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Samsung Galaxy S II (AT&T) review: Samsung Galaxy S II (AT&T)

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Samsung Galaxy S II (AT&T) review: Samsung Galaxy S II (AT&T)

Editors' note: Portions of this review were taken from our evaluation of the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S II and the Samsung Epic 4G Touch, since the devices share a number of similarities.

The Samsung Galaxy S II is making the carrier rounds, and its next stop is AT&T. Available on October 2 for $199.99 with a two-year contract, the Samsung Captivate successor boasts a faster dual-core processor, sharper display, and better cameras. It more closely resembles the unlocked Galaxy S II than the T-Mobile and Sprint versions, since it features a smaller 4.3-inch touch screen (versus 4.5 inches), but we actually think that's a good thing since it offers a more appealing design. More importantly, the Android Gingerbread device delivers great performance in almost all aspects and earns itself our Editors' Choice Award. If you're an AT&T customer looking for an Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S II would certainly be our top choice.

Design
The Samsung Galaxy S II joins AT&T's lineup as the carrier's thinnest (oh, if only we got a dollar for every time we heard that superlative) 4G smartphone. The handset measures 4.96 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by 0.35 inch thick--a whole 0.1mm thinner than the Infuse 4G, if you're counting. The difference in thickness is negligible, but still, the Galaxy S II is much easier to hold and pocket since it's not as wide or as tall as the Infuse or the Sprint and T-Mobile versions of the phone.

This is because the AT&T Galaxy S II has a smaller 4.3-inch (versus 4.5 inches) touch screen. Screen size is certainly a personal thing, but we found 4.3 inches to be enough to comfortably view Web pages, video, and messages. Plus, the AMOLED Plus, 800x480-pixel display shows off deep colors and sharp images and text.

The touch screen is responsive. The smartphone offers several virtual keyboards, including Android, Samsung, and Swype. It registered all our taps, and we were able to easily navigate through the menus. In addition to using the standard touch interface, you can also use motion gestures. With the settings turned on, you can flip the phone to mute it. With two fingers on the screen, you can tilt to zoom in and out in the photo gallery and browser. Flicking your wrist left or right (panning) can move a home screen icon when you're holding it. However, panning and zooming weren't as responsive as we'd like. While most of the motion controls may not figure into your daily use, this type of gesture functionality adds welcome options in general. You can also perform certain tasks, such as composing and sending a message, calling a contact, and launching the music player, using voice commands with the Vlingo-powered Voice Talk app.

Below the screen, you'll find the menu, home, back, and search buttons. On the left side, there's a volume rocker and a power/lock button on the right. The top of the device houses a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the bottom features a Micro-USB port.

Just above the screen in the left-hand corner is a 2-megapixel camera for video calls; the main 8-megapixel camera and flash sit on back. The microSD expansion slot is located behind the very flimsy plastic battery door. The latter aside, the Galaxy S II feels nice in the hand, and because of its more manageable size, we think it will be an attractive option for a wider audience than the Infuse 4G or other Galaxy S II models.

AT&T packages the Samsung Galaxy S II with just the basics: an AC adapter, a USB cable, and reference material.

User interface
The Samsung Galaxy S II runs Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread along with Samsung's latest TouchWiz 4.0 user interface. We're often less enthusiastic about custom interfaces; they sometimes add unwanted complexity and unremovable apps, and are usually slower to update to new OS versions. However, TouchWiz 4.0 has a few things going for it: some carryovers from previous versions of TouchWiz. There are seven home screens, for example, and the notification pull-down menu has icons for easily turning on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, flight mode, and screen rotation.

Customizing the home screens is made easier with a carousel-like setup that lets you move through the various panels to add and remove shortcuts and widgets at the same time. Previously, you had to do a long-press on one screen to change it and then repeat the process if you wanted to change another page. You can also now resize Samsung Live Panel widgets, and there's a more fluid motion when scrolling through widget lists and home pages.

