Thinking about upgrading from S21U to S22U this weekend. How much better is the camera is it worth i

[DanielLoreti]

Are night shots really revolutionary with the Nightography on the S22 Ultra?

 

[bandofbrothers2112]

Well I'm certainly impressed with the cameras capabilities on my Samsung Galaxy s²² Ultra.

If you can visit a Samsung Experience Store or Highstreet Store that has working retail demo models to play with and test out the camera.

 

[wrich2005]

It isn't head and shoulders above the S21U. The battery life is worse, and it isn't as smooth of an experience as the S21U. I had sold my S21U a few months back when this phone was announced otherwise I wouldn't have pulled the trigger myself. I do like the pen, and I much prefer the square phone as opposed to the more rounded off phones myself, it feels like the rounded edges waste a lot of screen real estate IMO. Overall the camera is like "3 months" better in my eyes then last year it isn't a whole year jump, other then zoom photography. I still get way too much motion blur, way too many soft pictures where you have to take 4-5 to get a good one.

 

[bkdodger2]

If you do decide to upgrade Samsung is giving $1,000 trade-in credit Plus $100 for accessories for the phone through their website

 

[L0n3N1nja]

Main camera hardware is essentially identical, same camera sensor, minor change to the lens coating to help reduce reflections. Reviews show them performing so close to each other I couldn't tell which is which.

They did change the telephoto sensors and add a new PRO RAW app but that will be coming to older Samsung handsets, even my Note 20U is supposed to get it.

I wouldn't upgrade for the camera alone.

 

[DanielLoreti]

Main camera hardware is essentially identical, same camera sensor, minor change to the lens coating to help reduce reflections. Reviews show them performing so close to each other I couldn't tell which is which.

They did change the telephoto sensors and add a new PRO RAW app but that will be coming to older Samsung handsets, even my Note 20U is supposed to get it.

I wouldn't upgrade for the camera alone.

This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you. What about the much hyped Nightography though? How much better are night photos on the S22U?

 

[Gary02468]

It's hard to assess whether the upgrade is worth it unless we specify what "it" is. In my case, I was able to pay less than $350 (plus tax) to get an S22U in exchange for an S21U (both 256GB unlocked), plus a Watch 4 in exchange for an Active 2 (both 44mm WiFi), plus a 25W 10000mAh portable battery, plus $50 Google Play credit. I thought that was a good deal, even though the phone upgrade and the watch upgrade are both modest (but still noticeable; among other things, as L0n3N1nja mentioned, there are new telephoto sensors). I probably wouldn't have been willing to pay much more than I did for these upgrades, however.

 

[Michael_Archangel]

This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you. What about the much hyped Nightography though? How much better are night photos on the S22U?

Nightography is just a marketing term. It doesn't actually represent anything new really. Night photos between S21U and S22U are hard to distinguish. Definitely not worth the upgrade for the camera. The only reason to upgrade would be if you're desperate for an S Pen. The 10x zoom and selfie cameras are a bit better too, but that's pretty much it.

 

[donm527]

Can I get any opinions on those that owned N20U that have S22U the camera difference... is the picture much more improved at say 3x, 10x, 20x, 50x?

I really enjoyed using the 50x when traveling like Maine and zooming into the lighthouses far away where faintly seen with the naked eye or when hiking.

 

[Gary02468]

is the picture much [...] improved at say 3x, 10x, 20x, 50x?

The N20U has only 5x optical zoom; the S22U has 10x optical zoom. Any magnification beyond the optical zoom isn't really zoom, it's just cropping. And yes, the difference in zoom means an S22U zoom photo looks like it's taken from twice as close as an N20U zoom photo, which is a noticeable improvement.

 

[donm527]

Yes understood about the 10x optical. Guess what I’m asking is real world experience was the improvements in photo quality when you needed to take a picture at those levels that it makes going to the S22U worth it.

i think it would be marginal from 21 to 22 but the only reason I would consider going through upgrading is camera upgrade alone. Thx.

The N20U has only 5x optical zoom; the S22U has 10x optical zoom. Any magnification beyond the optical zoom isn't really zoom, it's just cropping. And yes, the difference in zoom means an S22U zoom photo looks like it's taken from twice as close as an N20U zoom photo, which is a noticeable improvement.

