Introduction
The cheapest 5G smartphone any given manufacturer currently has on the market has become sort of a weird competitive category in itself this year. For Samsung, that used to be the Galaxy A32 5G, which was released back in January, alongside the A52 5G and A72 5G. Now that title has officially been transferred over to the Galaxy A22 5G. Like its higher-tier sibling, the A22 is available in both a 5G variant and regular 4G. And once again, cramming in 5G, without deviating too much from the original price point has necessitated some major downgrades, compared to the LTE model.
For the Galaxy A22 pair goes, in particular, some of the major advantages the LTE model has over its sibling include its Super AMOLED display - slightly lower resolution, but otherwise better all around. Also, slightly better cameras, including an 8MP ultrawide, 2MP dedicated macro and a 13MP selfie cam. As of writing this review, all of this will set you back €209 for the base 64GB/4GB model.
On the flip side, the Galaxy A22 5G has an MSRP of €230, which will require you to settle for a 90Hz LCD display, a 5MP ultrawide, no depth camera and an 8MP selfie cam. However, the Galaxy A22 5G also has quite a few redeeming qualities. One thing that stands out, in particular, is its FHD+, 90Hz LCD display, which is notably better than the basic 60Hz, 720p+ LCD on the Galaxy A32 5G - a device that technically stands higher in the lineup and is still a bit pricier than the A22 5G. That's what half a year's worth of developments on the budget mobile scene can result in. Impressive stuff.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G specs at a glance:
- Body: 167.2x76.4x9.0mm, 203g; Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back.
- Display: 6.60" TFT, 90Hz, 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 399ppi.
- Chipset: MediaTek MT6833 Dimensity 700 5G (7 nm): Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G57 MC2.
- Memory: 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM; microSDXC (dedicated slot).
- OS/Software: Android 11, One UI Core 3.1.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 48 MP, f/1.8, PDAF; Ultra wide angle: 5 MP, f/2.2, 115-degree, 1/5.0", 1.12µm; Depth: 2 MP, f/2.4.
- Front camera: 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide).
- Video capture: Rear camera: 1152p@30fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; Fast charging 15W.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); FM radio; 3.5mm jack.
There are plenty of other interesting aspects of the A22 5G to examine beyond that as well, like its Dimensity 700 chipset, which on the surface sounds like just a slight downgrade compared to the Dimensity 720 powering the Galaxy A32 5G, yet has some particular limitations of its own, like a 2K maximum video capture resolution. But, we'll get to all that in due time.
Circling back to the important bits, just like its siblings, the Galaxy A22 5G is part of Samsung's new and ambitious plan for the best-selling Galaxy A family. The new "Awesome is for everyone" tagline fits like a glove. The value proposition is a clear priority on all of these devices.
Offering both 4G and 5G versions of all of the handsets is another way of making the lineup as appealing as possible. Speaking of which, budget or not, the Galaxy A22 5G still gets all the benefits and goodies that come with One UI 3.1, on top of Android 11, as well as Samsung's better and longer-term software support commitment, as of late.
Unboxing
As a budget offer, the Galaxy A22 5G understandably comes in a rather plain box. Perhaps Samsung can do a bit better for protection during transit.
On a more positive note, at least the A32 5G itself comes well wrapped in plastic all around, including thin strips stuck along the plastic frame, for extra protection.
Speaking of protection, or lack thereof, the Galaxy A22 5G does not have a pre-applied screen protector, nor is there a case in the box. Both are common with budget phones from other manufacturers. What you do get is a basic 15W wall charger (9V@1.67A or 5V@2A) and a simple and fairly short USB Type-A to Type-C cable. At last, there is no proprietary charging scheme at play here, so you don't necessarily need to stick to the included cable to get the full 15W.
Our Galaxy A22 5G unit also came with a wired handsfree (buds with an inline microphone) in the box. This is a fairly basic Samsung-branded unit, nothing too fancy, though you do get an inline button as well. It is worth noting that this might be a regional accessory that not all packages get because we didn't get buds with the higher-tier A32 5G.
Design and materials
The Galaxy A22 5G generally has a bill of materials to match its budget nature. That is to say - plastics all around. To be fair, that's not necessarily a bad thing by definition. Plastic has plenty of advantages in its own right. The one used here is mostly unremarkable. Still, the middle frame feels pretty sturdy and has a decent shiny finish on it.
Our unit does have a small area of the frame between the volume rocker and power button that flexes and almost feels detached from the rest of the phone. Perhaps it's just our unit.
The back panel is a bit underwhelming. The surface has a matte look to it, which is pretty nice, but it is also a complete fingerprint magnet. The surface is quite grippy, but also kind of unpleasant to the touch. Another thing - tapping on the back makes it clear there is a hollow cavity underneath. And if that is the case indeed, we have to wonder why Samsung didn't try a bit harder to reduce the pretty sizeable 9mm profile of the A22 5G. To be fair, this was also the case with the Galaxy A32 5G when we reviewed it, so we are sensing a pattern here.
While discussing the back of the Galaxy A22 5G, there is something to be said about the camera island and its design. Mostly, that it is a notable deviation from the rest of the current Galaxy A family, like the A72 and A52. The A32 has a different arrangement, as well. Instead, the A22 has a symmetrical and more traditional-looking camera island, like on the Galaxy M and F series.
On a more positive note - at least the main cameras don't stick out too bad, which makes sense on a thicker device.
The thick bezels all around the 6.6-inch display are an instant giveaway for the budget nature of the A22 5G. Given that the chin is already as wide as it is, we kind of wish Samsung just embraced the look and made room for the 8MP selfie camera outside of the display instead of digging into it with a shallow but still present teardrop notch. Still, the display looks surprisingly nice, mostly thanks to its FHD+ resolution. But more on that later.
One thing worth noting here has to do with screen protection or rather lack thereof on the Galaxy A22. Samsung is understandably not too keen on discussing its bill of materials in-depth on a budget device like this. Still, unlike the Galaxy A32 5G, which mentions Gorilla Glass 5 for the front, we have no way of knowing what protection is on the Galaxy A22 5G. It is potentially lacking in this department, which is a bit disconcerting.
The surface feels decent enough, although its oleophobic coating could be better. There was no pre-applied screen protector on our unit, which is a thing on most other budget phones and an unfortunate omission. No case in the box either.
Another thing that appears to be missing from the A22 5G but is attainable in its price bracket is any form of ingress protection. There is no official rating, not even for splashes and dust. There is no rubber gasket on the SIM tray either.
Controls
The Galaxy A22 5G has a quite standard and surprisingly rich control setup. The bottom side is particularly busy, with a USB 2.0 OTG-enabled Type-C port front and center. It is capable of taking a max of 15W worth of Samsung Adaptive fast charging.
On its sides - the singular, bottom-firing loudspeaker and the main microphone. Also - a trusty old 3.5mm audio jack. Since it often comes up - the Galaxy A22 5G does have an FM radio. A headset needs to be plugged into the 3.5mm jack to double as an antenna, as usual.
