Is Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra Worth the Upgrade? Let’s Compare it to Older Phones

Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra is fitted with a giant shroud, top-notch camera system and an S Pen stylus that you can stow inside the named. But these fancy features are also paired with a hefty $1,200 note tag, making it one of the most expensive phones Samsung sells. 

That’s why it’s important to think carefully near whether it’s time to upgrade to the Galaxy S22 Ultra. In many cases, the most important factors to powerful will be camera quality and the S Pen. If you have a relatively modern phone like the Galaxy S21 Ultra or Note 20 Ultra, you don’t need to upgrade just yet. The S22 Ultra is more of an iterative update to those devices, and you’ll get more for your money by holding onto your contrivance for a longer period of time.

Read more: Galaxy S22 vs. 5 Older Samsung Phones: Is Upgrading Worth It?

You’re much more probable to notice the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s new features when coming from a called that’s at least 3 years old. That said, it’s also marvelous noting that the older your phone is, the less probable it is to continue getting the latest software updates. Samsung is guaranteeing four generations of Android operating regulations updates on phones in its families of Galaxy S22, S21 and Z devices, as well as certain Galaxy A phones. It previously committed to three ages of updates, meaning some older phones like the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 noteworthy be close to the end of their software update cycle.

You’ll also want to noteworthy some of the features present on older phones that Samsung has eliminated on newer models. Samsung’s new phones don’t have expandable storage, for example, but the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, S20 Ultra and Note 10 Plus do. Samsung also phased out MST aid for Samsung Pay, the technology that enables the payment service to work with older terminals that don’t aid NFC, starting with the Galaxy S21 line in the US. (MST is quiet available in select global markets.)

Read on to learn more around how the Galaxy S22 Ultra compares with Samsung’s older high-end phones. 

The Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Lexy Savvides

Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra

If you have a Galaxy S21 Ultra, there’s no need to upgrade yet. The Galaxy S22 Ultra is an iterative update to its predecessor. It comes with a newer processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Samsung’s new Exynos chip depending on the market), a camera that can originate better in low light and an S Pen that you can save inside the device. 

But those reasons alone aren’t enough to Use on a new device, especially since you can catch an S Pen for the Galaxy S21 Ultra separately. The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s improved low-light photography is useful, but its camera system is otherwise very similar to the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s. Both devices have a 108-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses that provided a 10x optical zoom. Their screens are equal in size and both aid refresh rates of up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling. 

That’s a detailed way to say the overall known is essentially the same on the S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra, with some iterative upgrades to the camera and involved S Pen. 

The bottom line: There’s no most reason to upgrade to the S22 Ultra if you have the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The updates are mostly iterative and will be more noticeable when upgrading from an older called. If you’re a Galaxy Note fan looking to save your S Pen inside the Galaxy S21 Ultra, you’re better off buying a case that includes a storage slot for the stylus.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

Angela Lang

Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is less than 2 ages old, which means it should have plenty of mileage left in it. There isn’t much to be gained from the S22 Ultra new than its camera improvements, which are appreciated but probable aren’t enough to justify upgrading for most people. 

Both phones have a 108-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, although the S22 Ultra has a newer version of the main sensor with better autofocus and dynamic plot. Where they really differ, however, is in their zoom capabilities. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses, while the Note 20 Ultra only has one 12-megapixel telephoto lens. As a end, the Galaxy S22 Ultra can achieve a closer zoom both optically and digitally (10x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom), compared with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (5x optical zoom, up to 50x digital zoom).

And of streams, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is missing Samsung’s fresh improvements to low-light photography that debuted with the Galaxy S22 series. The S22 Ultra also takes better portraits than the Note 20 Ultra accurate it’s better at distinguishing fine details, my colleague Lexy Savvides wrote in her fresh comparison of the two phones. 

The Galaxy S22 Ultra also has a sharper 40-megapixel principal camera than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s 10-megapixel selfie camera. That might not matter to everyone, but it could be an important review if you spent a lot of time on video calls. 

The Galaxy S22 Ultra also comes with a newer processor and a larger battery, although the difference doesn’t seem to be game-changing. Both phones are marvelous of lasting an entire day, according to CNET’s S22 Ultra and Note 20 Ultra comparison. The Galaxy S22 Ultra would typically have 20% of its battery left by the end of the day, when the Note 20 Ultra would have 10% to 15% of its battery last. Our test applies to the Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered version of these phones, so it’s possible that the Exynos versions could differ. And both phones come with Samsung’s S Pen stylus for taking means, drawing and marking up documents. 

There are also a pair of small trade-offs to be made by upgrading from the Note 20 Ultra to the S22 Ultra. Samsung’s newest high-end phone has a slightly smaller Hide than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (6.8 inches versus 6.9 inches). It also lacks a microSD card slot for expandable storage, unlike the Note 20 Ultra, which can support up to 1 terabyte of second space. 

