Samsung Galaxy S22 evaluate: The little smartphone that could

When Samsung introduced its newest flagship collection, the Galaxy S22 Ultra were given all of the fanfare as the primary Galaxy S phone to function a integrated S Pen, a staple of the now-dead Note collection. That left the opposite fashions to linger quietly in its shadow, specifically the smallest of the 3.

It’s transparent to look why the usual fashion and Galaxy S22 Plus could be overshadowed. Compared to the S22 Ultra, those be offering reasonably minor upgrades over their predecessors, with identical however subtle designs and a few new sexy colours. But in spite of its small measurement, the bottom Galaxy S22 nonetheless has so much going for it, and if you are searching for a small however tough Android smartphone, this could be the only for you.

The Galaxy S22 includes a new processor, new digital camera sensors, a great-looking show, and a device promise that would make even the Pixel 6 jealous. But the smaller battery could really well be the Achilles heel of this flagship.

Price and availability

The Galaxy S22 used to be introduced on February 9 and used to be to be had for preorder thru February 24, with gross sales starting February 25. The phone is to be had at Samsung’s website online, quite a lot of outlets equivalent to Best Buy and Amazon, and all the absolute best wi-fi carriers within the U.S.

The Galaxy S22 retails for $800, even supposing there are many offers that can land you the phone for as little as $0. You’ll have to test with outlets or your provider for main points on how you’ll be able to get the most efficient offers.

Hardware and design

Off the bat, the Galaxy S22 has a good design. It takes after its predecessor, the Galaxy S21, and appears just about equivalent. However, Samsung has subtle the design, giving the S22 a extra angular glance. The back and front are flat slabs of glass, held in combination through a just about flat aluminum body. The impact: the Galaxy S22 appears just about like an iPhone 13, relying on the way you have a look at it, and that’s indubitably now not a foul factor.

But appears are simply a part of it. The tool feels large, as smartly. The glass at the again is frosted, so the phone is amazingly easy to touch, and also you don’t have to fret about amassing fingerprints. Of direction, you’ll be able to at all times throw on a case, however the phone feels so large that I take a look at to not when I will be able to assist it. And unusually, in spite of how easy the phone is, it doesn’t really feel in any respect slippery. I by no means felt like I used to be going to drop the phone, one thing I’ve skilled with different units prior to now, just like the in a similar way sized LG G8, which I controlled to drop (and crack) inside of days of proudly owning it. Of direction, for this reason I put on instances now, however I take it off each and every so frequently simply to get a just right really feel.

I controlled to get my fingers at the inexperienced colorway, which is actually shocking. While the respectable renders and photographs glance large, by hook or by crook, they don’t do justice to simply how wonderful this inexperienced appears. In some lighting, it sounds as if inexperienced, however view it in a distinct gentle, and the phone seems bluer. The phone is available in a couple of different colours equivalent to Phantom White, Phantom Black, and Pink Gold, to not point out the Samsung-exclusive colorways, however none as spectacular as the golf green personally.

However, it’s now not all very best, and I’ve a couple of small gripes with the design. While the phone has a tight heft that provides to the top class really feel, some might to find it a little at the heavy aspect in spite of its small stature. Initially, you would possibly not understand it, however after a while preserving the phone, my hand will begin to get uncomfortable. This could also be a adverse aspect impact of such an angular design. The edge frequently digs into my pinky finger the longer I cling the phone, which might pressure me to throw the case again on.

Also, whilst the Galaxy S22 has stereo audio system, I’ve by no means been partial to the bottom-firing speaker under the show and need extra telephones would include front-facing stereo audio system, despite the fact that that way a moderately greater chin on the backside of the show. However, the speaker audio sounds large, even supposing I like to recommend all through off Dolby Atmos if you wish to have a fuller sound.

Display

I for my part have not used a phone this small for the reason that LG G8, and coming from a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, I used to be anxious about lacking my greater show. However, in spite of the Galaxy S22 being a smaller phone, the show manages to offer a shockingly ok enjoy for me. No, it is not as massive or as sharp because the Note 20 Ultra and even the brand new Galaxy S22 Ultra, however it is a large show however.

The Galaxy S22 has a Full HD+ AMOLED 2X show with a 120Hz refresh fee. It’s now not QHD+, nevertheless it nonetheless seems moderately sharp, most definitely because of the smaller measurement, which is a method the bottom S22 one-ups the Plus. The variable refresh fee additionally manages to stay issues easy, colours are colourful even if I set the show to “herbal” mode, and it is brilliant sufficient that I would not have an issue seeing it even in direct daylight. The show reaches a top brightness of 1300 nits, 450 nits shy of the S22 Plus. That mentioned, I have never discovered that the additional brightness is even vital.

I’ve to mention, I like that the show is flat. Curved shows are frankly hectic, and it is the greatest gripe I’ve with my Note 20 Ultra. The flat show at the S22 is unusually refreshing as a result of that way not more unintended touches that would pull me out of no matter I’m doing on my phone. I’m additionally inspired through the extremely small but symmetrical bezels that, frankly, are hardly ever noticeable. Aside from the hole-punch selfie digital camera, the flat, just about bezel-less show creates an excessively immersive enjoy when gazing movies.