The volume rocker and power button reside on the right side of the Galaxy A22 5G - pretty standard. What is not quite as standard, though, is their relatively high positioning. The power button is easy enough to reach, but if you have smaller hands, then volume adjustments could require some finger gymnastics. Honestly, not the worst thing ever, since that way, the power button can take a much more convenient spot and the volume rockers are rarely used anyway.
The power button also doubles as a fingerprint reader. It is speedy and reliable. You can also tweak its behavior and decide whether you want it to be always on or require actually pressing the key before it starts reading.
Security and fingerprint settings
The SIM tray on the Galaxy A22 5G sits on the left-hand side. Not only can you buy the A22 in a 4G and a 5G variant, but, as is usually the case with recent Galaxy phones, the A22 exists in both a single and dual SIM variant. Better still, we got the Dual SIM-one, and it still has a dedicated microSD card slot. You don't have to choose between Dual SIM or memory expansion.
There is pretty much nothing on the top of the Galaxy A22, aside from the secondary noise-canceling microphone.
In case you were wondering, there is no notification LED on the Galaxy A22, but that is pretty much the norm nowadays, rather than the exception. Our unit also has NFC, though its presence is market-dependent.
90Hz LCD display
The display on the Galaxy A22 5G isn't particularly impressive on paper. This is one of the notable areas of downgrade compared to the vanilla A22, which gets a Super AMOLED 90Hz, HDR-capable panel instead.
Even so, it is worth pointing out that the regular A22 has an HD+ display, whereas the panel on the A22 5G has a nice and crisp resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, which works out to about 399 ppi.
Furthermore, the A22 5G arguably has its bigger-brother A32 5G beat in the display department, as well, mostly due to its higher resolution and 90Hz native refresh rate. The arguable bit is mostly coming down to maximum brightness, where the A32 5G has a slight edge. To be fair, though, neither panel is particularly bright in the first place, with the A22 5G managing a maximum of 385 nits in our testing, with no max auto mode beyond that. Usable, but mostly a struggle outdoors. Contrast is very decent, though, since the A22 5G has nice blacks.
| Display test | 100% brightness | ||
| Black, |
White, |
||
| 0 | 794 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 725 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 716 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 682 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 657 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 607 | ∞ | |
| 0.408 | 577 | 1414:1 | |
| 0.366 | 536 | 1464:1 | |
| 0.4 | 534 | 1335:1 | |
| 0 | 511 | ∞ | |
| 0.338 | 497 | 1470:1 | |
| 0.275 | 492 | 1789:1 | |
| 0 | 475 | ∞ | |
| 0.349 | 472 | 1352:1 | |
| 0.334 | 472 | 1413:1 | |
| 0.327 | 458 | 1401:1 | |
| 0 | 458 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 457 | ∞ | |
| 0 | 429 | ∞ | |
| 0.286 | 426 | 1490:1 | |
| 0.28 | 413 | 1475:1 | |
| 0.292 | 398 | 1363:1 | |
| 0 | 386 | ∞ | |
| 0.236 | 385 | 1631:1 | |
| 0.21 | 377 | 1795:1 | |
Since we are already comparing panels, it is also worth noting that the slow pixel response times and spearing we noticed with the Galaxy A32 5G is nowhere to be found on the A22 5G. It does much better in this respect, in both 60Hz and 90Hz modes.
Colors on the Galaxy A22 5G are far from accurate, even more so than what we measured with the A32 5G. Samsung clearly seems to be targeting the sRGB color space but failing with color accuracy rather badly. Greens and particularly blues are badly misaligned. And not just oversaturated, which we would understand, as a desire to deliver more "pop". No, the default color profile is just cold and bluish overall.
Unfortunately, there is no way to tweak colors either. Just like many other cheaper Samsung models, the A22 5G lacks color profiles or any fine adjustments.
There is no HDR support on the A22 5G. Software reporting confirms this fact as well, and so does the Netflix app. On the upside, we are quite happy to see Netflix offering FullHD as its maximum resolution. Actually, the A22 5G has the highest L1 certification, meaning that, theoretically, high-resolution streaming is possible with services like Netflix.
Netflix playback capabilities • No HDR
High refresh rate handling
The Galaxy A22 5G has a simple and straightforward approach to its 90Hz refresh rate. There are two modes in display settings for Motion smoothness - Standard and High. Standard locks everything to 60Hz, while High basically locks everything to 90Hz.
UI running at 90Hz
This has its positives and negatives, for sure, the latter mostly boiling down to the battery-wasting potential in certain situations, like watching video.
On the other hand, if you are aware of how the logic is set up and are remember to toggle down to 60Hz for things like movie watching sessions - everything else remains simple and straightforward.
Both Chrome and the Samsung browser, which we tried, take full advantage of the 90Hz refresh rate of the display, as verified by the Blurbusters UFO test.
Apps running at 90Hz
Samsung never promised any automatic refresh rate switching. Plus, having such logic implemented in a poor way has been known to cause issues with utilizing high refresh rate modes on other devices, especially for gaming. With this simple binary system in place, we managed to get a noticeably smoother (higher than 60fps) experience from pretty much every high-refresh-rate-supported game we tried.
Games running at 90Hz
The only situation we managed to find where the A22 5G switched down to 60Hz on its own was in the camera app. This is perfectly expected, since the camera viewfinder is one of those Android UI components that traditionally requires 60Hz to function properly. The same is typically true for the Google Maps UI, though, oddly enough, the A22 5G runs that at 90Hz, without any noticeable issues, at first glance.
Camera at 60Hz • Maps at 90Hz
Battery life
The Galaxy A22 5G has a beefy 5,000 mAh battery. It also has a fairly beefy profile, in relative terms, measuring 9mm, compared to the vanilla Galaxy A22's 8.4mm. Pretty much exactly the difference in thickness between the Galaxy A32 5G and its vanilla counterpart. Both of the 5G variants also have a bit of hollow space underneath their rear panels, which all adds up to us being a bit salty that Samsung didn't cram a bit more juice into them. Never mind, 5,000 mAh is plenty for sure.
Let's talk numbers, though. In our proprietary test routine, the A22 5G managed a respectable 118 hours of total endurance. Not too shabby and looking at our battery database, about what we would expect from a Dimensity 700 chipset and a 5,000 mAh battery.
However, this score is near the bottom end of that scale, alongside the Realme 8 5G. We have seen notably better battery endurance from the same hardware combo on Xiaomi devices, like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G and the Poco M3 Pro 5G. Not by much, but overall, it does seem that Samsung falls a bit behind in on-screen scenarios.
It is important to note that as per our testing methodology, the 118 hours total endurance score was achieved by running web tests at the maximum 90Hz refresh rate of the Galaxy A22 5G, whereas the video portion was specifically running at 60Hz since that makes the most sense overall.
Here is the A22 5G running its web browsing tests at a fixed 60Hz to the tune of a bit over 30 minutes of extra endurance in that test, which was enough to bump total endurance up to 119 hours.
Our battery tests were automated thanks to SmartViser, using its viSerDevice app. The endurance rating denotes how long the battery charge will last you if you use the device for an hour of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. More details can be found here.
