Samsung flagship Galaxy S series line-up for 2022 includes three different phone sizes: the 6.1-inch S22 model, the 6.8-inch and curved-screen S22 Ultra (complete with integrated S Pen stylus), and this, the S22+, which, thanks to its 6.6-inch flat panel, may well be the ideal sweet spot for most people.
The S22 Plus model, like the smaller S22, is all about gradual refinement, with considerably lower screen size and overall scale compared to its S21+ predecessor, as well as a different camera setup.
Do such tweaks help this mid-tier flagship differentiate itself from the other two S22 models in the lineup, as well as the recently released S21 Fan Edition model? Or does it seem like the S series has reached a stalemate, with little fresh to offer in terms of standout features?
It’s sometimes necessary to go backwards in order to go ahead. The Galaxy S22+ rejects the trend of devices increasing their scales and bending their screen borders to greater extremes, following a spate of handsets that did so. That’s because, in comparison to its S21+ predecessor, this Plus model has a smaller screen, falling from 6.7 to 6.6 inches.
That display size, along with the fact that it’s a flat screen here (the sides and edges don’t curve around the phone to make it appear fancy for no reason, as they do on the S22 Ultra), should make the Plus model immediately appealing to anyone looking for a realistic scale balance.
More than the display size decrease, the physical proportions have been squashed by a few centimetres here and there in comparison to the S21+. However, this has put a strain on the S22battery +’s capacity, which has been cut by slightly over 6% overall. However, unlike the much smaller S22 model, we believe that this model will have a lesser overall influence.
Otherwise, the S22+ may be mistaken for the S21+ in terms of design, but a little smaller. That means the phone has the same plastic back and aluminium frame as before, but it’s dressed up in an appealing design that comes in four colour variations (the black photographed here, perhaps the least interesting of the lot). We also believe that the colours, which are less blingy, help the camera unit look more integrated.
Over the years, we’ve worked with a wide range of phones, with manufacturers experimenting with aspect ratios, curved edges, and other sizes. In the midst of all that testing and tinkering over the years, the Galaxy S22+ appears to be a voice of reason, offering a flat display, quick refresh rate, and a size that’s large but workable in one hand without the need for an extremely lengthy aspect ratio to compensate for anything.
However, the Galaxy S21 FE, with its 6.4-inch display, has only been available for a short time, so if you’re looking for something a little smaller without going down to the base S22 size, it could be worth a look. It begs the issue of why Samsung has so many S series phones, especially because the Fan Edition edition arrives so late that it virtually overlaps with the next-gen launch. In any case, the option is available, and having a choice might be beneficial.
If you want something even bigger, the S22 Ultra, with a 6.8-inch display, is a good option. It has a curved edge panel, which makes it feel really different to handle. Because curved displays can pose difficulties with inadvertent contact, contrast, and colour fall-off towards the extremities, flat screens appear to be generally on-trend.
However, we wouldn’t use the word “flat” to characterise the Galaxy S22 Plus’ visual experience. Punchy colours and fine detail are delivered thanks to the usage of AMOLED display technology and a good resolution. In comparison to the standard S22 model, there are no extra pixels here to compensate for the greater screen real estate. However, after handling all three S22 models, we can certainly state that you will not find any of them lacking.
Samsung hasn’t gone crazy with the refresh rate, opting for a dynamic 120Hz panel that allows the S22+ to automatically change whether the screen is refreshed 10 times per second or 120 times per second, depending on whether the material need that extra cycle to seem aesthetically smoother. We believe the benefit of using a 144Hz or 165Hz refresh rate, as seen on certain gaming phones, would be minor, and there would be a negative impact on battery life.
When it comes to battery life, the 4,500mAh cell on board should enough. Sure, it’s smaller than the 4,800mAh battery in the previous S21+, but Samsung is confident that its software advancements and screen technologies will mitigate any worries. To cover all bases, there’s also 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging.
One feature you might not anticipate is what’s beneath the hood: Samsung has used its own Exynos 2200 CPU in the S22 series everywhere except the United States and China, where Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is used instead. However, because we haven’t utilised the S22+ as if it were our own, we won’t know how this hardware will work together in terms of power and battery life until we do a comprehensive review.
In terms of software, Samsung’s One UI 4.1 interface runs on top of Google’s Android 12 operating system. Samsung also promises four generations of software upgrades, so you can buy the S22 knowing that it’ll last at least as long as it’s supposed to, with all the newest security and features thanks to updates.
The S22+, unlike the S22 Ultra, has an integrated S Pen pen, despite the fact that this mid-to-large flat screen scale would seem to be ideal for one. It’s also incompatible with the pen, so if the ideal appeals to you, you’ll have to choose between Ultra and nothing.
However, like with the Ultra model, it’s unclear if typical S series purchasers would opt for a stylus-enabled tablet in the first place. If the now-defunct Note series from 2020 has been hung up, its time has passed, the S22 Ultra may find it difficult to acquire a broad audience. If anything, the Plus model should be the one with the larger screen in order to provide that to customers, regardless of whether or not the S Pen is included.
The cameras on the S22+ and S22 are identical, therefore there’s no change here. However, it’s a very different storey when compared to the Ultra, which has a completely new camera architecture, more lenses, higher resolution, and, ultimately, more capacity.
As with the S22, the Plus underlines its premium status in the photography area by adding a real zoom lens and eschewing any of the gimmicks that so many manufacturers seem to be cramming into phones these days – no nonsense low-resolution macro or depth sensors here.
Instead, Samsung keeps things simple with a primary camera, ultra-wide lens, and zoom lens. With the resolution changing, it’s the same setup as the previous S21+. The S2250-megapixel +’s primary sensor is a huge resolution improvement over the S21 before it (which, interestingly enough, had all of the resolution in its zoom lens), with the 3x zoom lens choosing for a resolution drop to 10-megapixels.
But how does this affect the camera functionality of the S22+? Really, not in a big way. The different modes are where Samsung wants to highlight the S22 series’ advancements. To increase software-generated backdrop blur, there’s a feature called Stereo Depth Map. Auto Framing will detect faces and zoom in, adjusting as more enter the frame, including in video capture.
The fact that everything is so simple appeals to us. Pick up the S22+, launch the camera app quickly, aim, pinch, and touch your way to the perfect shot. There’s optical stabilisation where it’s needed, good focusing, and a night mode that kicks in when it’s needed without you having to think about it. It’s just more coherent than many others out there – but Google’s Pixel 6 Pro will certainly put Samsung to the test.
The S22+, out of the three Galaxy S22 versions that have been released, appears to be the greatest fit for that sweet spot. It’s somewhat smaller than the previous S21+, and the classic look has been refined.
The fact that it has a flat screen rather than a curved one like the S22 Ultra, and that it doesn’t include S Pen pen integration – a feature we’re not certain all S series customers would want anyway (that’s what the Note was for) – makes it look even more modern for a 2022 release. While the cameras on the Plus are identical to those on the smaller S22, the larger model’s longer battery life will give you a bit more peace of mind.
Overall, while the generational upgrades are modest, the Samsung Galaxy S22+ might be the best of the 2022 crop – and an example of a top-tier Android flagship where refinement rather than originality can go a long way.
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