Samsung kicks off its first batch of launches for 2022. During the Unpacked that took place today, the Korean firm has presented the Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra, as well as the Tab S8, also in three variants.
The device that concerns us in this text is the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, the flagship of the company that seeks to gather the best of the Note, such as its size and the S-Pen, and that mounts the latest Samsung in processors: the Exynos 2200 with AMD GPU. Without further ado, let’s see what this device has to offer.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra technical specifications
| Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions and Weight | 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9mm 227 grams |
| Screen | 6.8-inch Curved Dynamic AMOLED 2X Resolution 3,080 x 1,440 pixels 500 dpi Adaptive refresh rate: 1-120 Hz Touch Sampling: 240 Hz HDR10+ Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Processor | Samsung Exynos 2200 AMD RDNA 2 GPU |
| RAM | 8/12GB |
| Internal storage | 128, 256, 512GB |
| Rear Camera | 108MP f/1.8, OISWide angle 12 MP, 120º, f/2.2Telephoto 10 MP, 69 mm, f/2.4, OISTelephoto 10 MP, 230 mm, f/1.49, OIS |
| Front Camera | 40MP f/2.2 |
| Battery | 5,000mAh 45W fast charge Wireless charging 15W Reverse wireless charging |
| Operating System | Android 12 with OneUI 4.1 |
| Connectivity | 5G Dual-SIM eSIM Bluetooth 5.2 USB type c NFC WiFi 6E GPS UWB |
| Others | IP68 resistance Samsung DeX Knox Fingerprint sensor under the screen S-Pen compatible |
| Price | From $1,199 |
Galaxy S and Note go hand in hand
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is radically different from its siblings in terms of design. The standard and the Plus models retain the design of the S21, the S22 Ultra is closer to what we have seen in the Note range models. Thus, it has more angled corners, a smooth rear, and the cameras integrated into the chassis itself, and not in a module as we had seen so far, although it is true that they protrude slightly.
Undoubtedly, the S22 Ultra drinks a lot from the Note and that can be seen, in addition to its design, in the slot at the bottom that allows users to store and remove the S-Pen. This element, typical of the Note, now leaps officially and integrally to the Galaxy S range.
About the S-Pen, Samsung has explained that it has been improved to reduce its latency to 2.8 milliseconds, a substantial improvement over the nine milliseconds of the S-Pen of the S21 Ultra, which was already quite low. Among its functions is freehand typing, supporting up to 88 languages.
As far as the display is concerned, the device incorporates a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel of no less than 6.8 inches with a generous 3,080 x 1,440 pixels resolution and 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate. The panel is perforated at the top to make room for the front camera. It is seen that Samsung is still reluctant to bet on cameras under the screen.
Exynos, AMD, and lots of RAM under the hood
What’s under the hood of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra? As expected, the Korean firm has implemented its new Exynos 2200, a four-nanometer processor at a maximum speed of 2.8 GHz, and an AMD RDNA 2 GPU. According to the company, it offers 133% more NPU performance, a 40% more powerful GPU, and a 5% improvement in the CPU. We will have to see how it performs in practice.
This new processor is accompanied by 8 or 12 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of storage. There will be 8/128, 12/256, and 12/512 GB versions, each more powerful and, obviously, more expensive. The operating system will be Android 12 with One UI 4.1 launch and will be brought to life by a 5,000 mAh battery with 45W fast charging, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.
Among the new features found in the software is a collaboration with Google Duo to, for example, share maps, YouTube videos, etc.; “Vision Booster” (a kind of true tone that adapts the colors of the screen to the environment) and a new Samsung Digital Wallet, which will arrive soon and will allow storing student cards, COVID passport, car keys or a smart lock and, in the future, they expect even the DNI.
108 megapixels and two telephotos
We finish by reviewing what Samsung’s new flagship offers us in terms of photography. The device has a 108-megapixel main sensor capable of recording in 8K and detecting up to 10 subjects in the scene for autofocus. In addition, Samsung has opted for a 23% larger sensor that, they claim, captures four times more information and improves HDR.
Something interesting is that Samsung has come up with a new version of pixel binning which, in a nutshell, combines the photo resulting from using pixel binning with the 108-megapixel image to, according to Samsung, achieve more detail and light. We’ll see how it performs on a day-to-day basis and, especially, at night. Another novelty has to do with the Expert RAW mode, which now makes it possible to obtain 16-bit RAW files and raw files with all lenses.
And speaking of other lenses, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra incorporates a 12-megapixel wide-angle with 120º field of view, a 10-megapixel telephoto 69 millimeters, and another telephoto, also 10 megapixels, equivalent to 230 mm. According to Samsung, it can zoom up to 100x. Selfies, meanwhile, remain at 40 megapixels resolution.
Pricing and Availability of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is available for purchase in the Samsung store and other retailers. The price starts from $1,199 for the base version of 8 + 128 GB. However, there are a total of four versions in all, with different memory configurations. These are Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 12 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 12 GB RAM and 512 GB internal storage, and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 12GB RAM and 1 TB internal storage.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.