Video test carried out in 60Hz refresh rate mode. Web browsing test done at the display's highest refresh rate whenever possible. Refer to the respective reviews for specifics. To adjust the endurance rating formula to match your own usage patterns check out our all-time battery test results chart where you can also find all phones we've tested.
Charging speed
For charging, the Galaxy A22 has the familiar, old Samsung-staple that is 15W Adaptive Fast Charging (based on Quick Charge 2.0). You get a matching charger in the box. Nothing special overall. In fact, the Galaxy A22 5G has one of the slowest charging rates around, compared to its competitors. Using it, the A22 5G charges from flat to full in 2:29h, with 23% showing in the battery indicator half an hour into the process. Right around what we would expect from 15W AFC on a 5,000 mAh battery. At least you get faster charging than lesser Galaxies like the A02s and A12, if that counts for something.
30min charging test (from 0%)
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
65% - Realme 8
56% - Samsung Galaxy A52 (25W)
52% - Poco X3 Pro
50% - Samsung Galaxy A52
34% - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G
33% - Poco M3 Pro 5G
33% - Samsung Galaxy A02s
30% - Realme 8 5G
29% - Samsung Galaxy A32
25% - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
23% - Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
23% - Motorola Moto G50
23% - Samsung Galaxy A12
20%
Time to full charge (from 0%)
Lower is better
- Poco X3 Pro
1:08h - Realme 8
1:09h - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
1:13h - Samsung Galaxy A52 (25W)
1:30h - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G
2:00h - Poco M3 Pro 5G
2:00h - Samsung Galaxy A52
2:03h - Samsung Galaxy A32
2:19h - Realme 8 5G
2:20h - Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
2:24h - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
2:29h - Motorola Moto G50
2:35h - Samsung Galaxy A02s
2:36h - Samsung Galaxy A12
3:03h
Speaker test
Like most other non-flagship Samsungs, the Galaxy A22 5G has a single loudspeaker placed on the bottom of the phone. And, like most other non-flagship Samsungs, it's not particularly impressive in terms of loudness - the A22 5G earned an 'Average' rating for loudness in our 7-track test, just like the A32 5G.
On the flip side, the speaker on the A22 5G is a bit louder than that on the vanilla A32. Enough so to push it into the Average rating. To be clear, overall, that is still not impressive, but at least Samsung seems to have managed to make good use of the extra space inside the body of the A22 5G.
Frequency response is pretty similar on all three. That is to say, not overly impressive either. The Galaxy A22 5G doesn't have any built-in equalizers or optimizers for its loudspeaker. There is Dolby Atmos under audio settings, but that is just for headphones.
It is potentially worth noting that if you are willing to forego 5G connectivity, most competitors at this price point, like the Redmi Note 10 Pro and Poco X3, tend to offer a stereo speaker setup.
Use the Playback controls to listen to the phone sample recordings (best use headphones). We measure the average loudness of the speakers in LUFS. A lower absolute value means a louder sound. A look at the frequency response chart will tell you how far off the ideal "0db" flat line is the reproduction of the bass, treble, and mid frequencies. You can add more phones to compare how they differ. The scores and ratings are not comparable with our older loudspeaker test. Learn more about how we test here.
One UI 3.1 and Android 11, with most features intact
It is hardly a secret that a lot of the appeal of Samsung devices lies in the software. Of course, it's not a universal appeal, but there is a reason why One UI is one of the most popular custom Android implementations out there and has been so for quite some time. For many users, the added value proposition of a Samsung phone lies precisely in the software and ecosystem.
In keeping with its new "Awesome is for everyone" slogan, the Korean giant is significantly stepping up its software game with the new Galaxy A family of devices. That includes the Galaxy A22 5G.
That being said, feature parity only stretches so far and coming down from the A72 towards the A22 has inevitably resulted in some extra feature cuts. Nothing major, though, and the things that are still there are amazing for a budget device.
Right off the bat, the A22 5G ships with the latest One UI 3.1 and Android 11 setup out-of-the-box. There aren't too many massive differences between One UI 3.1 and its recent predecessors, like 3.0 and 2.5. Still, there are some subtle differences worth going over.
At the launch of the A72, A52 and A32, Samsung made a huge commitment to offer three major Android OS updates for those phones, as well as four years of security updates. That will apparently be the case going forward for its high-end and some mid-range models.
Unfortunately, the Galaxy A32 and A32 5G are the cutoff point in that list, and the Galaxy A22 5G is currently scheduled for two major OS updates. This could actually be a reason to prefer the A32 5G for some prospective buyers, particularly if they intend on keeping it for a long time.
Circling back to One UI 3.1 and some of its changes - the default lock screen shortcuts - dialer and camera, are now monochrome - they used to match the respective apps' colors. Oddly enough, if you pick different apps, they will keep their colors - it's not a first-party vs. third-party type of differentiation either.
As more of a functional change - the lock screen has a wellbeing widget - you can now keep track of how much time you've spent on your phone without even unlocking it.
Lock screen, shortcuts and widgets
One notable omission on the Galaxy A22 5G is the always-on display feature. It is hidden away since it would just waste too much battery on the LCD display.
The side-mounted fingerprint reader will likely be the primary method of unlocking for most users, but you can still use face unlock instead or alongside it. It can be more convenient in certain situations, but it generally is less secure since it's just based on the selfie camera. Iris scanners are sadly a thing of the past now.
Biometrics and security
Another notable change is that pulling the notification shade covers the entire screen underneath, even if there's just one notification card or none at all. Previously, a portion of the screen below the last notification still remained visible, just darkened.
While we're here, the quick toggles can now be edited directly from the plus button at the end of the list instead of going into the menu.
Android 11 includes the nifty Notification history feature. It's accessed from the Settings menu, so it's not within immediate reach, but it's there for those occasions when you dismissed a notification too quickly and you can't seem to find what it was about. Just make sure to enable it because it's Off by default.
Notifications, quick toggles and notification history
All of the standard layout adjustments and toggles for the quick panel and taskbar are accounted for. Android 11 has a new way of handling notifications for instant messenger apps called Bubbles, and One UI 3 adopts it, too. That's in addition to a previously available similar feature offered by Samsung by the name of Smart pop-up view. You'll find these settings under the 'Floating notifications' submenu, where you can alternatively turn both of them off and opt for the old-school cards-only interface.
Bubbles is an extension of the Conversations feature, another new development. You tap on an icon in the initial incoming message notification. It turns into a conversation that you can then minimize to a bubble, or what was known as a 'chat head' - originally Facebook Messenger's default way of dealing with chats.
Smart pop-up view is one of One UI's lesser-known proprietary features. In the pre-Bubbles days, it used to add the chat head functionality to any application of your choosing. Tapping the hovering 'head' icon opens the app in a floating window, which you can further maximize to fullscreen or minimize again to an icon. Sort of like Bubbles, only slightly different.
Floating notifications
Android 11's refined multimedia controls have made their way on to One UI. You get the active audio playback apps in a stack right below the quick toggles and swiping to the side switches between the apps.