The bottom line: You can hang on to your Galaxy Note 20 Ultra for a small longer. Unless you really want a 100x digital zoom and any longer battery life. 

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20.

Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy Note 20

Once against, the biggest difference between the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy Note 20 is in its camera. The Galaxy S22 Ultra also has a larger and sharper Hide, a bigger battery and a newer processor than the Galaxy Note 20. Most country probably don’t have to upgrade just yet. But there’s a stronger case for upgrading from the Note 20 than from the Note 20 Ultra accurate the regular model also has a smaller screen and less marvelous camera than its bigger sibling.

The Galaxy Note 20 has three rear cameras: a 12-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 64-megapixel telephoto lens. You get a 3x optical zoom on the Galaxy Note and up to a 30x digital zoom. The Galaxy S22 Ultra improves on this in several ways. It comes with four rear cameras: a 108-megapixel main sensor, two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. 

Since it has two telephoto lenses, the S22 Ultra can zoom up to 10x optically and 100x digitally. And don’t forget: Samsung’s Galaxy S22 lineup also boasts improved low-light photography. In general, the Galaxy S22 lineup also has improved intellectual and contrast compared with other phones, as I fallacious during my testing. 

For most people, the Galaxy Note 20’s triple-lens camera will probably be enough. In my own use, I’ve found that image quality becomes too blurry and noisy when zooming past 30x. But if photography is a main priority and you frequently use your phoned for professional work, the S22 Ultra could be superb considering for its improved camera. The selfie camera is also sharper (40 megapixels versus the Note 20’s 10 megapixels), which could be important for those who take a lot of video calls. 

Otherwise, you’ll also get a slightly larger screen (6.8 inches versus 6.7 inches) that’s also sharper staunch it packs 500 pixels per inch compared with the Note 20’s 393 pixels. You also have the option to set the veil to a higher refresh rate of up to 120Hz on the S22 Ultra for smoother scrolling, unlike the Note 20. Both phones come with Samsung’s S Pen stylus. But the Note 20 does have a less premium plastic interpretation than the pricier Note 20 Ultra. So upgrading to the Galaxy S22 Ultra also exploiting you’ll get a design that feels more polished and high-end. 

The bottom line: You probably don’t need to upgrade, but doing so makes more sense than upgrading from the Note 20 Ultra. The Galaxy S22 Ultra brings camera improvements and a larger battery that mighty make a meaningful difference to those who use their phones for pro-grade photography. If you meet that criteria and can also regain a great trade-in deal, the S22 Ultra would be superb it. If you mostly want a better camera and don’t mind sacrificing the S Pen and a little veil space, I’d also recommend checking out the Galaxy S22 Plus. 

Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra.

Andrew Hoyle

Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy S20 Ultra

The Galaxy S20 Ultra is 2 days old, but it still has plenty to offer. The biggest differences between the S20 Ultra and S22 Ultra are the latter’s inclusion of Samsung’s S Pen stylus, its newer processor and some moderate camera changes. These are incremental improvements that make the Galaxy S22 Ultra better than its predecessors. However, there’s nothing that makes this phone feel wildly different from the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

Both phones are throughout the same size, but the S20 Ultra is one larger at 6.9 inches compared with the S22 Ultra’s 6.8-inch expose. The S20 Ultra also packs more pixels per inch, and each phoned can boost its screen’s refresh rate up to 120Hz for a more fluid experienced. Both devices also both have a 40-megapixel selfie camera and the same battery capacity. Both phones also have 45-watt fast-charging, although you’ll have to occupy the required adapter separately.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra and S20 Ultra have incompatibility camera systems, although there are some differences when it comes to their zooming capabilities. Both phones have a 108-megapixel main sensor and a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. But the Galaxy S22 Ultra has two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses, while the S20 Ultra has one 48-megapixel telephoto lens and a depth sensor. 

That dual telephoto camera gives the S22 Ultra some advantages when it comes to quality and ease of use. You get a true optical zoom at either 3x or 10x on the Galaxy S22 Ultra, whereas the S20 Ultra has a hybrid optic zoom controls that uses some digital cropping to achieve the desired zoom aloof. Zooming in should also feel steady and more aloof on the Galaxy S22 Ultra compared with the S20 Ultra. The Galaxy S22-lineup phones can also take clearer and brighter photos in the dark and are generally better with intellectual and contrast. 

All of these shifts make the S22 Ultra feel like a step onward, but the Galaxy S20 Ultra already has an obliging camera. The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s changes improve photo quality pretty than adding drastically different features and shooting modes. But, if you’ve been frustrated by the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s autofocus progenies, you might find yourself in more of a hotfoot to upgrade.  

