The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
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It’s simple to miss the Galaxy S22 Plus. After all, it is not the most cost effective new cellphone in Samsung’s Galaxy S22 lineup because it begins at $1,000 (£949, AU$1,549), in comparison with the $800 (£769, AU$1,249) Galaxy S22. But it additionally would not have the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s distinguishing options, which embrace the S Pen stylus and quadruple-lens digital camera. So the place does it slot in?It’s easy: The Galaxy S22 Plus is an even bigger model of the Galaxy S22. It’s for individuals who want telephones with giant screens, however do not need a system that is as gigantic — or costly — because the 6.8-inch Galaxy S22 Ultra, which prices $1,200 (£1,149, AU$1,849). The Galaxy S22 Plus’ 6.6-inch display screen strikes the suitable stability of offering extra display screen area with out feeling overwhelming. In reality, it is perhaps my favourite cellphone within the Galaxy S22 trio.The Galaxy S22 lineup comes with a more moderen processor, some digital camera enhancements and a contemporary design. These are incremental modifications, however should you’re upgrading from a cellphone that is greater than two years outdated, you may certainly respect them. The solely variations between the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus are the latter’s larger display screen and battery, sooner 45-watt charging and ultrawideband assist.
That mentioned, the Galaxy S22 Plus is not excellent. The battery life could possibly be higher, and I’d prefer to see extra new pictures options that leverage the improved digital camera.The Galaxy S22 Plus launches on Feb. 25 alongside Samsung’s different new telephones. This assessment relies on my expertise utilizing it for a number of days.
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Samsung’s Galaxy S22 telephones get a design improveSamsung’s Galaxy S22 Plus
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The very first thing you may most likely discover concerning the Galaxy S22 Plus is its new look. The common S22 and Plus each have a glass and steel design that feels extra premium and chic than final yr’s gadgets, which I respect despite the fact that I’m certain most individuals will cowl it with a case. The Galaxy S21 has what seems to be a brushed steel end on the again, whereas the brand new telephones take a look that resembles frosted glass. It feels a bit just like the iPhone 13 Pro.But it is the Galaxy S22 Plus’ measurement that makes it stand out in Samsung’s new lineup. It’s a lot simpler to carry and function with one hand than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which looks like a mini-tablet by comparability. At the identical time, the S22 Plus feels considerably larger than the Galaxy S22, which has a 6.1-inch display screen. Both telephones are additionally a little bit bit smaller than final yr’s Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus, which had 6.2-inch and 6.7-inch screens respectively. I may see the S22 Plus being preferrred should you do numerous studying or video watching in your cellphone however do not wish to splurge on the $1,200 S22 Ultra.
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The Galaxy S22’s show high quality hasn’t modified a lot from final yr. Like the S21 and S21 Plus, the brand new telephones include an FHD Plus Dynamic AMOLED display screen. The solely main distinction is that Samsung says the screens on the Galaxy S22 Plus and S22 Ultra have the brightest of any Galaxy cellphone but. I haven’t got an S21 Plus, however the Galaxy S22 Plus appeared noticeably brighter than final yr’s common S21 when viewing the identical content material on each gadgets aspect by aspect at their most brightness degree. It additionally beat the Pixel 6 Pro by a large margin on the subject of brightness. Samsung additionally added a brand new show characteristic referred to as Vision Booster to the Galaxy S22 lineup. Like Apple’s True Tone, Vision Booster ought to match the S22’s show to the lighting in your environment. However, I did not discover a lot of a distinction in comparison with the Galaxy S21. An improved digital camera with higher colour and distinctionThe Galaxy S22 Plus has a triple-lens rear digital camera. The foremost digital camera has a brand new 50-megapixel sensor.
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One of the Galaxy S22’s greatest modifications is its new digital camera. The Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus have a 50-megapixel foremost digital camera and a sensor that is 23% bigger, in contrast with the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus’ 12-megapixel foremost digital camera. Samsung additionally says it is improved the way in which all three new Galaxy S22 gadgets take images at midnight.
Samsung Galaxy S22 and S21 Camera Specs
Galaxy S22/S22 Plus
Galaxy S21/21 Plus
Galaxy S22/21 Ultra
Main lens
50-megapixel
12-megapixel
108-megapixel
Ultra-wide lens
12-megapixel
12-megapixel
12-megapixel
Telephoto lens
10-megapixel
64-megapixel
Dual 10-megapixel
Zoom
3x optical; 30x digital
3x hybrid optic; 30x digital
3x, 10x optical; 100x digital
So far, I’m seeing normal enhancements to the colour, distinction and element in contrast with the Galaxy S21. The picture of a flower bouquet proven under is probably the most noticeable instance. The colour is way more life like within the Galaxy S22 Plus picture in comparison with the one shot on a Galaxy S21, particularly on the subject of crimson and purple shades. The rose petals additionally look sharper and have extra distinction in comparison with the Galaxy S21’s picture. Samsung’s older cellphone targeted extra clearly on a number of the different flowers within the picture, just like the crimson carnation, however I typically assume the S22 Plus’ picture appears to be like higher. It additionally appeared extra colourful than the picture captured on a Google Pixel 6 Pro.Galaxy S22 PlusA photograph taken with the Galaxy S22 Plus’ 50-megapixel digital camera.
