Samsung’s Galaxy S series has been the company’s hallmark Android touting series since its first foray into smartphones. This year it looks like the company is turning its formulaic approach on its head by bringing some of the signature design and features of its Note line up to the flagship. The new Galaxy S22 series not only builds on features of the Galaxy S21 and the new 4nm chipsets, but it’s also set on redefining the Galaxy S series moving forward.
This year’s Galaxy S22 series will be coming with three versions as it has before – the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra. However, Samsung is changing things up when it comes to the features and differentiation between the smartphones in the series. While the biggest change in their approach this year is with the Ultra, we’re zooming in on the Galaxy S22 and S22+ here.
Designed for Functionality & Durability
Samsung is reigning things back a little bit when it comes to the design of the S22 and S22+. It’s keeping things familiar with design cues we’re used to seeing in the Galaxy S series thanks to the S21. However, they’ve done away with the multicoloured colourways which left a lasting impression – at least for now. The smartphones are now flat. The curved screens we’re used to on the Galaxy S series are no more.
That said, Samsung has focused on making the new S series devices are sturdier and more functional. The Galaxy S22 and S22+ come with Armour Alumunium which made its debut with the Fold3 and Flip3. It gives added strength and rigidity to the frame of the phone and to the camera modules under the metallic camera hump. This is sandwiched by Gorilla Glass Victus with a matte coloured finish.
It’s not a question of “how thin can you go” for Samsung anymore, they’ve focused on making their phones last longer and feel more ergonomic in hand. The S22 and S22+ have thicker silhouettes but hold larger 3,700mAh and 4,500mAh batteries respectively. The thicker form also allows you to hold the phone with a firmer grip.
Camera, Camera and more Galaxy AI
The Galaxy S22 and S22+ are sticking to the Galaxy S formula. They’re looking to build on the camera features with their new release. Samsung’s focus this year is very much on their improved Galaxy AI implementation and also bringing features that make sense. The S22 and S22+ come with the same camera setup. They have a triple sensor setup. The main sensor is a 50-megapixel (f/1.8) wide sensor with Dual Pixel autofocus, optical image stabilisation (OIS), and an 85° field of view (FOV). This is complemented by a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 120° FOV and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor capable of 3x optical zoom with an f/2.4 aperture and 36° FOV. On the front is a 10-megapixel sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and 80° FOV. While it may seem like the S22 and S22+ is taking a step back when it comes to the telephoto sensor, Samsung is claiming that they are able to achieve better performance with a larger main sensor and the 12-megapixel telephoto sensor.
The mainstay of the new camera is the improved VDI that comes with the 4nm processors that Samsung is using in their flagships. The improved processing of images allows them to bring better low light performance as well as imbue its camera with more Galaxy AI features for better pictures. Samsung’s buzzword this year is “Nightography”. With “Nightography”, the company is highlighting their new approach to low light photography on smartphones. In particular, how Galaxy AI composites 20 different versions of the same image for better low light results. It also improves dynamic range and creates a more detailed picture. Of course, this works in tandem with the nona binning technology that we’ve seen in Galaxy S smartphones before. When taking low light video, Galaxy AI will also adjust the frame rate of the video to ensure the best result.
Galaxy AI also brings features like Auto Frame which intelligently adjusts the camera’s framing to ensure that the person or object of interest is constantly in the frame. Even when it comes to moving subjects, Galaxy AI is able to adjust for the best framing. With the version in the Galaxy S22 and S22+, you’ll be able to automatically track up to 10 subjects. The Galaxy S22 and S22+ are also able to shoot in 16-bit RAW format. This will allow you to have more flexibility when it comes to posting processing shots taken on the smartphone.
In addition to this, Galaxy AI is also taking charge of the frame rate of your phone. While the new smartphones come with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 120Hz refresh rate, they will not be running at 120Hz all the time. Galaxy AI will dynamically adjust the screen frame rate for better battery performance according to the content on the screen. It will go all the way down to 1Hz when viewing still images.
Pricing & Availability
The Galaxy S22 and S22+ will be available in Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green and Pink Gold. They will be available with either 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage or 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal memory. All Galaxy S22 and S22+ models will be available starting February 10, 2022.
Prices in Malaysia are as follows:
| Models | RRP |
|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G 256GB | RM 4,299 |
| Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G 128GB | RM 4,099 |
| Samsung Galaxy S22 5G 256GB | RM 3,699 |
| Samsung Galaxy S22 5G 128GB | RM 3,499 |
Official Specifications
