Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G • Locked T-Mobile vs Galaxy S24 FE • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G, released in February 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, launched in October 2024, represent different segments within Samsung's smartphone lineup. While the S22 Ultra was a top-tier flagship at its release, the S24 FE is positioned as a feature-rich device offering many premium experiences. Both devices operate on the Android platform, but the S24 FE benefits from a more recent software commitment and integrates advanced AI capabilities.

When considering the long-term usability of these devices, their release timelines and software support policies are key factors. The Galaxy S24 FE, being a newer device, offers a significantly extended period of software support compared to the S22 Ultra.

• Software Longevity: The Galaxy S24 FE launched with Android 14 and is promised seven years of OS upgrades and security updates, extending its support until 2031. In contrast, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, released with Android 12, was guaranteed four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, with its last major OS update being Android 16 and security updates concluding around 2027. [5, 11, 19, 20, 22, 33, 34, 35, 38]
• Repairability: The Galaxy S24 FE demonstrates a more repair-friendly design, earning a repairability score of 8.5 out of 10 from independent assessments, highlighting easier battery replacement and component access. The Galaxy S22 Ultra, however, received a lower repairability score of 3 out of 10, largely due to strong adhesives and challenging battery and screen replacements. [6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 24, 25, 26, 27, 37]
• Build Durability: Both smartphones feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and incorporate Gorilla Glass Victus+ on their front and rear panels, contributing to their physical resilience against everyday wear and tear. [7, 19, 37, 45]

The performance of these two Galaxy smartphones is driven by their respective processors and memory configurations, influencing how smoothly they handle applications and multitasking.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy S22 Ultra is equipped with a powerful processor from its release year, enabling smooth operation for demanding applications and gaming. The Galaxy S24 FE features a more recent, though slightly underclocked, processor that capably handles both light and heavy tasks, including integrated AI features, with users reporting no significant slowdowns even with resource-intensive applications. [1, 14, 18, 20, 28, 36]
• Multitasking Capability: The S22 Ultra was available with up to 12GB of RAM, providing ample capacity for extensive multitasking. The S24 FE typically comes with 8GB of RAM, which is sufficient for a smooth user experience, even when running multiple applications simultaneously. [1, 3, 8, 14, 36]
• Storage Options: Both devices offer various internal storage configurations, with the S22 Ultra available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB options, and the S24 FE in 128GB and 256GB. Neither model supports expandable storage via a microSD card. [1, 8, 11, 16, 18, 36]

The visual experience on both devices is delivered through high-quality AMOLED displays, though with some distinctions in resolution and brightness capabilities.

• Display Technology and Clarity: Both the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Galaxy S24 FE feature Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays, known for vibrant colors and deep blacks. The S22 Ultra offers a higher WQHD+ resolution (1440 x 3088 pixels) on its 6.8-inch screen, providing a very sharp viewing experience. The S24 FE has a 6.7-inch display with a Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels), which still delivers clear visuals for most content. [1, 2, 3, 4, 18, 19, 28, 32, 36, 45]
• Brightness and Refresh Rate: The S22 Ultra boasts a peak brightness of 1750 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. The S24 FE has a stated peak brightness of 1900 nits, though real-world tests suggest its sustained brightness might be lower, potentially impacting outdoor readability compared to some competitors. Both phones feature an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, contributing to smooth scrolling and fluid animations. [1, 2, 3, 4, 18, 19, 32, 45]
• Viewing Experience: The larger, higher-resolution screen of the S22 Ultra is well-suited for users who prioritize immersive media consumption and detailed productivity tasks. The S24 FE's slightly smaller, yet still expansive, display offers a comfortable viewing experience for everyday use and content enjoyment. [1, 4, 18, 28, 32, 36, 45]

Both the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Galaxy S24 FE offer capable camera systems, designed to capture a range of photographic and videographic content, though with differences in their advanced capabilities.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S22 Ultra features a versatile quad-camera setup, including a 108MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 10MP periscope telephoto lens offering 10x optical zoom. The Galaxy S24 FE comes with a triple-camera system, comprising a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. [1, 2, 3, 4, 18, 28, 32, 36, 45]
• Photography Performance: The S22 Ultra is recognized for its detailed images, especially with its high-resolution main sensor and extended optical zoom capabilities, performing well across various lighting conditions. The S24 FE provides solid camera quality for everyday photography, with its main camera performing comparably to flagships, though its ultrawide and telephoto lenses may show less detail in some scenarios. Both support 8K video recording. [1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 18, 21, 32, 45, 46]
• Front Camera and Audio: The S22 Ultra includes a 40MP front-facing camera, capable of capturing high-detail selfies and video calls. The S24 FE features a 10MP front camera. Both devices offer good microphone quality for calls and recording, and their stereo speakers provide a satisfactory audio experience for media consumption. [1, 2, 4, 21, 32, 36, 45]