The Media screen was already available on One UI 2.5 pre-Android 11, and it offers similar functionality for picking the output device. The volume control panel has gotten a makeover too, and now the four sliders are vertical instead of the horizontal ones of One UIs past.
Media controls
Speaking of the Media screen, there is one notable omission on the Galaxy A22 5G - Music Share. It allows you to play music through Bluetooth accessories connected to a friend's Samsung phone. Quite nifty and understandably a major focus in Samsung's PR campaign for the A72, A52 and A32. Unfortunately, Music Share is nowhere to be found on the Galaxy A22 5G. The same goes for Smart View. Mind you, we tried a lot of workarounds, like installing SmartThings and its various components and even sideloading apps to no avail. There is still an option to cast content to a supported TV via SmartThings, though.
Honestly, though, these sorts of missing features are kind of the exception, rather than the norm on the Galaxy A22 5G. Most core features on One UI 3.1 are present. Like the ability to pin apps to the top of the sheet with Share options. It is actually a native Android 11 feature and a way overdue addition to the Android core in our mind. Things are much better now, but still, we'd like to be able to remove some of the options, too, because that list could sure use some decluttering.
One more thing that Google tweaked in this year's release is the permission handling, and Samsung's implemented it in One UI 3. With this version, you will now see a new prompt for permissions every time an app requests it, letting you deny permission, allow it only while using the app, or just for this one time. If an app requires constant access to permission, you also get a fourth option that takes you to a setting page where you can provide it. This is done to prevent the user from accidentally selecting this option while blazing through the permission dialogs.
Sharing options pinning, casting and permissions handling
The settings menu has seen a subtle but meaningful makeover. Subcategories are made more legible by using a dot separator and extra intervals, while recent searches are now shown as bubbles instead of a list. Additionally, there's a newly added feature to search settings by hashtags - for conceptually related things found in different places in the menu.
One UI Settings
The One UI dialer app lends itself to plenty of customization. There are two different layouts for the in-call screen to choose between. You can also set up a background image or video for that screen, though it's going to be all the same for all of your calls - you can't have a different one on a per-person basis.
Samsung dialer
There are plenty of other smaller visual changes scattered all throughout One UI 3.1. Samsung's excellent theme support and rich online selection are present, as well. The same goes for the system navigation options, with a few tweaks and layouts available for gestures, as well as old-school button controls, even the really-old original style, with the back button on the right side.
One UI 3.1 and navigation options
There are plenty of additional extra features in the Galaxy A22 5G as well. Like we said, most things present on the A32, A52 and A72 made it over, like the Edge panels interface, as well as Game launcher - the hub for all your games, which also provides options for limiting distraction when gaming is here to stay as well.
There are some omissions, though. For instance, there is no mention of Bixby anywhere in the UI, which is another feature that did not dissipate all the way down to the lineup. Though the cutoff point for this one, in particular, was the Galaxy A52, it was also missing from the A32. Another thing missing out of the box is SmartThings. Though, the system-level integration for it within the Devices tab in the notification shade is present. All you need to do is download the SmartThings app to get it working.
Additional software features
Samsung Dex is nowhere to be found. But it is absent from the entire Galaxy A lineup, which we get - some things still need to be flagship exclusives. Another thing absent from the Galaxy A22 5G, which the A32 and beyond do get to enjoy, is the Link to Windows feature. We failed to sideload that one, as well. Android Auto support is baked right in on the Galaxy A22 5G, though.
Overall, like we said, there are some omissions here and there the further down we go into the Galaxy A lineup. However, nothing cut is really major or all that detrimental to the overall One UI experience in our opinion. Fans of Samsung's particular Android experience should still be perfectly at home here.
Synthetic benchmarks
The Galaxy A22 5G is based on the MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G chipset. It currently sits at the bottom of the Dimensity line, but is still fairly popular. Probably more so than the Dimensity 720, which has still only passed by the office in the Galaxy A32 5G. Actually, the Dimensity 700, 720, 800U, 800 and 820 are all quite similar. All of these are based on an efficient 7nm manufacturing node and use a combination of big Cortex-A76 cores and smaller Cortex-A55 ones, plus a Mali-G57 GPU with a progressively increasing number of cores.
The Dimensity 700, in particular, has two Cortex-A76 cores, clocked at up to 2.2 GHz and another six Cortex-A55 ones, working at up to 2.0 GHz. The Dimensity 720 gets the exact same configuration, though, interestingly enough, with its bigger cores only going up to 2.0 GHz. Just like the specs suggest, we can verify through GeekBench and its pure CPU tests that, indeed, The Dimensity 700 inside the Galaxy A22 5G has a bit more raw CPU performance than the Dimensity 720 inside the Galaxy A32 5G. Not that it's a huge delta or anything significant for real-world use, but still interesting to note.
GeekBench 5 (multi-core)
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
2909 - Poco X3 Pro
2574 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
2009 - Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
1787 - Realme 8 5G
1784 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
1780 - Poco X3 NFC
1777 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
1719 - Realme 8
1690 - Realme 8 Pro
1678 - Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
1673 - Samsung Galaxy A72
1627 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
1599 - Samsung Galaxy A52
1577 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S
1576 - Samsung Galaxy A32
1277 - Samsung Galaxy A12
1034 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
495
GeekBench 5 (single-core)
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
803 - Poco X3 Pro
735 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
661 - Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
597 - Realme 8 5G
569 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
569 - Poco X3 NFC
568 - Realme 8 Pro
566 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
560 - Samsung Galaxy A72
537 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
534 - Realme 8
533 - Samsung Galaxy A52
525 - Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
505 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S
502 - Samsung Galaxy A32
361 - Samsung Galaxy A12
169 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
131
We can also see that the Realme 8 5G has managed to squeeze a bit more performance out of the Dimensity 700. Again, not a significant difference. We can also clearly see that the CPU performance is about on par with what the Snapdragon 732G offers. While getting outpaced by the Snapdragon 750G 5G inside the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite.
AnTuTu paints a bit of less-favorable picture of the Galaxy A22 5G. It makes sense, seeing how AnTuTu has a more compound set of tests that also take into account thing like resolution, memory and storage speeds. Still, the A22 5G holds its own.
AnTuTu 8
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
465534 - Poco X3 Pro
453223 - Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
333952 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
318882 - Realme 8 5G
302059 - Realme 8
298328 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
295442 - Realme 8 Pro
286666 - Poco X3 NFC
283750 - Samsung Galaxy A72
279342 - Samsung Galaxy A52
261282 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
242155 - Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
226561 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
218788 - Samsung Galaxy A32
174332 - Samsung Galaxy A12
107189 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
90811
AnTuTu 9
Higher is better
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
522490 - Realme 8 5G
361505 - Realme 8
357488 - Samsung Galaxy A72
333668 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S
330909 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
223188 - Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
222125
It should really come as no surprise that the Galaxy A22 5G is not a graphics powerhouse. It only has two Mali-G57 GPU cores. The Dimensity 720 and 800U have three of these cores, four in the Dimensity 800 and five in the 820. Just to give you some context.
