After more than ten days of daily use, it is not difficult for me to state that Samsung has once again succeeded. The Galaxy S22 5G has every right to be called the new best compact Android phone. This is a title that its predecessor also easily carried last year. Find out how it earned that status from another comprehensive review.
GALAXY S22 DESIGN AND ERGONOMICS
In today’s times, it is difficult to find such a good phone in such a compact dimensions. Samsung Galaxy S22 is exactly that – a powerful flagship phone with an excellent display, great cameras, performance that will satisfy even the most demanding, and packed in an elegant, sophisticated and compact waterproof case, which you can easily handle with one hand.
Thanks to the premium materials of Gorilla Glass Victus+ glass on the front and back and a frame made of specially reinforced aluminum, the build quality is at the highest level. Galaxy S22 leaves a premium device impression in hand, the same one you’ll get with the Galaxy S22 Ultra model.
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Especially in this phantom black version with a masterfully integrated triple camera module on the back and a very thin frame screen, Galaxy S22 looks fantastic. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but if you ask me, the Galaxy S22 is an extremely attractive phone.
The front of the device is covered by a beautiful 6.1-inch screen with very thin bezels and a punch-hole selfie camera in the middle. Above it is an almost invisible speaker, which along with the one at the bottom of the phone, provides an impressive stereo sound experience.
The arrangement of ports and buttons is typical for Samsung flagship phones. All physical buttons are on the right side and provide a clear click under the fingers. At the top of the phone, there is only a hole for a secondary microphone, and at the bottom, there is a USB-C port for fast 25W charging, the main microphone, main speaker, and a tray for two nano-SIM cards.
The front and back of the device are completely flat, which contributes to the device’s elegant profile, and the triple camera module is an extension of the metal frame and is very nicely integrated.
With a height of 146 mm, a width of 70.6 mm, and a weight of 167 g, the Galaxy S22 is one of the most compact flagship Android phones on the market, so it will be suitable for anyone with smaller hands, without compromising on the screen. It won’t be too big even if you wrap it in a protective case.
It is waterproof according to the IP68 certification, so there is no fear of water ingress. Therefore, it offers an absolutely premium experience in a compact package.
In summary, the Galaxy S22 is a real pleasure to use and a relief for your hands, without compromising on the key features of a flagship phone.
GALAXY S22 SCREEN
The Galaxy S22 is the smallest of the Galaxy S22 trio, so it has the smallest screen. For many, this beautiful 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen will be ideal. It’s hard to disagree. With its sharpness and 120Hz refresh rate, this screen offers an excellent experience for browsing the internet and social media, as well as enjoying multimedia.
At the back, there are three powerful cameras. The main camera is a 50MP sensor with a 1/1.56″ size and 1.0µm pixels, Dual Pixel PDAF autofocus, and OIS stabilization. It takes excellent photos in both daylight and low-light conditions. This camera also records videos up to 8K resolution.
In addition to the main camera, there is a 12MP ultra-wide camera and a 10MP telephoto camera with OIS for 3x optical zoom.
Samsung equips its cameras with a camera application that offers a plethora of options, from excellent and reliable automation supported by AI, to a professional photo and video mode, portrait photos and videos, and an impressive night mode. The Director’s and Single Take shooting modes are exclusive to Samsung phones, which will support users’ creativity.
The photos and videos I took with this phone are clear evidence that the Galaxy S22 has the most capable compact smartphone camera on the market.
ANDROID 12 + One UI 4.1
Samsung covers Android 12 on the Galaxy S22 phone with its One UI 4.1 interface, which offers a plethora of options and possibilities, and is considered by many to be the best Android skin on the market. The implementation of Google’s Material You system alongside Samsung Themes ensures even more customization options for the interface’s appearance, which everyone will appreciate.
The notification center with the most important system settings is customizable and can be pulled down to the top of the screen without stretching your finger, which further facilitates one-handed use of the device.
An additional plus is the Side panel, which offers even faster launching of favorite apps and quick opening of app pairs on the split screen.
Ultimately, the most important thing is that the interface is smooth and responsive under your fingers, with fluid and visually pleasing animations.
The app menu slides up from the bottom, and the far left page of the Home screen is Google Feed. Navigation through the interface is done either with gestures or with three buttons at the bottom of the screen, depending on your preference.
The standard set of Google and Microsoft apps is complemented by numerous high-quality solutions from Samsung, including Samsung Notes, Health, Files, and optimization tool in the main Settings.
Samsung has committed to four years of Android updates and five years of security patches, which is also one of the more important advantages of this phone.
GALAXY S22 PERFORMANCE, SOUND AND BATTERY
The Galaxy S22, just like the flagship Galaxy S22 Ultra, is powered by the company’s new Exynos 2200 chipset based on 4nm architecture. Here paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage in the base model, with a 256GB option also available.
Even the base version guarantees top-notch performance and smooth operation in all scenarios, including demanding tasks such as gaming, which runs smoothly and without overheating.
Galaxy S22, although compact, will not disappoint in terms of sound quality. It is equipped with stereo speakers signed by AKG. One is located on the front above the screen, and the other is at the bottom edge. The sound is excellent and loud enough, so I have no complaints. Headphones can be connected to the USB-C port or you can opt for a wireless option.
The quality of phone calls is at the highest level typical for Samsung, as is the signal reception and 5G and Wi-Fi data connectivity. Of course, it also has NFC for mobile payments.
The ultrasonic fingerprint reader under the screen is fast and reliable, and there is also Face Unlock for unlocking with your face.
As the most compact in the Galaxy S22 trio, this little one also has the smallest battery, with a capacity of 3700 mAh. Don’t be discouraged, it is enough for a standard day of medium to intensive use with 5-6 hours of screen time on a single charge. It supports 25W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, and it can also reverse charge other devices on its back.
Taking into account all the most important features of a modern flagship phone, such as an excellent screen, great cameras, top performance, build quality, and stereo sound given its size, the Galaxy S22 has every right to be called the best compact Android phone.
You won’t find a screen like this, let alone cameras, in such a practical and elegant form factor, optimal for one-handed use, today.