Samsung Galaxy S22 lineup reviews: Solid upgrades, but lackluster battery

Samsung's trio of Galaxy S22 models are solid Android smartphones with great camera performance, though battery life is lacking, early reviews suggest.

Despite the fact that the Samsung Galaxy S22 lineup still lags behind Apple's iPhone 13 series in terms of performance, the devices are still racking up favorable reviews.

The base model Galaxy S22, for example, is described as a "much more compelling option" than its predecessor for most users, according to Laptop Mag. The publication touted the device's upgraded cameras, bright 120Hz display, and compact design.

Despite the solid hardware and software upgrades on the Galaxy S22, the reportedly weak battery life makes "using its more powerful features all the more painful," Laptop Mag wrote.

The battery life issue, which is also present on the Galaxy S22 Ultra, was less prevalent on the Galaxy S22 Plus. According to Android Central, the middle device in the lineup features the best battery life of the S22 lineup.

On both the S22 and S22 Plus, there are meaningful upgrades to performance thanks to the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and upgrade-worthy updates to the camera. In addition to excellent zoom performance and improved low-light performance, the two devices also feature RAW editing support.

Unlike previous Galaxy S-series models, the flagship Galaxy S22 Ultra isn't just an upgraded version of its lower-priced stablemates. Instead, the largest and priciest Galaxy is more of a standalone device with features borrowed from the now-discontinued Galaxy Note lineup.

Like the S22 and S22 Plus, the Galaxy S22 Ultra features snappy performance and significant camera improvements. Unlike other models in the S22 lineup, it also packs a built-in S Pen and zoom capabilities up to 10x.

The Verge writes that there's "nothing else like [the S22 Ultra] in Samsung's lineup or anywhere else on the market, really." Despite some shortcomings as far as UI quirks and lackluster battery life, the publication dubbed the top-of-the-line Galaxy device as "truly one of a kind."

The Galaxy S22 lineup is slated to start shipping on Feb. 25. The Galaxy S22 starts at $799, while the Galaxy S22 Plus starts at $999. The Galaxy S22 Ultra retails for $1,199.