Samsung Galaxy A22

The Samsung Galaxy A22, released in July 2021, is a mid-range device with a focus on affordability. It measures 159.3 mm in height, 73.6 mm in width, and 8.4 mm in depth, weighing 186 grams.

Build Quality

The phone has a fairly standard build, using plastic for the frame and back. While this keeps the weight down, it doesn't feel as premium as phones with glass or metal construction. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is integrated into the power button.

Screen Quality

The Galaxy A22 features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 274 ppi. The display also boasts a 90Hz refresh rate and a typical brightness of 600 nits, contributing to smoother scrolling and acceptable outdoor visibility. While the resolution isn't the highest, the AMOLED panel provides vibrant colors and deep blacks, a key strength at this price point. HDR10 is not supported.

Camera Performance

The device has a triple-lens rear camera setup, including a 48MP main lens (f/1.8, 0.8µm pixel size, 1/2" sensor, Samsung S5KGM2 sensor), a 5MP wide-angle lens (f/2.2), and a 2MP depth sensor (f/2.4). The rear camera can record video up to 1080p at 30fps and slow-motion at 120 fps. The main camera uses pixel binning (2x2) for enhanced low-light performance. Camera features include Digital zoom, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, Night Mode. A front-facing 8MP selfie camera (f/2.0) is also included. While capable, the camera system is best suited for daytime shots and may struggle in challenging lighting scenarios.

Software Experience

The Samsung Galaxy A22 launched with Android 11, and is upgradable to Android 13. The phone runs Samsung's One UI on top of Android. While this offers a range of customizations and features, it can also be considered a slightly heavy skin, and could impact performance.

Battery Performance

A 5000mAh battery powers the Galaxy A22, typically providing all-day usage for most users. The phone supports 15W fast charging using a USB Type-C 2.0 port, which is adequate but not the fastest charging option available. The phone also supports USB-OTG.

Value for Money

The Samsung Galaxy A22 is positioned as a medium-priced device. There are different configurations including 4GB/128GB, and 6GB/128GB. The phone has a MediaTek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) chipset with an Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) CPU and a Mali-G52 MC2 GPU. The 4GB/128GB is priced between $133.04 to $195.14, while the 6GB/128GB configuration goes for $168.87. While not a powerhouse, it offers good value for users looking for an affordable phone with a capable screen, a decent camera, and long battery life. The presence of NFC is also a plus.