Some of the changes are purely cosmetic, but they certainly add some polish to the UI. There are also some useful additions as well, such as an integrated task manager that displays all your active applications, downloaded apps with the option to uninstall, RAM status, and system storage. Also great: the ability to now capture screenshots by simply pressing the power button and home key simultaneously.

Features
The quad-band Samsung Galaxy S II offers a speakerphone, conference calling, voice dialing, video calling, and text and multimedia messaging. The smartphone is compatible with AT&T's HSPA+ network and can be used as a mobile hot spot for up to five devices. Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), and GPS are also onboard.

As we noted earlier, it is running Gingerbread and all of Google's services are accounted for: e-mail, maps, voice navigation, search, chat, Places, Latitude, and YouTube, plus basic tools like a calendar, a calculator, an alarm clock, a world clock, a stopwatch, and a timer. In addition, Samsung and AT&T have preloaded the phone with a number of extras, including the Quickoffice suite, Kies Air (a Wi-Fi-based PC-to-phone sync manager), AT&T Navigator, AT&T Code Scanner, and Yellow Pages Mobile. We're not a fan of having so much bloatware on the phone, but thankfully, AT&T now gives you the option to uninstall some of its apps, such as AT&T FamilyMap and Live TV.

There is no shortage of entertainment options on the Galaxy S II. In addition to the built-in music and video player, the smartphone offers Samsung's Media Hub where you can download movies and TV shows to rent or own. You can also shoot your owns videos and photos with the handset's 8-megapixel camera, which is capable of 1080p HD video capture. The camera app has plenty of tools, such as effects, white-balance controls, ISO settings, and more. Samsung also throws in a photo and video editor, which we appreciate. The video editor is particularly great, since it makes it easy to piece together clips with different effects and music, all from right on your phone.

Picture quality was impressive. Even under less-than-ideal lighting conditions, the camera produced bright, detailed, and clear images, and camera performance was fast. Video quality was also very good. Again, colors looked vibrant and there was very little blurring and pixelation, even during action sequences. Once you're done capturing media, you can store files to the Galaxy S II's 16GB of internal memory or to an SD card (expansion slot accepts up to 32GB). You can also share via the usual social network channels or to your HDTV using DLNA or with an HDMI adapter.

Performance
We tested the quad-band Samsung Galaxy S II in New York using AT&T service and call quality was excellent. We enjoyed clear audio with very little to no background noise. Occasionally, callers sounded a bit muffled, but overall, the voices sounded true to life without any kind of distortion. Friends were also impressed with the sound quality and didn't have any major complaints.

Samsung Galaxy S II call quality sample Listen now:

Speakerphone quality wasn't quite as good. Callers said they could hear a bit of an echo, and on our end, they sounded far away and there was barely enough volume to hear them in noisier environments. We were able to pair the smartphone with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset and Mobile S9 Bluetooth Active Headphones and make calls and listen to music without any problems.

We didn't experience any dropped calls during our review period. Data speeds on AT&T's HSPA+ network, which the carrier calls 4G, were OK, but not a standout compared with competing carriers' 4G networks. Using Ookla's Speedtest.net app, we averaged download speeds of 2.36Mbps and 1.12Mbps up. With such speeds, CNET's full site loaded in 20 seconds, and the mobile sites for CNN and ESPN came up in 5 seconds and 7 seconds, respectively. The phone was able to load and play high-quality YouTube videos in a couple of seconds, and playback was smooth and continuous.

Equipped with Samsung's 1.2GHz dual-core Exnyos processor, general performance on the Galaxy S II was fast and powerful. Navigating the phone was zippy, and we were able to launch apps and switch between tasks with ease. Whether it was playing games or viewing Flash content, the smartphone was up to the challenge.

