Winners & Losers: Samsung’s S22 Launch – Fail or Win?

Before you all could watch the new Galaxy devices in the live stream, Samsung gave Stefan and me an exclusive look at the devices. Of course we weren’t the only tech journalists allowed to do this, but we were certainly the best looking! Jokes aside, the launch event had me staggering into the Berlin U-Bahn with mixed feelings. Head full of impressions and triggered arachnophobia.

As every week, you can read what I liked about the S22 launch and what disappointed me in the “Winners” and “Losers” sections. You can also find our full coverage of the Galaxy S22 launch just above this paragraph. As a Samsung fan, you can read on straight away – if you are an opponent of the South Korean tech giant, you should read on for the losers section!

Winner: Galaxy S22 Ultra and longer updates

Of course there are positive things that come to mind when I think back to the event in Berlin. That’s not even just the appetizers and the free coffee, of which I, being a junkie, drank several. No, the S22 Ultra elegantly closes a gap that the Galaxy Note 20 left almost two years ago. Finally there is a smartphone that has the practical S Pen integrated.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra, and I’ll tell you this first hand, feels like a real Note. With a rather unwieldy giant display, an almost magical connection between S Pen and smartphone and top specs. The merging of the two series is now complete and in my opinion Samsung has finally harmonized its lineup. The fact that only the Ultra model got a fresh look could also be an indication that the launch of a Note model was originally planned. So it’s a plus that Samsung hasn’t released another S22 Ultra in the old design with the S Pen flying around.

But winners are also those who do not buy a new Galaxy S22 Ultra for 1,249 euros (!). Because Samsung has extended its update support again. In the linked article, I have listed which Samsung smartphones have received security updates and four Android version updates for five years. Since the Galaxy S21 FE is included, Samsung has subsequently equipped the cell phone with an unbeatable price-durability ratio.

Another win: Samsung uses recycled fishing nets to produce certain plastic components of its devices. A small but welcome step towards more sustainability. Or as the Samsung employee, whose monologue I lengthened to an uncomfortable length by standing still, said: It’s important that something like this is done. Sorry, I shouldn’t have tormented you for so long.

Loser: Too few significant changes

But it wasn’t these positive impressions that got me thinking on the train. Because overall there were too few innovations that were really groundbreaking. It’s cool that we have a grade again – but nothing new. It’s cool that Samsung has improved the cameras – but there weren’t any new features. The fact that the back of the S22 basic model is now made of glass is cool – but it should have happened last year.

What I want to say: One of the big market leaders in the smartphone industry has presented its new high-end devices!!! And the tech press can only report longer updates, mini camera improvements and a camera array that looks like a spider’s eyes. Fabi said a few months ago “The smartphone is out of development, something new has to come!” And unfortunately, the Samsung launch is an indication of this.

Because the real party is now happening with Samsung’s foldables, which are much more interesting. The Samsung launch got me thinking as we are in the summer slump in smartphone development. We have reached a very high level that is only being refined. And waiting for the next step, which cannot yet be estimated exactly. Because AR and VR glasses are all still too bulky and stupid to replace a smartphone.

What is the next step? Let me know in the comments to cheer up my bad mood a bit! And tell me what you think of the Unpacked event!