Is the Galaxy S22 Ultra a worthy upgrade to the still excellent Galaxy S21 Ultra? We’ve put the camera and S Pen to the test to find out.
Suddenly feeling like your Galaxy S21 Ultra is a bit old? Samsung has replaced it in the range with the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and as with everything shiny and new, it’s very tempting to go out and upgrade to this latest model. Before you rush to do so, though, it’s important to get an idea of what you’ll gain. While Samsung will tell you there are plenty of reasons to upgrade, what differences will you see in the real world? I’ve used them both to see if there’s a strong reason to say goodbye to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The S22 Ultra is a little wider than the S21 Ultra, but as they are otherwise similarly sized and almost equally as heavy — 8.9mm thick and 228 grams — you may not really notice much of a change. The S22 Ultra is shaped more like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, with sharper, curvier sides and flat end caps. This, along with the few millimeters of extra width, does make it feel like even more of a handful than the S21 Ultra. The S22 Ultra is just as slippery as the S21 Ultra and is liable to slide about on a lot of different surfaces, so putting it in a case is advisable. I’m using the Phantom Black model, and the finish is very similar to the S21 Ultra’s Phantom Black, and that means it may well pick up scuffs and marks if you’re not careful. Regarding the design, Samsung has done away with the integrated camera module from the S21 Ultra and replaced it with separate camera housings on the rear panel. It’s a very different look from the S21 Ultra (and the rest of the S22 range), and while it’s pretty, it doesn’t instill the phone with much identity. What it is, though, is classy, almost regardless of the color you choose. There’s a very good chance you purchased the Galaxy S21 Ultra because of the camera, so is the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera even better? On paper, it’s very similar, but Samsung says the sensors are different, and that it has worked on the software and processor to improve results. I’ve spent a few days taking photos with both, and the results are very interesting. Samsung says the S22 Ultra’s camera is a lowlight photography winner, and it’s absolutely correct. The balanced colors are beautiful, and it edges toward an attractive warmer tone compared to the S21 Ultra’s night mode, giving nighttime images a lovely emotional feel. The photo here is a great example of the detail the S22 Ultra’s camera shows at night. See the white brickwork and the sharp text on the license plate of the car, plus excellent exposure to show what’s happening inside the pub through the windows for evidence. When you look at the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s photo and compare it directly to its successor’s, you can see the additional and sharper detail, the more natural and warmer tones, and less haziness in the S22’s photo. However, looked at in solitude, you’re unlikely to be disappointed with the S21 Ultra’s photo, but when you spend time examining the S22 Ultra’s night performance, it’s clear a lot of work has been put into improving it. Whether it’s a reason to upgrade will come down to how often you shoot photos in lowlight. Winner: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra The 3x optical zoom has been given a small makeover, resulting in a slightly sharper image with less edge enhancement visible on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. You will have to directly compare a photo taken with it to one taken on the S21 Ultra to see the differences, though, as they are quite subtle. In this example, the iron crosses are ever so slightly sharper in the S22 Ultra’s photo, while there is also more detail on the roof itself. It’s the same when you zoom in to the photo, with the wire netting around the spire being clearer and less fuzzy in the S22 Ultra’s photo. It’s most noticeable in the tiles below this section, where the detail is smoother and more natural in the S22 Ultra’s photo, compared to the over-enhancement in the S21 Ultra’s picture. Overall, the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 3x optical zoom produces less noise and either requires less digital enhancement, or it’s more intelligently used, than on the S21 Ultra. There’s definite improvement, but you will have to look closely. Winner: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra The improvements seen in 3x optical zoom mode are echoed in the 10x optical zoom.
