{"id":16606,"date":"2022-02-25T13:14:08","date_gmt":"2022-02-25T13:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/25\/samsung-galaxy-s22-and-s22-review-excellent-isnt-enough-anymore\/"},"modified":"2022-02-25T13:14:08","modified_gmt":"2022-02-25T13:14:08","slug":"samsung-galaxy-s22-and-s22-review-excellent-isnt-enough-anymore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/25\/samsung-galaxy-s22-and-s22-review-excellent-isnt-enough-anymore\/","title":{"rendered":"Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+ Review: Excellent isn\u2019t enough anymore"},"content":{"rendered":"

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When Samsung unveiled its latest Galaxy S phones, the S22 Ultra<\/a> stole the show. It\u2019s not hard to see why \u2013 the Ultra is a new Galaxy Note in everything but name. However, Samsung\u2019s Galaxy S22 and S22+ are also impressive, even if they are largely iterative over last year\u2019s S21<\/a> and S21+<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sporting a slight redesign and a minor spec bump, the S22 and S22+ feel refined where the predecessors felt rough. So far, my experience has been mostly excellent with the two phones. As a long-time Pixel user, for the first time in a long time, I\u2019m not looking forward to switching from a Samsung phone back to my Google phone.<\/p>\n

That said, the Galaxy S22 and S22+ are not perfect. I\u2019ve had some issues with software and performance \u2013 nothing I\u2019d consider to be a deal-breaker, but problems worth keeping in mind. Ultimately, those who use (and like) the modern Samsung smartphone experience will thoroughly enjoy the S22 series. If you\u2019ve avoided Samsung phones because of software concerns, the S22 and S22+ improve (but don\u2019t eliminate) those issues.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, if you have an Android smartphone released anytime in the last few years, there\u2019s a good chance the S22 series won\u2019t offer anything to make the cost of upgrading worth it.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in reading about the Galaxy S22 Ultra, check out the full MobileSyrup review here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Specs<\/h2>\n

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Before we get into the review, I want to make note that this review covers both the Galaxy S22 and S22+ because the phones are nearly identical. Beyond the size of the devices, screens, and battery, there is very little difference between the two smartphones. With that in mind, almost everything that follows in this review applies to both phones (and I\u2019ll specify on the rare occasions things do differ). Below, you can find a spec comparison between the S22, S22+, S21 and S21+:<\/p>\n