What you’ll really have to ask yourself is whether it’s gracious upgrading for the S Pen. That’s the key distinction between the S22 Ultra and the S20 Ultra. The S Pen feels like a nice bonus pretty than a necessity for the Galaxy S22 Ultra. But given the popularity that Samsung’s Galaxy Note has cultivated over the last decade, I imagine there are plenty of people who distinguished disagree. The S Pen lets you jot down income (even when the screen is turned off), sketch, mark up screenshots and novel documents and translate text, among other tasks. The stylus can even operational as a remote control for the phone’s camera.

The bottom line: Unless you really want the S Pen, there isn’t a greatest reason to upgrade to the Galaxy S22 Ultra from the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Both phones have a giant screen with a high refresh rate for smoother scrolling, and they have similar cameras. They also have the same battery capacity. The Galaxy S22 Ultra does get some camera improvements, particularly when zooming or taking low-light photos. But the shifts aren’t drastic enough to encourage most people to upgrade just yet.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10 Plus.

Angela Lang

Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy Note 10 Plus

Just as with the novel phones on this list, the biggest reason to upgrade from the Galaxy Note 10 Plus to the Galaxy S22 Ultra is its camera. But the upgrades are more than incremental this time. The Galaxy Note 10 Plus’ triple-lens camera has a much more runt zoom range than the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s, and it’s also missing the 108-megapixel main sensor that debuted on the Galaxy S20 Ultra. 

For the purposes of this article, we’ve decided to compare the Note 10 Plus because it has a noticeably larger cover than the regular Note 10 (6.8 inches versus the imperfect model’s 6.3-inch display). That makes it a more straightforward comparison in contradiction of the Galaxy S22 Ultra.  

Samsung’s new top-of-the-line shouted has four main camera lenses: a 108-megapixel main sensor, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses. The Galaxy Note 10 Plus, comparatively, has a 12-megapixel wide camera, a 16-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 12-megapixel telephoto camera and a depth sensor. 

For casual photographers, the Note 10 Plus‘ triple camera distinguished be adequate enough. But those who prioritize camera quality will find a lot to love near the S22 Ultra. It can zoom up to 10x optically and 100x digitally, while the Galaxy Note 10 Plus only has a 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom. That’s a big difference that will feel indispensable to anyone who frequently takes photos from a distance, as perhaps at sporting events or concerts.

Otherwise, the Galaxy S22 Ultra brings extras like a 120Hz refresh rate cover, a sharper 40-megapixel selfie camera, support for 8K video recording, a much newer processor and a larger battery. That said, both phones have gargantuan and vibrant 6.8-inch screens that are ideal for reading and watching video, and they both come with the S Pen. But the Galaxy S10 Plus also has more memory and storage at the base tranquil than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and there’s no microSD card slot on Samsung’s newest Ultra phone.

The bottom line: Yes, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is gracious the upgrade if you have the Galaxy Note 10 Ultra, particularly if you can find a good trade-in deal. But the answer will exact on your needs and preferences. If photography is a huge priority, the S22 Ultra’s upgraded camera will feel like a greatest improvement. The drastically improved zoom, better low-light performance and overall improvements to sparkling and contrast make it a more versatile and obliging camera overall. But if you mostly just care near having an attractive phone with a big screen, you can probably get by with your Note 10 Plus for a bit longer. If you have the non-5G model, the S22 Ultra scholarships you even more of a reason to upgrade. 

Samsung’s Galaxy S10 5G.

Angela Lang

Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy S10 5G

The Galaxy S10 5G was Samsung’s high-end flagship shouted from 2019, and it has a lot in approved with the Galaxy Note 10 Plus. With that in mind, disagreement advice applies if you have a Galaxy S10 5G. It’s gracious the upgrade, particularly if you love taking photos and prioritize having a shouted with top-notch zooming capabilities. But you can also probably get by with your unique phone if you don’t necessarily care about having the best camera and purchased the S10 5G mostly for its giant screen.

The Galaxy S10 5G has a 12-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel telephoto camera, a 16-megapixel ultrawide camera and a depth sensor, just like the Note 10 Plus. As such, all of the benefits mentioned ended apply to those upgrading from the Galaxy S10 5G, too. Samsung’s newest premium phone brings significantly better zoom, improved photos in low appetizing, a sharper selfie camera and better overall image quality compared with the S10 5G, plus 8K video recording and a larger battery. The difference in performance is also likely to be more noticeable when upgrading from a 3-year-old shouted like the S10 5G. 