The Samsung Galaxy S II ships with a 1,650mAh lithium ion battery with a rated talk time of 8 hours and up to 16 days of standby time. The Galaxy S II provided an impressive 10 hours of continuous talk time in ourbattery drain tests. According to FCC radiation tests, the Galaxy S II has a digital SAR rating of 0.36W/kg and a Hearing Aid Compatibility rating of M3.

Conclusion
As we've already seen from the other series models, the Samsung Galaxy S II is an excellent Android smartphone, and it makes for a great addition to AT&T's lineup. The carrier already has a number of other great Android devices, such as the Samsung Infuse 4G, Motorola Atrix 4G, and HTC Inspire 4G, but the Galaxy S II brings the total package of an attractive design, great set of features, and solid performance to make it the top pick and Editors' Choice winner.

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Samsung Galaxy S II (U.S. Cellular) review: Samsung Galaxy S II (U.S. Cellular)

Samsung Galaxy S II (U.S. Cellular) review: Samsung Galaxy S II (U.S. Cellular)

With the rapid-fire release of one smartphone after another, it's easy for once-great phones to quickly become obsolete. Luckily, the Samsung Galaxy S II is one device with staying power, and its appearance on U.S. Cellular's network is a slam dunk.

There are two things to be aware of: this is a 3G phone on U.S. Cellular, and the cost is a little steeper than on other carriers: $229.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate, and with a new two-year activation. It's also costlier than other U.S. Cellular phones at the time of the review.

Editors' note: This review focuses on the differences between the Samsung Galaxy S II on U.S. Cellular and the Samsung Galaxy S II on other networks. You can read up on the full feature set here.

Design and features
The Samsung Galaxy S II maintains the same design as the T-Mobile and Sprint versions of the phone. It starts with a trim, rounded rectangle candy bar design, and has a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED screen that's just beautiful, rich, clear, and vivid. (AT&T's model has a 4.3-inch screen. Its Galaxy S II Skyrocket variation has the larger display.)

There's a nice, strong 2-megapixel camera on the front that's great for video chats, but the best lens yet is the 8-megapixel one on the back, which continues to take excellent shots on every Galaxy S II variation we've seen. Auto-focus and an LED flash help out.

The processor is of the Sprint variety: a 1.2GHz dual-core Exynos processor, versus T-Mobile's 1.5GHz dual-core ticker. It nevertheless creates a speedy environment for internal processing. If the 16GB of internal storage isn't enough for you, a microSD card slot behind the back cover can accommodate up to 32GB more.

Samsung and U.S. Cellular added a slew of apps to the phone, which is fine if you enjoy having presets when you unbox a new device. AllShare is Samsung's DLNA app for sharing media to compatible devices. There's also Amazon.com, Amazon MP3 store and app store, and the Kindle shortcut. Audible, an audiobook store, is also present. So are CityID, Daily Perks, IMBD, and a couple of HD game shortcuts. You'll find Samsung's media hub and social hub; U.S. Cellular-branded mobile TV and ringtone store; plus a memo pad and a photo editor. Polaris Office will help you get things done, and a Zappos shortcut will enable your next mobile shoe purchase.

Performance
I tested the Samsung Galaxy S II in San Francisco using U.S. Cellular's roaming network. Call quality was pretty good overall. Volume sounded fine to my ears, though voices were slightly robotic around the edges, and I did hear a few blips. There wasn't any additional background noise, though, and distortion remained mild. On their end, callers said I sounded a little hollow, but generally good, and with strong volume. At higher volumes, my voice reportedly sounded a bit distorted.

Samsung Galaxy S II (U.S. Cellular) call quality sample Listen now:

I tested speakerphone by holding the GSII at waist level. As soon as my caller started talking, I had to crank up the volume to hear. Even though voices were louder, they also sounded more echoey, hollow, and buzzy. For their part, callers were pleased with the speakerphone quality. They noted that they could still hear echo, but not at volumes that surpassed the normal amount that reverberates around the room. They pronounced my voice clarity "clear" and "pretty good."