GFX Manhattan ES 3.0 (offscreen 1080p)
Higher is better
- Poco X3 Pro
102 - Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
89 - Realme 8
53 - Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
51 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
45 - Poco X3 NFC
44 - Realme 8 Pro
43 - Samsung Galaxy A52
39 - Samsung Galaxy A72
39 - Realme 8 5G
38 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
32 - Samsung Galaxy A32
24 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
24 - Samsung Galaxy A12
12 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
9.3
GFX Manhattan ES 3.0 (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Poco X3 Pro
93 - Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
78 - Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
48 - Realme 8
48 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
39 - Realme 8 Pro
38 - Samsung Galaxy A52
35 - Samsung Galaxy A72
35 - Realme 8 5G
35 - Poco X3 NFC
33 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
31 - Samsung Galaxy A32
21 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
21 - Samsung Galaxy A12
19 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
16
Something potentially worth noting here is that the Galaxy A22 5G has a 2400 x 1080p display. This is important for on-screen tests. The higher native resolution on the A22 5G is definitely not helping in combination with its weak GPU.
GFX Manhattan ES 3.1 (offscreen 1080p)
Higher is better
- Poco X3 Pro
75 - Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
65 - Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
35 - Realme 8
33 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
33 - Poco X3 NFC
33 - Samsung Galaxy A52
29 - Samsung Galaxy A72
29 - Realme 8 Pro
28 - Realme 8 5G
25 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
24 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
17 - Samsung Galaxy A32
15 - Samsung Galaxy A12
7.7 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
6.1
GFX Manhattan ES 3.1 (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Poco X3 Pro
67 - Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
57 - Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
51 - Realme 8 Pro
31 - Realme 8
29 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
28 - Poco X3 NFC
27 - Samsung Galaxy A52
26 - Samsung Galaxy A72
26 - Realme 8 5G
22 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
21 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
15 - Samsung Galaxy A12
13 - Samsung Galaxy A32
13 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
12
GFX Car Chase ES 3.1 (offscreen 1080p)
Higher is better
- Poco X3 Pro
45 - Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
40 - Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
20 - Realme 8
20 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
19 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
19 - Poco X3 NFC
19 - Realme 8 Pro
18 - Samsung Galaxy A52
17 - Samsung Galaxy A72
17 - Realme 8 5G
15 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
14 - Samsung Galaxy A32
9.3 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
9.3 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
3.4 - Samsung Galaxy A12
3.3
GFX Car Chase ES 3.1 (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Poco X3 Pro
38 - Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
35 - Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
18 - Realme 8
18 - Realme 8 Pro
16 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
16 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
16 - Poco X3 NFC
16 - Samsung Galaxy A52
15 - Samsung Galaxy A72
15 - Realme 8 5G
13 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
12 - Samsung Galaxy A32
8.1 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
7.9 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
6.1 - Samsung Galaxy A12
5
Even in OpenGL ES 3.0 runs, the Galaxy A22 5G barely manages to break through the 30fps barriers and things only get worse from thereon. This is a bit deceiving though, since any mobile game engine worth its salt will scale back dynamically in detail and resolution to accommodate the available power. In fact, we saw this fist hand with many casual games we managed to run at over 60fps, with extra smoothness, taking advantage of the 90Hz refresh rate of the phone's panel.
GFX Aztek Vulkan High (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Poco X3 Pro
27 - Realme 8 Pro
11 - Realme 8
11 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
11 - Poco X3 NFC
11 - Samsung Galaxy A52
10 - Samsung Galaxy A72
10 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
7.8 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
5.3 - Samsung Galaxy A32
4.4 - Samsung Galaxy A12
3.8 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
3.5
GFX Aztek ES 3.1 High (onscreen)
Higher is better
- Poco X3 Pro
26 - Realme 8
12 - Realme 8 Pro
11 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
11 - Poco X3 NFC
11 - Samsung Galaxy A52
10 - Samsung Galaxy A72
10 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
8.4 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
5.6 - Samsung Galaxy A32
5 - Samsung Galaxy A12
4.6 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
3.5
GFX Aztek Vulkan High (offscreen 1440p)
Higher is better
- Poco X3 Pro
18 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
7.6 - Realme 8
7.5 - Realme 8 Pro
7.2 - Samsung Galaxy A52
7 - Samsung Galaxy A72
7 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
5.1 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
3.5 - Samsung Galaxy A32
2.9 - Samsung Galaxy A12
1.2 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
1.1
GFX Aztek ES 3.1 High (offscreen 1440p)
Higher is better
- Poco X3 Pro
17 - Realme 8
7.7 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
7.3 - Samsung Galaxy A52
7 - Samsung Galaxy A72
7 - Realme 8 Pro
7 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
5.5 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
3.7 - Samsung Galaxy A32
3.3 - Samsung Galaxy A12
1.5 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
1.2
Hence, take these numbers for what they are - artificial figures, measured within as much of a controlled scenario as possible to be comparable. Not reflective of real-world performance. In GPU test, in particular, display resolution also plays a role in on-screen benchmarks, which also needs to be taken into account.
3DMark traditionally paints a more cohesive picture in terms of comparative performance between devices. For instance, it makes plenty of sense that the Dimensity 720 in the Galaxy A32 5G is higher up the ladder than the Dimensity 700 in the A22 5G, due to the extra GPU core.
3DMark SSE ES 3.1 (offscreen 1440p)
Higher is better
- Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
3167 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
2789 - Poco X3 NFC
2689 - Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
2638 - Realme 8
2610 - Samsung Galaxy A52
2529 - Samsung Galaxy A72
2517 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
2391 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
1471 - Samsung Galaxy A32
1323 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
438 - Samsung Galaxy A12
365
3DMark SSE Vulkan 1.0 (offscreen 1440p)
Higher is better
- Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
3035 - Realme 8
2639 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
2595 - Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
2509 - Poco X3 NFC
2495 - Samsung Galaxy A52
2406 - Samsung Galaxy A72
2395 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
2257 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
1372 - Samsung Galaxy A32
1371 - Samsung Galaxy A12
612 - Samsung Galaxy A02s
489
3DMark Wild Life Vulkan 1.1 (offscreen 1440p)
Higher is better
- Poco X3 Pro
3401 - Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G
3136 - Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
1556 - Realme 8
1486 - Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
1185 - Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
1104 - Realme 8 5G
1104 - Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite
1098 - Realme 8 Pro
1051 - Samsung Galaxy A52
1040 - Samsung Galaxy A72
1031 - Samsung Galaxy A32
686 - Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
482
It is important to note that we felt no shortage of performance while using the Galaxy A22 5G with regular, day-to-day tasks. In fact, even light game titles felt great and clearly managed to run smoother with the 90Hz mode enabled, meaning they manage to go above the 60fps mark. Is the Galaxy A22 5G a powerhouse or even a good budget gaming device? No, definitely not. If that is what you are after, you can get better value out of your money.
The Dimensity 700 delivers a modern and competent feature set and connectivity options, plus good power efficiency at a budget price point, all without being strapped for power for the tasks most of its users are likely to carry out.
