The Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+ both aim to be some of 2022's best smartphones — but which one is ultimately the best choice for you? Among all the current Android manufacturers, there's a reason why Samsung comes out on top. Not only does it sell a ludicrous number of handsets, but the gadgets themselves are also usually top-notch. From the foldable Galaxy Z Flip 3 to the budget-minded Galaxy A series, there's a lot to choose from.
In February 2022, Samsung ushered in its latest entries in the Galaxy S family with the Galaxy S22 series. The Galaxy S22 Ultra stands out as the eye-catching choice this year, touting a boxier design and an included S Pen (just like a Galaxy Note). But it also comes with an eye-watering $1199 starting price. Instead, most shoppers are likely eyeing the regular Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ — retailing for $799 and $999, respectively. Both phones look like excellent devices on the surface, but does one stand out as an objectively better choice?
Let's start with the similarities. Although there's $200 separating the two phones, the S22 and S22+ have quite a lot in common with each other. Both are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, have 8GB of RAM, and a choice between 128 or 256GB of storage. Also, outside of a difference in display size (6.1-inches for the S22 and 6.6-inches for S22+), the tech behind the screens on both phones is virtually identical. Each uses a Samsung Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel, variable 10-120Hz refresh rate, and up to a 240Hz touch sampling rate. Also identical is the camera system. The S22 and S22+ both tout a 50MP primary camera, 12MP ultra-wide camera, and 10MP telephoto camera. The phones also share 5G/LTE connectivity, 15W wireless charging, IP68 dust/water resistance, and ship with Android 12 out of the box.
How The Galaxy S22+ Is Better Than The Regular S22
So, what exactly does the Galaxy S22+ do to justify its higher price? While it's not an exhaustive list, there are a couple of key differences — namely, with battery life and charging. The Galaxy S22 ships with a pretty small 3,700 mAh battery, which is actually a downgrade over the S21's 4,000 mAh capacity. The Galaxy S22+'s battery is also a downgrade over the S21+'s 4,800 mAh size, but at 4,500 mAh, it's still a considerable amount larger than the S22.
On the charging side of things, the Galaxy S22+ supports wired charging up t0 45W, while the regular S22 is limited to just 25W. The S22+ doesn't come with a charger capable of those 45W speeds, but if you have or buy a compatible one, you'll get substantially faster charging. Similarly, the Galaxy S22+ touts Wi-Fi 6E instead of the older Wi-Fi 6 on the Galaxy S22. That's not likely to make a substantial difference for most people, but anyone trying to have the latest and greatest Wi-Fi standard will want to stick with the S22+.
And that's about it. The Galaxy S22+ is basically just the regular S22 with a bigger display and battery, plus faster charging and Wi-Fi. That doesn't sound like much of an upgrade for $200, but for some people, the S22+ could be well worth it. For the person who wants a big display, is constantly on their phone, and wants it to charge as quickly as possible, those subtle upgrades could make a big difference in daily use. But there's just as much of an argument to make for the standard Galaxy S22. Whether someone wants a smaller screen and/or has a tighter budget, everything that's great about the Samsung Galaxy S22+ also holds true for the S22.
Source: Samsung