The show additionally properties the in-display fingerprint sensor, which goes really well. Unlike a undeniable Google phone, it’s very speedy and responsive. All in all, you received’t be dissatisfied with this show.

Software and function

The Galaxy S22 comes out of the field operating One UI 4.1 according to Android 12. There aren’t too many variations from One UI 4 with the extra .1, however there are some notable adjustments that I revel in. Firstly, the phone comes preloaded with Google Messages because the default messaging app. As partial to the app, it is a massive plus for me, and I really like that it’s designed to look like Samsung’s personal messaging app to offer it a extra local glance. Aside from that, it acts similar to the Google Messages everyone knows and love.

Other Google touches come with the Discover feed only a swipe clear of the house display screen, which I recognize. And after all, with Android 12 we’re offered to dynamic colour theming. That’s provide right here as smartly, or even allows you to follow the theme to app icons in case you’re feeling gaudy.

One function I completely love is Samsung’s Smart Widget, which helps you to create a carousel of widgets while not having to crowd your house display screen. You can swipe thru other widgets relying on what you want, or the widget will auto-rotate itself according to what could be related on the time. For instance, once I pay attention to song with the Samsung Music app, the widget will robotically display me the participant if I’ve it enabled within the carousel. It may even pop up related calendar occasions that you will have arising, which is moderately at hand. It’s more or less like Samsung’s model of the At a Glance widget at the Pixel, even supposing it’s a lot more corresponding to the Smart Stack widget on iPhones. 

I’d be remiss to not point out the reality that Samsung is promising 4 OS upgrades for the Galaxy S22 along with 5 years of safety updates. That’s severely spectacular, taking into account Google could not fit that for its newest Pixel 6. That way you’ll be able to cling onto the Galaxy S22 for years yet to come whilst nonetheless getting the newest options as much as Android 16!

Samsung already gives speedy updates for its smartphones, frequently forward of the Pixels, so the reality that it is extending its device reinforce is beautiful superior.

For essentially the most phase, the entire enjoy is usually what you will have to be expecting from a flagship Samsung smartphone, and because of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the whole thing runs very easily. I haven’t spotted any jitters whilst navigating the UI, and with simply 8GB of RAM, the Galaxy S22 turns out in an effort to deal with the rest I throw at it. I’ll frequently omit to near a large number of apps, however thankfully, the phone doesn’t appear to thoughts, even whilst enjoying a video in picture-in-picture mode whilst I’m juggling between apps or even if enjoying video games. In reality, in spite of earlier stories of throttling, the Galaxy S22 has at all times treated video games significantly better than my Pixel 6 Pro in spite of having much less RAM.

That mentioned, when enjoying graphically extensive video games like Genshin Impact, GYEE, or NieR Re[in]carnation, the phone does get moderately a little heat. That mentioned, dressed in any of the most efficient Galaxy S22 instances turns out to mitigate the problem. Still, given that Samsung has opted for a tumbler again at the base Galaxy S22, you could need to be cautious of your gaming time in this phone, particularly if you wish to make your battery final.

Battery

While my enjoy with the Galaxy S22 has been most commonly sure, I will be able to’t say I’ve been too inspired through the battery lifestyles. I get started my days beautiful early — round 5 am — and I’ll understand the phone can be on its final legs through midday. Between fees, I’ll moderate someplace round 4-ish hours of on-screen time, which isn’t implausible. I’m frequently shocked at how temporarily the phone gets down to fifteen% battery lifestyles on an afternoon of moderate use. That contains streaming on Youtube Music, juggling between social media and messaging apps, snapping a couple of photos, about part an hour of cell gaming, and light-weight swiping thru Tinder or Bumble BFF.

Granted, you could possibly squeeze out extra battery lifestyles in case you overlook some gaming or doomscrolling on Twitter, however frankly, that shouldn’t be the case. Plenty of folks gave the impression involved in battery lifestyles given the smaller 3,700mAh battery, a downgrade in comparison to the 4,000mAh battery on its predecessor. I first of all disregarded those considerations going into my evaluate, however I do see the way it’s a little problematic.

If I’m going to spend flagship cash on a smartphone, I will have to get flagship efficiency with battery lifestyles that can stay up. Instead, I haven’t been in a position to get thru a complete day on a unmarried rate in my use.

You might fare higher with the Galaxy S22 Plus, which has a bigger battery and sooner 45W charging. The Galaxy S22 fees at 25W, not anything to jot down house about in comparison to probably the most absolute best Android telephones in the marketplace, nevertheless it fees the phone rather speedy given the battery measurement. That mentioned, it could be cool to look Samsung toying with OnePlus ranges of charging speeds, no less than.

Cameras

Samsung took a moderately other method to the digital camera setup at the Galaxy S22. Instead of the attempted and true 12MP number one digital camera from its predecessor, Samsung went with a brand new 50MP sensor, able to shooting extra gentle for higher daylight and midnight images. Photos from the main sensor are just right, even supposing not anything to get too excited over. I do revel in how the digital camera reproduces colours, which seem moderately at the hotter aspect, however with various vibrance with out being oversaturated.

