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Samsung is one of the best technology companies in the world. The company has a reputation for innovative, cutting-edge technology, making its products highly sought after. Technology enthusiasts count down the days until Samsung releases its new lineup of flagship mobile devices every year.
In 2022, the standout devices were the Samsung Galaxy S22, released in February, and the Samsung Galaxy Fold, released in August. Both phones have some of the most innovative technologies. However, the uniqueness of the Galaxy Fold makes it stand out and begs the question of whether it is better than the Galaxy S22.
Read on for a review of the Galaxy S22 vs. Galaxy Fold before making your final purchase decision.
Galaxy S22 vs. Galaxy Fold: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Galaxy S22 | Galaxy Fold | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 146 x 70.6 x 7.6mm | Folded: 155.1 x 67.1 x 15.8mm (Hinge side)/ 14.2mm (Sagging side) Unfolded: 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3mm |
| Weight | 167g | 263g |
| Screen Size | 6.1” | Folded: 6.2” Unfolded: 7.6” |
| Screen Type | FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X | Cover Screen: HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Main Screen: QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 |
| Internal Storage | 128GB, 256GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Random Access Memory (RAM) | 8GB | 12GB |
| Operating System | Android 12 | Android 12 |
| Battery | 3700 mAh | 4400 mAh |
Galaxy S22 vs. Galaxy Fold: What’s the Difference?
The Samsung Galaxy S22 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 are some of the best premium smartphones currently on the market. They have superior specifications to most Samsung mobile phones, which makes it challenging for consumers to choose one over the other.
Both devices come in a box containing the respective devices, a quick start guide, a power cable, and an ejection pin. However, you have to buy the Samsung power adapter separately. Below is a technical review of the Galaxy S22 vs. Galaxy Fold.
Design
The most distinct difference between the Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy Fold is their designs. The Galaxy S22 is a traditional smartphone with only one screen. On the other hand, the Galaxy Fold has two screens.
The first screen on the Galaxy Fold is the cover screen users see when they fold the phone. The other screen is the rectangular main screen which is visible when you unfold the device. The Galaxy Fold also has a hinge that connects the device’s two sections.
- 8K steady video
- 48-120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate
- 50MP wide rear camera
- Screen optimizes color and brightness, outdoors and indoors
- 3,700mAh (25W Charging)
The Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Fold are available in different colors. The Galaxy S22’s basic colors are bora purple, phantom white, phantom black, pink gold, and green, while the online exclusive colors are cream, sky blue, violet, and graphite.
On the other hand, the Galaxy Fold is available in the following basic colors: graygreen, phantom black, and beige, or the exclusive burgundy color.
Consumers should note that their region or country and choice of carrier can influence a color’s availability. In addition, online exclusive colors require unique production, meaning you might have to wait three to four weeks after ordering to receive your device.
Dimension and Weight
At first glance, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is larger than the Galaxy S22. In addition, when you hold both devices, you notice the Galaxy Fold is heavier than the Galaxy S22. The dimensions of the Galaxy S22 are 146 x 70.6 x 7.6mm.
On the other hand, when folded, the Galaxy Fold measures 155.1mm high by 67.1mm long, the hinged side of the fold measures 15.8mm wide, and the unhinged or sagging side of the device measures 14.2mm wide.
When unfolded, the Galaxy Fold measures 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3mm. Therefore, the Galaxy Fold becomes considerably thinner when unfolded, while its length almost doubles to reveal a rectangular display.
The Galaxy Fold is undoubtedly heavier than the Galaxy S22, given their size discrepancies. The Galaxy Fold weighs 263g, while the S22 weighs 167g. The Galaxy S22 has a mmWave model that weighs 168g. Ultimately, the Galaxy Fold can feel slightly bulky for many consumers and disrupt comfort.
Screen Size and Resolution
A device’s screen size and resolution significantly influence a person’s viewing and user experience. Thus, you need to be keen before settling on a device you will own for a year or longer. The Galaxy S22 has a curved screen that measures 6.1” as a rectangle and 5.9” when considering the rounded corners.
Conversely, the Galaxy Fold’s cover screen measures 6.2” as a full rectangle and 6.1” when accounting for the rounded corners. In contrast, its main screen measures 7.6” as a full rectangle and 7.4” when considering the rounded corners. However, the viewing area in both devices is even smaller because of the camera and rounded corners.
A device’s screen resolution determines the number of pixels its screen can display, which affects image quality. The Galaxy S22 has an FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O display with a 2340 x 1080 resolution, while the Galaxy Fold HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X cover screen has a 2316 x 904 resolution. Moreover, the Galaxy Fold’s QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X main screen has a 2176 x 1812 resolution.
This means the Galaxy Fold’s main screen has the best screen resolution of the three screens, with the Fold’s cover screen having the worst screen resolution. However, the Galaxy S22’s screen and the Galaxy Fold’s cover screen make up for having lower screen resolutions by having a better pixel density than the Galaxy Fold’s main screen.
