Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Smartphone Review

Samsung's launch of a new range of smartphones always grabs everyone's attention and this year's launch was no different with 3 smartphones arriving with flagship specs, and flagship prices. 

Sitting in the middle of the trio of Galaxy S22 smartphones is the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus which offers similar specs to the less expensive Galaxy S22 but in a larger frame with a bigger screen and larger battery but it doesn't offer quite as many features as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (it's also smaller). 

We've been putting the Pink Gold version of the Galaxy S22 to the test to find out if the middle sibling of the Galaxy S22 range can stand out from the crowd and also capture cracking photos. 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Features

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus features an impressive line-up of cameras with a 12MP f/2.2 Ultra-Wide Camera, 50MP f/1.8 Wide Camera (Dual Pixel AF, OIS) and a 10MP f/2.4 Telephoto Camera (OIS) with 3X optical zoom found on the rear and a 10MP f/2.2 selfie camera. Video can be captured in 8K, 4K and Full HD. 

The display measures 6.6-inch and it sits in a 75.8 x 157.4 x 7.6mm aluminium frame that securely holds the Gorilla Glass Victus+ display and back. 

A 4500mAh battery powers the smartphone while an IP68 dust/water resistance rating means the Galaxy S22 Plus can be used in water up to 1.5m deep for around 30 minutes. 

Camera modes include Samsung's Single Take as well as modes for photographing food, panoramas, night shots, portraits and for those who want more control over how the camera captures a photo, there's a Pro mode. 

Samsung Galaxy S22+ Specs:

• 12MP Ultra-Wide Camera f/2.2, 50MP f/1.8 Wide Camera (Dual Pixel AF, OIS), 10MP f/2.4 3X Optical Zoom Telephoto Camera (OIS)
• 10MP f/2.2 Front Camera
• 6.6-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display
• 4500mAh battery 
• IP68 rating 
• Memory:  8 + 256GB, 8 + 128GB
• Dimensions: 75.8 x 157.4 x 7.6mm
• Weight: 195g

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Handling

When you first get the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus out of its box we think you'll agree with us that it's not the most comfortable smartphone to hold. It feels quite wide and the frame is rather angular so you find yourself adjusting how you hold it to stop it from digging in. Buttons fall under your fingers but those with small hands may find it a bit of a stretch if holding the smartphone in just one hand. It's a shame as to look at it, the Galaxy S22 Plus is an eye-catching smartphone with interesting colour options and a cool design that makes it very modern. We like the contrasting camera bump that's the same colour as the smartphone's frame but it doesn't seamlessly merge quite as well as we've seen the frame/camera bump do on other smartphones. We really like the Pink Gold colour option, though, and can see it being a popular choice. We also like that it's not a fingerprint magnet. 

Despite its size (75.8 x 157.4 x 7.6mm) the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus doesn't weigh too much coming in at around 195g and large dimensions mean you get a large display (6.6-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display) that offers a clear view, good colour reproduction and excellent brightness levels. A small punch-hole selfie camera sits towards the top but doesn't distract and the bezels surrounding the display are tiny. Some might have expected a better resolution considering its price but it actually sits on par with quite a few other Android smartphones available both inexpensive and more costly. 

Other features are what we have come to expect on any smartphone such as a USB-C slot, stereo speakers and fast charging but you don't get a headphone jack or memory card slot. Although, with 128GB/8GB and 256GB/8GB options available, you probably won't need a microSD card anyway. 

The rear cameras are the same as those found on the less expensive Galaxy S22 but the main camera improves on the S21's main shooter with it now offering 50MP in comparison to the 12MP found on the Galaxy S21 which should improve low light images but will also make images captured in daylight brighter, too. 

The ultra-wide camera remains the same but the telephoto camera has had a tweak. 3X optical zoom is built-in with the option to use up to 30x digital zoom and AI can be activated to help you capture improved shots. On the front, you find a 10MP f/2.2 selfie camera. 

As for the camera app itself, it's easy to use and looks very similar to many other camera apps built into modern smartphones. There's also a Pro mode should you wish to take more control over the camera settings. 

Camera Specs:

• 12MP f/2.2 Ultra-Wide Camera
• 50MP f/1.8 Wide Camera (Dual Pixel AF, OIS)
• 10MP f/2.4 3X Optical Zoom Telephoto Camera (OIS)
• 10MP f/2.2 Front Camera

Battery life - There's a 4500mAh battery built-in and we had no problems with a loss of power while out shooting images and capturing video for an afternoon.