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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comparison: Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1 vs. Exynos 2200 - is Europe being cheated?

Does the SoC in the Galaxy smartphone make a difference? Many prospective buyers of a Galaxy S22 Ultra would have certainly preferred a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1 in Europe as well. Especially because the Xclipse 920 GPU was somewhat disappointing in our review. Is the Galaxy S22 Ultra with an Exynos SoC worth buying at all? We clarify this in the following comparison review.
Review: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1

In our review, we were only partially impressed by the current flagship smartphone from Samsung. The Galaxy phone turned out to be a very successful package overall, but it still had a few teething troubles.

In particular, Samsung's policy surrounding the processor raised some questions. The Exynos SoC, intended for the European market, was eagerly awaited, not least because of the cooperation with AMD. Unfortunately, this did not fully live up to our expectations in our aforementioned review, which is reason enough for us to take a look at the version of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen.1 that is available outside Europe in retailers such as our rental partner Trading Shenzhen, among others.

Those looking for detailed information apart from the SoC, such as the individual sections of case, software or communication, should take a look at our detailed review of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. The 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display is also more or less identical. We measured a minimally low brightness on the Snapdragon version, which could be explained by a slight quality fluctuation in production.  

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon (Galaxy S Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 8 x 1.8 - 3 GHz, Cortex-X2 / A710 / A510 (Kryo) Waipio
Graphics adapter
Memory
12 GB 
Display
6.80 inch 19.3:9, 3088 x 1440 pixel 501 PPI, Capacitive Touchscreen, AMOLED, glossy: yes, HDR, 120 Hz
Storage
256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash, 256 GB 
, 102 GB free
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), Audio Connections: USB-C, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, OTG, Miracast
Networking
Wi-Fi 6E (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/ Wi-Fi 6E 6 GHz), Bluetooth 5.2, Dual SIM, LTE, 5G, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.9 x 163.3 x 77.9 ( = 0.35 x 6.43 x 3.07 in)
Battery
5000 mAh Lithium-Ion
Charging
fast charging / Quickcharge
Operating System
Android 12
Camera
Primary Camera: 108 MPix (f/1.8, 24mm, 1/1.33", 0.8µm) + 10MP (10x optical zoom, f/4.9, 230mm, 1/3.52", 1.12µm) + 10MP (3x optical zoom, f/2.4, 70mm, 1/3.52", 1.12µm) + 12MP (f/2.2, 13mm, 1/2.55", 1.4µm)
Secondary Camera: 40 MPix (f/2.2, 26mm, 1/2.82", 0.7µm)
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Virtual, USB cable, OneUI, 12 Months Warranty, widevine L1, fanless, waterproof
Weight
228 g ( = 8.04 oz / 0.5 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
1400 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Cameras: Samsung smartphones with 108 MP

Selfie with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Selfie with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Selfie with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Selfie with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200

The specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in the Snapdragon version and the local Exynos variant are almost identical in terms of camera hardware - the technical data can be found in our detailed review. Interestingly, the Galaxy smartphone and its Qualcomm chipset support the slightly higher camera2 API level with level 3.   

In everyday use, the Snapdragon version of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, like the Exynos version, delivers good to very good results in daylight with 108 MP optics and Samsung ISOCELL HM3.

We like the results of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Snapdragon a little better overall, as the dynamic range is somewhat higher in difficult lighting conditions and the subjects are less blurred. However, this increase in sharpness does not result in a higher level of detail, and we detected slight image noise in dark areas. If subjects are photographed in the dark, the observed tendencies intensify. The Snapdragon version has significantly more noise, but the sharpness and dynamics are better than with the Exynos version.   

Wide angle

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200

The ultra-wide-angle camera of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in the Snapdragon version is similarly tuned to the 108 MP cam. Colors are slightly brightened compared to the Exynos version, but the pictures produce a larger dynamic range and a little more image noise. 

In our zoom ranges of 3x and 10x, we like the pictures of the Exynos version better. Especially at a magnification of 3x, the sharpness is more appealing than in the Snapdragon version of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. 

