Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Phantom Black 512GB
The built-in S Pen and a versatile 108MP camera system with 8K video recording distinguish this device from standard smartphones. Its expansive 6.8-inch AMOLED display and 512GB of storage provide a strong foundation for media consumption and productivity without needing a separate tablet. This phone is best for note-takers and mobile photographers who want a single device to replace a basic tablet and point-and-shoot camera.
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Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The S22 Ultra is a display and S Pen powerhouse that's still worth it under USD 450. Just bring a charger, because the battery won't last all day.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Gorgeous 6.8-inch AMOLED with 120Hz and 1750 nits 89th
- Built-in S Pen is a real differentiator 84th
- 12GB RAM and 512GB storage is plenty for years
- 8K video recording is still rare at this price
Cons
- Battery life is mediocre, 35th percentile is rough
- Build quality scores are disappointing, 15th percentile
- Camera system is just average now, 43rd percentile
- Connectivity features lag behind newer flagships
The proof
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 paired with 12GB of RAM surprised us. It's sitting at the 84th percentile for performance, which means it's still a standout for everyday tasks and gaming. The 120Hz display makes everything feel snappy, and that 1750-nit brightness is a genuine highlight, landing in the top tier of our database. But that chip is known to run warm under sustained load, so don't expect desktop-class thermals.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Screen Size | 6.8" |
| Display Type | AMOLED |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 1750 nits |
| HDR | Yes |
Performance
| Processor Model | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| CPU Cores | 8 |
| CPU Speed | 2.99 |
| RAM | 12 MB |
| Storage | 512 GB |
Camera
| Main Camera | 108 |
| Front Camera | 40 |
| Video | 8K |
Battery & Charging
| Wired Charging | 45 |
| Fast Charging | Super-Fast Charging |
| Connector | USB-C |
Connectivity
| 5G | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C |
| SIM | Nano-SIM and/or eSIM |
| eSIM | Yes |
Design & Build
| Form Factor | bar |
| OS | Android |
| Headphone Jack | No |
vs Competition
Against the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pixel 9 Pro XL, the S22 Ultra shows its age in camera and battery. The Pixel 9 Pro XL will crush it in computational photography, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max has better sustained performance. But neither has an S Pen. The OnePlus 15 and Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 are more modern, but the S22 Ultra's display still beats most of them on brightness. It's a trade-off between productivity features and modern efficiency.
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Motorola Razr ultra 2025 | Google Pixel 10 Pro | Apple iPhone 17 | OnePlus 15 15 | Xiaomi 14 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.8 | 7.0 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 6.7 |
| Display Type | AMOLED | OLED | OLED | Super Retina XDR | AMOLED | LTPO AMOLED |
| Refresh Rate | 120 | 165 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Google Tensor G5 | A19 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| RAM (GB) | 12 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 16 | 16 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 | 512 | 128 | 256 | 512 | 512 |
| Rear Camera Mp | 108 | 50 | 50 | 48 | 50 | 50 |
| Front Camera Mp | 40 | 50 | 42 | 18 | 32 | 32 |
| Battery Capacity Mah | - | 4700 | 4870 | 3692 | 7300 | 5000 |
| Charging Wattage | 45 | 68 | 30 | 30 | 80 | 90 |
| Wireless Charging | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Five (g) | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Water Resistance | - | IP48 | IP68 | IP68 | IP69K | IP68 |
| Operating System | Android | Android | Android | iOS | Android | Android |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Build | Camera | Battery | Display | Feature | Performance | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | 14.6 | 42.5 | 33.9 | 88.8 | 50.8 | 84.3 | 43 | 50.4 |
| Motorola Razr ultra 2025 Compare | 58.1 | 79.7 | 95.3 | 98 | 92.7 | 98.8 | 82.7 | 90.9 |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro Compare | 89.6 | 96.8 | 85 | 88.8 | 71.8 | 89.1 | 98.8 | 95 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Compare | 98.2 | 77.6 | 57.2 | 93.7 | 88.4 | 87.2 | 98.8 | 98.9 |
| OnePlus 15 15 Compare | 98.8 | 96.8 | 99.2 | 78.4 | 42.9 | 98.8 | 82.7 | 98.9 |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra Compare | 78.3 | 99.1 | 97.8 | 99.5 | 56.4 | 98 | 98.8 | 72.1 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At USD 330 to USD 700, this is a weird value proposition. The lower end of that spread is a steal for what you get, but the higher end puts you dangerously close to newer flagships. Newegg has listings across that range, so shop carefully. If you can find it under USD 450, it's a solid buy. Above that, you're paying too much for a two-year-old phone.
Read more
Overview
The Galaxy S22 Ultra is still a beast of a phone in 2025, especially if you can snag one at the lower end of that USD 330 to USD 700 price spread. The one thing to know? That built-in S Pen and the 6.8-inch AMOLED display are the whole show. It's a productivity and media monster that still holds its own against much newer flagships, but it's not without some rough edges.
Common Questions
Q: Is the S22 Ultra still worth buying in 2025?
Yes, if you find it under USD 450. The display and S Pen are still top-tier, but the battery and camera are showing their age.
Q: How long does the battery actually last?
Expect a full day of light use, but heavy users will need a top-up by evening. The 45W charging helps, but it's not class-leading.
Q: Does the S Pen come with the phone?
Yes, the S Pen is built into the phone itself. It's the main reason to buy this over other big-screen phones.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a rugged phone or something with all-day battery life, this isn't it. Go get a Pixel 9 Pro XL or an iPhone 16 Pro Max instead. The S22 Ultra's build quality scores are near the bottom of our database, so don't expect it to survive many drops.
Verdict
If you want a big, bright screen with a stylus and don't care about having the latest camera tech, the S22 Ultra is still a great buy at the right price. Just don't pay more than USD 500 for it. The battery and build quality are the real compromises here, and they're hard to ignore in 2025.