To test out U.S. Cellular's 3G network speeds for the handset, I downloaded the diagnostic app Speedtest.net. Data speeds hovered in the 0.23Mbps and 0.37Mbps range, not very impressive. In real life, page load time was acceptable for 3G--roughly 15 seconds for a mobile-optimized page and 30-60 seconds for a much more graphically rich site.

Conclusion
At $130, the Samsung Galaxy S II is officially U.S. Cellular's priciest phone. It's also its best, and its flagship, and the one I'd recommend in a heartbeat for customers of the nation's sixth largest carrier. Even as the next wave of superphones begins to flood the market, the Galaxy S II is a handset that can go the distance. The only caveat is that U.S. Cellular is planning to build out a 4G network, and when it does, the GSII won't be able to access those faster speeds. If you're a current customer with a good chunk of time left on the contract, it could behoove you to wait for LTE.

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• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

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Is Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra Worth the Upgrade? Let's Compare it to Older Phones

Is Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra Worth the Upgrade? Let's Compare it to Older Phones

Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra is fitted with a giant screen, top-notch camera system and an S Pen stylus that you can stow inside the phone. But these fancy features are also paired with a hefty $1,200 price tag, making it one of the most expensive phones Samsung sells. 

That's why it's important to think carefully about whether it's time to upgrade to the Galaxy S22 Ultra. In many cases, the most important factors to consider will be camera quality and the S Pen. If you have a relatively recent phone like the Galaxy S21 Ultra or Note 20 Ultra, you don't need to upgrade just yet. The S22 Ultra is more of an iterative update to those devices, and you'll get more for your money by holding onto your device for a longer period of time.

Read more: Galaxy S22 vs. 5 Older Samsung Phones: Is Upgrading Worth It?

You're much more likely to notice the Galaxy S22 Ultra's new features when coming from a phone that's at least 3 years old. That said, it's also worth noting that the older your phone is, the less likely it is to continue getting the latest software updates. Samsung is guaranteeing four generations of Android operating system updates on phones in its families of Galaxy S22, S21 and Z devices, as well as certain Galaxy A phones. It previously committed to three years of updates, meaning some older phones like the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 might be close to the end of their software update cycle.

You'll also want to consider some of the features present on older phones that Samsung has eliminated on newer models. Samsung's new phones don't have expandable storage, for example, but the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, S20 Ultra and Note 10 Plus do. Samsung also phased out MST support for Samsung Pay, the technology that enables the payment service to work with older terminals that don't support NFC, starting with the Galaxy S21 line in the US. (MST is still available in select global markets.)

Read on to learn more about how the Galaxy S22 Ultra compares with Samsung's older high-end phones. 

The Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy S21 Ultra

If you have a Galaxy S21 Ultra, there's no need to upgrade yet. The Galaxy S22 Ultra is an iterative update to its predecessor. It comes with a newer processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Samsung's latest Exynos chip depending on the market), a camera that can perform better in low light and an S Pen that you can store inside the device. 

But those reasons alone aren't enough to spend on a new device, especially since you can purchase an S Pen for the Galaxy S21 Ultra separately. The Galaxy S22 Ultra's improved low-light photography is useful, but its camera system is otherwise very similar to the Galaxy S21 Ultra's. Both devices have a 108-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses that provide a 10x optical zoom. Their screens are equal in size and both support refresh rates of up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling. 

That's a detailed way to say the overall experience is essentially the same on the S21 Ultra and S22 Ultra, with some iterative upgrades to the camera and included S Pen. 

The bottom line: There's no major reason to upgrade to the S22 Ultra if you have the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The updates are mostly iterative and will be more noticeable when upgrading from an older phone. If you're a Galaxy Note fan looking to store your S Pen inside the Galaxy S21 Ultra, you're better off buying a case that includes a storage slot for the stylus.

Samsung's Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.

Angela Lang/CNET

Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is less than 2 years old, which means it should have plenty of mileage left in it. There isn't much to be gained from the S22 Ultra other than its camera improvements, which are appreciated but likely aren't enough to justify upgrading for most people. 

