers a great balance between price and features. While it may not be the cheapest option on the market, its price is still competitive considering what you get. The lack of major innovations might make it feel like last year's model, but for those who want a solid compact Android flagship without breaking the bank, this is a great choice. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S22 is a reliable and feature-packed smartphone that justifies its price. While it may not be the most exciting option on the market, its consistency and value make it a compelling choice for anyone looking for a compact Android device.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S22 is powered by one of two high-end four nanometer chipsets, either the Snapdragon 888 or the Exynos 2200, depending on the market. Our review unit features the Exynos variant, which boasts a different GPU, created in collaboration with AMD. In benchmarks, the Galaxy S22 delivers flagship-grade performance, surpassing last year's model and even matching the numbers from the S22+ and S22 Ultra. This is thanks to performance-based updates rolled out by Samsung since then. The device handles gaming and heavy tasks without any issues. However, in our stress test, we did notice some thermal throttling, which can lead to stuttering in demanding scenarios. Nevertheless, this phenomenon occurs gradually, allowing the phone to minimize such occurrences. In terms of overall performance, the Galaxy S22 excels, with seamless navigation, snappy app launching, and efficient multitasking. The device's processor handles complex tasks with ease, making it an ideal choice for those who need a powerful Android smartphone. With its robust performance, the Galaxy S22 can easily handle demanding applications, such as video editing software, 3D games, and more. Its ability to provide seamless performance even in resource-intensive scenarios makes it a great option for users who want a reliable device that can keep up with their needs. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S22's performance is a significant strength of the device, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a high-end Android smartphone.