Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra SM-S908UGRP Review
The Galaxy S22 Ultra packs a killer camera and all-day battery into a giant, expensive body. It's the phone to buy if you need the S Pen, but there's better value elsewhere.
The 30-Second Version
The S22 Ultra is a Swiss Army knife of a phone with a phenomenal camera and great battery. It's also big, heavy, and expensive. Buy it for the S Pen, not just the specs.
Overview
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a phone that tries to be everything to everyone, and for the most part, it succeeds. It's a camera powerhouse, a productivity beast with the built-in S Pen, and it has a screen that's just gorgeous. But the one thing you need to know is that this is a big, heavy, and expensive slab of a phone. It's not for the faint of heart or the small of pocket.
Performance
The performance is solid, landing in the 84th percentile in our database, but it's not the raw speed that impresses. It's the battery life. With a 5000mAh cell scoring in the 96th percentile, this thing lasts. You'll easily get through a full day of heavy use, and that's with the stunning 6.8-inch QHD+ display cranked up. The camera performance, however, is the real star, sitting in the 99th percentile. The 108MP main sensor is a beast, and the 8K video is legitimately impressive, even if you'll rarely use it.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Camera system is top-tier, especially for photos and 8K video. 100th
- Battery life is excellent and reliable for all-day use. 98th
- The built-in S Pen is a unique and genuinely useful tool for notes and edits. 97th
- Display is bright, sharp, and beautiful for media. 93th
Cons
- It's a chonky boy at 228g, and the boxy design isn't for everyone.
- The price is steep, even for a flagship.
- Performance is great but not class-leading compared to some newer chips.
- Weakest area is ruggedness, so you'll want a case.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Screen Size | 6.8 |
| Resolution | 3088 x 1440 |
Performance
| Processor | Octa-core |
| Processor Model | Octa-core |
| CPU Cores | 8 |
| CPU Speed | 2.99 |
| RAM | 12 MB |
| Storage | 256 GB |
Camera
| Main Camera | 108 |
| Camera Count | 4 |
| Front Camera | 40 |
| Video | 8K |
Battery & Charging
| Battery | 5000 Wh |
| Connector | USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C |
Connectivity
| 5G | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C |
Design & Build
| Weight | 0.2 kg / 0.5 lbs |
| Fingerprint | Yes |
| Face Recognition | No |
| OS | Android |
| Headphone Jack | No |
Value & Pricing
At $1100, it's a tough sell. You're paying a premium for the S Pen and the Samsung brand. If you don't need that stylus, there's better value out there. But if you do, this is the only game in town, and the camera and battery make the price a bit easier to swallow.
vs Competition
The Google Pixel 10 will likely beat it on pure camera computational photography and a cleaner software experience for less money. The OnePlus 15 will probably offer similar or better raw performance for a few hundred dollars less, but you'll miss out on the S Pen, wireless charging, and that Samsung polish. The iPhone 16e is for a completely different ecosystem, but it'll be more compact and likely have better long-term software support.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra SM-S908UGRP | Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26 SM-S948UZKAXAA | Google Google Pixel 10 GA09899-US | OnePlus OnePlus 15 5011116281 | Motorola Moto G PB6V0014US | Apple Unlocked iPhone 15/15 Plus MTLY3LL/A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.8 | 6.9 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.1 |
| Display Type | — | OLED | OLED | OLED | AMOLED | OLED |
| Refresh Rate | — | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 60 |
| Processor | Octa-core | Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | 3.78 GHz | 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon® 6 Gen 3 Mobile Platform | A16 |
| RAM (GB) | 12 | 12 | 16 | — | 8 | — |
| Storage (GB) | 256 | 256 | 256 | 512 | 1024 | 128 |
| Rear Camera Mp | 108 | 200 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 48 |
| Front Camera Mp | 40 | 12 | 42 | 32 | 32 | — |
| Battery Capacity Mah | 5000 | 5000 | 4870 | 7300 | 5000 | — |
| Charging Wattage | — | 60 | — | — | 68 | — |
| Wireless Charging | — | true | false | — | true | — |
| Five (g) | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Water Resistance | — | IP68 | IP68 | IP69 | IP68 | — |
| Operating System | Android | Android 16 | Android 16 | Android 16 | Android 15 | iPadOS 17 |
Common Questions
Q: Is the S Pen worth it?
Only if you actually take notes, sketch, or edit documents on your phone. If not, it's just a fancy pointer.
Q: How's the battery life really?
It's great. The 5000mAh battery scores in the top 5% of phones we've tested. You won't be hunting for a charger at 3 PM.
Q: Should I buy this or wait for the S23?
If you need a phone now and find this on a good sale, it's still a powerhouse. If you can wait, the newer model will have a better chip and maybe a better price.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a compact, lightweight, or budget-friendly phone, this isn't it. Go get a Google Pixel 'a' series phone or a standard Galaxy S model instead. Also, if you hate big phones, you'll hate this.
Verdict
We recommend the Galaxy S22 Ultra if you're a power user who absolutely needs the S Pen integrated into your phone. It's also a fantastic choice if camera versatility and all-day battery are your top priorities. For everyone else, especially those sensitive to price or size, look at the Pixel or OnePlus options first.