Both phones have a 108-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, although the S22 Ultra has a newer version of the main sensor with better autofocus and dynamic range. Where they really differ, however, is in their zoom capabilities. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses, while the Note 20 Ultra only has one 12-megapixel telephoto lens. As a result, the Galaxy S22 Ultra can achieve a closer zoom both optically and digitally (10x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom), compared with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (5x optical zoom, up to 50x digital zoom).

And of course, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is missing Samsung's recent improvements to low-light photography that debuted with the Galaxy S22 series. The S22 Ultra also takes better portraits than the Note 20 Ultra since it's better at distinguishing fine details, my colleague Lexy Savvides wrote in her recent comparison of the two phones. 

The Galaxy S22 Ultra also has a sharper 40-megapixel front camera than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra's 10-megapixel selfie camera. That might not matter to everyone, but it could be an important consideration if you spent a lot of time on video calls. 

The Galaxy S22 Ultra also comes with a newer processor and a larger battery, although the difference doesn't seem to be game-changing. Both phones are capable of lasting an entire day, according to CNET's S22 Ultra and Note 20 Ultra comparison. The Galaxy S22 Ultra would typically have 20% of its battery left by the end of the day, while the Note 20 Ultra would have 10% to 15% of its battery remaining. Our test applies to the Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered version of these phones, so it's possible that the Exynos versions could differ. And both phones come with Samsung's S Pen stylus for taking notes, drawing and marking up documents. 

There are also a couple of small trade-offs to be made by upgrading from the Note 20 Ultra to the S22 Ultra. Samsung's newest high-end phone has a slightly smaller screen than the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (6.8 inches versus 6.9 inches). It also lacks a microSD card slot for expandable storage, unlike the Note 20 Ultra, which can support up to 1 terabyte of additional space. 

The bottom line: You can hang on to your Galaxy Note 20 Ultra for a little longer. Unless you really want a 100x digital zoom and slightly longer battery life. 

Samsung's Galaxy Note 20.

Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy Note 20

Once again, the biggest difference between the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy Note 20 is in its camera. The Galaxy S22 Ultra also has a larger and sharper screen, a bigger battery and a newer processor than the Galaxy Note 20. Most people probably don't have to upgrade just yet. But there's a stronger case for upgrading from the Note 20 than from the Note 20 Ultra since the regular model also has a smaller screen and less capable camera than its bigger sibling.

The Galaxy Note 20 has three rear cameras: a 12-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor and a 64-megapixel telephoto lens. You get a 3x optical zoom on the Galaxy Note and up to a 30x digital zoom. The Galaxy S22 Ultra improves on this in several ways. It comes with four rear cameras: a 108-megapixel main sensor, two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. 

Since it has two telephoto lenses, the S22 Ultra can zoom up to 10x optically and 100x digitally. And don't forget: Samsung's Galaxy S22 lineup also boasts improved low-light photography. In general, the Galaxy S22 lineup also has improved color and contrast compared with other phones, as I found during my testing. 

For most people, the Galaxy Note 20's triple-lens camera will probably be enough. In my own use, I've found that image quality becomes too blurry and noisy when zooming past 30x. But if photography is a main priority and you frequently use your phone for professional work, the S22 Ultra could be worth considering for its improved camera. The selfie camera is also sharper (40 megapixels versus the Note 20's 10 megapixels), which could be important for those who take a lot of video calls. 

Otherwise, you'll also get a slightly larger screen (6.8 inches versus 6.7 inches) that's also sharper since it packs 500 pixels per inch compared with the Note 20's 393 pixels. You also have the option to set the screen to a higher refresh rate of up to 120Hz on the S22 Ultra for smoother scrolling, unlike the Note 20. Both phones come with Samsung's S Pen stylus. But the Note 20 does have a less premium plastic construction than the pricier Note 20 Ultra. So upgrading to the Galaxy S22 Ultra also means you'll get a design that feels more polished and high-end. 

