The Galaxy S22 Ultra seems to do a lot of what the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra does, so is it worth the upgrade if you absolutely must keep the S Pen stylus?
If the S Pen is like an extension of your body, then you’ve probably stuck with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra since it was released, unwilling to compromise by getting an S21 Ultra and the S Pen case accessory. But now Samsung has the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and it comes with an S Pen stylus inside the body. Does that mean it’s time to upgrade, and if so, what else should you expect? I’ve given the two a back-to-back workout to see if now is the time for Note 20 Ultra owners to get a new phone. There is almost no difference whatsoever between the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Note 20 Ultra when you hold them both. It’s uncanny how similar the two are, with the same flat end caps, the same sharply curved sides, and essentially identical dimensions. Even the placement of the speaker grille on the bottom of both phones is exactly the same. However, Samsung decided the 208 gram Note 20 Ultra wasn’t heavy enough and added another 20 grams to the overall weight of the S22 Ultra. It’s noticeable, and the extra heft is all at the top of the phone — it’s the complex camera module that does it — making it less manageable to hold with one hand. What hasn’t changed is the slippery nature of the phone. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has always been keen to slide off any surface, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra does exactly the same. I definitely recommend a case for both, as they’re accidents waiting to happen. If you’ve lived with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra for the last two years, swapping to the Galaxy S22 Ultra will be like putting on a brand new pair of your favorite shoes: The same familiar feeling and the same familiar look, just without any evidence of wear and tear. The S Pen inside the Galaxy S22 Ultra is exactly the same size and weight as the one in the Note 20 Ultra. It connects to your phone using Bluetooth, is IP68 water-resistant, and has 4,096 levels of pressure. All the same, features are included, such as Air View, Magnify, Translate, and a remote camera shutter button. What has changed? The latency has been reduced by 70%, going from nine milliseconds on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra to 2.8 milliseconds on the S22 Ultra. Good luck counting that difference, but does it actually notice when you use the two? Amazingly, yes. Writing notes on the S22 Ultra using the S Pen is smoother, and the screen recognizes your input more quickly, resulting in a very natural writing experience. My handwriting is neater when I use the S22 Ultra, making my notes more legible even when I hastily scribble them down. I always had to take care with the Note 20 Ultra as my notes bordered on the unintelligible if I didn’t.