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Galaxy S21The identical picture taken with the Galaxy S21.
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Pixel 6 ProThis picture was captured on the Pixel 6 Pro.
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When it involves nighttime pictures, there’s excellent news and unhealthy information. First, the nice: The Galaxy S22 Plus takes images which are typically brighter, with higher colour in low mild than its predecessor. And most significantly, it is good at capturing images of individuals at midnight, as proven within the picture under. The picture is not very sharp, however the pores and skin tones and colours look extra life like than these taken on the Galaxy S21 and Pixel 6 Pro. Galaxy S22 PlusThis picture was taken in a darkish room utilizing the Galaxy S22 Plus.
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Galaxy S21This one was taken on the Galaxy S21.
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Pixel 6 ProAnd this is the Pixel 6 Pro’s model of the identical picture.
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Now for the unhealthy information: The Galaxy S22 Plus struggles to focus sharply on nonetheless objects at midnight, similar to the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Take a have a look at the images of the owl kitchen timer under, which was taken in my condominium with all of the lights turned off.Galaxy S22 PlusThe Galaxy S22 Plus has bother specializing in objects in darkish situations.
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Galaxy S21The Galaxy S21’s picture can be out of focus, and it is a little bit darker than the Galaxy S22 Plus’.
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Pixel 6 ProThe Pixel 6 Pro’s picture is far sharper than those taken on Samsung’s telephones.
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Check out our gallery for extra images taken with the Galaxy S22 Plus.
Galaxy S22 Plus Camera Testing: How It Compares to the Galaxy S21
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Aside from normal picture high quality, it is also necessary to think about the precise pictures options you get with every cellphone. I really like Google’s Face Unblur characteristic, for instance, which may freeze a topic’s face and seize it sharply even when an individual is transferring. Apple additionally added a macro pictures mode to the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, which our reviewer Patrick Holland referred to as “one of the better implementations of a macro mode I’ve seen on a phone.”The Galaxy S22 Plus has the identical array of capturing modes because the Galaxy S21 for probably the most half. That’s a little bit disappointing since Samsung is highlighting the digital camera as a significant promoting level for its new telephones. There’s Samsung’s Expert Raw app, which captures photographs within the RAW format and provides photographers extra management over parts like ISO, shutter velocity and white stability. But these options aren’t constructed into the digital camera and should be downloaded from Samsung’s Galaxy Store. And since a beta model of the app was obtainable for the Galaxy S21 Ultra in Korea, it would not be stunning to see Samsung develop availability to different telephones sooner or later. Solid efficiency and common battery lifeSamsung’s Galaxy S22 Plus
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The Galaxy S22 lineup runs on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip within the US and different markets the place Samsung’s Exynos chip is not obtainable. Performance is simply as snappy as you’d count on from a $1,000 cellphone; video games just like the first-person shooter “Shadowgun Legends” ran easily, and apps launched shortly. Scrolling by means of information feeds, the app drawer and the settings menu additionally felt fluid, thanks partly to the S22’s 120Hz show. But none of that’s stunning. Processor upgrades are extra about enabling new options, particularly camera-related ones that require numerous processing, relatively than bettering uncooked efficiency. Still, the Galaxy S22 scored about the identical because the Galaxy S21 in benchmarks that take a look at normal computing and graphics efficiency. The iPhone 13 Pro scored greater on Geekbench 5, the final efficiency benchmark, however decrease on 3DMark Slingshot Unlimited, which checks graphics processing.
Geekbench 5 Single Core
Note:
Higher scores are higher.
Geekbench 5 Multicore
Note:
Higher scores are higher.
3DMark Slingshot Unlimited
Note:
Higher scores are higher.
