Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Phantom Black 128GB

The Galaxy S22 Ultra is a camera beast with a 10x optical zoom and built-in S Pen that still holds up in 2025. At USD 295 to USD 337, it's a steal for the 97th percentile camera alone. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 runs warm and charging is slow at 25W, but for photographers and note-takers, this is one of the best used phone deals around.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 sits at the 73rd percentile in our performance database. That's solid, middle-of-the-pack territory for current phones. It'll handle multitasking, photo processing, and 8K video recording without falling over. But it's not going to win any sustained gaming benchmarks against newer chips. The 8GB of RAM is fine for most people, though heavy multitaskers who keep dozens of apps alive might notice some reloads.

The camera is where this phone earns its keep. At the 97th percentile, it's one of the best camera systems we've tracked. The 108MP main sensor bins down to 12MP shots with good dynamic range, and the dual telephoto setup (3x and 10x optical) gives you framing flexibility that most phones simply don't have. The 40MP front camera is also a standout for selfie quality. Video tops out at 8K at 24fps, with 4K at 60fps being the more practical option for most people.

Against the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the S22 Ultra loses on raw performance and battery efficiency. Apple's newer silicon is just faster and more power-efficient. But the S22 Ultra has the S Pen and that 10x optical zoom, which the iPhone doesn't offer. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone is the obvious choice. If you want Android flexibility and a stylus, the S22 Ultra makes a strong case.

The Google Pixel GGX8B is the more interesting comparison. Google's computational photography is still the benchmark for point-and-shoot quality, and their software support window is longer. But the S22 Ultra's hardware zoom range is more versatile, and the display is bigger and sharper. The OnePlus 15 and Nothing Phone (4a) Pro are newer devices with fresher batteries and faster charging, but neither has the camera reach or the S Pen. The Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is a foldable, which is a completely different use case, though our data shows the S22 Ultra actually scores higher on the foldable metric, which is a bit funny.

Pricing on this phone is all over the place depending on condition and seller. In the US, we're seeing listings from USD 295 to USD 337 across two vendors. That's a USD 42 spread, which is worth paying attention to. The lower end of that range gets you a refurbished unit in excellent mint condition with a 90-day warranty, which is a solid deal for a phone that launched at well over a thousand bucks.

At USD 295, you're getting a 97th percentile camera, a built-in stylus, and a flagship display for less than most mid-range phones cost new. The trade-off is that you're buying a phone that's a few generations old, with a chip that runs hot and a battery that's likely seen some charge cycles if you go refurbished. Still, for the camera alone, this is one of the better value propositions in the used market right now.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra is Samsung's kitchen sink phone. It's the one where they threw in the S Pen, the 10x periscope zoom, a 108MP main sensor, and a 6.8-inch display that still makes other phones look small. If you want a phone that does basically everything, this is the spec sheet you point at. And now that it's a couple generations old, the refurbished market has made it surprisingly affordable.

Who's this for? Someone who wants a big screen, a stylus, and a camera system that can reach across a room. The 10x optical zoom is still a party trick that most phones can't touch. You're also getting IP68 water resistance, wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and a display that hits 1440 x 3088 with a 120Hz refresh rate. That's a lot of phone for the money these days.

The catch is that this is a 2022 flagship running a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. That chip had a reputation for running hot under sustained load, and the 8GB of RAM here is the base config. For everyday scrolling and photos, it's still plenty. But if you're chasing benchmark scores, newer silicon has moved on. The value proposition is really about the camera and the S Pen, not raw compute.

If you're a heavy gamer or someone who pushes their phone with sustained workloads, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1's thermal throttling will frustrate you. Look at newer phones with more efficient chips, like the OnePlus 15 or a Pixel, which will stay cooler and charge faster. The 25W wired charging is also a dealbreaker if you're used to 65W or 100W charging speeds.

If you want long-term software support, this phone launched with Android 12 and is upgradable to Android 13 with One UI 5. Samsung's update commitment for the S22 series is decent, but it's not indefinite. If you plan to keep your phone for four or five more years, a newer Pixel or iPhone will get security updates for longer. And if you need a compact phone, this is absolutely not it. The 6.8-inch display and hefty build make it a two-hand phone for most people.

If you want the best camera zoom range for the least money, the S22 Ultra is hard to beat right now. The 10x periscope lens is still a differentiator, and the 108MP main sensor holds up well. Pair that with the S Pen and you have a productivity tool that most modern flagships can't match. Buy it for the camera and the stylus, not for benchmark bragging rights.

For gamers or anyone who pushes their phone hard, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1's thermal behavior is a real consideration. It'll throttle under sustained load, and the 25W charging means you'll be waiting a while to top up that 5000mAh battery. If battery longevity and cool operation matter more than zoom range, look at newer mid-range options or a Pixel. But for photographers on a budget, this is one of the smartest buys in the used market.