Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Vs Galaxy S23 Ultra

Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Starting at

Refurbished price:£247.00

Versus £1,364.00 new

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Galaxy S23 Ultra
Galaxy S23 Ultra
Starting at

Refurbished price:£299.00

Versus £1,599.00 new

See options

Ratings

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G, released in February 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, launched in February 2023, represent two consecutive generations of Samsung's top-tier smartphone line. Both devices integrate the S Pen stylus, offering a Note-like experience within the Galaxy S series. While they share a similar design philosophy and premium features, the S23 Ultra brings notable advancements in camera technology, processing efficiency, and overall battery endurance, building upon the foundation laid by its predecessor.

Scores

Durability

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, several factors contribute to their expected practical lifespan, including software support and physical resilience.

  • Software Longevity: The Galaxy S22 Ultra launched with Android 12 and the S23 Ultra with Android 13. Samsung typically provides several years of major Android updates and security patches. Given their release dates, the S23 Ultra is expected to receive software support for approximately one year longer than the S22 Ultra, offering extended access to new features and security enhancements.
  • Physical Durability: Both models feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, providing protection against immersion. The S22 Ultra uses Gorilla Glass Victus+ for its display and back, while the S23 Ultra upgrades to Gorilla Glass Victus 2, offering enhanced resistance against drops and scratches.
  • Repairability: The Galaxy S23 Ultra shows improvements in repairability, with features like battery pull tabs making certain components easier to replace compared to the S22 Ultra. The S22 Ultra received a repairability score of 3/10 from iFixit, indicating it can be challenging for DIY repairs.

Year of Release

2022

2023

Compatible with latest Update

Yes

Yes

OS

Android

Android

Foldable

No

No

Performance

Performance is a key differentiator, particularly in how each device handles demanding applications and manages power consumption throughout the day.

  • Everyday Responsiveness: The Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a more efficient and powerful processor, resulting in smoother app loading, more fluid multitasking, and improved overall system responsiveness compared to the S22 Ultra. This translates to a snappier user experience, especially when switching between numerous applications or running intensive tasks.
  • Battery Endurance: Both devices are equipped with a 5000 mAh battery. However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra demonstrates significantly better real-world battery life, often lasting through a full day of heavy use and sometimes extending to 1.5 days with average usage. The S22 Ultra, while offering good battery life, may require more frequent charging for heavy users.
  • Storage and Multitasking: Both models offer various storage options, including 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, with the S23 Ultra utilizing faster UFS 4.0 storage technology for quicker data access and app loading. Both devices typically come with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, providing ample capacity for smooth multitasking.

Memory (GB)

8 GB

8 GB

Screen quality

Both the Galaxy S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra feature impressive displays, providing a vibrant and immersive viewing experience.

  • Display Technology and Clarity: Both phones feature a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a Quad HD+ resolution (3088 x 1440 pixels), delivering sharp images and vibrant colors. This high resolution ensures excellent detail for viewing photos, videos, and text.
  • Brightness and Refresh Rate: Both displays offer a peak brightness of 1750 nits, ensuring good visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. They also feature an adaptive refresh rate that can scale from 1Hz to 120Hz, providing smooth scrolling and responsive interactions while conserving battery life when static content is displayed.
  • Viewing Experience: The large screen size on both models, combined with the high resolution and adaptive refresh rate, makes them well-suited for media consumption, gaming, and productivity tasks, offering an expansive and fluid visual experience.

Resolution

1440 x 3088

1440 x 3088

Screen type

Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Audiovisual

The camera systems on both Ultra models are highly capable, though the S23 Ultra introduces significant enhancements, particularly in resolution and low-light performance.

  • Main Camera Evolution: The Galaxy S22 Ultra features a 108MP main sensor, capable of capturing detailed images and 8K video. The Galaxy S23 Ultra elevates this with a 200MP main sensor, which uses advanced pixel-binning technology to produce highly detailed 12MP or 50MP images, and offers more cropping flexibility.
  • Low-Light and Video Capabilities: The S23 Ultra shows marked improvements in low-light photography and video recording, with enhanced Nightography features and better image stabilization for smoother footage. Both phones offer comprehensive camera features, including ultra-wide and telephoto lenses (3x and 10x optical zoom), and can record 8K video.
  • Selfie Camera and Advanced Features: The S22 Ultra has a 40MP front camera, while the S23 Ultra features a 12MP front camera with improved low-light performance and better portrait features. The S23 Ultra also introduces enhanced Expert RAW capabilities, allowing for more professional-grade photo editing.

Main camera

108 megapixels

200 megapixels

Front camera

40 megapixels

12 megapixels

Miscellaneous

Beyond core performance and display, several practical elements contribute to the overall user experience of these devices.

  • Connectivity and Ports: Both the S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra support 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth (5.2 for S22 Ultra, 5.3 for S23 Ultra), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections. They both feature a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, and neither includes a traditional headphone jack.
  • Integrated S Pen: A defining feature for both Ultra models is the integrated S Pen stylus, offering precise input for note-taking, drawing, and navigation. The S Pen on the S22 Ultra has a latency of 2.8ms, providing a highly responsive experience.
  • Build Materials and Handling: Both phones feature a premium construction with glass fronts and backs and an aluminum frame. The S22 Ultra weighs 228g/229g, while the S23 Ultra is slightly lighter at 233g. Their large 6.8-inch displays contribute to a substantial feel in hand, which some users may find large for one-handed operation.

Weight

228 g

234 g

Screen size (in)

6.8

6.8

Mobile network

5G

5G

SIM card

Physical SIM + eSIM

Dual Physical SIM + eSIM

Carrier compatibility

Unlocked

Unlocked

Connector

USB-C

USB-C

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G and Galaxy S23 Ultra both offer a premium smartphone experience, distinguished by their large displays, versatile camera systems, and integrated S Pen functionality. User feedback for the S22 Ultra often praised its comprehensive feature set and the return of the S Pen, but some noted that its battery life, while good, could be inconsistent for heavy users, and some experienced thermal management issues. The S23 Ultra, on the other hand, is frequently lauded for its significantly improved battery endurance and enhanced camera capabilities, particularly in low-light conditions and with its higher-resolution main sensor.

Users prioritizing the absolute latest in camera technology, especially for high-resolution photos and improved low-light video, and those who value extended battery life without compromise, may find the Galaxy S23 Ultra better suited to their needs. Its more efficient processor also contributes to a consistently smoother performance. Conversely, users who appreciate the S Pen experience and a large, vibrant display, and who do not require the very latest camera advancements or the longest possible battery life, may find the Galaxy S22 Ultra still offers a highly capable and satisfying experience. Both devices represent excellent choices for those seeking a powerful Android smartphone with stylus integration. For those looking for a more sustainable choice, both models are available as quality-assured refurbished options.

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