Ultra-wide-angle

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200

Zoom shots (3x, 10x)

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra | Exynos 2200

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

ColorChecker
6.7 ∆E
6.1 ∆E
7.7 ∆E
11.2 ∆E
6.4 ∆E
3.4 ∆E
7.2 ∆E
6.1 ∆E
9.5 ∆E
3.8 ∆E
6.6 ∆E
6.7 ∆E
5.2 ∆E
9.1 ∆E
7.7 ∆E
1.2 ∆E
4.6 ∆E
6.1 ∆E
6.8 ∆E
2.8 ∆E
3.7 ∆E
2.7 ∆E
5.6 ∆E
5.7 ∆E
ColorChecker Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon: 5.94 ∆E min: 1.2 - max: 11.25 ∆E
ColorChecker
25.9 ∆E
42.1 ∆E
32.9 ∆E
30.9 ∆E
37.6 ∆E
50.2 ∆E
40.2 ∆E
27.9 ∆E
28.6 ∆E
24.4 ∆E
51.1 ∆E
52 ∆E
26.5 ∆E
37.1 ∆E
24.5 ∆E
48.8 ∆E
33.9 ∆E
36.5 ∆E
47.7 ∆E
53.3 ∆E
44.8 ∆E
33.7 ∆E
22.8 ∆E
13.3 ∆E
ColorChecker Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon: 36.13 ∆E min: 13.35 - max: 53.33 ∆E

Performance: Qualcomm SoC of the Galaxy S22 Ultra comes out on top

The everyday performance of both Galaxy models is very good, and the Exynos 2200 used in Europe is powerful enough to drive the 120 Hz capable and high-resolution OLED panel smoothly. However, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is much more powerful in our benchmark measurements, but it should also be noted that we were also provided with the 12GB RAM version for testing.

In both the CPU tests and the graphics benchmarks, the Qualcomm SoC sometimes outperforms the Exynos 2200 by 30 percent. The differences are also unexpectedly clear in the browser tests, where the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 performs very well. In the offscreen values of the GFXBench, on the other hand, the Qualcomm SoC does not perform as well. Here, the Galaxy S22 Ultra Snapdragon is significantly slower than the Exynos version. 

The differences in the speed of UFS 3.1 are equally surprising. Whether these differences are even noticeable in everyday use is certainly debatable - we find the loading times for apps to be similarly fast - but the benchmark values of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 are quite impressive, particularly in sequential reading.

Geekbench 5.5
Single-Core (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
1249 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
1154 Points -8%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (1181 - 1298, n=21)
1231 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (119 - 2138, n=212, last 2 years)
902 Points -28%
Multi-Core (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
3377 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
3560 Points +5%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (3269 - 3839, n=21)
3548 Points +5%
Average of class Smartphone
  (473 - 6681, n=212, last 2 years)
2950 Points -13%
PCMark for Android - Work 3.0 (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
13752 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
12579 Points -9%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (10140 - 17025, n=21)
13216 Points -4%
Average of class Smartphone
  (4761 - 21385, n=206, last 2 years)
11628 Points -15%
3DMark
Wild Life Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
9409 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
7236 Points -23%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (6351 - 10062, n=14)
9091 Points -3%
Average of class Smartphone
  (394 - 9839, n=131, last 2 years)
2586 Points -73%
Wild Life Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
9455 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
7288 Points -23%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (6483 - 10412, n=20)
9608 Points +2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (392 - 20068, n=194, last 2 years)
6058 Points -36%
Wild Life Extreme (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
2432 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
2044 Points -16%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (1629 - 2639, n=20)
2470 Points +2%
Average of class Smartphone
  (22 - 5226, n=199, last 2 years)
1628 Points -33%
Wild Life Extreme Unlimited (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
2421 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
1916 Points -21%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (1567 - 2585, n=21)
2386 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone
  (109 - 5248, n=194, last 2 years)
1635 Points -32%
GFXBench
on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
52 fps
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
42 fps -19%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (38 - 98, n=20)
59.6 fps +15%
Average of class Smartphone
  (3.6 - 123, n=219, last 2 years)
43.2 fps -17%
1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
90 fps
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
68 fps -24%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (60 - 131, n=22)
95.6 fps +6%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.3 - 229, n=219, last 2 years)
63 fps -30%
on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
37 fps
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
31 fps -16%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (27 - 69, n=20)
45.3 fps +22%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.8 - 105, n=219, last 2 years)
32.2 fps -13%
2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
39 fps
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
30 fps -23%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (19 - 49, n=22)
37.6 fps -4%
Average of class Smartphone
  (0.85 - 94, n=219, last 2 years)
25.1 fps -36%
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
30 fps
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
39 fps +30%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (28 - 81, n=16)
51 fps +70%
Average of class Smartphone
  (5 - 117, n=179, last 2 years)
42.9 fps +43%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
60 fps
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
68 fps +13%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (50 - 98, n=17)
74.6 fps +24%
Average of class Smartphone
  (2.9 - 166, n=179, last 2 years)
58.6 fps -2%
Antutu v9 - Total Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
897098 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
704479 Points -21%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (692924 - 1041980, n=18)
928953 Points +4%
Average of class Smartphone
  (102602 - 1650926, n=148, last 2 years)
741274 Points -17%
Jetstream 2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
122.985 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
96.8 Points -21%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (72.8 - 134.6, n=16)
107.9 Points -12%
Average of class Smartphone
  (13.8 - 351, n=167, last 2 years)
104.5 Points -15%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
228.963 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
200 Points -13%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (121.9 - 237, n=11)
195.6 Points -15%
Average of class Smartphone
  (66.1 - 414, n=3, last 2 years)
194.9 Points -15%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
832.81 ms *
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
1259 ms * -51%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (814 - 1440, n=16)
1010 ms * -21%
Average of class Smartphone
  (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1653 ms * -98%
Speedometer 2.0 - Result (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
120 runs/min
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
108 runs/min -10%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (64.4 - 129.3, n=16)
104 runs/min -13%
Average of class Smartphone
  (14.9 - 445, n=151, last 2 years)
105.7 runs/min -12%
CrossMark
Creativity (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
1173 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
958 Points -18%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (838 - 1228, n=14)
1047 Points -11%
Average of class Smartphone
  (183 - 1587, n=157, last 2 years)
803 Points -32%
Overall (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
1089 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
942 Points -13%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (749 - 1169, n=14)
993 Points -9%
Average of class Smartphone
  (200 - 1474, n=156, last 2 years)
832 Points -24%
Productivity (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
1033 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
912 Points -12%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (647 - 1092, n=14)
936 Points -9%
Average of class Smartphone
  (199 - 1428, n=157, last 2 years)
844 Points -18%
Responsiveness (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
1121 Points
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
987 Points -12%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (832 - 1192, n=14)
1024 Points -9%
Average of class Smartphone
  (269 - 1552, n=156, last 2 years)
888 Points -21%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
78 fps
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
108 fps +38%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (60 - 121, n=16)
89.4 fps +15%
Average of class Smartphone
  (6.8 - 165, n=179, last 2 years)
71 fps -9%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Adreno 730, 12288
141 fps
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Samsung Exynos 2200, Xclipse 920, 8192
187 fps +33%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  (141 - 265, n=17)
190 fps +35%
Average of class Smartphone
  (9.2 - 363, n=179, last 2 years)
138 fps -2%

