We already have another entry-level Samsung smartphone in our hands-the Samsung Galaxy M22. The M series is Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy range, and the company isn’t done releasing low-cost devices. In addition to the Helio G80 processor, the device has a quad-camera setup, a 90Hz Super AMOLED display, 128GB of storage, and a 5,000mAh battery. 

Design

We couldn’t help but notice that the overall design looks similar to that of other budget phones, such as the 8.4mm thickness and 3D-curved plastic back. It weighs only 186g even with the 5000mah battery, so it has a solid, sturdy build. When pressed, the back doesn’t bend or crack. The back has a nice texture despite being made of polycarbonate plastic, and it has lines that add grip. Each line has a slight curve, and the back has a nice texture that is not prone to smudges. A square-shaped camera module contains four cameras. The camera array is visually appealing, with a small bump outside and a flash in the outer corner. This design gives the device the appearance of a Realme phone. However, it is distinguishable because the module matches the overall color, as does most other Samsung phones these days. While we have the black color, it is also available in white and light blue. 

On the right side of the device, you will find the volume rocker and power button. The power button also acts as a fingerprint scanner. The sim tray is located on the top left side, it has a dual nano sim slot and an expandable slot that can contain up to 1TB. In addition to the secondary microphone at the top, there is a single down-firing speaker, a USB type C port, the main microphone, as well as a 3.5mm jack at the bottom of the device.

Display

Display-wise, the Galaxy M22 has a 6.4-inch HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. While the bezels are adequate, the chin bezel is noticeably thicker than the rest. Using the phone in landscape mode, the Infinity U notch, and the chin bezel can be quite distracting. For Samsung to make a better impression, every smartphone sold for more than P10,000 should come with a punch-hole design, which is the sweet spot between entry-level and mid-range options. Additionally, the display only has HD+ resolution, which leaves a lot to be desired. Although the pixels are compact, the display does not appear soft, and we initially mistook it for being an FHD+ monitor due to the super AMOLED colors. However, when compared to 1080p, there is a clear difference. The positives of having a 90Hz refresh rate and an AMOLED display outweigh the negatives  

As far as quality goes, the colors are good and vibrant, with sharp colors, and it compensates for the smoothness of 90Hz, so even though it’s only 720p, it still provides a satisfying viewing experience. With Samsung phones, it shouldn’t be surprising that it does not have an adaptive refresh rate but can still set the screen colors to vivid and natural for more accurate colors.

Camera 

The Galaxy M22 features a quad camera setup, a 48-megapixel main camera with OIS, an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor, and two 2-megapixel cameras for macro and depth photos. The 13-megapixel front-facing camera can capture 1080p video at 30 frames per second. For us, the Galaxy M22’s biggest drawback is its pro mode reason being that you can’t adjust the shutter speed. Other features useful for everyday photography are panoramas, food, slow motion, and hyperlapse. When it comes to the quality of the main camera, it outputs natural-looking colors with nice contrast. The blacks aren’t deep, but they still have details. It produces natural-looking colors with good contrast. Even at sunset, the white balance detection works well, and the colors are accurate. There are no grains or noise in the dark areas, but we believe the night mode needs to be adjusted since it does not process noise reduction.  

The macro shots are excellent, even with a two-megapixel camera. Despite having a fixed focus, the images were sharp and in focus, and there were no visible grains or noise. 

With the 8MP ultrawide, it achieves excellent ultrawide shots even with a 123-degree field of view while having very little distortion on the edges. There is no color fringing and distortion is only visible near objects. There is no difference in colors between the main cam and the secondary cam, and the white balance detection is also correct.

A 13MP selfie produces flattering images, but with less contrast. This gives the image a dreamy appearance, and the sharpness and blacks are excellent. 

The quality of the camera is quite good for the price. We did not expect the output to be so good

Performance & Battery 

Although it uses the Helio G80 chipset from last year, this device has features that enhance its user experience. Let’s start with the resolution. As mentioned, it has HD+ resolution, which means fewer pixels to process rather than a sharper viewing experience to ensure stable performance.   Its display may not be as impressive as other similarly priced phones, but it still performs well. I have no complaints about the performance and I do not have to worry about other apps closing automatically when I am multitasking. The device supports esports titles like Pubg Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Mobile Legends, and Wildrift at maximum settings. Popular games run smoothly and it’s a good budget gaming phone. Still, well-known games run smoothly, so the phone is a good choice for low-cost or moderate gaming.  

I was surprised at how long the 5000mAh battery lasted. 720p and 5000mAh batteries take about 15 minutes less, which we believe is caused by the 90Hz draining battery power. It’s a good thing it runs a lighter version of the operating system so processes don’t pile up  In terms of charging, the Galaxy M22 can handle 25W of fast charging, and it took about one hour and 23 minutes to fully charge the 5000mAh battery.

“In general, the Galaxy M22’s cameras are outstanding, and it is capable of playing top-quality sports titles. With a price tag of P10,590, it is only 600 pesos more than the entry-level smartphone in the sub-10,000 range, the 128GB storage and 5000mAh battery are additional features that make this phone a worthy buy.” – Geoffrey Techg3

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