The shutdown of the Galaxy Note series certainly makes fans of this device sad. But Samsung seems to have prepared a replacement by releasing the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Meet this, the new Galaxy Note "flavor".
Calling the Galaxy S22 Ultra similar to the Galaxy Note is not without reason. The appearance does adopt the iconic design of the Galaxy Note series with the characteristic S Pen stylus that blends with the body.
Check out our impressions of using the Galaxy S22 Ultra in a week.
Design
Galaxy S22 Ultra adopts the Galaxy Note design. It can be seen from the rounded edges on the left and right, and has a square top and bottom edge. And of course the presence of the S Pen which is integrated in the body further strengthens this.
When juxtaposed with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, the Galaxy S22 Ultra will immediately be called the successor. Yes, even when used, we will feel the elements of the Galaxy S Series in it.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra feels bulky and heavy, so it's a bit clunky when you try to hold it with one hand. For users of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, they may already be used to the dimensions, but they have to adjust the weight a bit because the Galaxy S22 Ultra is 20 grams heavier.
Talking about the back, there are four Galaxy S22 Ultra cameras embedded directly on the phone body. The design of this camera is made to look different compared to the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 plus which still use contour cuts like the Galaxy S21 series.
The Burgundy color that we are reviewing is indeed so captivating on the eyes. The matte coating that covers the back of this phone makes it free of fingerprints.
It's just that the body of the Galaxy S22 Ultra feels slippery. Although Samsung claims this phone is sturdy because it uses an Aluminum Armor frame and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, it is highly recommended to use a case to prevent the S22 Ultra from slipping from your hand.
The position of the power button is right above the center of the right edge so that it is easy for the thumb to reach when holding it with the right hand or the index finger when in the left hand. Above the power button is the power settings button.
Samsung placed the SIM card slot at the top of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, now it has been moved to the bottom. When opening it should be careful, make sure it sticks in the correct hole. Because next to the slot there is a microphone hole that is similar in size. This runs the risk of damaging the microphone if the user plugs it in the wrong way.
S Pen
Here it is, the feature that makes the Galaxy S22 Ultra feel like a replacement for the Galaxy Note, especially if it's not the S Pen. On the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the S Pen is purchased separately. While the Galaxy S22 Ultra includes an S Pen embedded in the body of the phone like the Galaxy Note.
Samsung says it has improved the capabilities of the S Pen on the Galaxy S22 thereby reducing its latency. This claim seems to be proven. Compared to the older S Pen, the stylus on the Galaxy S22 Ultra feels very responsive and easy to navigate when in use.
We use it for writing, taking notes, even drawing and coloring. It's almost like the sensation of scribbling a pencil or pen on paper. Again, for those who have held the Galaxy Note, the overall experience feels like the device.
The function of converting scribbles to text is maintained, even improved due to the more responsive S Pen. When you are in a hurry and want to immediately write down notes, for example, you can immediately take out the S Pen and immediately scribble, even when the phone screen is locked. These scribbles can later be converted into text.
Just like in the last Galaxy Note series, this S Pen can also be used as a smartphone remote control, for example to press the camera shutter button when taking pictures from a distance.
Screen
The screen of the Galaxy S22 Ultra is one of the largest on the market, even more so than the iPhone 13 Pro Max. Using a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel with a resolution of 3,088 x 1,440 pixels and a dynamic refresh rate of 1~120Hz
Thanks to the brightness level of up to 1,750 nits and the Vision Booster feature, the screen looks bright. Even though we set the brightness setting or the screen brightness level at 50% or even below. Even in conditions under direct sunlight, the phone screen is still comfortable to see.
The large screen of the Galaxy S22 Ultra is satisfying when used for video streaming. This phone is capable of displaying stunning colors, deep blacks, and all the features - including HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos - are provided for the maximum multimedia experience. Moreover, it is supported by stereo speakers that have Dolby Atmos support.
At the bottom of the screen we will find the same ultrasonic fingerprint sensor as the one on Samsung's previous premium phones. But the South Korean tech giant says the algorithm has been further improved.
Honestly we didn't feel the difference. That's not to say it's a drawback, because the fingerprint sensor on the S22 Ultra is just as fast as the S21 Ultra. It only takes one touch to recognize fingerprints, and the sensor position is very comfortable for fingers to reach.
Camera
Samsung promises a lot of camera improvements in the Galaxy S22 series compared to its predecessor. The Galaxy S22 series camera is claimed to be capable of taking pictures and recording videos during the day and night.
Nightography is most often mentioned at the launch of this smartphone series. The Galaxy S22 trio is promised to be able to take bright and detailed photos even in low-light conditions.
Well, the Galaxy S22 Ultra camera is the highest in specifications, with a 108 MP main camera, 12 MP ultra wide lens, 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, 10 MP periscope camera with 10x optical zoom and 100x space zoom.
In addition to taking pictures, this main camera also promises the ability to record video with quality reaching 8K at 24fps and image stability guaranteed by Gyro-EIS technology.
Meanwhile, selfie needs are supported by a front camera with a 40 MP wide angle sensor which is also capable of recording videos with quality up to 4K at 60fps.
Battery and Performance
Throughout the use of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the phone felt as smooth as one would expect from a high-end smartphone. Opening the application is very responsive and fast, as well as when sliding between screens and menus feels smooth, playing games there is no lag at all.
Mobile phone performance certainly cannot be separated from the role of the embedded brain. Samsung is capitalizing on the Galaxy S22 Ultra with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the most powerful chipset currently made by Qualcomm. we had time to do a benchmark, the value is high.
As for battery life, there is indeed an increase from the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra which has a capacity of 4,500 mAh. But when compared to the Galaxy S21 Ultra battery, it is still equally capable of holding 5,000 mAh.
However, the ability of this battery is sufficient for the needs of daily use. With this capacity, the device can last about a day and a half.
Keep in mind that battery life will vary depending on many factors, including settings like screen brightness and what apps you're using.
Samsung provides an increase in fast charging capabilities on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. With 45W fast charging, the phone can be fully charged in 75 minutes.
But it should be noted, Samsung's purchase package does not include a charger adapter so users have to buy their own. Well, make sure to buy a charger that supports fast charging above 45W.
Our Opinion
The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a complete package phone. The performance is also fast thanks to the support of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. The screen and speakers are also cool for enjoying content, whether streaming or playing games.
The existence of the S Pen makes the Galaxy S22 Ultra different from others. Not just for writing notes, more than that S Pen helps users to sketch and draw, edit videos and more.
The camera is also capable of taking pictures and recording videos in low light conditions. Galaxy S22 Ultra can also be relied on for productivity thanks to Samsung DeX and Link to Windows.
Despite these advantages, the Galaxy S22 Ultra feels big and heavy. Although it looks premium and sturdy, the design is a bit boring because it repeats from the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
If Samsung still adopted the contour cut, it might give a different impression. And one more thing, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is still full of unused default applications.