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6.1-inch Flat Dynamic AMOLED, 1,080 x 2,400 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz display, HDR10+, 240Hz Touch Sampling in Games<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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6.2-inch Flat Dynamic AMOLED, 1,080 x 2,400 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz display, HDR10+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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6.6-inch Flat Dynamic AMOLED, 1,080 x 2,400 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz display, HDR10+, 240Hz Touch Sampling in Games<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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6.7-inch Flat Dynamic AMOLED, 1,080 x 2,400 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz display, HDR10+<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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50-megapixel (f\/1.8, wide) + 10-megapixel (f\/2.4, 3x zoom) + 12-megapixel (f\/2.2, 120-degree FOV, ultrawide)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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12-megapixel (f\/1.8, wide) + 64-megapixel (f\/2.0, 3x zoom) + 12-megapixel (f\/2.2, 120-degree FOV, ultrawide)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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50-megapixel (f\/1.8, wide) + 10-megapixel (f\/2.4, 3x zoom) + 12-megapixel (f\/2.2, 120-degree FOV, ultrawide)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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12-megapixel (f\/1.8, wide) + 64-megapixel (f\/2.0, 3x zoom) + 12-megapixel (f\/2.2, 120-degree FOV, ultrawide)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Colours: \u2018Phantom Black,\u2019 \u2018Phantom White,\u2019 \u2018Green\u2019 and \u2018Pink Gold\u2019 as well as Samsung exclusive colours \u2018Gray,\u2019 \u2018Cream,\u2019 \u2018Violet\u2019 and \u2018Light Blue.\u2019 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Colours: Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Pink, Phantom Violet <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Colours: \u2018Phantom Black,\u2019 \u2018Phantom White,\u2019 \u2018Green\u2019 and \u2018Pink Gold\u2019 as well as Samsung exclusive colours \u2018Gray,\u2019 \u2018Cream,\u2019 \u2018Violet\u2019 and \u2018Light Blue.\u2019 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Colours: Phantom Silver, Phantom Black, Phantom Violet, ultra wideband <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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6.1-inch Flat Dynamic AMOLED, 1,080 x 2,400 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz display, HDR10+, 240Hz Touch Sampling in Games<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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6.2-inch Flat Dynamic AMOLED, 1,080 x 2,400 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz display, HDR10+<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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6.6-inch Flat Dynamic AMOLED, 1,080 x 2,400 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz display, HDR10+, 240Hz Touch Sampling in Games<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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6.7-inch Flat Dynamic AMOLED, 1,080 x 2,400 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz display, HDR10+<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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50-megapixel (f\/1.8, wide) + 10-megapixel (f\/2.4, 3x zoom) + 12-megapixel (f\/2.2, 120-degree FOV, ultrawide)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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12-megapixel (f\/1.8, wide) + 64-megapixel (f\/2.0, 3x zoom) + 12-megapixel (f\/2.2, 120-degree FOV, ultrawide)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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50-megapixel (f\/1.8, wide) + 10-megapixel (f\/2.4, 3x zoom) + 12-megapixel (f\/2.2, 120-degree FOV, ultrawide)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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12-megapixel (f\/1.8, wide) + 64-megapixel (f\/2.0, 3x zoom) + 12-megapixel (f\/2.2, 120-degree FOV, ultrawide)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Colours: \u2018Phantom Black,\u2019 \u2018Phantom White,\u2019 \u2018Green\u2019 and \u2018Pink Gold\u2019 as well as Samsung exclusive colours \u2018Gray,\u2019 \u2018Cream,\u2019 \u2018Violet\u2019 and \u2018Light Blue.\u2019 <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Colours: Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Pink, Phantom Violet <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Colours: \u2018Phantom Black,\u2019 \u2018Phantom White,\u2019 \u2018Green\u2019 and \u2018Pink Gold\u2019 as well as Samsung exclusive colours \u2018Gray,\u2019 \u2018Cream,\u2019 \u2018Violet\u2019 and \u2018Light Blue.\u2019 <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Colours: Phantom Silver, Phantom Black, Phantom Violet, ultra wideband <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Best-feeling Samsung phone I\u2019ve ever held<\/h2>\n

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Love it or hate it, the biggest design change with the S22 series compared to the S21 line is the squared-off edges. I fall squarely (pardon the pun) in the \u2018love it\u2019 camp, but I understand why some people won\u2019t. The squared edges can be uncomfortable when holding the phone, but I find Samsung generally nailed the feel. The S22 series never felt slippery to me \u2013 I had no qualms using the phones without a case, unlike some of the more slippery options out there (I\u2019m looking at you, Pixel 6<\/a>). I wouldn\u2019t recommend going case-less \u2013 but if you want to, I think you can with the S22 and S22+.<\/p>\n

The matte glass back panel really helps with this. As far as I\u2019m concerned, every phone should have a grippy matte finish on the rear. Although I preferred the smaller S22 (I am one of the few who still likes smaller devices), the grippiness was enough that I felt comfortable using the larger S22+ as well. Aside from helping the grip, it also makes the phones feel much more premium.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the frustrating button placement from the S21 line returns this year, with the power button residing below the volume rocker. A minor gripe, truthfully, but it took me a while to stop hitting the volume button whenever I wanted to turn on the phone. An easy solution, if Samsung\u2019s committed to the button placement, would be to add a texture to the power button so it\u2019s easier to find by feel.<\/p>\n

The unique camera bump also remains a frustration. I love how it looks, but I keep hitting it with my finger when holding the phone in my right hand (especially on the smaller S22 since there\u2019s less vertical space). It feels really uncomfortable \u2013 I swear Samsung made the edge of the bump sharper this year.<\/p>\n

Faster, but not by much<\/h2>\n

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We already detailed the odd performance situation with the S22, S22+ and S22 Ultra in a separate article<\/a>, but I\u2019ll reiterate the main points here. The S22 series sports Qualcomm\u2019s latest flagship chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1<\/a>. In benchmark tests, all the phones performed well but did not score noticeably higher than last year\u2019s Snapdragon 888<\/a>-equipped S21 Ultra<\/a>. Moreover, some of the phones actually performed worse than the S21 Ultra.<\/p>\n