What storage size do you need for the Galaxy S22?
Want to get Samsung‘s new flagships, but can’t figure out the storage variant to buy? We’ll assist you to pick the right Galaxy S22 storage size.
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When running down the specs sheet of the Galaxy S22 series devices, you must have noticed that just like the Galaxy S21 series, the Galaxy S22 series also doesn’t support microSD card expansion. Yes, Samsung is offering up to a 1TB storage variant of the S22 Ultra this time, but it’s still hard to figure out which storage size you should pick. If you’ve made up your mind about picking the S22 series device and are confused about which storage model should you pick? Well, let us break it down for you:
What storage options are on the table?
Before we go ahead and help you choose which storage variant your should buy, let’s take a look at the storage configurations in which the Galaxy S22 series is available right now. Just like the S21 series, the two non-Ultra variants, i.e. the Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus, are available in two storage variants – 128GB and 256GB. As for the Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung is offering its Galaxy Note-like smartphone in four storage variants – 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Here is the full breakdown of all the storage variants and their prices:
Which Galaxy S22 storage size should you buy?
Now, before you choose the perfect Galaxy S22 storage option for you, you should first decide which Galaxy S22 series smartphone you should get in the first place. We have an excellent explainer that guides you on which Galaxy S22 smartphone should you get: regular, Plus, or Ultra? Now that you have figured out which S22 smartphone you should get, read along and learn which storage variant you should buy.
If you’re going with S22 or S22 Plus
If you’ve set your eyes on the Galaxy S22 or S22 Plus, you should know that these smartphones (majorly) differ in only two things: screen and battery. When it comes to features and internals, they are just the same. over, the storage options are identical as well — 128GB and 256GB.
Samsung is touting the improved camera performance of its Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus so you might want to go with the 256GB variant. But if you don’t click many pictures or record many videos, the 128GB should be more than fine for you — especially now that a number of microSD card alternatives are available in the market.
Samsung Galaxy S22
The Samsung Galaxy S22 comes with a flagship 4nm chipset, a three-camera setup on the back that is capable of capturing important memories both day and night, and a long battery life that can last a full day on a single charge. If you want a compact and stylish device, the Galaxy S22 is one of the best devices to get in 2022.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
The Galaxy S22 Plus is the latest flagship smartphone from Samsung. It comes with a powerful chipset, a large 6.6-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 50MP primary camera, and much more. Check out all the deals on the device using the links given below.
But, if you click a lot of pictures, need all your media files to be accessible round the clock, or you want to play many games on your Galaxy S22 device with that Snapdragon 8 Gen1 chipset, then the 256GB local storage is the best option for you. If that sounds like something you would want, pick the 256GB storage variant of the Galaxy S22 or the Galaxy S22 Plus.
If you’re going with S22 Ultra
Now, when it comes to the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the only real reason you’re going to spend over 1200 on a smartphone is probably that you’re looking to at least use it for 2-3 years. You need the best smartphone camera experience and not only the camera but the best overall experience. over, recording 8K or 4K 60fps videos and clicking 108MP shots will indeed fill up the local storage rather quickly. Considering all things, it seems that the 128GB is going to get filled quite quickly so we will recommend you to go with the 256GB or the 512GB model. If budget is not a constraint, get the 512GB model — especially if you’re buying it for the long term.
Now if you’re really a photography enthusiast that captures every moment and uses the smartphone’s camera for your day-to-day job, you might as well go for the 1TB variant. However, it’s worth noting that you can go with the 512GB variant and opt for cheap microSD card alternatives — this will still cost you less than the 1,599 price of the 1TB Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra variant.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with a larger 6.8″ QHD 120Hz AMOLED display, a versatile camera setup, and a large battery that will keep you going through a whole day! Check out all the deals on the device using the links given below.
We’ve got tons of such Galaxy S22 recommendations on the now website, so make sure to check them out as well. Here are some that you might like:
Small, brimming with upgrades, and eminently useful
TechRadar Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S22 is small, fast, and offers a clean and reliable Android experience. It’s an incremental update that keeps what was good in the S21, and upgrades the camera, processor, and materials to create a solid Android device.
Cons
- – Not a major update
- – Camera system pales in comparison to its Ultra cousin
- – Small screen
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Two-minute review
It’s hard to write a Samsung Galaxy S22 review without making reference to its big brother, the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Now there’s a phone with a radical new idea. Okay, it’s an idea borrowed from the Galaxy Note line, but still, the Ultra stands apart from the S22 and S22 Plus. In fact, it makes the Galaxy S22 feel a bit less-than.
