There is very little time left before Samsung's big presentation; the announcement of Galaxy Unpacked 2022 is scheduled for February 9. It was not possible to keep the characteristics of the new Galaxy S22 secret before the event, so we are sharing what is already known.
Illustration: Svetlana Chuvileva / Wylsacom Media
Previously, Ilya Kichaev spoke in detail about the flagship S22 Ultra:
Official photos and specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra appeared online
Ilya Kichaev
19 January 2022
We meet by clothes
Let's start with the Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+. At first glance at the devices, you can see that they have become a little thinner and wider, but have not undergone any major changes in design compared to the S21 and S21+. If you still need a compact, uncompromising flagship, then this is not an iPhone, but the Samsung Galaxy S22.
Both the S22, the S22+, and the S22 Ultra, which we will return to later, received a new generation of protective glass called Gorilla Glass Victus+. Pleasant frosted glass with a special nano-coating covers the new items both front and back. In addition to protection against scratches, Samsung promises greater resistance to impacts when smartphones are dropped.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra is also visually similar to the previous generation flagship, but there are a number of important changes. For example, there is no “island” for the camera block; only the lens caps protrude slightly above the cover. But the main thing is the built-in S Pen stylus, which, like in the Galaxy Note, is inserted into a special groove inside the smartphone. In the new S22 Ultra, this is a real working tool - fast, responsive, convenient. Essentially, a full-fledged pencil or pen, only electronic.
As befits flagships, the entire trio of Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+ are reliably protected from dust and moisture according to the IP68 standard. You don’t have to be afraid to immerse your smartphone in a pool or, for example, get caught in a downpour with a gadget in your hand.
Performance
Most likely, the Exynos 2200 single-chip system will be used as the SoC for Europe and Asia. The chipset is being developed simultaneously for laptops and the mobile platform. Sources claim that in conjunction with the AMD Radeon graphics accelerator, gaming performance compared to the Exynos 2100 has improved by 2.5 times, surpassing even the Apple A14 in test results.
The amount of RAM in various modifications of the Samsung Galaxy S22 will be from 8 to 12 MB. But the permanent storage, even in the older model, will hardly be more than 512 MB, and in the basic version you can choose between 128 and 256 GB. At the same time, the presence of a slot for micro-SD is again not planned. So music lovers and movie lovers will have to get used to using cloud storage.
Some of the best displays
The Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+ have some of the best smartphone displays. The screens of the new products use the well-proven Dynamic AMOLED 2X matrix.
One of the key features is the adaptive screen refresh rate up to 120 Hz for fantastic smoothness when working with applications and saving energy in scenarios where ultra-high frequencies are not required. For younger models, the Hertz frequency varies from 24 to 120 Hz, for the S22 Ultra - in the range from 1 Hz to 120 Hz.
In combination with powerful modern hardware, when working with any of these smartphones, you will not see any stuttering - exceptionally fast and smooth animations, as it should be.
In terms of diagonals and resolutions, the layout was as follows. Samsung Galaxy S22 has the most compact 6.1-inch screen with Full HD+ resolution, S22 has a 6.6-inch display (also FHD+), but the Ultra is perhaps the most fantastic screen.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is equipped with a WQHD+ display with a resolution of 3088x1440 pixels. Moreover, at maximum resolution, the device is capable of producing the maximum Hertz frequency – an honest 120 Hz! And the S22 Ultra screen demonstrates a brightness level unattainable even for Apple smartphones – 1750 nits outdoors in automatic mode versus 1200 for the iPhone 12 Pro in HDR mode. Add to this the impressive contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1, and you have a practically reference smartphone screen that you won't be able to take your eyes off of!
As for other “on-screen” features, the Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+ and S22 Ultra boast support for HDR10+ and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color range.
Shiny cameras
The Galaxy S22 Ultra's camera system is a truly unique package for all occasions. Every frame you capture with the S22 Ultra is a masterpiece. Even in the dark.
We owe the best camera in Galaxy history to the 108 megapixel module - excellent color rendition, detail that would be the envy of many professional cameras, large pixels (1.23 times compared to the previous generation), allowing you to take clear photographs with a sufficient level of detail even in semi-darkness.
