Samsung S22 Ultra Black 512GB Review
The Samsung S22 Ultra offers flagship power and a stunning display at a lower price, but its aging battery and lack of 5G are hard to ignore in 2024.
The 30-Second Version
The Samsung S22 Ultra is a fast phone with a stunning screen and huge 512GB storage, but its age shows. Battery life and cameras are just okay, and it lacks 5G. At $700, it's a solid pick only if you really want its specific features and can live with its flaws.
Overview
The Samsung S22 Ultra is a classic power user phone that's now a few years old. It's got a big, sharp 6.8-inch screen and a ton of storage with 512GB, which is still plenty for most people.
At its original price, it was a flagship contender. Now, at around $700, it's in a weird spot. It's competing against newer mid-range phones and last-gen flagships, and its age is starting to show in a few key areas.
Performance
Performance is where this phone still shines. Its processor lands in the 82nd percentile, which means it's fast. It handles games and multitasking with 12GB of RAM without breaking a sweat. The lowlights are the battery and camera, which score in the 39th and 37th percentiles. That means battery life is just okay, and the camera system, while decent, isn't keeping up with newer models.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The 6.8-inch Quad HD+ display is still gorgeous and sharp. 82th
- 512GB of storage is massive and future-proof. 70th
- Raw processing power is excellent for the price. 65th
- Build quality feels premium and solid.
Cons
- Battery life is mediocre compared to newer phones. 12th
- The camera system feels dated for a former flagship. 33th
- It only has 4G connectivity, no 5G. 35th
- It ships with an old version of Android (12).
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Screen Size | 6.8 |
Performance
| RAM | 12 MB |
| Storage | 512 GB |
Design & Build
| OS | Android 12 |
Value & Pricing
At $700, the value proposition is tricky. You're getting a lot of phone—great screen, fast chip, tons of storage—but you're also buying tech that's a couple of generations old. For the same money, you could get a brand-new mid-ranger with a better camera, 5G, and longer software support. This is only a good deal if you specifically want this phone's particular blend of size and power and don't mind the compromises.
vs Competition
Stack it up against the competition and the trade-offs are clear. The Google Pixel 10 will smoke it in camera quality and software updates. A OnePlus 15 at a similar price will likely offer faster charging and a newer chip. Even the older iPhone 15 has a stronger ecosystem and better long-term support. The S22 Ultra's main advantage is its big, beautiful screen and that 512GB of storage, which you'd pay a lot more for on most of its rivals.
| Spec | Samsung S22 Ultra | Motorola Moto G Motorola - moto g stylus 2025 256GB (Unlocked) - | Google Pixel Google - Pixel 10 Pro 256GB (Unlocked) - Obsidian | OnePlus OnePlus OnePlus - 15 512GB (Unlocked) - Infinite Black | Apple iPhone Apple - Pre-Owned Excellent iPhone 16 Pro 5G 128GB | 8849 Tank 8849 Tank 3 5G Rugged Smartphone, 23800mAh 6.79" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 6.3 | 6.8 |
| Display Type | - | OLED | OLED | OLED | OLED | - |
| Refresh Rate | - | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| Processor | - | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 | 3.78 GHz | 8 Elite Gen 5 | Apple A18 Pro | Octa-Core |
| RAM (GB) | 12 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 16 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 | 256 | 256 | 512 | 128 | 512 |
| Rear Camera Mp | - | 50 | 50 | 50 | 48 | 200 |
| Front Camera Mp | - | 32 | 42 | 32 | 12 | - |
| Battery Capacity Mah | - | 5000 | 4870 | 7300 | 3582 | - |
| Charging Wattage | - | 68 | - | - | - | - |
| Wireless Charging | - | true | false | - | true | false |
| Five (g) | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Water Resistance | - | IP68 | IP68 | IP69 | IP68 | IP68 |
| Operating System | Android 12 | Android 15 | Android 16 | Android 16 | iPadOS 18 | Android |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Build | Camera | Battery | Display | Feature | Performance | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung S22 Ultra | 40.1 | 34.6 | 35.2 | 65.3 | 12.1 | 81.5 | 32.6 | 70.1 |
| Motorola Moto G stylus 2025 Compare | 99.9 | 96.8 | 99.9 | 99.7 | 100 | 86.4 | 99.9 | 99.8 |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro Compare | 99.3 | 99 | 89.8 | 97.9 | 88.9 | 82.9 | 98.7 | 97.9 |
| OnePlus OnePlus 15 Compare | 92.5 | 99.8 | 98.7 | 97.7 | 94.7 | 100 | 99.5 | 99.8 |
| Apple iPhone Pre-Owned Excellent 16 Pro 5G Compare | 99.3 | 99.4 | 88.6 | 98.4 | 86.1 | 97.4 | 94.6 | 97.9 |
| 8849 Tank 8849 Tank 3 5G Rugged Compare | 92.5 | 86.5 | 70.2 | 92.5 | 96.9 | 84.4 | 87.5 | 92.5 |
Common Questions
Q: Does the Samsung S22 Ultra have 5G?
No, this specific model only has 4G LTE connectivity, which is a big downside for a phone at this price point in 2024.
Q: Is 512GB of storage overkill?
Not really. With high-res photos, 4K video, and large apps, 512GB gives you plenty of headroom and means you'll almost never need to worry about space.
Q: How many Android updates will it get?
Since it launched with Android 12, it's already received several major updates. Check Samsung's official page, but support for major new versions is likely ending soon.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you need all-day battery life, want the absolute best camera, or require 5G speeds. Also, if you like having the latest software features, look at a Pixel or a newer Samsung model because this one's update cycle is winding down.
Verdict
Buy this if you're a Samsung loyalist who wants a big-screen Note-like experience without paying for the latest S24 Ultra, and you're okay with charging it more often and missing out on the latest camera tricks. It's for the power user on a slight discount.