Similarly, we need to mention that the Samsung Galaxy S23 series has now been unveiled. you can check out our complete Samsung Galaxy S23 review, our thorough Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus review, and our full Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review for more information. But in short the Galaxy S22 feels slightly dated compared to them.
But these are also more expensive phones, so we’d be comparing apples to oranges to an extent. So let’s FOCUS on what makes the Samsung Galaxy S22 such a fun, attractive, and palm-friendly device.
Put simply, the S22 has enough of everything. It pushes no boundaries in terms of photography, screen size, and battery life, yet it still compares favorably to Apple’s 799 / £849 / AU1,339 iPhone 14.
Samsung’s flagship phone provides more megapixels and sensors for photos, and gives you 3x optical zoom. To get something similar on the iPhone, you’ll have to jump up to the pricier Pro models.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 is the kind of phone you get if your tastes are upscale but your budget is a bit downrange. Its 6.1-inch screen can feel cramped if you’re coming from virtually any similarly-priced Android phone from OnePlus and Xiaomi. However, placed side-by size with an iPhone 14, the dimensions are similar – and the resemblance is uncanny.
It’s a handset that will quickly become a trusted companion. The cameras should satisfy most average mobile photography users, and the image quality is excellent. The adaptive screen-refresh technology does a nice job of keeping everything from fast scrolls to action games looking smooth, and you’ll have no trouble shooting and editing 4K, 30fps video. The Galaxy S22 can also shoot 8K, but the screen stuttered while shooting it so we’re not ready to say this is an 8K-winner.
Like the rest of the S22 line, the Galaxy S22 is running Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the US, or Samsung’s own Exynos chip in the UK and elsewhere,) and both are backed by 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The mobile CPU is snappy and capable, but that storage limit without the ability to add a microSD card is frustrating.
Overall, if you like Samsung and Android together, this is an affordable and familiar (we see you, Galaxy S21) way to get in at the top of the Galaxy line, making it one of the best Samsung phones and even one of the best Android phones. For those who want a 5G Samsung Galaxy but want to pay hundreds less, they should look at the Galaxy A Series, including the attractive Galaxy A53.
If you’re looking for the perfect Samsung Galaxy S22 audio partner, you may want to check out our Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review.
Samsung Galaxy S22 price and availability
Weight: 167g Dimensions: 146 x 70.6 x 7.6mm Display size: 6.q-inch Resolution: 1080 x 2340 Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 / Exynos 2200 RAM: 8GB Storage: 128/256GB Rear camera: 50MP 10MP 12MP Front camera: 10MP Pre-installed software: Android 12 Battery: 3,700mAh Charging: 25W wired, 15W wireless
The Samsung Galaxy S22 went on sale on February 25, 2022, in the US, March 3, 2022, in Australia, and March 11, 2022, in the UK.
You can pick up the Galaxy S22 with 128GB storage for 799 / £769 / AU1,249, or with 256GB for 849 / £819 / AU1,349. That pricing has not changed since the Galaxy S21 line.
Note however that while those are the standard prices, you can now often find the Galaxy S22 for less than that, and now that the Samsung Galaxy S23 series has arrived the price is likely to keep on dropping.
Samsung Galaxy S22 design
Samsung evidently opted not to stray far from the Galaxy S21 design from the previous year, but there are two differences. one is noticeable, the other not so much.
The Galaxy S22 has a 6.1-inch display, making it 0.1 inches smaller than its predecessor, but it’s not something you’ll notice. What is noticeable is the new Gorilla Glass Victus Plus back – the rear was plastic last year. This change gives the phone a much more premium feel, and the Galaxy S22 now feels every bit as solid, and looks as elegant, as the iPhone 13.
This is a phone that’s small enough to slip into your or bag and forget about. In today’s world of oversized phones (like the larger Galaxy S22 Ultra), the S22’s 70.6 x 146 x 7.6mm, 168g chassis feels puny. Apple’s iPhone 13 mini, which Apple is discontinuing, previously held the ‘small flagship’ crown, though.
Where Apple now favors a smooth flat metal Band around its phones, the Galaxy S22’s aluminum frame offers a small, albeit pleasing curve, which some may find slightly more comfortable to hold for long periods than the iPhone 14. The phone is IP68 rated, which makes it water and dust-resistant. In practice, a drop in the sink is no big deal.
We’re glad Samsung left the contour-cut camera module untouched. It’s attractive and efficient. The brushed glass back looks and feels great, and does a nice job of highlighting our test unit’s Forest Green color – it also doesn’t show fingerprints. Other color options include Phantom Black, Phantom White, Pink Gold, and Bora Purple.
