Image via Complex Original/Kagan McLeod
Because of how much I rely on my phone, I’m always a bit nervous to try anything new. That’s why when I was first tasked with testing out the new Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, I was a bit hesitant to do it. Thankfully, it turned out I didn’t need to be.
Over the course of a week, I tested out the Galaxy S22 Ultra, using it both for work and while off the clock. And after seven days of heavy use—day and night—I’m excited to share that it exceeded all my expectations. The Galaxy S22 Ultra completely won me over and helped me capture some of the best photos I’ve ever taken on a smartphone—I’m hooked to say the least.
This phone impressed me from the get-go. The very first thing I did when I received the Galaxy S22 Ultra was use the Samsung Smart Switch app to import over my contacts, music, pictures, and everything else I had saved on my other phone. The transfer was super seamless and gave me a sense of familiarity because I didn’t need to re-download any of my apps from scratch.
To learn more about how the Galaxy S22 Ultra can help elevate your day to day, visit Samsung.com/ca or your local Samsung Experience Store for more information.
The camera is a DSLR in your pocket
Whether to send to friends or post on Instagram, I’m constantly snapping photos so it’s necessary for me to have a camera that works well. That’s why I was stoked to learn that high-quality video and photos and the Galaxy S22 Ultra go hand-in-hand. One of the first times I truly put the camera to the test was when I took it with me to see one of my favourite bands in concert. Anyone who’s ever gone to an indoor show knows the often-used colourful, flashing lights and hazy smoke effects can make it difficult to capture any decent content. And if you’re anything like me and have shaky hands, that also doesn’t help when trying to save photos and videos to look back on in the future—it can end up looking a little like a “found-footage” horror film—if you catch my drift. That’s why I was so impressed with the Auto Focus Video Stabilization on Galaxy S22 Ultra. My video came out effortlessly smooth and captured moments that were clear, steady and unforgettable. Overall, it didn’t take too long for me to figure out all the different camera modes to capture some epic memories.
Because the camera on the Galaxy S22 Ultra has 108MP resolution and Nightography (meaning it performs really well in low-light), most of the concert pics I took of my favourite alt-pop duo came out so crisp, clear, and bright, they looked like they could have been shot by a professional, despite the dim and smoky atmosphere. The Galaxy S22 Ultra captured the colours of the shimmering light display and the bright blue and purple spotlights with ease, while not losing sharpness. It truly felt like having a DSLR in my pocket!
Throughout the week I continued to use the camera to see how it performed in different settings. Next up was longboarding with a friend. Since we are both lowkey bad riders (neither of us are destined to go pro) taking photos and videos is a great way to track our learning progress while also capturing every hilarious #Fail. I’m notoriously ungraceful (especially on wheels) but thanks to the Galaxy S22 Ultra, the videos I captured made me look cool even while bailing from my board.
I was too afraid to try filming myself while longboarding in the event that both me and the phone went flying (which I did more than once), so I had my friend step in as photographer. They quickly figured out how to take great shots without any instruction from me and found the set-up intuitive to use. Also, worth calling out the blue light management on the phone which automatically adjusts making it easy for me to review what we captured (a.k.a. my poor form) on the high-resolution display, despite being outdoors.
And when the sun eventually did go down, the Nightography once again proved to be one of the most exciting features of the camera. The nighttime photos and videos that my friend and I snapped while grabbing much-needed drinks after our longboarding adventures were just as amazing as those taken during the day. Even at an ambient but dimly lit café, content looked premium AF. Wowed, I tried Nightography out again a different night and snapped a bunch of photos of my friends from my high-rise balcony while hanging out. Despite the late hour and lack of lighting, the Toronto skyline ended up looking impressive and clear, with all the buildings glowing subtly, making for an epic backdrop.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra can bring your office with you on the go
Whether in meetings or doing interviews with artists, I’ve always carried around my trusty notebook and pen to jot down ideas or scribble down reminders. This time however, I decided to give the Galaxy S22 Ultra and its integrated S Pen a try while taking notes at an award show. I’ve never loved using any sort of stylus on a phone or tablet—preferring the old-fashioned approach—but figured I would see if it could compare to my pen and paper.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 6.8-inch AMOLED display turned out to be the right size for writing comfortably with the S Pen. I also liked that I could write on it quickly and smoothly without having to whip out my notebook all the time. The S Pen was also so responsive that my writing seemed just like it would have been on paper – I was pretty shocked how well it worked! Despite the chaos of musicians all around me, I was actually so entranced that I scribbled away with enough focus that the only thing that broke my concentration was when the host darted past me in a hot pink suit.
Another awesome feature on the Galaxy S22 Ultra is something called Samsung DeX, which transforms it into a mini desktop. While working from home all I had to do was connect the phone to my monitor and I could use it to take notes and chat with my co-workers, which is basically a multitasker’s dream. And when I took breaks to scroll on TikTok, it was nice to be able to watch each video on a TV-sized screen.
The overall performance
Overall, my experience using the Galaxy S22 Ultra was seamless. Even after a full day of interviewing, taking pics and sending emails, the long-lasting battery held up—I didn’t need to charge it once! From work to concerts and everything in between, the Galaxy S22 Ultra kept me not only connected to my work and socials but inspired me to capture some amazing content.
Though it was only a week, the Galaxy S22 Ultra easily became an integral part of my day-to-day. If you’re looking for an upgrade to your old smartphone, I highly recommend checking this incredible one out.
Image via Samsung Electronics
Wired transfers require at least Android™ 4.3, iOS 5, or Windows Mobile OS8.1 or OS 10 on your old device. Devices with an older OS must use wireless transfer options. If you do not have the required USB cable/connector for a wired transfer to Galaxy, you can also use wireless transfer options. Open Smart Switch Mobile in “Settings” on your new Galaxy phone or download Smart Switch for PC/Mac. Data and content available for transfer may vary by OS. For more information, please Contact Samsung HELP. To transfer data from iCloud or other cloud storage services, a data connection is required. To avoid disruption in text messaging when transferring from iOS, change your iMessage settings appropriately. Super Steady video is limited to 1080p resolution. The High Brightness Mode reaches to 1,200nit and up to 1,750 nits under direct sunlight for Galaxy S22 Ultra. S pen support is available on Galaxy S22 Ultra. S Pen support is not available on Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+. Measured diagonally, Galaxy S22 Ultra’s screen size is 6.8-inch in the full rectangle; actual viewable area is less due to camera hole. Based on average battery life under typical usage conditions. Average expected performance based on typical use. Actual battery life depends on factors such as network, features selected, frequency of calls, and voice, data, and other application usage patterns.