The bottom line: You probably don't need to upgrade, but doing so makes more sense than upgrading from the Note 20 Ultra. The Galaxy S22 Ultra brings camera improvements and a larger battery that might make a meaningful difference to those who use their phones for pro-grade photography. If you meet that criteria and can also score a great trade-in deal, the S22 Ultra would be worth it. If you mostly want a better camera and don't mind sacrificing the S Pen and a little screen space, I'd also recommend checking out the Galaxy S22 Plus. 

Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy S20 Ultra

The Galaxy S20 Ultra is 2 years old, but it still has plenty to offer. The biggest differences between the S20 Ultra and S22 Ultra are the latter's inclusion of Samsung's S Pen stylus, its newer processor and some moderate camera changes. These are incremental improvements that make the Galaxy S22 Ultra better than its predecessors. However, there's nothing that makes this phone feel wildly different from the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

Both phones are around the same size, but the S20 Ultra is slightly larger at 6.9 inches compared with the S22 Ultra's 6.8-inch display. The S20 Ultra also packs more pixels per inch, and each phone can boost its screen's refresh rate up to 120Hz for a more fluid experience. Both devices also both have a 40-megapixel selfie camera and the same battery capacity. Both phones also have 45-watt fast-charging, although you'll have to purchase the required adapter separately.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra and S20 Ultra have similar camera systems, although there are some differences when it comes to their zooming capabilities. Both phones have a 108-megapixel main sensor and a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. But the Galaxy S22 Ultra has two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses, while the S20 Ultra has one 48-megapixel telephoto lens and a depth sensor. 

That dual telephoto camera gives the S22 Ultra some advantages when it comes to quality and ease of use. You get a true optical zoom at either 3x or 10x on the Galaxy S22 Ultra, whereas the S20 Ultra has a hybrid optic zoom system that uses some digital cropping to achieve the desired zoom level. Zooming in should also feel steady and more smooth on the Galaxy S22 Ultra compared with the S20 Ultra. The Galaxy S22-lineup phones can also take clearer and brighter photos in the dark and are generally better with color and contrast. 

All of these changes make the S22 Ultra feel like a step forward, but the Galaxy S20 Ultra already has an excellent camera. The Galaxy S22 Ultra's changes improve photo quality rather than adding drastically different features and shooting modes. However, if you've been frustrated by the Galaxy S20 Ultra's autofocus issues, you might find yourself in more of a hurry to upgrade.  

What you'll really have to ask yourself is whether it's worth upgrading for the S Pen. That's the key distinction between the S22 Ultra and the S20 Ultra. The S Pen feels like a nice bonus rather than a necessity for the Galaxy S22 Ultra. But given the popularity that Samsung's Galaxy Note has cultivated over the last decade, I imagine there are plenty of people who might disagree. The S Pen lets you jot down notes (even when the screen is turned off), sketch, mark up screenshots and other documents and translate text, among other tasks. The stylus can even function as a remote control for the phone's camera.

The bottom line: Unless you really want the S Pen, there isn't a major reason to upgrade to the Galaxy S22 Ultra from the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Both phones have a giant screen with a high refresh rate for smoother scrolling, and they have similar cameras. They also have the same battery capacity. The Galaxy S22 Ultra does get some camera improvements, particularly when zooming or taking low-light photos. But the changes aren't drastic enough to encourage most people to upgrade just yet.

Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 Plus.

Angela Lang/CNET

Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy Note 10 Plus

Just as with the other phones on this list, the biggest reason to upgrade from the Galaxy Note 10 Plus to the Galaxy S22 Ultra is its camera. But the upgrades are more than incremental this time. The Galaxy Note 10 Plus' triple-lens camera has a much more limited zoom range than the Galaxy S22 Ultra's, and it's also missing the 108-megapixel main sensor that debuted on the Galaxy S20 Ultra. 