There are just two buttons – power and the volume rocker – along one edge of the phone. On the top edge is a tiny hole for a microphone. The bottom houses one speaker (the other half of the decently-loud stereo speaker system is hidden along the top edge of the display), the SIM slot, another microphone hole, and the USB-C charging port (note that the S22 doesn’t support the 45W charger that Samsung sells for the Galaxy S22 Plus).
Samsung Galaxy S22 display
The edge-to-edge Dynamic AMOLED display has a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, which is good, though it is lower than the iPhone 14’s Super Retina XDR 2532 x 1170 display. Samsung makes up for that deficit by having a smaller black bezel around the screen, and no intrusive notch.
To accommodate the 10MP front-facing camera, Samsung has cut a small circle in the display. It’s not distracting, and didn’t break our immersion through long games of PUBG Mobile.
The screen is as bright and attractive as any we’ve seen. The adaptive refresh rate (10Hz to 120Hz) makes every movement in scrolling, videos, and games look smooth. High refresh rates can burn through charge quickly, so you can lock the refresh rate at 60Hz if you want to extend battery life, or at 120Hz if this isn’t a concern for you.
The screen also promises to boost touch sampling (the speed at which it will recognize and respond to touch) for Game Mode. We had no responsiveness issues, but we also haven’t noticed any gaming sluggishness in other flagship phones we’ve tested this year.
Underneath the display is the ultrasonic fingerprint reader. This lets you register your finger (or fingers) of choice and is an effective biometric security tool. The phone also supports face recognition, though there’s also a warning that it’s less secure on this device than fingerprint unlocking is.
Samsung Galaxy S22 cameras
While the Samsung Galaxy S22 looks a lot like the S21, right down to the contour-cut camera array, Samsung has mixed things up a bit. There are still three lenses, but some of the sensors backing them are different.
The 12MP ultrawide f/2.2 camera is virtually unchanged, but it’s now grouped with a new 50MP f/1.8 main camera and a 10MP f/2.3 telephoto. That last camera has far fewer pixels than the S21’s 64MP sensor but keeps the zoom at 3x (the S21 listed the zoom as hybrid; this is optical zoom). You can enjoy digital zoom up to 30x, which is fun, but not as good or exciting as the S22 Ultra’s 100x Space Zoom. Still, it’s nice to get 3x optical on a sub-800 phone.
On the front is the 10MP selfie camera, which appears unchanged from the Galaxy S21.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Review
It may be a year old but the Samsung Galaxy S22 remains an excellent compact phone, with superb performance and an excellent camera being particular highlights. However, it’s let down by lacklustre battery life.
Key Features. Introduction
Samsung’s 2022 flagship smartphone range is led by the impressive Galaxy S22 Ultra phablet, but there are more strings to the Android manufacturer’s bow than just that one supersize, super-specced handset.
The range also includes the Samsung Galaxy S22, a more modestly sized and priced device that nonetheless packs a flagship chipset, an impressive screen, and a sophisticated triple-camera system.
Both have been superseded by the newer Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Ultra but the S22 series remains a tempting buy, especially with heavy discounts now that they’re technically ‘old’.
If you want great capabilities tucked into a neat, easily manageable package and don’t mind not having the very latest tech, the Samsung Galaxy S22 could be the phone for you.
Design and Screen
Part of Samsung’s trio of flagship models for 2022, in reality the Samsung Galaxy S22 is the most modest of the three, being the smallest in size and featuring triple rear camera sensors to the S22 Ultra’s quadruple offering.
Of course, that isn’t to say that it’s a cut-price or compromised handset in the slightest; its quality is immediately obvious upon picking it up for the first time. The S22 sports a beautifully understated design, thanks to the frosted-glass rear finish and its smooth and discreet camera module. The device in for review arrived in the lush green colour, which is particularly deep and alluring.
Small phones such as this (it measures 146 x 70.6 x 7.6mm) have both their supporters and detractors. Some prefer the ease with which they can be used, particularly one-handed, while others miss the big-screen experience offered by the more sizeable handsets. I took a little time to adjust to the S22’s smaller dimensions, having come from using big-screen smartphones; but it soon felt natural and manageable, and I only really missed the larger display when playing mobile games.
Not only does the S22 look good, it offers sturdy protection against the inevitable bumps and knocks that such a device will receive over its lifetime. Both the front and rear panels are cast in the very latest Gorilla Glass Victus, set between an aluminium frame, and the phone is IP68-rated against dust and water ingress. These credentials should mean that it stands up well against wear and tear.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to upgrade an older Samsung Galaxy phone following a few years of use, then you might be disappointed at the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack. Of course, that’s par for the course on modern high-end smartphones, with only a few notable exceptions such as the Sony Xperia 1 IV or the Asus ZenFone 9; but for some customers that’s still a stinging loss.