As for battery life, my Galaxy S22 Plus has been lasting for a couple of day and a half in on a regular basis use. But battery life can at all times fluctuate relying on the way you’re utilizing your system. I streamed music for about 20 minutes and used the cellphone sporadically all through my day to ship textual content messages, test e mail and play video games. If you are streaming numerous video, taking video calls and enjoying video games typically, you may most likely see the battery drain sooner. I’ve additionally had the refresh price set to 120Hz all through my time utilizing the system, which additionally impacts battery life. In CNET’s battery take a look at, which entails repeatedly enjoying video with the brightness set to 50% in airplane mode, the Galaxy S22 Plus carried out acceptably however not nice. It lasted for 18 hours and 38 minutes, surprisingly outlasting the Galaxy S22 Ultra (18 hours and 11 minutes). But the iPhone 13 Pro lasted considerably longer at 22 hours and two minutes. According to our take a look at outcomes, the Galaxy S22 Plus’ battery life is extra similar to the iPhone 13 Mini’s, which lasted for 18 hours and 19 minutes. Since the Galaxy S22 Plus is similar value because the iPhone 13 Pro, it might have been good to see comparable outcomes. (The Galaxy S22 Plus and iPhone 13 Pro had the display screen set to adaptive 120Hz throughout this take a look at.)Both the Galaxy S22 Plus and Ultra include 45-watt quick charging, which seems like a pleasant perk contemplating the common Galaxy S22 and whole Galaxy S21 lineup solely assist 25-watt quick charging. Unfortunately, it is advisable purchase a selected charger, which is at the moment listed at $50 on Samsung’s web site, to utilize it. (You can discover it on Amazon for $39, however there aren’t many left in inventory.) The Galaxy S22 runs on Samsung and Google’s latest software programThe Galaxy S22 lineup comes with Android 12 and Samsung’s One UI 4.1 software program.
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Samsung’s Galaxy S22 telephones include Android 12 and One UI 4.1, the most recent model of Samsung’s software program. One UI 4.1 is an iterative replace to One UI 4.0, the larger system-wide replace Samsung launched in late 2021. The new software program brings a bunch of beauty prospers like customized colour palettes and a extra constant search for widgets, in addition to extra privateness controls for managing app permissions. The replace is not unique to S22 gadgets, nevertheless it’s good that patrons will get the most recent software program proper out of the field. One of my favourite One UI 4.0 updates is the brand new digital camera viewfinder, which particularly exhibits the obtainable zoom choices relatively than generic icons for the huge, telephoto and ultrawide lenses. Samsung can be working with Google to carry extra options to the search big’s Duo video-chatting app. On the Galaxy S22 lineup, you possibly can share your display screen or content material from particular apps akin to Google Maps, YouTube or the Samsung Notes and Gallery apps on a gaggle video name. It looks as if a transparent effort on Samsung and Google’s half to compete with the SharePlay characteristic for FaceTime that Apple launched in iOS 15.This is all nice information for Samsung system house owners. But it is a line that Google should tread fastidiously, since bringing too lots of its personal options to Samsung telephones may detract from the Pixel’s enchantment.Samsung additionally introduced that the Galaxy S22 lineup and different latest telephones will assist Android OS software program updates for 4 generations. Google’s Pixel 6, by comparability, solely helps three years of Android OS updates however 5 years of safety updates. Other Samsung gadgets which are eligible for this four-year Android OS assist embrace the Galaxy S21 household, Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Tab S8 sequence. The backside lineSamsung’s Galaxy S22 Plus
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The Galaxy S22 Plus’ digital camera is noticeably higher than final yr’s Galaxy S21, the scale is good for individuals who want bigger screens and the brand new design makes it really feel contemporary. That mentioned, when you’ve got a Galaxy S21, it is not value spending $1,000 to improve. Even although I appreciated the digital camera enhancements, these are all simply iterative updates for probably the most half. However, should you’re upgrading from an older cellphone just like the Galaxy S10 era or earlier, you may discover rather a lot to like concerning the S22 Plus. At the identical time, the Galaxy S22 Plus left me wanting extra in sure areas. I hoped to see further pictures options that make extra use of Samsung’s improved digital camera. I’d additionally prefer to see battery take a look at outcomes from the S22 Plus that extra carefully match the equally priced iPhone 13 Pro. And the $1,000 value can nonetheless make the Galaxy S22 Plus a troublesome promote at a time when midtier telephones within the $600 to $700 vary, just like the Pixel 6 and Galaxy S21 FE, are bettering. If you are eyeballing Samsung’s new cellphone, there is a good likelihood chances are you’ll be deciding between the Galaxy S22 Plus and $900 Pixel 6 Pro. After all, they’re each across the identical value and provide comparable {hardware}. The S22 is $100 dearer however presents a brighter display screen and a digital camera that may produce richer colour in some situations. But the Pixel 6 Pro is $100 cheaper, has a bigger display screen and will get Android updates sooner than non-Pixel telephones. All advised, the Galaxy S22 Plus is a strong improve for Android customers seeking to change an getting old system. If you need a system with a shiny, reasonably sized display screen and a high-quality digital camera, the S22 Plus will not disappoint.