For the purposes of this article, we've decided to compare the Note 10 Plus because it has a noticeably larger screen than the regular Note 10 (6.8 inches versus the standard model's 6.3-inch display). That makes it a more straightforward comparison against the Galaxy S22 Ultra.  

Samsung's new top-of-the-line phone has four main camera lenses: a 108-megapixel main sensor, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera and two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses. The Galaxy Note 10 Plus, comparatively, has a 12-megapixel wide camera, a 16-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 12-megapixel telephoto camera and a depth sensor. 

For casual photographers, the Note 10 Plus' triple camera might be adequate enough. But those who prioritize camera quality will find a lot to love about the S22 Ultra. It can zoom up to 10x optically and 100x digitally, while the Galaxy Note 10 Plus only has a 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom. That's a big difference that will feel significant to anyone who frequently takes photos from a distance, as perhaps at sporting events or concerts.

Otherwise, the Galaxy S22 Ultra brings extras like a 120Hz refresh rate screen, a sharper 40-megapixel selfie camera, support for 8K video recording, a much newer processor and a larger battery. That said, both phones have large and vibrant 6.8-inch screens that are ideal for reading and watching video, and they both come with the S Pen. But the Galaxy S10 Plus also has more memory and storage at the base level than the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and there's no microSD card slot on Samsung's newest Ultra phone.

The bottom line: Yes, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is worth the upgrade if you have the Galaxy Note 10 Ultra, particularly if you can find a good trade-in deal. But the answer will depend on your needs and preferences. If photography is a huge priority, the S22 Ultra's upgraded camera will feel like a major improvement. The drastically improved zoom, better low-light performance and overall improvements to color and contrast make it a more versatile and capable camera overall. But if you mostly just care about having an attractive phone with a big screen, you can probably get by with your Note 10 Plus for a bit longer. If you have the non-5G model, the S22 Ultra gives you even more of a reason to upgrade. 

Samsung's Galaxy S10 5G.

Angela Lang/CNET

Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Galaxy S10 5G

The Galaxy S10 5G was Samsung's high-end flagship phone from 2019, and it has a lot in common with the Galaxy Note 10 Plus. With that in mind, similar advice applies if you have a Galaxy S10 5G. It's worth the upgrade, particularly if you love taking photos and prioritize having a phone with top-notch zooming capabilities. But you can also probably get by with your current phone if you don't necessarily care about having the best camera and purchased the S10 5G mostly for its giant screen.

The Galaxy S10 5G has a 12-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel telephoto camera, a 16-megapixel ultrawide camera and a depth sensor, just like the Note 10 Plus. As such, all of the benefits mentioned above apply to those upgrading from the Galaxy S10 5G, too. Samsung's newest premium phone brings significantly better zoom, improved photos in low light, a sharper selfie camera and better overall image quality compared with the S10 5G, plus 8K video recording and a larger battery. The difference in performance is also likely to be more noticeable when upgrading from a 3-year-old phone like the S10 5G. 

The Galaxy S22 Ultra's screen is also slightly larger than the S10 5G's (6.8 inches versus 6.7 inches). But more importantly, you can increase the refresh rate up to 120Hz to make scrolling feel more seamless. And of course, it also comes with Samsung's S Pen stylus to make better use of that large screen.

The bottom line: Yes, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is worth upgrading if you own a Galaxy S10 5G. The Galaxy S22 Ultra brings features that are legitimately new rather than incremental upgrades, such as an included S Pen and an overhauled camera with significantly better zoom. If you don't care about these features, you can get by with your Galaxy S10 5G for a little while longer. But for those who prioritize photography in a camera and are ready for something new, the S22 Ultra won't disappoint.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. older Samsung phones