Hopefully, though, some of those concerns can be made up for with the impressive advances in screen technology. This panel is bursting at the seams with specifications vying for your attention and, once again, this Samsung speciality makes its presence known on the S22.
The AMOLED panel may measure only 6.1 inches, but it boasts a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, for smooth scrolling with supported content. There’s HDR10, too, so that compatible TV shows display some extra-punchy colours. As mentioned previously, the diminutive size of the screen does take away from its impact while gaming, but it still holds up as a decent display.
The resolution is 1080p, which isn’t the highest but still seems adequate for sharpness; images and text are clear, but they’re not dazzling in their detail.
You aren’t missing out on much by not opting for the newer Galaxy S23 either, with the same general build, design and display tech as the S22.
Camera
On the rear of the handset you’ll find a triple-camera module, comprising a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 12-megapixel ultrawide, and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor that offers a 3x optical zoom. It’s a promising package that can potentially offer a good deal of flexibility when you’re shooting, but how did it perform in reality?
The following images were taken with all three sensors on default settings, standing from the same position:
As you can see, detail remains strong across all of the lenses and images look consistent, too.
The ultrawide lens, which offers a 120-degree field of view, does suffer some distortion that’s particularly noticeable around the edges; nevertheless, it remains a useful addition to your camera’s arsenal, for those needing to fit a lot more into the frame.
The main camera delivered particularly punchy, colourful and detailed shots:
The telephoto sensor adds 3x optical zoom into the mix, helping you get closer to your subject. The pair of dogs in the image below were snapped at this level of zoom, and the resulting image quality is strong and punchy:
You can even push the zoom digitally to greater heights, though it’s not equal to the S22 Ultra in this area of expertise. The photo of the artifice on the tower below was taken at 10x zoom. As you can see, the results are still remarkably clear even at this level, even though some detail is inevitably lost:
Even when you’re shooting at night, the camera manages to retain good levels of detail and avoids too many blown-out highlights:
The selfie camera has a 10-megapixel resolution, and results are once again sharp and bright, while the bokeh effect lets the subject pop right out of the frame:
Overall, I’ve been happy with the performance of the camera; it has produced punchy images, and the fact that it’s adaptable is a particular strong point. Whether I was taking pictures of skyscrapers in Chicago (which required an ultrawide to fit everything in the frame), or snapping photos of boats on the other side of the river (for which I required a strong zoom), I always had the tools I needed at my disposal.
While the S22 takes pictures that are sharp and punchy, you may find that colours veer towards being unnaturally vivid. While that’s arguably a strength if you’re uploading them to social media sites such as Instagram, you may find over the top for everything else, where you’d like a more accurate representation of what you actually saw.
Performance
The chipset onboard the Samsung Galaxy S22 is an Exynos 2200, which is Samsung’s effort at a flagship-level chipset; in markets outside of Europe, the S22 totes a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor instead. For reference, this is the last time Samsung has done this chipset split with the newer S23 sporting the custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset worldwide.
Our benchmarking tests found that the Exynos 2200 is indeed a very strong processor, delivering high scores across the board for the CPU and GPU. This phone is just as powerful as other 2022 flagships including the S22 Ultra, and compares favourably to the year’s other smartphones, too, including the OnePlus 10 Pro, Oppo Find X5 Pro, and the Xiaomi 12 Pro, though it lags behind newer 2023 flagships.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Review
It may be a year old but the Samsung Galaxy S22 remains an excellent compact phone, with superb performance and an excellent camera being particular highlights. However, it’s let down by lacklustre battery life.
Key Features. Introduction
Samsung’s 2022 flagship smartphone range is led by the impressive Galaxy S22 Ultra phablet, but there are more strings to the Android manufacturer’s bow than just that one supersize, super-specced handset.
The range also includes the Samsung Galaxy S22, a more modestly sized and priced device that nonetheless packs a flagship chipset, an impressive screen, and a sophisticated triple-camera system.
Both have been superseded by the newer Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Ultra but the S22 series remains a tempting buy, especially with heavy discounts now that they’re technically ‘old’.
If you want great capabilities tucked into a neat, easily manageable package and don’t mind not having the very latest tech, the Samsung Galaxy S22 could be the phone for you.
Design and Screen
Part of Samsung’s trio of flagship models for 2022, in reality the Samsung Galaxy S22 is the most modest of the three, being the smallest in size and featuring triple rear camera sensors to the S22 Ultra’s quadruple offering.
