Is the Galaxy S22 worth buying? No, the Galaxy S22 is not worth buying — at least, not yet. All three Galaxy S22 models are phenomenal, and undoubtedly the best phones Samsung has ever made. But they’re not that different from the last year’s phones, despite costing nearly twice as much as a gently used S21. Do yourself (and your wallet) a favor, and get a cheap Galaxy S21 on Swappa instead.
After a year of eager anticipation, Samsung’s next new Galaxy phone is finally here. Samsung announced their latest flagship at the Unpacked event on February 9, 2022 – and the Galaxy S22 release date is locked in for February 25.
Samsung upped the ante in several key areas, including a faster processor, improved camera tech, and more. But is the Galaxy S22 worth the upgrade, or are you better off saving money on a cheap Galaxy S21 instead? Keep reading to find out!
Galaxy S22 Specs and Features
Samsung launched three phones this year: Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. The first two are shockingly similar in design and features to last year’s S21 and S21 Plus – whereas the S22 Ultra is essentially a reincarnation of the Galaxy Note.
| Galaxy S22 | Galaxy S22 Plus | Galaxy S22 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X 48-120 Hz refresh 1300 nits peak brightness | 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X 48-120 Hz refresh 1750 nits peak brightness | 6.8” Dynamic AMOLED (LTPO) 1-120 Hz refresh rate 1750 nits peak S-Pen |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 (425ppi) | 1080 x 2340 (393ppi) | 1440 x 3088 (500ppi) |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB, 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Camera | Wide: 50MP, f/1.8, 24mm Telephoto: 10MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2, 13mm Selfie: 10MP, f/2.2, 26mm | Wide: 50MP, f/1.8, 24mm Telephoto: 10MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2, 13mm Selfie: 10MP, f/2.2, 26mm | Wide: 108MP, f/1.8, 24mm Telephoto 1: 10MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom Telephoto 2: 10MP, f/4.9, 10x periscope zoom Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2, 13mm Selfie: 40MP, f/2.2, 26mm |
| Battery | 3700 mAh 25W Fast charge 15W Fast Qi wireless 4.5W Reverse charge | 4500 mAh 45W Fast charge 15W Fast Qi wireless 4.5W Reverse charge | 5000 mAh 45W Fast charge 15W Fast Qi wireless 4.5W Reverse charge |
| Colors | Phantom Black, White, Cream, Graphite, Green, Pink Gold, Sky Blue, Violet | Phantom Black, White, Cream, Graphite, Green, Pink Gold, Sky Blue, Violet | Phantom Black, White, Burgundy, Graphite, Green, Red, Sky Blue |
| MSRP | $799.99 | $999.99 | $1199.99 |
The entire Galaxy S22 lineup is built on shared DNA. All three models are powered by Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, built on state-of-the-art 4nm lithography for excellent performance and battery life.
The entire S22 lineup features sharp and vibrant OLED displays with up to 120 Hz refresh rates for buttery smooth motion. The three phones also have class-leading cameras with advanced features such as Super Steady System with Advanced OIS and Nightography, as well as wide-angle, telephoto-and ultrawide lenses.
However, the S22 Ultra manages to stand out from the rest, living up to its “Ultra” moniker with an LTPO display that can go all the way down to 1Hz for better battery life and a periscope zoom lens with 10x optical zoom and 100x “space zoom.”
Is the S22 Ultra replacing the Note?
Although Samsung may have killed off the Note line, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is essentially a Galaxy Note 22 with S22 branding. Just like last year’s S21 Ultra, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is fully compatible with Samsung’s S Pen. But unlike the S21 Ultra, the S22 Ultra comes with a built-in S Pen holster.
Sensing the Galaxy Note vibes yet?
Samsung even improved S Pen latency from 9 milliseconds to 2.8 milliseconds, making note-taking feel even more responsive than ever before. In other words, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the best Galaxy Note we’ve ever seen.
Galaxy S22 vs S21 Comparison
Let’s make no mistake here: The Galaxy S22 is better than the S21 – especially if you’re a Galaxy Note fan. However, most of the changes are incremental when compared to the Galaxy S21. Sure, the S22 sports a slightly faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, compared to last year’s Snapdragon 888 – but the 888 was already beastly and will continue to breeze through even the most intensive games and apps for years to come.
Screen technology is pretty similar too, with both the S21 and S22 featuring similar Dynamic AMOLED 2X OLED screens with up to 120 Hz refresh rates. And what about the cameras? Not much changed here either. Camera tech received a few improvements, such as higher resolution sensors and Nightography, but the difference isn’t exactly night and day.
Perhaps the biggest difference is that the S22 Ultra now has an integrated S Pen holder, making it the Note successor many of us have been waiting for. But even this is a tough sell, considering the utterly insane $1199.99 starting price. Most people would be better off saving money and getting an S21 Ultra and S Pen case instead.
If you want our advice, pick up a gently cheap Galaxy S21, used Galaxy S21 Plus, or used Galaxy S21 Ultra instead. No matter which of the three you choose, you’re saving nearly 50% compared to buying new. Get all the features without the huge hit to your wallet. Win-win.
Get a Galaxy S22 for less
If you’re dead set on a Galaxy S22, we can’t blame you. Although we still think the S21 is a better deal, the Galaxy S22 offers great features – especially if you’re a diehard Note fan.
Fortunately, Swappa can help you upgrade for less. First off, sell your old phone on Swappa. As we’ve shown time and time again, Swappa gets you twice as much money for your used Samsung phone as you’d get trading it in.
But the savings don’t stop there. If you hold off on the preorder and wait a few weeks, used Galaxy S22 phones will start appearing on Swappa. So not only can you get more for your old phone, but Swappa can help you upgrade for less.
Whether you pick up a cheap S21 or a newish S22, one thing should be clear by now: Swappa is the best place to buy and sell gently used phones. We verify listings before they go live to keep scams and junk out, and our support team is available 24/7/365 in case you ever need any help with your order. So what are you waiting for? Click below to get started today!
Snag the best deals on gently used tech wherever you go. Download the Swappa App today!
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