* ... smaller is better

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G SnapdragonSamsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5GAverage 256 GB UFS 3.1 FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
-9%
-6%
-18%
Sequential Read 256KB
1987.91
1653
-17%
1767 ?(1004 - 2037, n=85)
-11%
1467 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
-26%
Sequential Write 256KB
1368.55
1074
-22%
1135 ?(452 - 1873, n=85)
-17%
1077 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
-21%
Random Read 4KB
314.68
322.3
2%
282 ?(173.5 - 543, n=85)
-10%
241 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
-23%
Random Write 4KB
268.9


273.1
2%
312 ?(197.5 - 499, n=86)
16%
265 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
-1%

Gaming: Galaxy smartphones still have room for improvement

Both versions of the Galaxy S22 Ultra offer a smooth display free of issues. As can been in the measurements with the GameBench app, our test games do not reveal any frame drops worth mentioning. However, PUBG Mobile can be played with a significantly higher frame rate with the Qualcomm variant.

The shooter runs at up to 60 fps on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Moreover the UHD option is unlocked, which is not available on the Galaxy S22 Ultra with Xclipse 920. In League of Legends: Wild Rift, the high-frame settings of 90 fps and 120 fps are not selectable on either Galaxy smartphone, so that the Adreno 730 also only performs at 60 fps.

Review: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Review: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
051015202530354045505560Tooltip
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Xclipse 920, Exynos 2200, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash; PUBG Mobile; Smooth; 1.9.0: Ø29.8 (26-31)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon Adreno 730, SD 8 Gen 1, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash; PUBG Mobile; Balanced: Ø59.4 (51-61)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon Adreno 730, SD 8 Gen 1, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash; PUBG Mobile; HD: Ø59.6 (50-61)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Xclipse 920, Exynos 2200, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash; PUBG Mobile; HD; 1.9.0: Ø29.9 (28-31)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon Adreno 730, SD 8 Gen 1, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash; PUBG Mobile; Ultra HD: Ø39.7 (32-41)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon Adreno 730, SD 8 Gen 1, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash; League of Legends: Wild Rift: Ø59.5 (47-61)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Xclipse 920, Exynos 2200, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash; League of Legends: Wild Rift; 3.0.0.5295: Ø59.5 (55-61)

Emissions and Battery Life: Galaxy phones on par

The surface temperatures and power consumption levels are similar for both versions of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. To better assess the performance of the SoCs, we used the 3DMark Stress Test. Like other smartphones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the Galaxy S22 Ultra reveals a significant performance loss of about 40 percent. Then again, the Exynos 2200 also displays inefficient cooling.