Of course, that isn’t to say that it’s a cut-price or compromised handset in the slightest; its quality is immediately obvious upon picking it up for the first time. The S22 sports a beautifully understated design, thanks to the frosted-glass rear finish and its smooth and discreet camera module. The device in for review arrived in the lush green colour, which is particularly deep and alluring.
Small phones such as this (it measures 146 x 70.6 x 7.6mm) have both their supporters and detractors. Some prefer the ease with which they can be used, particularly one-handed, while others miss the big-screen experience offered by the more sizeable handsets. I took a little time to adjust to the S22’s smaller dimensions, having come from using big-screen smartphones; but it soon felt natural and manageable, and I only really missed the larger display when playing mobile games.
Not only does the S22 look good, it offers sturdy protection against the inevitable bumps and knocks that such a device will receive over its lifetime. Both the front and rear panels are cast in the very latest Gorilla Glass Victus, set between an aluminium frame, and the phone is IP68-rated against dust and water ingress. These credentials should mean that it stands up well against wear and tear.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to upgrade an older Samsung Galaxy phone following a few years of use, then you might be disappointed at the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack. Of course, that’s par for the course on modern high-end smartphones, with only a few notable exceptions such as the Sony Xperia 1 IV or the Asus ZenFone 9; but for some customers that’s still a stinging loss.
Hopefully, though, some of those concerns can be made up for with the impressive advances in screen technology. This panel is bursting at the seams with specifications vying for your attention and, once again, this Samsung speciality makes its presence known on the S22.
The AMOLED panel may measure only 6.1 inches, but it boasts a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, for smooth scrolling with supported content. There’s HDR10, too, so that compatible TV shows display some extra-punchy colours. As mentioned previously, the diminutive size of the screen does take away from its impact while gaming, but it still holds up as a decent display.
The resolution is 1080p, which isn’t the highest but still seems adequate for sharpness; images and text are clear, but they’re not dazzling in their detail.
You aren’t missing out on much by not opting for the newer Galaxy S23 either, with the same general build, design and display tech as the S22.
Camera
On the rear of the handset you’ll find a triple-camera module, comprising a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens, a 12-megapixel ultrawide, and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor that offers a 3x optical zoom. It’s a promising package that can potentially offer a good deal of flexibility when you’re shooting, but how did it perform in reality?
The following images were taken with all three sensors on default settings, standing from the same position:
As you can see, detail remains strong across all of the lenses and images look consistent, too.
The ultrawide lens, which offers a 120-degree field of view, does suffer some distortion that’s particularly noticeable around the edges; nevertheless, it remains a useful addition to your camera’s arsenal, for those needing to fit a lot more into the frame.
The main camera delivered particularly punchy, colourful and detailed shots:
The telephoto sensor adds 3x optical zoom into the mix, helping you get closer to your subject. The pair of dogs in the image below were snapped at this level of zoom, and the resulting image quality is strong and punchy:
You can even push the zoom digitally to greater heights, though it’s not equal to the S22 Ultra in this area of expertise. The photo of the artifice on the tower below was taken at 10x zoom. As you can see, the results are still remarkably clear even at this level, even though some detail is inevitably lost:
Even when you’re shooting at night, the camera manages to retain good levels of detail and avoids too many blown-out highlights:
The selfie camera has a 10-megapixel resolution, and results are once again sharp and bright, while the bokeh effect lets the subject pop right out of the frame:
Overall, I’ve been happy with the performance of the camera; it has produced punchy images, and the fact that it’s adaptable is a particular strong point. Whether I was taking pictures of skyscrapers in Chicago (which required an ultrawide to fit everything in the frame), or snapping photos of boats on the other side of the river (for which I required a strong zoom), I always had the tools I needed at my disposal.
While the S22 takes pictures that are sharp and punchy, you may find that colours veer towards being unnaturally vivid. While that’s arguably a strength if you’re uploading them to social media sites such as Instagram, you may find over the top for everything else, where you’d like a more accurate representation of what you actually saw.
Performance
The chipset onboard the Samsung Galaxy S22 is an Exynos 2200, which is Samsung’s effort at a flagship-level chipset; in markets outside of Europe, the S22 totes a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor instead. For reference, this is the last time Samsung has done this chipset split with the newer S23 sporting the custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset worldwide.
Our benchmarking tests found that the Exynos 2200 is indeed a very strong processor, delivering high scores across the board for the CPU and GPU. This phone is just as powerful as other 2022 flagships including the S22 Ultra, and compares favourably to the year’s other smartphones, too, including the OnePlus 10 Pro, Oppo Find X5 Pro, and the Xiaomi 12 Pro, though it lags behind newer 2023 flagships.
