The Samsung Galaxy S22 – the tech titan's next flagship mobile – is expected to arrive very soon indeed. It's tipped for a 120Hz display, ultra-fast chip (possibly with its own cooling fan), and even a camera with no fewer than five lenses.
It seems like only yesterday that the Samsung Galaxy S21 hit stores, but Samsung isn't one to rest on its laurels. The company launches a new Galaxy S series mobile every year without fail, which is why the Galaxy S22 is expected to launch either later this month or February at the latest.
But how will the Galaxy S22 compare to the Apple iPhone 13? What exclusive features will it offer? Will it be cheaper than rival smartphones? We've examined all of the leaks, tips and rumours to get a good idea of what Samsung has in store. Read on for the latest.
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(Image credit: Samsung)
Samsung launches a new flagship Android phone at the beginning of every year, like clockwork. Last year it was Galaxy S21, which debuted on 14th January 2021 (a few weeks earlier than the tech titan's usual February/March window).
That obviously indicates that the Galaxy S22 release date is likely to be early this year. In fact, according to Korea's Pulse News, "multiple industry sources" have pegged the S22 for a January release. Samsung seems to favour Fridays, so there's talk of the S22 breaking cover on Friday 28th January.
We'll have to see. Tech analyst Jon Prosser correctly predicted the launch of the last Galaxy phone, so we'll be keeping a close eye on his Twitter feed in the days and weeks ahead.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S21 review
Samsung Galaxy S22: price
The Samsung S21 range debuted at less than the S20, so will the S22 be cheaper still? Probably not, if the latest leak is to be believed.
It says all three phones in the S22 range will be pricier than their predecessors. The entry-level S22 will reportedly carry a starting price of $849 (around £630, AU$1150), the S22 Plus $1049 (around £780, AU$1425) and the S22 Ultra $1249 (around £930, AU$1700). That would make the S22 and S22 Plus $50 more than the S21 equivalents, and the S22 Ultra $100 more.
$799, $999 & $1199 Maybe a $50 increase on base and plus at maximum, bigger model could see up to a $100 increase.Keep in mind, Plus and Ultra are expected to have 256gb of base storage 11, 2021 See more
This could be due to the global chip shortage, which is pushing up production costs for everyone.
But it's not set in stone. This news comes via @TheGalox, which doesn't have a solid track record of reliable leaks. So take it with a pinch of salt for now.
In the meantime, if you're in the market for a flagship Android phone, the standard S21 starts at £769 ($799, AU$1249). The S21+ costs from £949 ($999, AU$1549) and the S21 Ultra from £1149 ($1199, AU$1849). The standard S20 debuted at £899 ($999, AU$1499) back in 2019.
Samsung also launched the Galaxy S21 FE recently – FE stands for Fan Edition. Think of it as a greatest hits version of the S21, with a slightly larger screen, bigger battery and lower price. Again, it looks like a good shout if you want the Galaxy S experience without the hefty price tag.
Samsung Galaxy S22: display
(Image credit: Samsung)
Samsung's phones are renowned for their crisp displays. No surprise there – the company has a pioneering display arm and created the 'Edge' screens that appear to cascade over the sides of the phone.
The latest rumours suggest that Samsung will shrink the Galaxy S22. Leaker Mauri QHD, who has a decent track record, claims that the standard Galaxy S22 will sport a 6.06-inch screen, down from 6.2 inches on the S21.
The S22 Plus could also shrink. Mauri QHD tips it for a 6.5-inch display, down from 6.7 inches, while the range-topping S22 Ultra is due to go from 6.9 inches to 6.81 inches. (The same specs were also stated in a separate leak by reliable tipster Ice universe in mid-August, which lends them credence.)
YouTube channel Unbox Therapy placed all the handsets in the S22 range side by side using dummy models, so you can see how much smaller the standard S22 is than the S22 Ultra. See a screenshot below – though the video has since mysteriously disappeared from YouTube.
(Image credit: Unbox Therapy)
Of course, the best tech and glass will be reserved for the S22 Ultra. In fact, it's rumoured to sport the brightest OLED screen ever featured on a Samsung phone. Again, Ice universe is the man with the info, and while there are no specifics to go on, his reliable track record makes this rumour worthy of note.
The peak brightness of S22 Ultra broke through the highest record of Samsung's OLED screen. Obviously, Samsung still keeps the best screen for itself.October 28, 2021 See more
The S21 topped out at 1500 nits brightness, so expect the S22 Ultra to best that. According to SamMobile, the S22 Ultra and Plus variants will reach 1750 nits.
All three phones in the current S21 line-up support 120Hz refresh rate – great for gaming and sports – so we'd expect the S22 family to follow suit.
That said, Mauri QHD claims 'only the S22 Ultra is LTPO', meaning that only the S22 Ultra will support variable refresh rates the ability to scale up to maximum refresh rate when needed, then scale back down to a lower refresh to save battery life).
The S21 Ultra already offers variable refresh rate technology, but it doesn't scale right the way down to 1Hz, as the S22 Ultra is rumoured to. If Mauri QHD is right about the presence of LPTO, the S22 could get a major battery boost.
Samsung Galaxy S22: design
(Image credit: LetsGoDigital / TechnizoConcept)
91Mobiles' Yogesh Brar has posted some leaks images of all three phones in the S22 family in both black and white. While they seem to back up lots of what we've already heard, there is one discrepancy.
The S22 and S22 Plus look very similar to their S21 counterparts, though with glossy rather than matte backs and camera lenses that protrude a bit further. So far, as expected.
The discrepancy comes with the S22 Ultra. It's much more blocky – it is rumoured to take the place of the Galaxy Note, after all, complete with stylus holder – and has 'floating' camera lenses on the back, instead of housing them in a separate camera block. Again, both are as we heard previously. But what's missing is the periscope lens that's highly expected to make an appearance.
Of course, these could well be pre-production units, in which case not every detail will have been finalised.
Here's something for Samsung fans.Galaxy S22 is