The 12MP ultrawide attitude digital camera manages to stay alongside of the main sensor, and photographs appear to check up well between the 2 sensors. This is sweet to look for the reason that ultrawide sensor has a tendency to be a little of an afterthought for OEMs. That mentioned, I’m now not as inspired with the 10MP telephoto sensor, which Samsung downgraded from the 64MP sensor at the S21. It’s respectable sufficient in sure scenarios, however colours do not reproduce moderately as smartly. Although you could get a just right shot from time to time if you are fortunate, the brand new telephoto lens is much less constant total.

Nighttime pictures are unusually just right, even with out Night Mode grew to become on. This applies to video as smartly, as there used to be little noise when recording in 4K in low-light stipulations.

My primary gripe with the Galaxy S22 digital camera is the time it takes between urgent the shutter button and the true symbol being captured is simply too lengthy. This can also be moderately inconvenient when seeking to seize a snappy second, with the topic frequently popping out blurry or the digital camera lacking the instant completely.

The Galaxy S22 takes decent selfies, even at simply 10MP, and I particularly just like the Portrait selfies. There’s additionally a a laugh “Director’s View” mode that allows you to preview all of the cameras concurrently and turn between them. You will also come with a window for the selfie digital camera whilst you’re recording.

Expert Raw is some other attention-grabbing function in Samsung’s digital camera arsenal, one thing for customers that love to in point of fact take keep watch over in their images settings as a substitute of depending on AI. I haven’t performed round with it a lot as a result of It’s not that i am a grasp photographer, however it sort of feels eager about shooting simplest RAW photographs and has a fab shortcut to Adobe Lightroom so you’ll be able to edit conveniently.

Competition

If you are searching for an “entry-level” flagship phone, the Google Pixel 6 is a wonderful position to start out. It is available in a couple of hundred greenbacks inexpensive than the Galaxy S22 and makes use of the rapid Google Tensor, Google’s first flagship chipset. It additionally will get large device reinforce from Google, even supposing not so good as the Galaxy S22, and the digital camera could also be massively stepped forward from its predecessors — and significantly better than the Galaxy S22. Plus, you’ll be able to be some of the first to take a look at out the newest device options from Google. Still, Samsung is not any slouch with updates, and you’ll be able to get simply as a lot out of the Galaxy ecosystem as you are going to out of a Pixel, in addition to a extra constant UI and arguably much less buggy enjoy. I’d counsel the Galaxy sooner than a Pixel any day.

Even despite the fact that the OnePlus 10 is at the means, we nonetheless counsel the OnePlus 9. It has a good set of cameras, a flagship chipset for quick efficiency, and an out of this world design. Plus, OxygenOS comes with various helpful device additions to in point of fact get the most efficient out of the phone, and it has a far greater battery than the Galaxy S22. You can simply to find the OnePlus 9 at a good value, rivaling even the Pixel 6. However, Samsung turns out to do a greater task with device reinforce, one thing that has been troubling OnePlus in recent times.

It turns out blasphemous to mention, however the entry-level iPhone 13 is a brilliant phone for any person browsing to make the transfer to the darkish aspect. Thanks to its flat show and flat body, the design is moderately acquainted to the Galaxy S22. It additionally comes with a good set of cameras, even supposing you’ll be able to get one much less digital camera lens than the Galaxy S22 until you spring for the costlier Pro fashion. Of direction, that’s simplest if you are taking into account making the transfer. If you persist with Android and are searching for a small, pocketable flagship, the Galaxy S22 is methods to cross, because of Samsung increase its Galaxy ecosystem at virtually Apple-like ranges.

Should you purchase it?

You will have to purchase this if…

• You need a flagship with the newest Snapdragon chipset
• You favor smaller telephones that can have compatibility on your hand or pocket
• You do not care about expandable garage

You mustn’t purchase this if…

• You like massive shows
• You do not need to fear about charging your phone frequently
• You completely want microSD card reinforce

The base line with the bébé Galaxy S22 is that large issues are available in small programs. While now not packing essentially the most spectacular specifications, it manages to offer very good efficiency that will have to be greater than sufficient for any person fascinated by a smaller flagship smartphone.

Not an excessive amount of has modified between the Galaxy S22 and its predecessor, particularly referring to design, however that’s ok. Samsung selected to release the Galaxy S22 as a refinement of an already very good smartphone, and that presentations in each the design and the cameras, which give very good output. And because of the prolonged device reinforce, Samsung is banking on you proudly owning the Galaxy S22 for years yet to come.

Of direction, battery lifestyles is one thing to believe if you are making plans on making this your day-to-day driving force. Samsung interestingly made up our minds to decrease the battery capability at the S22, and in spite of the extra environment friendly chipset and smaller show, battery lifestyles isn’t this phone’s sturdy level. Users might need to believe that if they are browsing to shop for a brand new phone. Additionally, there is no microSD reinforce right here, so you could need to spring for the costlier 256GB variant.

That mentioned, if you’ll be able to get previous the battery considerations and the loss of expandable garage, I to find the Galaxy S22 to be a lovely cast smartphone.