Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus sits between the much less expensive S22 and the much more featured-packed S22 Ultra with its S-Pen and that's its fall down as, unfortunately, for what you get, it is expensive making it less appealing than the S22 and it just doesn't offer what the S22 Ultra does. It does look good, though, and the camera is decent but it's not the most comfortable smartphone to hold and it just doesn't feel like a flagship smartphone.
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Samsung's launch of a new range of smartphones always grabs everyone's attention and this year's launch was no different with 3 smartphones arriving with flagship specs, and flagship prices.
Sitting in the middle of the trio of Galaxy S22 smartphones is the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus which offers similar specs to the less expensive Galaxy S22 but in a larger frame with a bigger screen and larger battery but it doesn't offer quite as many features as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (it's also smaller).
We've been putting the Pink Gold version of the Galaxy S22 to the test to find out if the middle sibling of the Galaxy S22 range can stand out from the crowd and also capture cracking photos.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Features
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus features an impressive line-up of cameras with a 12MP f/2.2 Ultra-Wide Camera, 50MP f/1.8 Wide Camera (Dual Pixel AF, OIS) and a 10MP f/2.4 Telephoto Camera (OIS) with 3X optical zoom found on the rear and a 10MP f/2.2 selfie camera. Video can be captured in 8K, 4K and Full HD.
The display measures 6.6-inch and it sits in a 75.8 x 157.4 x 7.6mm aluminium frame that securely holds the Gorilla Glass Victus+ display and back.
A 4500mAh battery powers the smartphone while an IP68 dust/water resistance rating means the Galaxy S22 Plus can be used in water up to 1.5m deep for around 30 minutes.
Camera modes include Samsung's Single Take as well as modes for photographing food, panoramas, night shots, portraits and for those who want more control over how the camera captures a photo, there's a Pro mode.
Samsung Galaxy S22+ Specs:
- 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera f/2.2, 50MP f/1.8 Wide Camera (Dual Pixel AF, OIS), 10MP f/2.4 3X Optical Zoom Telephoto Camera (OIS)
- 10MP f/2.2 Front Camera
- 6.6-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
- 4500mAh battery
- IP68 rating
- Memory: 8 + 256GB, 8 + 128GB
- Dimensions: 75.8 x 157.4 x 7.6mm
- Weight: 195g
Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Handling
When you first get the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus out of its box we think you'll agree with us that it's not the most comfortable smartphone to hold. It feels quite wide and the frame is rather angular so you find yourself adjusting how you hold it to stop it from digging in. Buttons fall under your fingers but those with small hands may find it a bit of a stretch if holding the smartphone in just one hand. It's a shame as to look at it, the Galaxy S22 Plus is an eye-catching smartphone with interesting colour options and a cool design that makes it very modern. We like the contrasting camera bump that's the same colour as the smartphone's frame but it doesn't seamlessly merge quite as well as we've seen the frame/camera bump do on other smartphones. We really like the Pink Gold colour option, though, and can see it being a popular choice. We also like that it's not a fingerprint magnet.
Despite its size (75.8 x 157.4 x 7.6mm) the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus doesn't weigh too much coming in at around 195g and large dimensions mean you get a large display (6.6-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display) that offers a clear view, good colour reproduction and excellent brightness levels. A small punch-hole selfie camera sits towards the top but doesn't distract and the bezels surrounding the display are tiny. Some might have expected a better resolution considering its price but it actually sits on par with quite a few other Android smartphones available both inexpensive and more costly.
Other features are what we have come to expect on any smartphone such as a USB-C slot, stereo speakers and fast charging but you don't get a headphone jack or memory card slot. Although, with 128GB/8GB and 256GB/8GB options available, you probably won't need a microSD card anyway.
The rear cameras are the same as those found on the less expensive Galaxy S22 but the main camera improves on the S21's main shooter with it now offering 50MP in comparison to the 12MP found on the Galaxy S21 which should improve low light images but will also make images captured in daylight brighter, too.
The ultra-wide camera remains the same but the telephoto camera has had a tweak. 3X optical zoom is built-in with the option to use up to 30x digital zoom and AI can be activated to help you capture improved shots. On the front, you find a 10MP f/2.2 selfie camera.
As for the camera app itself, it's easy to use and looks very similar to many other camera apps built into modern smartphones. There's also a Pro mode should you wish to take more control over the camera settings.
Camera Specs:
- 12MP f/2.2 Ultra-Wide Camera
- 50MP f/1.8 Wide Camera (Dual Pixel AF, OIS)
- 10MP f/2.4 3X Optical Zoom Telephoto Camera (OIS)
- 10MP f/2.2 Front Camera
Battery life - There's a 4500mAh battery built-in and we had no problems with a loss of power while out shooting images and capturing video for an afternoon.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G Performance
The performance section is where we look at the image quality performance of the camera. Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.
Samsung Galaxy S22+ Sample Photos
Sample Photos - Samsung has a reputation for creating excellent smartphone cameras and the S22 Plus carries this baton really well with excellent colour reproduction, sharp detail and good exposure levels. Dynamic range is good, with Auto HDR automatically expanding dynamic range captured and the scene optimiser will automatically recognise a scene to help you get a better shot, and this can quickly be switched on and off. When using the smartphone's assistance, some shots did end up looking a little toxic but this didn't happen every time. The Portrait Mode does need applause, however, as not once did it perform badly adding bokeh to backgrounds beautifully with no clipping. We didn't just use this mode for Portraits either as it works great for any situation where you want to isolate your subject.
Samsung Galaxy S22+ Lens test images
Lens Performance - Moving between the main three cameras couldn't be easier and it's great to see that colours remain the same no matter which camera you are using. We can see some distortion when using the ultra-wide camera but apart from that, each camera performs well. You get up to 3X optical zoom and then the smartphone switches to digital but even the 10X digital zoom produced alright results. Do avoid the 30X zoom if you can, though, as the results aren't great.
Samsung Galaxy S22+ Digital filters
Digital Filters - An abundance of digital filters are built-in so there's definitely something for everyone and they are easy to apply.
Panoramas - Panoramas are stitched well with good colour reproduction but they can appear a little dark with the sensor seeming to struggle when dynamic range is wide.
Video - Video is captured in a wide range of resolutions including 8K and 4K at a variety of frame rates. 8K is still a bit pointless for most average smartphone users and if you stick to 4K and under, you can use the built-in IS.
Value For Money
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is priced at £949 and £999 depending on how many GB you want the smartphone to have. It's a flagship price that just feels a little too expensive, especially when you look at the specs in comparison to other Android smartphones available. Alternatives include the OnePlus 10 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G and Google Pixel 6.
For more options, have a look at our 'Best Smartphones For Photography' top list or we have a 'Best Budget Camera Phones For Photography' list you can also peruse.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is a good smartphone but it simply doesn't offer enough in terms of upgrades when compared to the S21 Plus, it's expensive and if you can cope with the smaller display, it practically offers the same specs as the Galaxy S22 so you might as well save a bit of cash and go with that. Alternatively, if you can afford it, the Ultra version offers better specs and a more premium design. The fact that it's a flagship and it's not very comfortable to hold annoys us, too.
It's a shame as the Galaxy S22 Plus is great at taking photos, particularly with the Portrait mode, it has a decent display, the battery is good and we like the colour options that are available.
When the price drops, the Galaxy S22 Plus might be worth considering but for the moment, there are a lot more mid-range Android smartphones that offer similar specs and an improved user experience for a better price.
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