A slightly toned-down triple camera setup
The camera is one of the areas where Samsung did some cut-backs in terms of hardware on the Galaxy A22 5G. Compared to the vanilla A22, the 5G variant is missing OIS on its main camera, has a lower-resolution 5MP ultrawide and is also missing a macro camera. The A22 5G looks slightly downgraded in this department compared to the Galaxy A32 5G. The two do have very similar setups on paper, based around a main 48MP camera. Once again, the Galaxy A22 5G drops the macro camera and, compared to the A32 5G, also gets a lower-res 5MP ultrawide. The selfie is also bumped down to 8MP. A pretty hard downgrade over an already arguably downgraded camera setup, compared to the vanilla Galaxy A32 and its 64MP main snapper.
The 'arguable' part mostly coming down to the fact that the A32 5G can capture 4K video, whereas the vanilla A32 is capped at 1080p, and the Galaxy A22 5G can go up to an unconventional 1152p. But, more on that in a bit.
Unfortunately, unlike the Galaxy A32 5G, which was pretty open in sharing all of its camera hardware identifiers, we didn't manage to extract nearly the same amount of info from the Galaxy A22 5G. Still, we are fairly certain that its main snapper is based around the same Samsung S5KGM2 sensor, as found on the Galaxy A32 5G. It is also known as the ISOCELL Bright GM. It's a Tetrapixel design (used to be called Tetracell in Samsung speak, Sony calls them Quad Bayer), with 0.8µm individual pixels and a total sensor size of 1/2.0". It works in the traditional Quad-Bayer manner, using 4-to-1 binning to produce brighter 12MP photos, by default.
Alternatively, it can use remosaicing algorithms to shoot in the full 48MP resolution for more detail. The S5KGM2 has phase detection autofocus. In particular, it uses something Samsung calls "Super-PD", which is a high-performance variant of the phase. There is no OIS. The GM2, as it is colloquially known, is actually a popular sensor, found in many other Samsung devices, as well as Xiaomi ones, and we feel pretty confident in its abilities.
The ultrawide camera is not particularly impressive in any way. Its resolution is just 5MP, with a fairly-dark f/2.2 aperture, fairly small 1/5.0" sensor, with 1.12µm pixels and a not particularly wide 115-degree field of view. Nothing to phone home about. Same goes for the 2MP, f/2.4 supplementary depth camera.
The selfie cam loses some points for its 8MP resolution, down from 13MP on the Galaxy A32 5G and 20MP on the vanilla Galaxy A32. Then again, it does have a slightly brighter f/2.0 lens. So, there's that.
The camera app on the A32 5G is the latest one you get with One UI 3.1, the biggest improvement being the relocation of the video resolution to the viewfinder. Other than that, it's the same as on any other Samsung pre-One UI 3.1, which is a good thing since it's straightforward and easy to use.
The basics are as usual - swiping left and right will switch between available modes, and there's an option to re-arrange, add or remove some of the modes from the viewfinder. Vertical swipes in either direction will switch between front and rear cameras.
The familiar tree designation for zoom control is here too, and with no telephoto on board, you get three trees for ultra-wide and two trees for the main cam. You could zoom in with a pinch gesture, at which point additional preset zoom levels appear at 2x, 4x, and 10x.
The viewfinder has the standard set of icons with the settings cog wheel located in the upper left corner of the screen. The usual stuff like grid lines, location data, etc., can be found in the menu.
Camera app and settings
There's a Pro mode, but it's the very basic implementation that only lets you pick ISO (100-800) and white balance (by light temperature with icons for common light sources), as well as dial in exposure compensation (-2EV to +2EV in 0.1EV increments). A metering mode selector also made the cut (center-weighted, matrix and spot). There's no manual focusing option, sadly. The Galaxy A72 and A52 have more Pro controls at their disposal, but the ones one the A22 5G are about on par with the A32 5G.
Pro photo mode
Speaking of missing things, Pro video also didn't make the cut. Neither did FUN MODE - Samsung's current collaboration with Snapchat that brings a rotating selection of Snapchat filters right into the default camera app. We can't say we miss it sorely, but still felt we should mention its absence, since it was such a big part of the marketing for the A72, A52 and A32.
You do still get some stamps on the Galaxy A22 5G, under a mode called Deco Pic. Stamps, as well as facial masks. Some animated, and some even with sound. Trendy stuff.
Deco Pic
Daylight image quality
Still shots from the main camera are very good overall. Like we said, the Samsung GM2 sensor has proven its worth time and time again, and it definitely does not disappoint when paired with Samsung's solid processing. The detail in the 12MP shots is plenty, and everything looks nice and sharp. Well, perhaps with the exception of the far corners of the frame, which can be slightly softer on occasion.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 12MP main camera samples
Colors are nice and vibrant, without being oversaturated. That is great to see since Samsung has been known to crank colors up in the past. We appreciate the more "mature" processing here. There are no weird color casts. Dynamic range, too, is respectable, though not quite as wide as on higher-end models.
These particular shots were captured using the default settings on the Galaxy A22 5G, which is to say with Scene optimizer and Auto HDR enabled. Both kick in consistently and are clearly pulling their own weight, as you can see from this set of shots without scene optimizer.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 12MP main camera samples, Scene optimizer OFF
You can also get a pretty good idea of just how much of a difference the extra computational processing is making by looking at shots captured in 48MP mode. Neither Auto HDR nor Scene optimizer are available in this mode, and it shows, especially in scenes with more complicated lighting. You can clearly see highlights and shadows look a lot better in the default 12MP auto mode in general. There are also noticeable chromatic aberrations, particularly with fine patterns.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 48MP main camera samples
48MP shots, however, definitely offer more resolved detail. If that is a priority for you and individual files of over 20MB in size are not a problem, then go for it. You do have to live with a bit more noise, as well.
The Galaxy A22 5G lacks any dedicated telephoto or other hardware zoom. Still, you do get crops from the main 48MP sensor. You can pinch to start zooming, after which you can choose a zoom level that way up to 10x or use one of the convenient buttons for 2x, 4x and 10x.
The 2x shots are definitely good enough for social sharing and overall have most of the same properties as 1x regular shots. Pixel-peeping does reveal some oversharpening artifacts here and there, as well as aliasing issues for diagonal lines and reduced per-pixel detail. Nothing major in terms of overall quality, though.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G: 12MP 2x zoom main camera samples
Sharpening artifacts are much more noticeable with higher zoom levels. The max 10x one is not what we would consider usable. Still, we've seen a lot worse out of digital zoom.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 12MP main camera samples: 4x • 10x • 4x • 10x • 4x • 10x • 4x • 10x • 4x • 10x • 4x • 10x
The dedicated portrait mode works surprisingly well on the A22 5G and produces very competent shots for a budget device. The background bokeh effect is particularly nice. You can adjust its intensity via a slider in the camera UI.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 12MP main camera portrait samples
Subject detection and separation are good but could be better. Stray hairs and busier backgrounds can trip it up. Plus, you often need to get a few shots in just to be sure that the subject will actually be properly in focus since autofocus tends to be a bit sticky in this mode. That being said, the dedicated 2MP depth sensor seems to be pulling its own weight here, so we can't complain too much. Auto HDR is available in portrait mode.