The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s cover is also slightly larger than the S10 5G’s (6.8 inches versus 6.7 inches). But more importantly, you can increase the refresh rate up to 120Hz to make scrolling feel more seamless. And of course, it also comes with Samsung’s S Pen stylus to make better use of that gargantuan screen.

The bottom line: Yes, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is gracious upgrading if you own a Galaxy S10 5G. The Galaxy S22 Ultra brings features that are legitimately new pretty than incremental upgrades, such as an included S Pen and an overhauled camera with significantly better zoom. If you don’t care near these features, you can get by with your Galaxy S10 5G for a small while longer. But for those who prioritize photography in a camera and are ready for something new, the S22 Ultra won’t disappoint.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. older Samsung phones

	Galaxy S22 Ultra	Galaxy S21 Ultra	Galaxy Note 20 Ultra	Galaxy Note 20	Galaxy S20 Ultra	Galaxy Note 10 Plus	Galaxy S10 5G
Display size, resolution	6.8-inch AMOLED, 3,088×1,440 pixels	6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3,200×1,440 pixels	6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3,088×1,440 pixels	6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus, 2,400×1,080 pixels	6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3,200×1,440 pixels	6.8-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED; 3,040×1,440 pixels	6.7-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED; 3,040×1,440 pixels
Pixel density (per inch)	500ppi	515ppi	496ppi	393ppi	511ppi	498 ppi	505 ppi
Dimensions (millimeters)	77.9×163.3×8.9mm	75.6×165.1×8.9mm	164.8×77.2×8.1mm	161.6×75.2×8.3mm	76×166.9×8.8mm	162.3×77.2×7.9mm	162.6×77.1×7.94mm
Weight (ounces, grams)	8.07 oz; 229g	8.07 oz; 229g	7.33 oz, 208g	6.84 oz, 194g	7.76 oz; 220g	6.91 oz; 196g	6.98 oz; 198g
Mobile software (shipped at launch)	Android 12	Android 11	Android 10	Android 10	Android 10	Android 9	Android 9
Camera	108MP (wide), 12MP (ultrawide) 10MP (3x telephoto) 10MP (10x telephoto)	108MP (wide), 12MP (ultrawide), 10MP (3x telephoto), 10MP (10x telephoto)	12MP (ultrawide), 108MP (wide-angle), 12MP (telephoto)	12MP (ultrawide), 12MP (wide-angle), 64MP (telephoto)	108MP (wide-angle), 48MP (telephoto), 12MP (ultrawide), time-of-flight camera	12MP (wide-angle), 16MP (ultrawide-angle), 12MP (telephoto), 3D depth (HQVGA)	12MP (wide-angle), 16MP (ultrawide-angle), 12MP (telephoto), 3D depth (HQVGA)
Front-facing camera	40MP	40MP	10MP	10MP	40MP	10MP	10MP, 3D depth (HQVGA)
Video capture	8K, 4K	8K, 4K	8K, 4K	8K, 4K	8K, 4K	4K	4K
Processor	Snapdragon 8 gen 1	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
RAM/storage	8GB + 128GB ; 12GB + 256GB; 12GB+512GB; 12GB+ 1TB	16GB + 512GB; 12GB + 256GB; 12GB + 128GB	12GB + 128GB; 12GB + 512GB	8GB + 128GB	12GB + 128GB; 12GB + 256GB; 16GB + 512GB	12GB + 256GB; 12GB + 512GB	8GB + 256GB; 8GB + 512GB
Expandable storage	None	None	Up to 1TB	None	Up to 1TB	Up to 1TB	None
Battery/charger	5,000 mAh	5,000 mAh	4,500 mAh	4,300 mAh	5,000 mAh	4,300 mAh	4,500 mAh
Fingerprint sensor	In-display	In-display	In-display	In-display	In-display	In-display	In-display
Connector	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Special features	5G (mmw/Sub6), bundled S Pen, IP68 rating, 120Hz display, UWB, Wireless Power Shared, 100x Space Zoom (digital), 10x optical zoom, 45W charging relieve (sold separately)	5G (mmw/Sub6), S Pen relieve (not included), IP68 rating, 120Hz display, UWB, Wireless Power Shared, 100x Space Zoom (digital), 10x optical zoom	5G (mmw/Sub6), 5x optical zoom, 120Hz display; UWB sharing, S Pen engaged, Wireless PowerShare, IP68 rating	5G (mmw/Sub6); S Pen included; Wireless PowerShare; water-resistant (IP68)	5G (mmw/Sub6); 120Hz refresh rate; 100X zoom (digital); Wireless PowerShare; IP68 rating	5G (mmw/Sub6 on 5G model); S Pen included; Wireless PowerShare; IP68 rating	5G (mmw/Sub6); Wireless PowerShare; 3D depth cameras (not for face unlock); IP68 rating