The ultra-wide-angle module with a 12 MP Dual Pixel sensor on the Galaxy S22 Ultra also turned out to be quite decent - it has a 120-degree capture angle, f/2.2 aperture, and also autofocus, which is rare by the standards of ultrawide modules.
To implement optical zoom, two lenses were added to the Galaxy S22 Ultra - one allows you to honestly zoom in on an object by 3 times, the second boasts 10x optical zoom. And taking into account the hybrid intelligent zoom, we even get 100x zoom! Here they are, the wonders of mobile photography!
What else can “Ultra” surprise? For example, accurate laser autofocus and the presence of an optical stabilizer in all lenses except ultra-wide.
The cameras on the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ are a little simpler, but also damn good. The main 50 megapixel module is complemented by optics with f/1.8 aperture. In real life you will hardly feel a lack of detail - the pixels are quite large, there is optical stabilization, there are no problems with color rendition and dynamic range.
There is also a 12 megapixel ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture and a viewing angle of 120 degrees, but autofocus was not included in the younger models. The triple telephoto camera has a 10 megapixel matrix, an f/2.4 lens and an optical stabilization system. In general, a standard gentleman's set that does not raise any questions.
In combination with a new powerful neuromodule, cool optics and an incredibly fast processor, Samsung engineers managed to take the photo and video capabilities of gadgets to a fundamentally new level. All new products have learned to more accurately blur the background in portrait mode, produce good detail in night photos, and also shoot incredibly smooth and stable video in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second - all the power of the hardware is used and the system, in addition to effective optical stabilization, also includes digital stabilization. The result is clear and smooth footage without shaking, as if the shooting was done on some modern action camera!
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G specifications, review, reviews, comparisons, release date
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the highly anticipated smartphone of 2022. It is quite powerful and is equipped with a bunch of modern functions worthy of people for whom a flagship is the only solution. The model has a built-in stylus, solid dimensions and top-end hardware capabilities. It's sure to be one of the best smartphones of the year - all you have to do is find out why it deserves your attention.
Firstly, the S Pen stylus is much more responsive. The South Korean company did it 70% faster than before. The display is even brighter and has a maximum brightness of 1750 nits. Let's give you another figure - 45W. Now you have faster charging - in just 20 minutes you will have a new 50% battery.
However, the biggest changes are with the cameras. The goal is to surpass the level of the iPhone 13 Pro Max and Google Pixel 6 Pro, which are famous for their photography capabilities. Among the innovations we see a huge base sensor for better low-light photos, as well as artificial intelligence in portrait mode. There are also new Super Clean lenses.
Design
The appearance of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is as clean as possible, but impressive. Sharp lines and non-standard angles create the feeling of a modern device as such; the designers’ desire for minimalism is noticeable. An additional plus is the smoothly curved 6.8-inch display.
The device itself is durable and maximally protected. Gorilla Glas Victus+ safety glasses are used on the back and front. The heavy-duty aluminum frame encloses the entire device.
The minimalist look is emphasized by the skillful selection of colors. Among the colors offered by Samsung, everyone will find their favorite - white, green, black, purple and others.
Display
One of the reasons to buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is its beautiful and large 6.8-inch display. It supports a dynamic refresh rate of 120Hz, which promises smooth visuals and maximum satisfaction when watching movies, playing games and surfing the Internet.
There are two standout innovations. Firstly, it has a maximum brightness of 1750 nits. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a screen that's brighter than ever. For comparison, the standard figure is 1250 nits and is again considered high.
Another plus is the Vision Booster function, which adjusts the screen brightness every minute. This means that with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in your hands, you can easily handle it even on the sunniest summer day.
Compared to the Pixel 6 Pro, Samsung's new flagship offers brighter and more colorful images in sunlight. The rating is also excellent in terms of viewing angles - you can watch your favorite movies from any angle. The image will not be distorted.
S Pen stylus
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has the smoothest S Pen the company has ever offered. It's super responsive and much faster. In addition, artificial intelligence is involved in its work, which predicts the movements of your hand. It makes writing smooth and fluid. It feels like you are writing on paper. For convenience, the stylus is placed in the smartphone itself so that it is always at hand.
