Whenever a flagship series is updated with a new model, one question we always ask is… ‘is the upgrade worth the price tag?’
The answer, however, is almost always no. Flagship smartphones just don’t experience enough technological advancement within a year to fully justify an annual upgrade.
However, if you’re a new user looking to upgrade from your very old Samsung phone, or from either a midrange or budget smartphone, then you’re probably asking ‘Should I go for the fancy but expensive latest model, or go for the cheaper but probably equally good older model instead?’
That’s the question we’re looking to answer today with our Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comparison here.
Design - Do They Look The Same?
Though they look similar from the front, the Galaxy S22 Ultra actually had a huge design overhaul from the Galaxy S21 Ultra. For starters, when compared to the rounded corners of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the newer variant has sharp corners that make it look like a cousin of Samsung’s Note series, which is fitting considering the Galaxy S22 Ultra now comes with an in-body stylus.
Speaking of which, it is probably the biggest difference between the two Ultras. Although the Galaxy S21 Ultra has stylus support, the S Pen had to be purchased separately, meaning it could not be stored easily with the phone. The Galaxy S22 Ultra, on the other hand, has a slot near the bottom specifically to hold the S Pen stylus.
How About Performance Differences?
Other than that, the rest of the differences will mostly boil down to their performances (specifications).
Galaxy S21 Ultra’s base model came with an Exynos 2100 processor and 12GB of RAM. When you put that up against the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, the Snapdragon will outperform the Exynos processor. Sounds wonderful? It’s a small shame that Samsung decided to make the base model of the Galaxy S22 Ultra with only 8GB of RAM.
From there, we have to dig deeper.
How much more powerful is the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s Snapdragon processor compared to the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s Exynos chip? To find out, we decided to compare their performance in the one true area where processing power actually matters in phones - gaming.
It shouldn’t need to be said both the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy S22 Ultra are more than capable of running lightweight games like Subway Surfers, Mobile Legends, and Arknights. But the real question is how does it do with more demanding titles?
To really test a phone’s true performance, we have to hit it with one of the most demanding games on the market, Genshin Impact. And it's here we find some notable differences between the two phones, at least when it comes to performance.
Test #1 - Gaming (Genshin Impact, Asphalt 9 & Call of Duty):
Watch our video team's take on the Galaxy S22 Ultra's (gaming) performance here.
If we run the game at the maximum setting, on the Galaxy S21 Ultra it performs respectably, with smooth gameplay for the most part but with noticeable jitters and lags every so often.
In our experience, having the graphics down a notch eliminates these problems, and will stabilize the framerate to a smooth 60fps. However, the graphical downgrade may not be worth it to some people. So overall, the Exynos processor was capable of running the game at max settings, though it wasn’t the greatest experience.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, on the other hand, performed well on Genshin Impact. Not only could it handle the heavy game at its max settings, but the frame rate remained a consistent 60 fps throughout, even during busier gameplays with a ton of enemies on screen.
A small feature we can appreciate the Galaxy S22 Ultra for is that temperature control seems to be better maintained compared to the S21 Ultra. The Galaxy S22 Ultra managed to stay just slightly warm for over an hour of gaming compared to the S21 Ultra which felt warmer.
Test #2 - All-Day Functionality:
Gaming isn’t the deciding factor for most people when it comes to choosing their next smartphone, so it's good to also consider the rest of the phone.
When it comes to the Galaxy S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra, potential buyers might be disappointed with the lack of spec changes. Besides the upgraded processor and S Pen inclusion on the Galaxy S22 Ultra, there isn’t really a whole lot of difference between the two phones, at least when it comes to hardware.
Both have the same 1440p 6.8-inch Super AMOLED+ screen, with the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s being slightly brighter. Although the cameras are more or less the same, the updated camera software on the Galaxy S22 Ultra makes it a good upgrade worth considering. As you may have known, Samsung has included many software updates to offer clearer and higher-quality shots, especially for nighttime.
Another reason you may want to get the Galaxy S22 Ultra is for the S Pen stylus; a great productivity tool that can be easily hidden away when you’re done with note-taking.
We must remind you that the S Pen is always a good recommendation for people who need a powerful phone for everyday use, especially given that the S Pen now has a 2.8ms latency which, in our experience, offers a very similar pen-on-paper-like feel.
Test #3 - Battery:
However, the S22 Ultra isn’t a complete upgrade over the S21 Ultra. Here’s where you might want to figure out which you prefer.
Although both the Galaxy S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra have a 5,000mAh battery, due to the power-hungry Snapdragon processor, the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s battery life underperforms compared to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The S22 variant lasted for about 10 hours of active use whereas the S21 variant lasted a little longer by several more minutes.
You might think this is offset by the 45W fast charger on the S22 Ultra, but testing shows that this offers only a marginal difference when compared with the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s 25W fast charging.
Conclusion
Go with:
- Galaxy S22 Ultra for future-proofing, camera, longer software updates
- Galaxy S21 Ultra for the lower price tag
In short, if you’re looking for a device to play your favourite adventure or battle royale games, then both phones are a strong candidate to do so.
Whether it's COD Mobile, PUBG, or Fortnite, both the Galaxy S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra can run them at the maximum settings with barely a hiccup. The frame rates are consistent across the board, with the Galaxy S22 Ultra only having some barely noticeable improvements (ex. No stutter or rough temperature fluctuations).
Although we’ve laid out the differences between the two phones, there’s more to consider than pure specs and performance alone. For example, pricing.
Yes, the new flagship phone will definitely be more expensive when compared to buying the previous model, but there are also added bonuses to consider. When you buy a new Galaxy S22 Ultra, you can still catch free gifts and cashback.
But if you’re looking for an S21 Ultra, you might need to find it from online shop resellers who may not include an official warranty.
Not only that; updates are another thing to consider when buying an older phone. Samsung’s latest 4-year update policy means that when you buy a Galaxy S21 Ultra in 2022, you’re only getting three years of Android updates.
Still, if the price difference is really that big a factor in your consideration, then the Galaxy S21 Ultra is more than a serviceable phone that can handle most of your gaming and productivity needs. Otherwise, if the top of the line performance is what you’re looking for, then opt for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra instead.
Get the Samsung Galaxy S22 or S21 Ultra here:
Table of Contents
