The Samsung Galaxy S22 is the compact model of the 2022 Galaxy S lineup. Samsung announced it on February 9, 2022, and sales began on February 25, 2022. In the US, it started at $799.99 with 128 GB of storage. In Germany, the launch price was €849. The phone has since been discontinued, and the Galaxy S23 replaced it.
Design and display
The Galaxy S22 has a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with a 2340 x 1080 resolution. The refresh rate adapts between 48 Hz and 120 Hz. Samsung rates peak brightness at 1,300 nits. Gorilla Glass Victus+ covers the front and back, and the frame is Armor Aluminum.
The phone measures 146.0 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm and weighs 168 g. It carries an IP68 rating for water and dust. The core colors were Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, and Pink Gold. Samsung.com also sold four online-exclusive colors in select markets: Graphite, Cream, Sky Blue, and Violet. Bora Purple joined the range in July 2022.
Performance
In the US and many other markets, the Galaxy S22 uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. European models use the Exynos 2200 instead. Both chips are built on a 4 nm process. Every version has 8 GB of RAM with 128 GB or 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. There is no microSD card slot.
Cameras
The rear camera system has three lenses. The main camera uses a 50 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and optical stabilization. A 12 MP ultra-wide camera covers a 120-degree field of view. The 10 MP telephoto camera offers 3x optical zoom and also has OIS.
The front camera has 10 MP and an f/2.2 lens. Rear video recording goes up to 8K at 24 fps.
Battery and charging
The battery has a typical capacity of 3,700 mAh. Wired charging tops out at 25 W, while wireless charging reaches 15 W. The phone can also share power with other devices through Wireless PowerShare. Samsung does not include a charger in the box.
Software and updates
The Galaxy S22 launched with Android 12 and One UI 4.1. Samsung promised four Android upgrades and five years of security updates. The One UI 8 update, based on Android 16, was its last major OS upgrade.
Other features include an ultrasonic fingerprint reader under the display, stereo speakers, NFC, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2. There is no headphone jack.
Should you buy the Galaxy S22?
The Galaxy S22 suits buyers who want a small phone with a telephoto camera and a bright screen. However, Samsung no longer produces it, and its OS upgrades have ended. Security updates continue for a limited time. Buyers who want longer software support should look at the Galaxy S23 or newer models.