There is no dedicated macro camera on the A22 5G. The main camera can't really focus at a particularly close distance. Here are some shots of about as close as we manage to get to the subject.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 12MP main camera close-up samples
Before we move past the main camera, here are our standardized posted shots from it in both its default 12MP and full-res 48MP modes.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G against the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G and the Realme 8 5G in our Photo compare tool
48MP: Samsung Galaxy A22 5G against the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G and the Realme 8 5G in our Photo compare tool
The 5MP ultrawide camera on the A22 5G is definitely the weakest link here. It is clearly a downgrade, even when compared to the 8MP ultrawide snapper on something like the Galaxy A32 5G, which is not a particularly high bar, to begin with.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 5MP ultrawide camera samples
Shots lack detail and are pretty noisy. Dynamic range is narrow and colors look noticeably colder compared to the main camera. That last one is not necessarily a universally bad thing, since you might prefer the colder look. However, the lack of consistency in processing is still worth pointing out as a negative.
To be fair, however, processing can only do so much for this particular hardware. Here are the same shots with Scene optimizer turned off to make a point.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 5MP ultrawide camera samples, Scene optimizer OFF
There is no software distortion correction for the ultrawide. To be fair, the distortion itself isn't all that bad, mostly since the field of view of the particular ultrawide isn't that wide either.
Here is a set of shots of the same scene at various zoom levels, as well as from the ultrawide for easier comparison purposes.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G camera samples: 0.5x • 1x • 2x • 4x • 10x
The Galaxy A22 5G has an 8MP selfie camera. Once again, a downgrade from the 13MP unit on the Galaxy A32 5G, though it is worth noting that the lens is a bit brighter on the A22 5G - f/2.0. Other than that, nothing fancy, just a fixed-focus snapper with no extra features. You don't even get Scene Optimizer for it.
Considering the hardware at hand, we have to say that selfies still look quite decent. The focus plane is wide and forgiving, resolved detail is adequate, and even colors come out looking decent under moderate and favorable lighting conditions.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 8MP selfie camera samples
Narrow dynamic range is one of the biggest issues with the selfie cam. A bit of extra sunlight in the frame, and everything gets blown out.
In typical Samsung fashion, the selfie cam has a narrow and wide mode. Unlike the Galaxy A32 5G, which toggles between two different resolution outputs for the two modes, on the Galaxy A22 5G selfies always come out at 8MP.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 8MP narrow selfie camera samples
We appreciate that the option is there, but would still prefer if Samsung made wide selfies the default, out of the box. At least you can set the camera app to remember your last selection and restore it when opening the camera app, which is something.
Video recording
Thins get a bit weird with the Galaxy A22 5G in the video recording department. While we are used to either seeing 4K or 1080p as the resolution cap, the A22 5G can shoot at 720p@30fps, 1080p@30fps or 1152p@30fps (2048 x 1152 pixels), which Samsung refers to as 2K. This oddity appears to be due to the encored resolution limit of the Dimensity 700 chipset. There is no 60fps mode available, and the ultrawide can only capture 1080p@30fps.
While we are on the topic of resolutions and chipsets, it should be noted that thanks to its Dimensity 720 chipset, the Galaxy A32 5G is capable of capturing 4K, something that even the vanilla A32 can't pull off. This might actually be a valid enough reason for some prospective buyers out there to consider the A32 5G over the otherwise arguably better A22 5G, since both cost roughly the same.
You get the usual choice between h.264 and h.265 (HEVC) encoding on the Galaxy A22 5G. The latter saves some space at the expense of some quality. The former results in MP4 files with a solid FullHD AVC video stream of around 17 Mbps and stereo, 48kHz AAC audio. Not too shabby at all.
So, then 1152p should look better and offer more detail then, right? Well, unfortunately, despite the increase in resolution, the Galaxy A22 5G still encodes these videos at roughly the same bitrate. So, at 1:1 zoom 1152p frames either have the same amount of detail as FullHD ones or at the worst even look softer.
You can do zoomed videos, with 2x, 4x and 10x presets available in the UI, just like for stills. The footage quickly becomes soft as the zoom level goes up, though. We would say that 2x is usable, but anything past that is more "artist rendition", courtesy of the algorithm than actual footage.
We did, of course, try 1152p at higher zoom levels, with mixed results. At 2x, it almost seems like 1152p improves detail a bit over 1080p. Though, the difference is marginal at best. Higher zoom levels already have so many other issues that a bit of extra resolution without any extra bitrate doesn't really make an appreciable difference.
Videos from the ultrawide camera look rough. Especially in comparison. The maximum resolution here is 1080p@30fps, as is typical of ultrawides. Even for FullHD, though, the level of detail here is low. Plus, there is a general softness all around the frame. Dynamic range is quite visibly limited, with shadows suffering in particular.
At least colors don't look too bad. We would even go as far as to say that color consistency across the main and ultrawide is better in video capture than with stills. But that's about all of the positives we can see. We would shy away from using the ultrawide for any sort of video.
The Galaxy A22 5G lacks OIS, but can still do electronic stabilization at 1080p for both the main and the ultrawide camera. You can check both in the following playlist.
Overall, the stabilization itself works surprisingly well. It smooths out small bumps and shivers with ease and doesn't actually take away too much from the viewfinder. There are some issues, though. For one, it seems that the bitrate in these stabilized videos is lower than with EIS turned off, which leads to a softer image. With the main camera, in particular, using EIS seems to trigger some focus hunting. It's not too bad, though.
Selfie videos are quite shaky, with pretty limited dynamic range, just like stills. Colors are pretty dull as well.
Here is how the Galaxy A22 5G stacks up against competitors in our extensive video compare database. You can pixel-peep away.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G against the Samsung Galaxy A32 and the Realme 8 5G in our Video compare tool
Low-light camera quality
There is no doubt that the Galaxy A22 5G struggles in low-light conditions. Its main camera is quite unimpressive, though still quite decent for a budget device. Shots are generally soft and noisy, and dynamic range is narrow. Detail in shadows gets crushed more often than not, and light sources are often clipped.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 12MP main camera low-light samples
To be fair, we've seen worse, even from other Samsung devices. You can get plenty of resolved detail, especially if you are patient and persistent enough and get a few shots in.
Going for 48MP shots in low-light can offer a small boost in resolved detail, just like in good lighting. However, 48MP shots still suffer from all of the issues regular low-light shots do, like noise, limited dynamic range and poor shadow and highlight handling. On top of that you don't get Auto HDR and Scene optimizer while shooting in this mode. In our view, 48MP mode in low-light makes little sense.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 48MP main camera low-light samples
Zooming with the main camera quickly degrades overall sharpness and level of detail. We would say that past 2x, shots are more of a painting, courtesy of the sharpening and noise suppression systems than anything else.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G zoom samples: 2x • 4x • 10x • 2x • 4x • 10x • 2x • 4x • 10x • 2x • 4x • 10x
The ultrawide camera is barely usable in low-light conditions. It is a blurry and noisy mess, especially soft near the corners. Dynamic range is really showing its limitations in both shadows and highlights. Light sources are blown out pretty much every time.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 5MP ultrawide camera low-light samples
There is a Night mode on the Galaxy A22 5G, but only for the main camera. Still, its effect on shots is massive and kind of game-changing. Night mode photos are sharper all around with much better-defined fine detail. Shadows and highlights both get noticeable improvements, though they still aren't quite perfect, just a whole lot better.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 12MP main camera night mode samples
It is really encouraging to se that Samsung has managed to successfully fix its Night mode algorithm since the vanilla Galaxy A32, which had plenty of issues back when we reviewed it. Given that night mode on the A22 5G is not terribly slow, as well, and never actually managed to make a shot worse for us, we can't ask much more of it.