In contrast, the battery runtimes under QHD Plus resolution and adaptive display control were longer than expected. In our real-world Wi-Fi test with an adjusted display brightness of 150 cd/m², the Galaxy S22 Ultra and its Qualcomm SoC only lasted about 12.5 hours. In our test of the Exynos version, this was over 14 hours.

3DMark - Wild Life Extreme Stress Test
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
63 (8.22min - 13.1max) %
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
61.8 (7.76min - 12.6max) % -2%

Legend

 
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Qualcomm Adreno 730, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Samsung Exynos 2200, Samsung Xclipse 920, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
012345678910111213Tooltip
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon Adreno 730, SD 8 Gen 1, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash; 1.0.9.1: Ø9.83 (8.22-13.1)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Xclipse 920, Exynos 2200, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash; 1.0.8.1: Ø9.2 (7.76-12.6)

Temperature

Max. Load
 35.7 °C
96 F
35.1 °C
95 F
35.8 °C
96 F
 
 35.9 °C
97 F
34.9 °C
95 F
34.8 °C
95 F
 
 36.1 °C
97 F
36.1 °C
97 F
33.8 °C
93 F
 
Maximum: 36.1 °C = 97 F
Average: 35.4 °C = 96 F
33.6 °C
92 F
34.9 °C
95 F
34.6 °C
94 F
33 °C
91 F
35.2 °C
95 F
35.7 °C
96 F
32.5 °C
91 F
33.9 °C
93 F
35.9 °C
97 F
Maximum: 35.9 °C = 97 F
Average: 34.4 °C = 94 F
Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated) & Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.4 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.1 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 35.9 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.8 °C / 78 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.


Review: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1
Review: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1

Power Consumption

Power Consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)

0123456789101112131415Tooltip
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1: Ø6.13 (1.234-12.1)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Samsung Exynos 2200: Ø6.91 (0.893-15.5)

Power Consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)

01234567891011121314Tooltip
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1; 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Offscreen: Ø9.41 (6.23-14)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Samsung Exynos 2200; 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Offscreen: Ø9.17 (6.42-14.4)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1; Idle 150cd/m2: Ø0.773 (0.66-1.105)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Samsung Exynos 2200; Idle 150cd/m2: Ø0.625 (0.575-1.393)

Battery Life

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon
5000 mAh
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
5000 mAh
Average of class Smartphone
 
Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
756
844
12%
908 ?(424 - 2844, n=221, last 2 years)
20%
Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
12h 36min

Verdict on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Snapdragon

Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Review device provided by Trading Shenzhen.
Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Review device provided by Trading Shenzhen.

Has Samsung cheated us in Europe with its own Exynos 2200? In terms of pure performance and gaming suitability, this claim can be supported. In terms of efficiency, however, both model variants of the Galaxy S22 Ultra perform on a similar level. Things will get really interesting in the next generation as future Qualcomm SoCs will no longer be manufactured by Samsung itself, but once again by Taiwan's chip manufacturer TSMC.  

Quality differences are also apparent in the cameras, although the Snapdragon version is not the clear winner here. Those who like to use high focal lengths with their Galaxy smartphone can be happy about the Exynos 2200, as the image sharpness is higher than in our review device with the Qualcomm SoC. The lower image noise also indicates a more effective noise suppression of the image processor from Samsung. In return, the ISP (image signal processor) of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processes complex lighting conditions with dark shadow areas and bright sunlight better.

Those who don't have any reservations about importing such a price-intensive smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra will get a better device with the Snapdragon version, but buyers with the Exynos version are not at a great disadvantage. The software of an imported device can also vary (depending on the region of origin) with the local software. 

Price and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G in the Snapdragon version is available for about 1,317€ from Trading Shenzhen.

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comparison: Snapdragon 8 Gen. 1 vs. Exynos 2200 - is Europe being cheated?
Marcus Herbrich, 2022-05-29 (Update: 2022-05-29)