 

[mustang7757]

Yes understood about the 10x optical. Guess what I’m asking is real world experience was the improvements in photo quality when you needed to take a picture at those levels that it makes going to the S22U worth it.

i think it would be marginal from 21 to 22 but the only reason I would consider going through upgrading is camera upgrade alone. Thx.

I'm not sure from s21 but from Note 20u there is a difference

 

[Laura Knotek]

Do you use the S Pen frequently? Do you want S Pen storage in the phone itself?

In case you weren't aware you can use the S Pen to take photos.

 

[Linda McDonald]

Are night shots really revolutionary with the Nightography on the S22 Ultra?

I'd still have my Note 10+ if not for dropped calls. Then I would have kept my Note 20 U if not for... not saying!!! I needed a phone and Samsung made me a deal I couldn't refuse. (I hope) So, really I don't see anything super awesome. It's a very nice phone.

 

[L0n3N1nja]

https://www.phonearena.com/news/Galaxy-S22-Ultra-vs-S21-Ultra-Camera-Comparison_id138541

Only direct comparison I know of for night shots.

As to the zoom, I don't have a S22 to compare to my Note 20 but I can tell from reviews the zoom is significantly better. 3x on the Note 20 is a digital crop and it lacks detail compared to 1x or 5x. Honestly I don't even bother going beyond 10x as it looks like garbage to me, both the S21 and S22 are greatly improved in that regard.

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

I'd still have my Note 10+ if not for dropped calls. Then I would have kept my Note 20 U if not for... not saying!!! I needed a phone and Samsung made me a deal I couldn't refuse. (I hope) So, really I don't see anything super awesome. It's a very nice phone.

I started dropping calls with the note 10+ also, I did with the note 20 also. I have the S22U and I drop calls with that also. I have the fold 2 and fold 3 and I do not drop calls. I don't understand why the folds do not drop the calls and the others do.

I travel the same area every day, so I'm comparing the phones actual usage in the same areas. It's like clock work. I can tell you the exact areas I will drop the calls on the notes but the folds hold on to the calls.

 

[Linda McDonald]

I started dropping calls with the note 10+ also, I did with the note 20 also. I have the S22U and I drop calls with that also. I have the fold 2 and fold 3 and I do not drop calls. I don't understand why the folds do not drop the calls and the others do.

I travel the same area every day, so I'm comparing the phones actual usage in the same areas. It's like clock work. I can tell you the exact areas I will drop the calls on the notes but the folds hold on to the calls.

I've not had trouble with 22U. I always wonder if the 5g kickoff is to blame? I miss my Aura 10+ too

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

I've not had trouble with 22U. I always wonder if the 5g kickoff is to blame? I miss my Aura 10+ too

What is the 5G kick off. The folds are 5G also not following you here is all.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

I wouldn't upgrade if you're on an S21 Ultra. The camera differences would be so marginal, I'd bet people wouldn't be able to tell which image was snapped with an S21U and what was snapped with an S22U.

Honestly, the S21U feels like the same phone as the S22U to me. Because I don't use the S-pen at all, and find no value in it, the phone is essentially the S21U for me.

Which isn't a bad thing, the S21U is still an excellent phone, over a year into its life. I guess that phone was so good that the S22U doesn't feel like much of an upgrade.

So no, if the primary reason is camera, it's definitely not worth upgrading for that. If you absolutely love the S-Pen then maybe it's worth it if you can get the S22U at a good price.

 

[DanielLoreti]

I wouldn't upgrade if you're on an S21 Ultra. The camera differences would be so marginal, I'd bet people wouldn't be able to tell which image was snapped with an S21U and what was snapped with an S22U.

Honestly, the S21U feels like the same phone as the S22U to me. Because I don't use the S-pen at all, and find no value in it, the phone is essentially the S21U for me.

Which isn't a bad thing, the S21U is still an excellent phone, over a year into its life. I guess that phone was so good that the S22U doesn't feel like much of an upgrade.

So no, if the primary reason is camera, it's definitely not worth upgrading for that. If you absolutely love the S-Pen then maybe it's worth it if you can get the S22U at a good price.

I thought the 22 Ultra has better zoom lenses?