Putting an end to the stream of leaks and speculations, Samsung launched the Galaxy S22 series at its virtual Unpacked event today. While the Korean giant launched three smartphones, the Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra, all eyes are set on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. And well, for good reason. After taking the first step towards integrating Note features in the S-series with the S21 Ultra last year, Samsung has completed the transition with the S22 Ultra. Now, if you are wondering what all upgrades the S22 Ultra brings over its predecessor, we have you covered. In this article, we will look at how the latest Galaxy S22 Ultra stacks up against the S21 Ultra in terms of the overall build, display, Note-specific features, internals, camera, and more. So let’s not waste any more time and check out the Galaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S21 Ultra comparison.
Galaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Design
Starting with the design, you don’t need to look twice at the new Galaxy S22 Ultra to know that it is more like a Note device than an S-series device from Samsung. The squared-off edges that give the device its chunkier look, along with the curved display and the dedicated S Pen slot, are bound to remind you of the last-launched Note device – the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. You can check out how the S22 Ultra compares to the Note 20 Ultra right here:
- Galaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: DesignGalaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: DisplayGalaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: InternalsGalaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: CamerasGalaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Note FeaturesGalaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Battery & ChargingGalaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Specs Roundup
Also, you read that right. One of the key highlights of the Galaxy S22 Ultra is that it has an S Pen slot, much like the Galaxy Note series. The Galaxy S21 Ultra skipped on this addition as Samsung might have still been strategizing how to go about its flagship lineups. It might have been planning to launch a new Note device back then, but the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s arrival seems to cement the rumors, and our beloved Note series is gone for good. We talk more about the S Pen slot and other Note-specific features in a dedicated section below.
Galaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Display
While Samsung is experimenting with the back panel design on the S22 Ultra, no significant upgrades have been introduced in the display department. Both the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the S21 Ultra have the same display specifications, except for minor differences. So, I will only list the S22 Ultra display specifications here, and you can check out how they compare in the roundup table attached below.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra features a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with an Infinity-O design. The panel boasts a QHD+ (1440 x 3080p) resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 240Hz touch sampling rate. You also get HDR10+ support, an improved peak brightness of 1750 nits (over 1500 nits on the S21 Ultra), and a new Vision Booster feature. And like its predecessor, this device also has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection on top.
Samsung has refreshed its S-series phones, so there’s bound to be internal hardware upgrades in tow. The Galaxy S21 Ultra was powered by the Snapdragon 888 from Qualcomm and Exynos 2100 from Samsung (depending on the region). And talking about the latest flagship, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, is powered by its successors – the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Exynos 2200.
Galaxy S22 Ultra vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Cameras
Apart from the display, the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the S21 Ultra have a lot of similarities in the camera department. As you can tell from the image above, the sensor placement is exactly the same on both phones. And well, the specifications are pretty much the same as well. Some minor improvements have been made here and there to improve performance.
As you might have understood by now, the Galaxy S22 Ultra imbibes the Note aesthetic with its chunky design. But the thing that sets the S22 Ultra apart from its predecessor is the dedicated S Pen slot. The Galaxy S21 Ultra had support for the S Pen too, but you had to buy the stylus separately. Also, you had to buy a carrying case with an S Pen holder to not lose the stylus. And well, it was thick and obviously a hassle. The newest Samsung flagship does away with that, while also hinting at the end of the Note lineup.
With the launch of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, you don’t have to worry about that. The phone has an S Pen slot on the bottom left, which holds a Bluetooth-enabled S Pen. The stylus also brings some improvements in tow. Samsung has reduced the S Pen latency from 9 milliseconds to 2.8 milliseconds, making it super responsive. Also, since it supports Bluetooth, you can now use gestures to switch the camera, click photos, and browse through settings without touching the screen.
Not much has changed in the battery department, except for Samsung now offers faster wired charging with the S22 Ultra. Both the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the S22 Ultra include a massive 5,000mAh battery unit. While the S21 Ultra offered 25W fast-charging, the S22 Ultra has finally bumped up the charging speed to 45W. That’s a decent upgrade and will enable users to charge up to 50% of the 5,000mAh battery in under 30 minutes.
To sum everything up, here’s a quick look at how the Galaxy S22 Ultra compares to the Galaxy S21 Ultra on paper:
