Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus in the test: Premium again at last

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus positions itself exactly between the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Ultra. The predecessor went under completely, but the new generation has a lot more to offer. Samsung has technically brought it closer to the Ultra model and made it so much more interesting. I’ll tell you in the review whether the Galaxy S22 Plus is a good choice.

Design optimized in detail

At first glance, the Galaxy S22 Plus looks quite similar to its predecessor. However, Samsung has changed the design in many places, so that you will notice that a lot has changed as soon as you have the phone in your hand. First of all, there is the frame of the smartphone, which is no longer as rounded and looks more angular. The back is now completely flat, so the transition is even stronger. Man could almost think that you are holding an iPhone 13 in your hand.

The camera on the back is still very different, but still forms a nice unit with the frame. At the front, the small improvements continue. This time they own Borders around the display all the same width. This is also known from the iPhone. There is no longer a wider chin, so that the smartphone looks a bit more modern overall. Otherwise everything is in the usual place.

Material selection greatly improved

Samsung has used a plastic back for the Galaxy S21 Plus. The company has corrected this one-off slip with the Galaxy S22 Plus. It is now made of glass again. The new Samsung smartphone looks much higher quality. You will hardly see the difference, since the surface is also matte here, but you can feel it directly. At a price of at least 1,049 euros, this is also sorely needed. You just can’t offer plastic in this price range.

Better display than the Galaxy S22

While the Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus do not differ in the display except for the size, this is different with the new generation. The Galaxy S22 Plus can achieve a brightness of up to 1,750 nits, which is on par with the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The normal Galaxy S22 reaches a maximum of 1,300 nits. Both extremely high values ​​and often also significantly brighter than the competition, but a higher brightness is particularly important in difficult lighting conditions. I never had problems reading the Galaxy S22 Plus. Even when I was photographing against the sun.

But Samsung built it into the Galaxy S22 Plus no LTPO panel like the Galaxy S22 Ultra, which operates from 1 to 120 Hz. After initial confusion, the company has confirmed it’s 48 to 120Hz. The resolution is also not as high as that of the Ultra. The Galaxy S22 Plus is the perfect mix of the S22 and S22 Ultra, with the most important point, namely the high brightness, being carried over from the Ultra model.

Software and performance convince

The software of Samsung smartphones has gotten better and better every year. Yes, there are still many pre-installed apps that nobody needs, but basically everyone can get along with such a smartphone. With “One UI 4.1” you have additional setting options and you can Customize your smartphone. Here you can really let off steam.

On a positive note, the Galaxy S22 Plus compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra (to test) runs absolutely smoothly. Whether you’re browsing apps like YouTube or Chrome, or playing games, everything just runs smoothly. Compared to the Pixel 6 Pro, which I am currently using at the same time, both devices are at a very high level. Samsung is just a bit more aggressive with apps running in the background in my opinion. This is particularly noticeable in the Chrome browser. Web pages often have to be reloaded there, while they simply remain in memory on the Google phone.

Otherwise, the new Samsung cell phones trump Google’s update policy. Five years of security updates and four new Android versions are promised. So the Galaxy S22 Plus still gets Android 16 and will receive security updates until 2027. All this ensures that you can use the smartphone for many years without having to compromise on security.

New main camera convinces

While a 12 MP main sensor was used in the Galaxy S21 Plus, Samsung uses it in the Galaxy S22 Plus a main sensor with 50 MP. The camera is supported by a 12 MP ultra wide-angle and telephoto lens. The image quality is convincing in almost every situation. Only when it comes to zooming, the smartphone cannot keep up with the periscope zoom of the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Here you have to quickly accept quality losses. At night you should also keep the smartphone quiet and let the night mode do the work. Below some photos:

battery life and charging speed

Compared to the predecessor, Samsung has reduced the battery in the Galaxy S22 Plus by 300 mAh to 4,500 mAh. This affects the battery life somewhat. In the test, I got a runtime of well over a day. In contrast to the Galaxy S22 Ultra, I had no problems getting through the day here, even with intensive use. The smartphone hardly consumed any energy, especially in sleep mode. the Display-on time was around 6.5 to 7 hours. This is a solid value, but the predecessor lasted longer.

You can charge the Galaxy S22 Plus with up to 45 watts. However, there is no power supply included and, as with the Galaxy S22 Ultra, a 25 watt power supply is sufficient here as well, since you do not reach the 45 watts at all. You only save a few minutes in charging time if you use a 45-watt power supply. In this respect, Samsung lags far behind the competition from China.

ratings in detail