Samsung Galaxy S22 Series: Has The Galaxy Note Returned Disguised As A S22 Ultra?

Samsung Galaxy S welcomes a new generation and this time, Samsung has adopted an entirely different strategy. It has distanced its range-topper, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, from the two other models. The distancing is right down to the press releases too where Ultra has separate press texts to the lesser S22 and S22+.

TBH, I don’t like it (the separation). If the three models are from the same series, they should share the same design language. That’s the whole point of sharing the same namesake, is it not? The new Galaxy S series makes you wonder what is the point naming anymore.

In any case, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is only by name the same series. In reality, it is a totally different series. It is like Galaxy Note masquerading as an S series device. It is a pathetic attempt to keep the series together and yet want a device to have all the good stuff of the Note series – including the S-Pen.

Not only the S-Pen makes the Ultra look like a Note but the styling is pretty much that of the Note series up until 2020. Trying too hard, Samsung? Don’t kid yourself already, Samsung. Just called it Samsung Galaxy Note 21 (or maybe 22?) and be done with it.

Even the specs are a world of difference. Ultra has always been different but mostly on the imaging aspect but now, there are more – down to the display, which is an LPTO display that allows for refresh rate from 1 Hz to 120 Hz.

I can’t help but feel like the Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+ exist just to fill the void created by folks who can’t afford the Ultra or find the Ultra is too enormous, and still want a flagship device.

Speaking of the Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22+, the aesthetics remain largely unchanged. Except for a flatter back cover that is now of glass as opposed to plastic. At a glance, you may feel like you have traveled back to 2021.

Obviously, the devices are more than just about the looks. There are some improvements. The most obvious would be the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip (or the new 4 nm Exynos in some regions) and 45 W wired charging for S8+ (and of course, the Ultra).

Imaging gets a bump too with the S22 and S22+ rocking a tri-camera setup comprising of a 12 MP ultra-wide, a 50 MP wide with OIS, and a 10 MP telephoto with 3X optical zoom and OIS. Over at the front, both the lesser S22 gets a 10 MP snapper.

Meanwhile, the Note, wait, no, I mean the S22 Ultra, has a quad-camera setup featuring a 12 MP ultra-wide, a 108 MP wide camera, 10 MP telephoto with 3X optical zoom, and another 10 MP telephoto with 10X optical zoom. The front also has a far superior (in MP speaks, that is) selfie camera, coming in at 40 MP.

The new Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra Smartphones are available to order now with a starting price of US$799.99, US$999.99, and US$1,199.99, respectively.