My new phone is the Samsung Galaxy S22+, and I am impressed
I got the new Samsung Galaxy S22+ on launch day to replace my ageing Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro, and I was blown away by the responsiveness of the new phone.
I bought the Samsung Galaxy S22+ from the Samsung Store in Mall of Africa, and it came with R2,000 store credit and free Galaxy Buds.
The store credit went to buy a screen protector, a cover, and a Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag.
After using the phone over the weekend, I am happy with my investment.
While my old device had respectable specs considering its price and 2019 release date, the Samsung Galaxy S22+ is in another league.
It has a larger battery, a faster processor, a screen with a higher refresh rate, 5G capability, better camera capabilities, and much more.
What I noticed the most after my upgrade was how responsive the S22+ feels with the 120Hz refresh rate screen.
While the Xiaomi was by no means slow when opening and switching between apps, the higher refresh rate on the S22+ makes the process amazingly smooth, enhancing the user experience.
The camera experience is also much better, even though the cameras are similar on paper.
The Samsung Galaxy S22+ has excellent optical image stabilisation, which is clearly noticeable when taking high-resolution videos or using higher digital zoom levels.
I have not tested night photography and videos yet, but I am certain the S22+ will excel in this department.
Speaking of videos, the S22+ features stereo audio for media, which is a feature I missed on my Xiaomi.
The larger battery in the Samsung also means that the phone lasts me a whole day, even with heavy use. The Xiaomi, in comparison, did not last as long — partly because of its ageing battery.
The wireless charging on the Samsung device also makes for easy top-ups, as I can just put it down on the pad on my desk while I am working.
Other futureproof features of the new Samsung is the 5G and Wi-Fi 6 capabilities. I am keen to test these enhancements in the coming days.
While 5G isn’t ubiquitous yet, my download speed at the office is consistently higher than 200 Mbps on a mobile connection. It is much higher than I am used to on the Xiaomi — 40 Mbps to 50 Mbps.
Many more tests of the Samsung Galaxy S22+ will follow in the coming days, but so far, I am thoroughly impressed with my new phone.
Samsung Galaxy S22+ | |
---|---|
OS | Android 12, One UI 4.1 |
Display | 6.6-inch 1,080×2,340 OLED with 120Hz refresh rate |
Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
Storage | 256GB |
RAM | 8GB |
Rear camera | 50MP + 12MP + 10MP |
Front camera | 10MP |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.2 |
Ports | USB-C |
Cellular | 5G |
SIM | Single or Dual Nano SIM |
Biometrics | Under-display fingerprint reader |
Battery and charging | 4,500mAh45W wired charging15W wireless charging4.5W reverse chargingUSB PD 3.0 |
Dimensions and weight | 157.4 x 75.8 x 7.6mm (196g) |