Galaxy A35 vs Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A35 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G are distinct smartphones from different segments of Samsung's lineup, released two years apart. The Galaxy A35, launched in March 2024, is positioned as a mid-range device, while the Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G, released in February 2022, was a flagship offering. These devices run on the Android operating system with Samsung's One UI, but they differ significantly in their processing power, camera capabilities, and overall build quality.

The expected practical lifespan of a smartphone is influenced by its release timeline, software support, and physical durability.

• Release Timeline and Software Support: The Galaxy A35, being a 2024 model, benefits from a more extended future software support window, with Samsung promising four major Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates from its release date. The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G, released in 2022, also received a commitment for four major OS upgrades and five years of security updates, meaning its update cycle will conclude sooner than the A35's. [16, 21, 29]
• Repairability: The Galaxy A35 has a repairability score of 8.4 or 8.5 out of 10, indicating good accessibility for component replacement, particularly for the battery. [1, 4, 6, 7, 13] While specific repairability scores for the S22 Ultra 5G were not readily available, flagship devices often present more complex repair challenges due to their intricate designs and premium materials.
• Physical Durability: Both devices feature robust protection. The Galaxy A35 is equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back, and carries an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, allowing it to withstand submersion in up to 1 meter of fresh water for 30 minutes. [10, 21] The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G also uses Gorilla Glass Victus+ for both its front and back, and boasts an IP68 rating, offering slightly better protection against dust and water, capable of submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for 30 minutes. [8]

Performance differences between these two models are notable, impacting how smoothly they handle various tasks and applications.

• Processing Power: The Galaxy A35 is powered by a processor that capably handles everyday applications, multitasking, and moderate gaming, providing a responsive user experience for most common activities. [10, 18] The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G, featuring a more advanced processor from its release era, delivers significantly higher performance, allowing for exceptionally smooth operation with demanding applications, intensive gaming, and complex multitasking without noticeable slowdowns. [8, 24, 25]
• System Responsiveness and Multitasking: Users of the Galaxy A35 will find the system generally responsive, with smooth transitions and app loading times suitable for daily use. [10] The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G offers a more immediate and fluid experience across the board, with faster app launches and seamless switching between numerous applications due to its more powerful internal components and higher RAM configurations. [8, 12, 25]
• Storage and Memory: The Galaxy A35 comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, with the added flexibility of microSD card expansion up to 1TB. [3, 10, 21] The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G offers higher RAM options, typically 8GB or 12GB, and more generous internal storage configurations ranging from 128GB up to 1TB, though it does not support expandable storage via microSD. [8, 12, 25, 34] The S22 Ultra also utilizes faster UFS 3.1 storage compared to the A35's UFS 2.2, contributing to quicker data access. [8, 34]

The visual experience on both devices is vibrant, though there are distinctions in clarity and brightness.

• Display Technology and Resolution: The Galaxy A35 features a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution (2340x1080 pixels), offering vivid colors and deep blacks. [2, 9, 21] The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G boasts a larger 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a Quad HD+ resolution (3088x1440 pixels), providing a sharper and more detailed viewing experience due to its higher pixel density. [8, 17, 25, 32]
• Brightness and Outdoor Visibility: Both phones offer excellent brightness for outdoor use. The Galaxy A35 can reach a peak brightness of 1000 nits in High Brightness Mode, ensuring good visibility even in direct sunlight. [9, 10] The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G surpasses this with a peak brightness of 1750 nits, making it exceptionally clear and readable in very bright conditions. [8, 32]
• Refresh Rate and Smoothness: Both devices feature a 120Hz refresh rate, contributing to smooth scrolling and fluid animations. The Galaxy A35 maintains a consistent 120Hz refresh rate. [2, 9] The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G, however, offers an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, which can dynamically adjust down to lower frequencies to conserve battery life when high refresh rates are not needed. [8, 32]

The camera systems on these smartphones cater to different levels of photography and videography needs.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy A35 features a triple rear camera setup, including a 50-megapixel main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 5-megapixel macro lens. [2, 11, 28] The main camera performs well in daylight, capturing natural tones, but the ultrawide and macro lenses may show limitations in quality. [14, 19, 27] The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G offers a more comprehensive quad-camera system, highlighted by a 108-megapixel main sensor with OIS, a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 10-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 10-megapixel periscope telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom. [8, 17, 32, 35] This setup provides greater versatility and detail across various zoom levels.
• Low-Light Photography and Video: The Galaxy A35's main camera performs adequately in low-light conditions, with an improved NPU for clearer night photos. [9, 14] It supports video recording up to 4K at 30 frames per second. [11, 18] The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G excels in low-light scenarios, leveraging its larger sensors and advanced processing for superior detail and reduced noise. It is capable of recording video at up to 8K resolution at 24 frames per second, or 4K at 60 frames per second, offering more professional-grade video capabilities. [8, 35]
• Front Camera and Audio: For selfies, the Galaxy A35 has a 13-megapixel front camera that captures natural skin tones. [2, 19] The Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G features a higher-resolution 40-megapixel front camera, providing more detail for selfies and video calls. [8, 35] Both devices include stereo speakers for media consumption, with the S22 Ultra's audio often noted for its richness. [8, 21]