Galaxy S21 5G • Unlocked vs Galaxy S22 5G • Locked T-Mobile

The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, released in January 2021, and the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, launched in February 2022, are both flagship Android smartphones from Samsung. While they share a similar design philosophy and core Android experience, the Galaxy S22 introduces a refined camera system, a slightly more compact form factor, and an updated internal processor compared to its predecessor. Both devices run on Samsung's One UI atop the Android operating system, offering a consistent user experience.

When considering longevity, the Galaxy S21 5G and Galaxy S22 5G offer robust software support, though with a slight difference due to their release dates. Both devices are rated IP68 for dust and water resistance, indicating a high level of protection against environmental elements.

• Software Longevity: The Galaxy S21, launched with Android 11, is expected to receive major OS updates up to Android 15, while the S22, starting with Android 12, will likely extend its major OS support to Android 16, offering one additional year of software relevance.
• Build Materials: The Galaxy S22 features Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both its front and back, providing enhanced scratch and drop resistance. In contrast, the S21 uses Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and a durable plastic back, which some users find more shock-absorbent.
• Practical Lifespan: Both models are built to last, with the S22 offering a marginally longer practical lifespan due to its extended software support timeline. However, some drop tests suggest the S22's all-glass construction might be more susceptible to shattering than the S21's plastic back.

Both the Galaxy S21 5G and Galaxy S22 5G deliver strong performance for everyday tasks, multitasking, and demanding applications. The S22 features a newer generation processor, offering incremental improvements in raw processing power and graphics capabilities.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S22 benefits from a more recent processor, providing a slight edge in overall speed and efficiency, particularly for resource-intensive applications and advanced mobile gaming.
• Multitasking Capability: Both devices come equipped with 8GB of RAM, ensuring smooth and responsive multitasking, allowing users to switch between numerous applications without significant slowdowns.
• Battery Endurance: The Galaxy S21 generally offers slightly longer battery life for typical usage due to its larger 4000 mAh battery, whereas the Galaxy S22's 3700 mAh battery may require more frequent charging for heavy users. Despite the S22's smaller battery, its newer chipset and display technology can sometimes compensate for the difference in real-world usage.

The display experience on both the Galaxy S21 5G and Galaxy S22 5G is premium, featuring Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels with a smooth adaptive refresh rate. Both screens offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast.

• Display Technology: Both phones utilize Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, providing rich, accurate colors and deep black levels that contribute to an immersive viewing experience for media and daily use.
• Brightness and Clarity: The S22 has a slightly smaller screen size (6.1 inches vs. 6.2 inches on the S21) and a higher peak brightness, which can enhance outdoor visibility. The S22 can reach 1500 nits peak brightness compared to the S21's 1300 nits.
• Refresh Rate: Both phones support an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz for smooth scrolling. The S22 can drop its refresh rate to 10Hz for power efficiency, while the S21 could only go down to 48Hz.

The camera systems on the Galaxy S21 5G and Galaxy S22 5G are capable, but the S22 introduces notable upgrades, particularly to its main sensor and telephoto lens. Both devices offer versatile shooting options and high-quality video recording.

• Main Camera Performance: The Galaxy S22 features a 50MP main sensor, which captures more detailed images and shows improved low-light performance compared to the S21's 12MP main sensor.
• Telephoto and Ultrawide: The S22 uses a 10MP telephoto lens with a true 3x optical zoom, offering cleaner zoomed-in shots. The S21 had a 64MP telephoto that used hybrid zoom. Both phones feature a 12MP ultrawide camera, with similar detail levels, though the S22 may control noise slightly better.
• Video Recording: The S22 generally produces more detailed and smoother videos, especially at 4K 60fps. While both can record 8K video, the S22 offers a wider field of view in this mode. The S22 also shows improved night video performance with less noise.