The Galaxy S22 Ultra and S22+ feel fast in everyday use, but neither sustains peak performance under a long, heavy workload. In HotHardware’s 2022 testing, both throttled by as much as 50% within 20 minutes; the S22+ lasted longer than the Ultra in one PCMark battery test, while the Ultra delivered a sharper display, a more capable zoom camera and an integrated S Pen. Both support 45W wired charging and 5G, including mmWave in the US models tested.
How fast are the S22 Ultra and S22+ in everyday use?
HotHardware reviewer Myriam Joire found the S22 Ultra and S22+ smooth during everyday productivity, communication, entertainment and gaming. The review reported no glitches while switching among dozens of apps. That is a useful picture of normal use, but it is not a guarantee that every app or workload will perform identically.
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The US review units used Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Samsung used the Exynos 2200 in other markets, so the review’s performance observations and benchmark results should not be treated as a direct test of every regional version.
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Under sustained workloads, HotHardware observed performance drops of up to 50% within 20 minutes. In the 3DMark Wild Life Stress test, which repeatedly runs a graphics workload, the S22+ scored 49.8% stability and the S22 Ultra scored 52.5%. In this test, the Ultra retained a slightly larger share of its performance, but both results show a substantial decline from peak performance during repeated heavy load.
#1 Best Overall
- Amazon Renewed condition : May have few minor scuffs or scratches;
- Amazon Renewed condition : May have few minor scuffs or scratches
- This device is unlocked and will be compatible with all major Canadian carriers
- Network bands in regions may be different depending on the mobile operator and your location; Available storage is less due to phone software updates and apps usage
These are synthetic benchmark results, not a measure of how often a phone will slow down in ordinary use. HotHardware cautioned that benchmark results can also be affected by software optimization. The review does not establish a particular surface temperature or show that either phone will throttle during every gaming session.
How long does the battery last, and is the S22+ better?
In HotHardware’s PCMark battery test with the display set to 120Hz, the 5,000mAh S22 Ultra ran for 12 hours 4 minutes. The 4,500mAh S22+ ran for 13 hours 54 minutes in the same test. That makes the Plus the longer-lasting phone in this particular comparison, despite its smaller stated battery capacity; it does not establish how long either model will last for every person or mix of tasks.
Rank #2
- The S22 Ultra combines the strengths of the S‑series and the legacy of the Note lineage by including a built‑in S Pen with ultra‑low latency. That means you can write, sketch, annotate PDFs, control media, or even take photos with the pen — essentially turning the phone into a productivity and creativity tool beyond ordinary smartphones.
Samsung lists the S22 Ultra battery at 5,000mAh and the S22+ battery at 4,500mAh. Real-world endurance varies with factors such as signal strength, display settings, apps and workload, and the test result should not be read as a promised daily runtime.
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No charger is included in the box. Both the S22 Ultra and S22+ support up to 45W wired charging, but you need a separately purchased compatible 45W adapter and cable to use that charging capability. Samsung says the adapters and cables are sold separately. The review does not establish a charge time or show that every charging session reaches 45W; support for a maximum rate is not a guarantee of a particular top-up speed.
Rank #3
- The S22 Ultra combines the strengths of the S‑series and the legacy of the Note lineage by including a built‑in S Pen with ultra‑low latency. That means you can write, sketch, annotate PDFs, control media, or even take photos with the pen — essentially turning the phone into a productivity and creativity tool beyond ordinary smartphones.
Both phones also support 15W Qi wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The regular Galaxy S22, unlike the Ultra and Plus, is limited to 25W wired charging.
How do the Ultra and Plus compare as phones?
| Feature | Galaxy S22 Ultra | Galaxy S22+ |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.8-inch Quad HD+ Edge Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.6-inch FHD+ display |
| Rear cameras | 108MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto and 10MP 10x telephoto | 50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide and 10MP telephoto |
| Front camera | 40MP | 10MP |
| Zoom feature documented by Samsung | 100x Space Zoom | Not stated in the cited Samsung hardware details |
| Battery capacity listed by Samsung | 5,000mAh | 4,500mAh |
| S Pen | Built-in S Pen | Not stated in the cited Samsung hardware details |
| Maximum wired charging support | 45W | 45W |
Samsung also documents 120Hz adaptive refresh and Vision Booster for the display experience. The Ultra’s larger, higher-resolution screen and additional telephoto camera make it the more feature-rich option for viewing and zoom photography; the S22+ offers a smaller FHD+ screen and a less elaborate listed camera system.
Rank #4
- The S22 Ultra combines the strengths of the S‑series and the legacy of the Note lineage by including a built‑in S Pen with ultra‑low latency. That means you can write, sketch, annotate PDFs, control media, or even take photos with the pen — essentially turning the phone into a productivity and creativity tool beyond ordinary smartphones.
How fast is the S22 Ultra on 5G?
In HotHardware’s February 2022 testing around San Francisco, the Verizon mmWave connection reached 3.5Gbps on the S22 Ultra. The review measured 2.6Gbps on the Galaxy S21 Ultra at the same location. Those are location- and network-specific measurements, not a typical speed guarantee. The review units were also tested on T-Mobile sub-6GHz 5G, but no corresponding sub-6GHz speed figure was published. The unlocked phones worked on AT&T 5G as well.
For the US S22 Ultra and S22+ models, HotHardware lists sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G, CAT 20 LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC and UWB. Network support and performance can vary by market and carrier; the US review findings should not be assumed to describe every regional model.
Best Value
- 6.8", 1440 x 3088pixels, Infinity-O FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display, 5000mAh Battery, Wireless Powershare
- 128GB ROM, 8GB RAM, No SD Card Slot, Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm), Octa-Core, Adreno 730
- Rear Camera: 108MP, f/1.8 + 10MP, f/4.9 + 10MP, f/2.4 + 12MP, f/2.2, Front Camera: 40MP, f/2.2, Android 12, One UI 4.1
- 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, CDMA 800/1900, 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/46/48/66/71, 5G: 1/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/41/66/71/260/261SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Single SIM
- Compatible with Most GSM and CDMA Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
Are the speakers and wireless audio good?
All three Galaxy S22 models have AKG-tuned stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos. HotHardware described the Ultra and Plus sound as solid and comparable to the S21 Ultra and Pixel 6 Pro. Bluetooth supports aptX HD and LDAC. For wired listening, these phones require digital USB-C audio devices or an external DAC rather than a built-in analog headphone connection.
Which one makes more sense?
Choose the S22+ if you prefer a smaller display and want the better result from the battery test reported here. Choose the S22 Ultra if its Quad HD+ screen, more extensive telephoto camera setup, 100x Space Zoom or built-in S Pen are priorities. Both phones were smooth in the review’s everyday-use observations, both showed substantial performance loss in a sustained stress test, and both support 45W wired charging.
Samsung positioned the Ultra as a combination of Note functionality and Galaxy S-series features. That distinction is practical: the built-in S Pen gives the Ultra a productivity tool the cited S22+ hardware details do not list.
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