Samsung Galaxy A22 5G Smartphone Review: Is It Worth Buying?

Galaxy A22 5G Smartphone Review

Samsung recently launched their latest 5G phone, the Galaxy A22 5G, after initially releasing two affordable models in the same category. However, with so many competitors in next-gen mobile connectivity support, 5G smartphone manufacturers are now seeing an increase in their sales, particularly in the Philippine market. And the Samsung A22 is the most affordable model in the A-Series product line.

Since the Samsung Galaxy A22 5G smartphone is marketed as the cheapest option in the mid-range category, the tech giant based in South Korea is now becoming a more popular choice than Chinese smartphones with prices under Php15k.

However, is it worth buying this new smartphone when it comes to features and package inclusions? We’ll dive into detail to find out if the A22 5G is a bang for the buck.

Design & Functionality

The original A-Series smartphones that Samsung launched some years ago featured a unique design with edgy details. Like the M-Series, the Galaxy A22 has an almost similar front design – V-shaped top-notch, slim bezel, and sizable chin. When you flip to the back, it has a matte finish with mint-white color. Aesthetically, the design is pleasing, but it’s vulnerable to stains and scratches.

To keep this Samsung Galaxy A22 5G smartphone looking good as new, it’s important to clean it using a soft cloth regularly. However, I’ve noticed a thin gap between the main body and the back panel, which is odd compared to other 5G smartphones. Another thing I’ve noticed is when you tap the back cover, it slightly contracts inwards. According to the design engineers, this is part of the new Samsung phone design, and it’s nothing to be worried about.

Just like any typical smartphone sold in the Philippines, the Galaxy A22 5G is also made of a plastic frame and back panel. The good news is that the main body features a metallic finish which gives it an overall charming design. Another detail that Samsung kept for this smartphone is the side-mounted key-cum-fingerprint sensor which perfectly aligns with the edge. As I checked it, it provides a fast response and accurate information.

In addition to the powerful fingerprint sensor, the volume rocker on the side gives excellent tactile feedback. Finally, you can find the 3.5mm audio jack, loudspeaker, microphone, and Type C port at the bottom. One important thing I’ve noticed is that the unit doesn’t have an IP rating for water and dust protection. Therefore, this smartphone can be vulnerable to water and dust damage.

FHD+ Resolution and TFT Display

The 6.6-inch FHD+ panel comes with a 90-Hertz refresh rate to provide a seamless display. Unlike the AMOLED and IPS panels, it features a TFT panel that delivers excellent specifications at a more affordable price. In addition, the resolution makes the display sharp and vibrant. While looking at the screen, I immediately notice it’s bright and crisp. However, the Samsung A22 still hasn’t perfected the colors, unlike the AMOLED and IPS panels that look perfect at any viewing angle.

The limited viewing angle of the TFT panel makes the screen appear to be fading when I tilt it on the side. However, for its lower price, I would not mind these drawbacks because the display’s overall quality is good for a 5G smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy A22 5G Unboxing: What’s in the box?

Samsung continues to use a recyclable box and refrains from additional accessories. Things that you do get in the box are:

• Phone
• Wall Charger with cable
• SIM ejector tool
• Quick Setup guide and other documentation

Samsung Galaxy A22 5G Specs

• Android 11, One UI 3.1
• Dual SIM, dual standby
• 6.6-inch FHD+ TFT display
• 90Hz refresh rate
• 2.2GHz MediaTek Dimensity 700 octa-core processor
• 6GB RAM
• Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
• 128GB internal storage, expandable via microSD
• 8-megapixel front camera
• 48-megapixel (f/1.8) + 5-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 2-megapixel (depth sensor) rear cameras, LED flash
• Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
• HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G
• WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
• Bluetooth 5.1
• GPS
• USB Type-C
• Dimensions: 167.2 x 76.4 x 9mm
• Weight: 203g
• Colors: Violet, Mint, White, Gray
• 5,000mAh non-removable battery, 15W fast charging

Galaxy A22 5G Software & Performance

As the first-ever 5G smartphone in Samsung’s A-Series lineup, it’s good to know that it features MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset. Basically, it’s a 7nm node-based system on a chip comprised of six Cortex A55 cores measured at 2.0-Hertz and two Cortex A76 ticking at 2.2-Hertz. It may not be the best chipset, but it can handle up to medium intensity. Moreover, Dimensity 700 can also perform typical daily tasks like using different apps and surfing the internet without any issues. For high-resolution graphics, the Mali-G57 GPU is integrated into the Galaxy A22 5G smartphone.