The S Pen has several improvements, including a more precise stylus experience and the ability to quickly save notes in Microsoft Office documents.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is one of the first phones to be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, a 4nm chip that delivers better performance and graphics. At the same time, you get better energy efficiency. For Europe, the smartphone comes with a 4nm Exynos 2200 chipset. It comes with 8GB or 12GB of RAM. All processes are smooth and very fast. Tests show superior speeds and comparable results to the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The flagship is available in several versions - with 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB of storage. For unknown reasons, the manufacturer did not offer the option of enlarging using a microSD card. So think carefully about what to choose.
Among the advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, support for Wi-Fi 6E should be noted.
In terms of software, you should know that the device runs on Android 12 and One UI 4.1. The interface is more intuitive than ever, and you have new secret places for personal documents.
Cameras
South Koreans have credited the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with great reliability when it comes to photography capabilities. The smartphone is equipped with a set of advanced cameras and an interesting combination of functions and shooting modes. Super Clear Glass lenses ensure you create videos with minimal glare at night. You also get a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens and a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom.
For flagship photo quality, Samsung uses adaptive pixel technology that combines 9 pixels into one. The result is visible in night shots - they are better, less noise, more details and colors.
The 10x zoom helps you capture distant objects without blur or loss of detail. You won't get exactly the same results with a 30x zoom. With it, the frames look more like watercolor painting.
The front camera has an impressively large 108 MP lens. With it you will capture more details, even individual hairs in one strand. The night mode deserves special attention - it is capable of creating a high-quality shot even in complete darkness.
Other highlights in the camera menu are the Auto Framing option (recognizes up to 10 objects) and the Expert RAW app - for those who want more control over the photos they take.
Autonomous operation
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a larger battery compared to other flagships on display. Its capacity is 5000 mAh and, according to Samsung, it can power you around the clock under standard load. In order for the new 100% to charge faster, the company has provided a 45 W fast charging function. Compared to the Galaxy S21 Ultra, we see significant progress - it received only 25 W. If you're in a hurry and don't have time to fully charge your Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra battery, no problem! In just 20 minutes you will be 50% charged. Please note, however, that the charger is not included in the package. You will have to pay extra for this.
Interesting Features and Functions
DeX mode allows you to turn your smartphone into a pocket computer. You connect it to your monitor or TV, add a wireless mouse and keyboard, and you have a ready-made device. All files will be at hand.
Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a flagship that inspires admiration for its sophisticated appearance and minimalism. It is a worthy successor to the series and will be a desirable acquisition for many. Especially given the built-in stylus and the emphasis on improved camera capabilities. The only obstacle to its mass purchase is the high price. However, this is justified. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has an ideal picture, supports fast charging and vice versa and wireless communication. It has everything you need to give you the best experience while watching movies, making video calls, using various apps and using its new features. The performance reserve of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is so great that it will serve you for many years.
3 reasons to buy Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Every smartphone has several components that determine its price. In addition to the processor, RAM, it is also a display, and that of the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the pinnacle of technology. At the time of its appearance on the market it has no direct competitors. From the first minutes of working with the device you will feel the difference.
The second reason is design. This flagship visually delights with its beauty. Satin glass is stronger and does not attract fingerprints. The back panel is shaped in such a way that the device is immediately memorable. It is also made from high quality raw materials.
Thirdly, this flagship has an interesting set of cameras. It can offer perfect photos, regardless of the conditions in which they were taken. People with creative inclinations have no alternative product on the market.
Batteries and battery life
The Galaxy S22 Ultra received the most capacious 5,000 mAh battery. In combination with an energy-efficient processor and an adaptive screen refresh rate, when actively using the smartphone, one full charge will last you a full day, and with moderate use, it will last for two days. Not a revolution, but quite adequate by modern standards for a flagship.
The Galaxy S22+ was equipped with a 4,500 mAh battery – a slightly more modest, but quite logical result given the positioning – and a screen with a lower resolution. Don't forget that the S22 Ultra has a WQHD+ screen with a resolution of 3088x1440 versus Full HD+ on the S22 and S22+. Thus, you will also get a day of battery life without the need for constant recharging.
But the younger model has a much more modest battery, the capacity of which is 3,700 mAh. However, depending on what you compare it to, the iPhone 13 Pro received an even more modest battery – 3095 mAh. So the new generation of Samsung smartphones confidently outperforms the latest iPhones in terms of battery capacity.
