Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Phantom Green 256GB

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G is a former flagship that's now a fantastic deal at around $580. Its 10x optical zoom camera and built-in S Pen are features you still can't find on most new phones. It's the perfect buy for photography nerds and note-takers on a budget.

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and 12GB of RAM keep things moving. In our database, it scores in the 82nd percentile for overall performance, which puts it well above average. For day-to-day stuff, it's still snappy. Apps open fast, multitasking is a breeze, and the 120Hz display makes everything feel responsive. You won't feel like you're using an old phone.

Gaming is totally doable, but it's not the main event here. The chip can get a little toasty under sustained heavy loads, a known quirk of the 8 Gen 1. But for photo editing, note-taking with the S Pen, and juggling a dozen Chrome tabs, it's a champ. The 45W charging is fast enough, though it's not class-leading anymore. You're looking at a full charge in just over an hour, which is solid.

Stacked against the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, the S22 Ultra holds its own surprisingly well in the camera department, especially at 10x zoom where the iPhone still can't quite match it. But the iPhone pulls ahead with a more efficient processor and better video recording features. The Google Pixel 10a is a different beast entirely. It's a much cheaper, simpler phone that focuses on software smarts. It'll take great point-and-shoot photos, but it lacks the zoom versatility and the S Pen.

Then there's the OnePlus 15, which is a performance monster with insanely fast charging that makes the S22 Ultra's 45W look quaint. If you're a gamer or a power user who hates being plugged in, the OnePlus is the better call. The S22 Ultra's real superpower is that it's a Swiss Army knife. It's not the best at any one thing anymore, but it does more things well than almost anything else at this price.

At around $580, the value proposition here is kind of insane. You're getting a former $1,200 flagship with a camera that still sits in the 99th percentile. For context, you'd have to spend nearly double that to get a Galaxy S24 Ultra with a similar zoom range. The main trade-off is raw processing power and battery efficiency, where newer chips have a clear edge. If your priority is having a stylus and a killer zoom lens without taking out a second mortgage, this is a screaming deal.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G is a phone that refuses to fade into the background, even a few years after its launch. It's the last of a breed, really. A proper flagship with a built-in S Pen, a massive 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display, and a camera system that still embarrasses a lot of newer phones. If you've been hunting for a powerhouse that doubles as a digital notebook and a zoom lens, this one's hard to ignore, especially now that it's floating around the $580 mark.

Samsung packed this thing with a 108MP main sensor and not one, but two telephoto lenses, giving you a 10x optical zoom that's genuinely useful. The 5000mAh battery is big enough to get most people through a full day, and the 120Hz screen makes everything from scrolling Twitter to watching movies feel buttery smooth. It's an international unlocked version, so you'll want to double-check your carrier bands, but for GSM networks, it's good to go.

We've crunched the numbers in our database, and the S22 Ultra lands in the 99th percentile for camera performance. That's not a typo. It's still one of the absolute best camera phones you can buy, period. The build quality and display are also top-tier, sitting comfortably among the best on the market. It's not the newest kid on the block, but it's a flagship that's aged into a serious value proposition.

Skip the S22 Ultra if you have small hands or hate heavy phones. This thing is a slab. It's also not the best pick for hardcore mobile gamers, as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 can throttle under pressure and the battery drains quickly during long sessions. If you just want a fast, compact phone for social media and texting, a Google Pixel 10a or a base model Galaxy S24 will feel much better in the hand and give you a smoother, more efficient daily experience.

Should you buy a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in 2025? If you want a built-in stylus and a telephoto camera that can genuinely reach out and touch something, the answer is a resounding yes. There's simply nothing else at this price that offers this combo. It's a productivity and photography beast that has aged gracefully, even if its processor is a little long in the tooth.

But be honest about what you need. If you don't care about the S Pen and just want the best performance for your dollar, a newer mid-range phone or a discounted OnePlus will feel faster and last longer on a charge. The S22 Ultra is for people who will actually use the stylus and the zoom lens. If that's you, you're getting one of the most versatile phones ever made for a steal.