The selfie cam holds up reasonably well in low-light conditions, though shots are quite soft and noisy overall.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 8MP selfie camera low-light samples
Night mode has a profound effect on selfies, as well. There is every reason to use it.
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: 8MP selfie camera night mode samples
Finally, we went out and captured a few low-light videos with the Galaxy A22 5G, as well. The main camera holds up quite well. There is plenty of detail at 1080p and noise is well kept at bay. Of course, dynamic range is far from ideal, and both shadows and highlights suffer. All low-light samples are in the following playlist.
Shooting in 2K (1152p) results in quite similar results, though perhaps just a tiny bit sharper. It could be just a false perception on our end, though. You can check the sample out for yourself.
Naturally, quality quickly deteriorates as you zoom. 2x low-light videos still look very usable overall. Anything beyond that, though, we would avoid.
Competition
At the time of writing, the Galaxy A22 5G will set you back about €250 for the base 4GB + 64GB variant. The A22 5G's specs sheet appears to have been strategically downgraded to allow for the coveted 5G connectivity to be included while still keeping within the target price point of the A22 series.
The vanilla Galaxy A22 can currently be had for just over €200, while also offering an arguably better 90Hz Super AMOLED, 720p+ display, as well as a slightly-better camera setup. The point here is that 5G clearly comes at a cost. This is the reality all manufacturers currently have to deal with, especially in this price range.
If you don't necessarily need 5G in your next phone, it is easy to get better overall specs in a 4G handset instead.
You don't even have to look far either, as the vanilla Galaxy A32 is pretty much comparably priced like the A22 5G. Unlike the A32 5G, which also sacrifices on some specs for the sake of 5G, the vanilla offers things like a notably better FullHD, Super AMOLED, 90Hz display with 800 nits of advertised brightness. Also, a better all-around camera setup, plus a few extra features here and there, sprinkled within One UI 3.1. Better still, unlike the A22 5G, the A32 gets to partake in Samsung's new initiative for three major OS updates and four years of security patches.
Samsung Galaxy A32 • Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro • Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 • Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
There is arguably better value still to be had in camp Xiaomi. The Redmi Note 10 Pro costs as much as the Galaxy A22 5G while rocking hardware like a 120Hz, HDR10-enabled AMOLED panel and a 108MP main camera. Also, things like stereo speakers and an IP53 rating and 33W fast charging. Just to name a few. The list is definitely longer.
You can even save some money and go for something like the Redmi Note 10, which tones down many of the specs of the Redmi Note 10 Pro, but still manages to preserve the core experience. It outshines the Galaxy A22 5G in pretty much every hardware aspect. We are also throwing in the Poco X3 Pro for those out there seeking the best raw performance possible on a budget. While its raw power does come with some compromises here and there, a Snapdragon 860 chipset at just over €200 is almost a market anomaly and deserves due attention.
Circling back to the question of 5G, if you absolutely must have 5G for €250 or less, most manufacturers are clearly faced with the same general hardware decisions and compromises, which have resulted in the niche getting occupied by surprisingly similar devices.
Realme 8 5G • Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G • Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G
Handsets like the Realme 8 5G, Poco M3 Pro 5G and the Redmi Note 10 5G all rock 90Hz LCD panels, just like the Galaxy A22 5G and even use the same Dimensity 700 chipset - the entry-level chip in MediaTek's Dimensity line. All three also have triple camera setups, with a 48MP main snapper. Also, 5,000 mAh batteries with 18W charging. The list goes on, and it's almost like some homework copying has taken place. Or rather - this is just currently the budget 5G hardware setup that makes sense. Sure, the Realme 8 5G does have a slightly better selfie cam, but it also costs a bit more than the others. Going for the Poco can probably get you the best value due to its lower price.
Our overarching point here, however, is that your decision on which €250 5G phone to get will mostly come down to subtle differences in specs and the software experience and features. Samsung might just have a leg up there for many, thanks to One UI 3.1.
Beyond that, you might just have to look around really hard, wait for promos or potentially even go for an imported unit, which definitely has its drawbacks. That way, it might be potentially possible to get more for your money. For instance, the Galaxy M42 5G costs about as much as the Galaxy A22 5G, but comes with a Super AMOLED panel, higher-res selfie, a macro camera and a Snapdragon 750G chipset. Its availability, however is pretty limited.
Verdict
Samsung has created a solid phone in the Galaxy A22 5G. While it's not getting the full benefits of three major OS updates and four years of security patches, like its bigger siblings - A32, A52 and A72, it still gets most of the feature trickle-down. Its FullHD, 90Hz LCD display is not spectacular in terms of performance, but it is still a good neck above what you used to be able to get from Samsung's previous cheapest 5G device - the Galaxy A32 5G.
The Dimensity 700 chipset delivers solid battery life from the 5,000 mAh pack, as well as modern features and connectivity and plenty of performance for most tasks. Even light gaming is no issue for the A22 5G, with most games we tried successfully making use of the 90Hz refresh rate of the panel for extra-smooth gameplay.
While very simple, Samsung's software setup and handling for the high refresh rate mode is perfectly functional, which is not always a given with the competition.
In fact, most aspects of the One UI 3.1/Android 11 combo on the Galaxy A22 5G are well-crafted, polished and surprisingly feature-rich. With all said and done, the excellent user experience is a big part of the appeal of Samsung's cheapest 5G phone. It's likely the reason some might want to go for it instead of one of the many similar offers from other manufacturers like Realme and Xiaomi.
And that's kind of leads to the elephant in the room - should you even get a 5G phone for under €250? If you really need 5G in your next device and can't stretch your budget any further, then the Galaxy A22 5G is worth considering. If you can compromise and settle for a 4G model instead, there is much more overall value to be had from other devices in this price range.
Pros
- FullHD+ resolution and 90Hz are a welcome sight at this price point, even if the panel has somewhat disappointing performance. 90Hz mode works great.
- Very solid battery life.
- Latest Android and One UI, with most features intact.
- The MediaTek 700 is a modern, efficient and well-equipped chipset, with decent performance for the price.
- Decent main camera performance, including potent and useful Night mode.
Cons
- Body feels a bit hollow and there is no ingress protection, no pre-applied screen protector and no official info on display glass protection.
- Pretty slow charging.
- Just a single loudspeaker with underwhelming performance.
- Poor all-round ultrawide performance. No 4K video capture. 2K capture is a mixed bag.
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