In February 2024, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra was completed two years after its release. Over the last two years, the S22 has been noted to provide the definitive premium Android phablet (phone+tablet) experience. After Samsung killed the Note series, many fans were disappointed as the series enjoyed a loyal customer base who admired its productivity focus, like the inclusion of the S-pen.
Samsung surprised everyone with the S21 Ultra in 2021 by including the S-pen functionality and introducing it as the new Note series replacement. With Ultra, Samsung has polished the design and UI even more. The S22 Ultra still stands as one of the best premium Android devices money can get you in 2024.
Nevertheless, this article will thoroughly discuss the reasons why the S22 Ultra is worth buying in 2024.
Will the hardware of the S22 Ultra ensure its relevance for the next few years?
High-end flagship smartphones offer the advantage of maintaining solid performance even as they age. The Samsung S22 Ultra, in particular, stands out in this regard. Unlike many other flagship devices, it is less likely to experience a significant decline in performance over time.
As technology advances, Moore's Law, which once promised exponential growth in chip power and efficiency, is now witnessing a slower progression. Year-on-year improvements have become more incremental rather than groundbreaking.
The S22 Ultra's hardware, with its optimized design and capabilities, positions it as a device that can stay relevant and perform admirably for several years to come, defying the gradual obsolescence that plagues many smartphones.
With a processor like Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or even Exynos 2200, the Ultra feels blazing fast to take through its paces. Be it multi-window multitasking, intensive applications like Adobe Photoshop, or demanding games, the performance never takes a hit on this device.
Furthermore, with the latest storage technology, UFS 3.1, and faster RAM, day-to-day operations are a breeze. The device also has one of the best and brightest displays on a smartphone. This significantly amplifies the content viewing experience while making the device legible in bright outdoors.
A massive 5000mAh battery powers the device easily for a day or more, while the fast charging option of 45 W makes quick top-ups easy. Samsung has already committed to supporting its devices for up to four years, more than what Google offers. This way, even if you get a one-year-old Ultra, the device will still be supported for longer than most Android OEMs.
With a newer flagship series, expect good discounts on the S22 Ultra in 2024
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand why OEMs discount previous-gen flagships massively right before the launch of newer-gen models. Clearing out old inventory and creating hype around the brand serve the company well. With the S23 series around the corner, expect significant discounts on the Ultra.
Target, Amazon, Newegg, and offline sellers will try to clear out the old inventory of S22 to make space for the S23 series. These savings can be easily diverted to getting a higher storage version of the device to further future-proof the purchase.
The camera system offered on the S22 Ultra is one of the best
The S22 Ultra is one of the very few phones that can claim to offer consistently good results in both photography and videography. The pictures are full of detail and contrast, even though the saturation can be a bit warm. Night shots and portrait shots offer stunning photos consistently across a wide range of lighting conditions.
Of course, some phones can outdo the Ultra in some niche categories, but that doesn’t nullify that it is one of the most reliable camera systems. Furthermore, a dedicated 100x zoom can offer great shots from a distance and feel relevant for another few years as the industry is still warming up to these standards.
The S22 Ultra is not only a reasonable choice to consider in 2024 for premium flagship enthusiasts, but a much more prudent choice, especially in today's increasingly inflated smartphone market.