State of Survival

Galaxy A22 Mobile Gaming – PUBG

To test the actual quality of the graphics, I played some popular mobile games on this phone, such as State of Survival, Need for Speed, PUBG, Mobile Legends and Call of Duty Mobile, while the default resolution was set to medium. In my experience, there were some occasional frame drop or stutter while I was playing. This is perfectly understandable because this is a mid-range smartphone and not a high-end gaming phone. In terms of quality, it’s reliable enough for the price.

Galaxy A22 Mobile Gaming – Need for Speed

Galaxy A22 Mobile Gaming – Mobile Legends

Galaxy A22 Mobile Gaming – Call of Duty Mobile

The Dimensity 700 chipset is combined with up to 128GB eMMC storage so more apps and mobile games can be saved on the phone. I ran the A22 5G on the AndroBench Speed Test, and it scored 68.4mbps for random write and 115.7mbps for the random read. Below are the results using synthetic benchmark tests:

• 558 single-core and 1698 multi-core for Geekbench 5.3
• 21fps for GFXBench 3.1
• 3218 for 3D Mark
• 7221 for PCMark for Android
• 278401 for Antutu

The Samsung A22 5G integrates One UI 3.1 for the software specs. Some of the features it offers include one-handed mode, Edge panels, Game Launcher, Dual Messenger, Quick Share, Theme Store, and Samsung Pay. In addition, the custom UI offers a discover tab and multiple bloatware apps. If you don’t want them, you can delete those apps or turn off the discover tab. Furthermore, Samsung guarantees users software updates for two years and security updates for three years.

This 5G capable smartphone has network capabilities that support 11 bands. Unfortunately, due to the current situation of services in the Philippines, it isn’t easy to accurately test 5G performance. But when it comes to 4G capabilities, it didn’t have any problem connecting with either Smart or Globe. So I can easily make calls from anywhere in the country.

Samsung Galaxy A22 5G Camera Specs

The Samsung Galaxy A22 5G smartphone has three camera lenses: the 48MP wide camera, 5MP ultra-wide camera, and the 2MP macro camera.

In daylight use, the 48MP S5KGM2 sensor with Quad-Bayer arrangement provides quality images. In addition, the 12MP rear camera also gives quality shots through a dynamic range. So when you take photos during the daytime, the photos look bright and sharp. For me, the dynamic range is good enough for this mid-range smartphone.

On the other hand, lowlight conditions may provide different image quality as the images deteriorate during nighttime. The lack of OIS can’t help improve the quality, but you can turn on night mode to get good results. Also, the 5MP ultra-wide sensor doesn’t offer quality results as there are limited details and visible noise. In terms of dynamic range, it’s not really that wide, as the name suggests.

Here are some sample Photos:

More photos:

If you love taking selfies, this smartphone might disappoint you because the 8MP sensor in the front camera doesn’t give sharp results. However, if you don’t mind getting images that lack details and resolution, the A22 5G phone might be okay to use.

Galaxy A22 5G Battery Life

With a 5,000mAh battery capacity, the Samsung A22 delivers excellent performance for long hours. If you don’t use your phone much, battery life can last for up to two days. There’s no need to disable the 90-Hertz refresh rate. However, mileage can be different when using 5G networks since it will consume more battery charge to work fast.

The battery alone is a great advantage, but charging time may take longer hours as well. The charger works slow when you plug it into a 15-watt output. To fully charge this smartphone, it may take two hours or more before it reaches 100%.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for a mid-range smartphone with a 5G network capacity, the Samsung Galaxy A22 5G smartphone can give you a good experience. With its affordable price, it’s unfair to expect too much from this model. With tight competition in the mid-range 5G smartphone device, this model is currently the leading choice in the Philippines.

The 11-band support ensures better coverage no matter where you are in the Philippines. Other 5G smartphones from Chinese brands offer limited band support, making them problematic to use. The excellent features of this model make it worth buying. For instance, the screen quality works best when playing mobile games, using social media apps, and watching movies on Netflix.

The cameras may not provide high-quality results, but they are good enough to be uploaded on Instagram, Facebook, and other social apps. If you want to capture crisp photos, better do it during daytime or anywhere with sufficient lighting. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A22 5G is a good investment for a mid-range smartphone capable of a 5G network connection. My rating is 3.5 stars out of 5 stars for its promising performance and display quality.

Reason’s to buy:

• Excellent battery life.
• One of the better custom UI
• 90Hz screen
• Wide 5G band support

Reason to not buy:

• Slow charging speeds
•  No Free Case