	Galaxy S22 Ultra	Galaxy S21 Ultra	Galaxy Note 20 Ultra	Galaxy Note 20	Galaxy S20 Ultra	Galaxy Note 10 Plus	Galaxy S10 5G
Display size, resolution	6.8-inch AMOLED, 3,088x1,440 pixels	6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3,200x1,440 pixels	6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3,088x1,440 pixels	6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus, 2,400x1,080 pixels	6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3,200x1,440 pixels	6.8-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED; 3,040x1,440 pixels	6.7-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED; 3,040x1,440 pixels
Pixel density (per inch)	500ppi	515ppi	496ppi	393ppi	511ppi	498 ppi	505 ppi
Dimensions (millimeters)	77.9x163.3x8.9mm	75.6x165.1x8.9mm	164.8x77.2x8.1mm	161.6x75.2x8.3mm	76x166.9x8.8mm	162.3x77.2x7.9mm	162.6x77.1x7.94mm
Weight (ounces, grams)	8.07 oz; 229g	8.07 oz; 229g	7.33 oz, 208g	6.84 oz, 194g	7.76 oz; 220g	6.91 oz; 196g	6.98 oz; 198g
Mobile software (shipped at launch)	Android 12	Android 11	Android 10	Android 10	Android 10	Android 9	Android 9
Camera	108MP (wide), 12MP (ultrawide) 10MP (3x telephoto) 10MP (10x telephoto)	108MP (wide), 12MP (ultrawide), 10MP (3x telephoto), 10MP (10x telephoto)	12MP (ultrawide), 108MP (wide-angle), 12MP (telephoto)	12MP (ultrawide), 12MP (wide-angle), 64MP (telephoto)	108MP (wide-angle), 48MP (telephoto), 12MP (ultrawide), time-of-flight camera	12MP (wide-angle), 16MP (ultrawide-angle), 12MP (telephoto), 3D depth (HQVGA)	12MP (wide-angle), 16MP (ultrawide-angle), 12MP (telephoto), 3D depth (HQVGA)
Front-facing camera	40MP	40MP	10MP	10MP	40MP	10MP	10MP, 3D depth (HQVGA)
Video capture	8K, 4K	8K, 4K	8K, 4K	8K, 4K	8K, 4K	4K	4K
Processor	Snapdragon 8 gen 1	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
RAM/storage	8GB + 128GB ; 12GB + 256GB; 12GB+512GB; 12GB+ 1TB	16GB + 512GB; 12GB + 256GB; 12GB + 128GB	12GB + 128GB; 12GB + 512GB	8GB + 128GB	12GB + 128GB; 12GB + 256GB; 16GB + 512GB	12GB + 256GB; 12GB + 512GB	8GB + 256GB; 8GB + 512GB
Expandable storage	None	None	Up to 1TB	None	Up to 1TB	Up to 1TB	None
Battery/charger	5,000 mAh	5,000 mAh	4,500 mAh	4,300 mAh	5,000 mAh	4,300 mAh	4,500 mAh
Fingerprint sensor	In-display	In-display	In-display	In-display	In-display	In-display	In-display
Connector	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Special features	5G (mmw/Sub6), bundled S Pen, IP68 rating, 120Hz display, UWB, Wireless Power Share, 100x Space Zoom (digital), 10x optical zoom, 45W charging support (sold separately)	5G (mmw/Sub6), S Pen support (not included), IP68 rating, 120Hz display, UWB, Wireless Power Share, 100x Space Zoom (digital), 10x optical zoom	5G (mmw/Sub6), 5x optical zoom, 120Hz display; UWB sharing, S Pen included, Wireless PowerShare, IP68 rating	5G (mmw/Sub6); S Pen included; Wireless PowerShare; water-resistant (IP68)	5G (mmw/Sub6); 120Hz refresh rate; 100X zoom (digital); Wireless PowerShare; IP68 rating	5G (mmw/Sub6 on 5G model); S Pen included; Wireless PowerShare; IP68 rating	5G (mmw/Sub6); Wireless PowerShare; 3D depth cameras (not for face unlock); IP68 rating

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