Galaxy S22 5G • Locked AT&T vs Galaxy S24 • Locked T-Mobile

The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, released in February 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy S24, launched in January 2024, represent two generations of Samsung's compact flagship smartphone line. While both devices offer a premium Android experience, the S24 introduces advancements in software longevity, processing power, and display technology, building upon the S22's established foundation.

The practical lifespan of a smartphone is significantly influenced by its software support and ease of repair. These two models present different outlooks in these areas.

• Software Support: The Galaxy S22 5G launched with Android 12 and was promised four years of major OS updates and five years of security updates. In contrast, the Galaxy S24, which debuted with Android 14, comes with a commitment of seven years of both OS and security updates, extending its software longevity significantly further into the future.
• Repairability: The Galaxy S22 5G received varying repairability assessments, with some reports indicating a score of 7.5/10 or 8.2/10, noting the ease of removing the back cover and camera module. However, iFixit notably gave the S22 series a lower score of 3/10, citing challenges with battery removal due to strong adhesive. The newer Galaxy S24, on the other hand, has generally received high repairability scores, often rated at 9/10, with improvements like easier battery removal thanks to pull tabs.
• Expected Lifespan: Users prioritizing the longest possible software support and easier maintenance may find the Galaxy S24 a more future-proof option due to its extended update policy and improved repairability. The S22 5G, while still a capable device, will reach its end-of-software-support sooner.

Performance is a key differentiator between these two generations, impacting everything from daily tasks to demanding applications.

• Processing Capabilities: The Galaxy S22 5G handles everyday applications and multitasking smoothly, providing a responsive user experience for most tasks. The Galaxy S24, being a newer generation, offers enhanced processing power, resulting in faster app loading, more fluid multitasking, and improved performance in graphically intensive games and advanced AI features.
• System Responsiveness: Both devices offer a generally smooth Android experience. However, the S24's more current-generation internal components contribute to a noticeably snappier feel, particularly when navigating complex interfaces or running multiple applications simultaneously.
• Storage and RAM: Both models typically come with 8GB of RAM, which is sufficient for most users. The S22 5G offers 128GB and 256GB storage options. The S24 also starts with 128GB and 256GB, with some configurations offering up to 512GB, providing more flexibility for users with extensive storage needs.

The display is a primary interaction point, and both devices offer high-quality viewing experiences with some notable advancements in the newer model.

• Display Technology and Clarity: Both the Galaxy S22 5G and Galaxy S24 feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays, known for their vibrant colors and deep blacks. The S22 5G has a 6.1-inch screen with a 1080 x 2340 pixel resolution. The S24 features a slightly larger 6.2-inch display with a similar FHD+ resolution (2340 x 1080 pixels), maintaining excellent clarity for everyday viewing.
• Brightness Levels: The Galaxy S22 5G offers a peak brightness of 1300 nits, providing good visibility in various lighting conditions. The Galaxy S24 significantly improves upon this, reaching a peak brightness of 2600 nits, which enhances outdoor visibility and HDR content viewing, making it easier to use under direct sunlight.
• Refresh Rate and Smoothness: Both phones feature a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and fluid animations. The S24's display can dynamically adjust its refresh rate down to 1Hz, which can contribute to power efficiency, whereas the S22's adaptive refresh rate typically ranges from 48Hz to 120Hz.

Both smartphones offer versatile camera systems, but the newer Galaxy S24 brings refinements and additional capabilities.

• Camera System: The Galaxy S22 5G features a triple-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The Galaxy S24 maintains a similar hardware configuration with a 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x telephoto camera.
• Photography Performance: The S22 5G delivers excellent image quality in good lighting, with vibrant colors and good detail. Its telephoto lens is particularly noted for clear 3x optical zoom. The S24 offers improved image processing, leading to more natural-looking colors and better detail, especially in challenging conditions. Both perform well in everyday photography, with the S24 showing slight advancements in overall image quality and low-light performance.
• Video Recording and Selfie Camera: Both devices support 4K video recording at 60fps and 8K at 24fps. The S24 introduces 4K 120fps slow-motion video, an upgrade from the S22's 1080p slow-motion. The selfie cameras are 10MP on the S22 5G and 12MP on the S24, both offering good detail and autofocus for clear self-portraits and video calls.