[Galaxy Unpacked] First S Pen in S Series... The 'Most Powerful' Ultra

Samsung Electronics to Host Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2022
"The Most Powerful Galaxy S22 Ultra Ever"
Camera Improvements? Equipped with Latest 4nm Processor
Armor Aluminum & Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Domestic Pre-orders Start on the 14th... Official Sales Begin on the 25th

No Tae-moon, President and Head of Samsung Electronics MX Division, is introducing the 'Galaxy S22 Ultra' at 'Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2022' on the 10th (Korean time). Photo by Samsung Electronics

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Samsung Electronics' strategic smartphone for this year, the 'Galaxy S22' series, has been unveiled. The camera features have been enhanced with video shooting that combines image sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The top-tier S22 Ultra model incorporates the S Pen, a legacy of the 'Galaxy Note,' marking the first time the S series includes an S Pen.

On the 10th (Korean time), Samsung Electronics held the 'Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2022' event online and introduced three models of the Galaxy S22 series. The S22 series consists of three types: standard, Plus (+), and Ultra.

Notae-moon, President of Samsung Electronics' MX Business Division, said, "The S22 series, with its innovative camera and the best performance ever, will be the optimal choice for users to create, share, and communicate." He added, "Especially, the S22 Ultra combines the most beloved features of the 'Galaxy Note' with the flagship 'Galaxy S' smartphone to provide a truly unique mobile experience."

S22 Ultra, First S Series Model to Feature the 'S Pen'

The premium S22 Ultra is the first in the S series to include the S Pen. This S Pen reduces response time by about 70% compared to previous versions, enabling the fastest and most accurate writing experience among all S Pens to date. It offers a smooth experience akin to writing with a pen on paper and recognizes handwriting in over 80 languages.

It also features the largest 6.8-inch display in the series. Notes taken in 'Samsung Notes' automatically sync across other Galaxy devices. While inheriting the linear design characteristic of the Galaxy Note, it adds a premium glass and haze finish. In addition to the sleek, refined floating camera design, each lens is encircled with a metal frame, enhancing its sophistication.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

The camera can capture clear photos and videos in any lighting condition, ready for immediate sharing. It is equipped with a quad-camera setup including Samsung's largest smartphone image sensor at 2.4μm size with a 108-megapixel ultra-high-resolution camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and two 10-megapixel telephoto cameras with optical 3x and 10x zoom respectively. Notably, it supports 'Nightography,' which combines significantly enhanced AI technology to vividly capture details of subjects even at night. Featuring super clear glass, it enables smoother and clearer shooting without flare effects caused by light afterimages on the screen. It supports optimal cameras depending on the distance to the subject and offers up to 100x digital zoom.

Additionally, the Galaxy S22 Ultra supports Wi-Fi 6E, which is twice as fast as the previous Wi-Fi 6. It includes Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology for easy file sharing between devices and supports 'Samsung Wallet,' which offers digital ID and digital car key services.

S22 and S22 Plus Expand Image Sensor Size by 23%

The S22 and S22+ feature 6.1-inch and 6.6-inch displays respectively and are equipped with image sensors approximately 23% larger than their predecessors. Combined with enhanced AI performance, they offer the 'Nightography' feature. They support improved Video Digital Image Stabilization (VDIS) to minimize shaking even when shooting while moving. The evolved 'Auto Framing' recognizes up to 10 people by detecting faces and movements.

They also support a more perfect 'Portrait Mode' by incorporating the latest AI technologies. This includes 'AI Stereo Depth Map' technology that more precisely distinguishes between subjects and backgrounds, and an advanced 'AI High-Resolution Processing.' They can even recognize pets and delicately express each strand of fur. For the first time, 'Expert RAW' is introduced, allowing users to shoot and edit photos within a single application. Like a DSLR camera, users can manually adjust ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and shoot and save up to 16-bit RAW files for editing.

First Galaxy Smartphone to Feature a 4nm Processor

Samsung Galaxy S22+

Overall performance has also been enhanced, notably the application processor (AP), often called the 'brain of the smartphone.' The S22 series is the first Galaxy smartphone to be based on a 4nm processor. It supports AI and machine learning processing with excellent NPU performance. The newly introduced network behavior analysis feature detects all apps the user is running and optimizes smartphone performance accordingly. A large-capacity battery supports the high-performance processor. Both the S22 Ultra and S22 support 45W super-fast charging. It takes less than an hour to fully charge, meaning about 10 minutes of charging allows for over 50 minutes of video recording.

The series features a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that automatically adjusts the screen refresh rate up to 120Hz depending on the content. It is the first to include 'Vision Booster' technology, which automatically adjusts brightness at the pixel level based on ambient lighting, providing the best viewing experience both indoors and outdoors.

Samsung's proprietary user experience, One UI, is also included. The company plans to support up to four upgrades of One UI and the Android operating system for the S22 series. Support will be expanded not only for smartphones but also for Galaxy tablets and other devices, allowing users to enjoy a more complete Galaxy ecosystem.

Security features have been strengthened as well. Samsung's proprietary chipset-level security platform, 'Samsung Knox Vault,' protects passwords, biometric data, blockchain, and authentication keys. Users can check which apps are using data or the camera via the status bar and privacy dashboard. New security technologies have been applied to prevent cyberattacks targeting the smartphone's operating system and memory.

Discarded Fishing Nets Reborn as Smartphone Components

Samsung Electronics collected discarded fishing nets and recycled them in the smartphone manufacturing process. A new recycled plastic containing about 20% fishing net material was applied to the key bracket, which supports the volume and power keys. It was also used inside the S Pen of the S22 Ultra.

Plastic recycled from post-consumer materials (PCM) was used inside the speaker module and the power and volume keys. Packaging materials are made from 100% recycled paper. Cases are made from environmentally friendly materials certified by the international safety certification body UL, including PCM and bio-based substances.

Additionally, the smartphone surface features Armor Aluminum for the first time in the S series, enhancing durability. The 'Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Plus' material was used on both the front and back of the smartphone for the first time.

Sequential Release Starting on the 25th... Pre-orders in Korea Begin on the 14th

The company will begin sequential sales of the new smartphones worldwide starting on the 25th of this month. In Korea, pre-orders will be held from the 14th to the 21st, with the official launch on the 25th.

The premium Ultra model will be available in four colors: the new Burgundy, Phantom Black, Phantom White, and Green. It will be offered in models with 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage, and 12GB RAM with 512GB internal storage, priced at 1,452,000 KRW and 1,551,000 KRW respectively. The S22 and S22+ will be available in four colors: Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, and Pink Gold. They come with 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage, priced at 999,900 KRW for the standard model and 1,199,000 KRW for the Plus model.