It's been a month since I upgraded from the Galaxy S22+ to Samsung's new Galaxy S24+ flagship. I haven't sold the S22+, nor do I intend to. The phone sits on my desk, and I've occasionally gone back to using it briefly to compare things between the old and the new. And I must say, as a now-S24+ user, there are at least two things about the S22+ I'll probably always miss.
Let's get one thing straight from the get-go. The Galaxy S24+ is a superior phone in virtually every aspect, but still, I feel like Samsung's older Galaxy S22+ does a couple of things just right — better than the Galaxy S24+ — at least, for me.
These things are subjective, and your experience could be different. But for what it's worth, here are two things I feel the S22+ does better than the S24+.
The green color is simply the best
The first thing I haven't gotten over yet, and probably never will, is the Galaxy S22 Plus' green color. To me, this shade of green used by the Galaxy S22+ is just perfect. It looks tough, almost military-grade without standing out, but also elegant and can match virtually any style.
Meanwhile, I can't say I dislike the Amber Yellow Galaxy S24+, but I can't say I love it as much as the S22+ green, either. The S24+ color just doesn't speak to me the same way the green Galaxy S22+ did. And I still feel a bit let down by the misrepresentation of the “Amber Yellow” name. The S24+ is anything but that color.
The Galaxy S22+ still feels better in the hand somehow
This is again highly subjective, but from the moment I picked up the Galaxy S24+, it didn't feel as good as the S22+ in my hand. I thought it might be a matter of getting used to the newer phone, but after spending one month with the Galaxy S24+, I am convinced it will never feel as good as the Galaxy S22+.
There's something, or some things, about the Galaxy S22+ that Samsung got just right for my hand size and preferences. Even though we're talking about differences of millimeters or less, the S22+ somehow feels a lot more like a perfectly sized phone. Perfectly weighted and balanced.
I will say I prefer the S24's flat and matte frame from an aesthetic point of view, but I just can't deny that the S22's slightly rounded frame does feel more comfortable.
There's also something positive to be said about the glossy finish of the S22+. I prefer a matte finish, aesthetically speaking, but the glossy frame of the S22+ feels like it has just a little bit of extra grip I don't get from the S24's matte coating.
Finally, I'm not sure if it's because the Galaxy S24+ has a bigger vapor chamber, but in my hand, it feels more top-heavy, which makes it scarier to use one-handed. I feel like it could topple and roll over my hand at any moment. I'm just not as comfortable using the S24+ one-handed as I am with the S22+.
Things I don't miss about the S22+
Now, while it might seem like I'm regretting switching from the S22+ to the S24+, that's far from true. To me, the Galaxy S22+ will probably age better than any other phone I ever owned and left behind — Samsung or otherwise.
Nevertheless, the S24+ is better. It's an absolute beast, and to be fair to it, there are a few things about the S22+ I don't miss. The screen is one. The Galaxy S24+ display is much more satisfying to my eyes, particularly in bright lighting conditions. The brightness is fantastic, and the color accuracy is even better when using my new-favorite “Natural” preset.
The Galaxy S22+ also just can't match the Galaxy S24+ in battery life, and if nothing else, I wouldn't want to use it as my daily driver again for this reason alone. The S24+ is just that much better in comparison.
Last but not least, although I don't have any hate toward the Exynos 2200 chip, I must say 12GB of RAM does make a real difference when it comes to keeping apps open in the background. I don't miss the S22+ 8GB of RAM.
As to what will come of the S22+, I think I'll keep it right here in my drawer, just in case I ever need a temporary replacement for the Galaxy S24+ or a close one needs a decent phone. Or maybe I'll keep it forever purely as an S22+ fan, as it might just be my favorite Galaxy phone of all time, all things considered.