- Take notes while on a conference call or watching a video
- Hands-free video chat allows you to multitask
- Open multiple windows when working
- Customize how apps display on your phone
Pixel density entails screen resolution denoted as the number of pixels per inch (PPI) on a screen. A higher pixel density improves image sharpness and clarity. The Galaxy S22’s screen has a 425 PPI, the Galaxy Fold’s cover screen has a 402 PPI, and its main screen has a 374 PPI.
The screens on both devices also have a refresh rate of 120Hz, guaranteeing consistent viewing. The Galaxy S22 screen is not compatible with stylus pens, unlike the Galaxy Fold. However, the Galaxy Fold is only compatible with the Samsung S pen Fold Edition.
Using other S pens or stylus pens made by other manufacturers will not work on the Galaxy Fold and might damage the screen. Consumers should know Samsung sells the S Pen Fold Edition separately from the device and that the Galaxy Fold does not have a stylus pen slot.
Processor
The Samsung Galaxy S22 runs on a 4 nm 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. On the other hand, the Galaxy Fold uses the newer 4 nm 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. The Galaxy S22 has two processor options depending on a consumer’s region or country.
You can get a processor with 1×2.80GHz + 3×2.5GHz + 4×1.8GHz cores or 1×2.99GHz + 3×2.4GHz + 1.7GHz cores. However, there is only one processor option for all Galaxy Fold devices globally in the following arrangement: 1×3.18GHz + 3×2.7GHz + 4×2.0GHz.
Overall, the high CPU processing speeds and the number of processor cores ensure both devices execute user commands quickly and efficiently, resulting in a reliable and seamless performance.
Storage
The Samsung Galaxy S22 has a RAM of 8GB, while the Samsung Galaxy Fold has 12GB RAM. It means the Galaxy Fold can launch applications faster than the S22 and ensure quick transitions between applications.
In addition, the Galaxy S22 offers two internal storage (ROM) options, while the Galaxy Fold offers three. You can buy an S22 with 128GB or 256 GB ROM or a Galaxy Fold with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB ROM. Neither phone has an external memory card slot. Users should note that the available memory is lower than advertised because of pre-installed applications.
For example, the 128GB Galaxy S22 only has 100.1GB of available storage space, while the 256GB Galaxy Fold only has 216.3GB of storage space. Lastly, buyers will not find the 1TB Galaxy Fold option at their retail or electronic stores because it is only available on the Samsung website.
Cameras
The Galaxy S22 has four cameras: one front-facing camera and three rear cameras. The front camera is a 10-megapixel (MP) autofocus (AF) camera. It has a field of view (FOV) of 80° and can shoot 4K videos at 30 and 60 frames per second (fps) or 1080p videos at 30fps.
The rear cameras on an S22 include a 12MP ultra wide-angle camera, a 50MP wide-angle camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera. The FOVs on the 12MP, 50MP, and 10MP cameras are 120°, 85°, and 36° respectively. The 50MP camera also has AF and optical image stabilization (OIS).
Together, the S22 rear cameras have 3x Optical Zoom and Super Resolution Zoom of up to 30x. In addition, they can shoot 8K video at 24fps, 4K video at 60 fps, 1080p video at 60 fps, and 720p video at 30fps. You can also shoot videos at varying speeds, including:
- Super Steady video at 1080p and 60fps,
- Super Slow-mo video at 720p and 960fps,
- Slow Motion video at 1080p and 240fps,
- Hyperlapse 4K video at 30fps.
On the other hand, the Galaxy Fold has five cameras: one cover screen camera, one front-facing camera, and three rear cameras. The cover camera is 10MP and has a FOV of 85°, while the front camera is 4MP and has a FOV of 80°.
Both cameras can record 4K and 1080p video at 30fps and 60fps. The Galaxy Fold’s rear cameras include a 12MP ultra wide-angle camera, a 50MP wide-angle camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera with FOVs of 123°, 85°, and 36°, respectively. Like the S22, the Galaxy Fold’s rear cameras also have 3x Optical Zoom and Super Resolution Zoom of up to 30x.
The Galaxy Fold shoots 8K video at 24fps, 4K video at 30fps and 60fps, 1080p video at 30fps and 60fps, and 720p video at 30 fps. Their shooting speeds are as follows:
- Super Steady 1080p video at 30fps and 60fps,
- Super Slow-mo 720p video at 960fps,
- Slow motion 1080p video at 240fps,
- Hyperlapse 4K video at 30fps.
Battery Life and Charging
The Samsung Galaxy S22 has a standard battery capacity of 3700mAh and a minimum rated capacity of 3590mAh. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Fold has a standard battery capacity of 4400mAh and a minimum rated capacity of 4275mAh.
Both devices offer enough battery power to last most of the day during intensive use. See the table below for more information on the charge durability of the Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy Fold.
| Galaxy S22 | Galaxy Fold | |
|---|---|---|
| Internet use on a 4G network | Up to 14 hours | Up to 16 hours |
| Internet use on a Wi-Fi network | Up to 15 hours | Up to 16 hours |
| Watching videos | Up to 18 hours | Up to 20 hours |
| Listening to audios | Up to 54 hours | Up to 72 hours |
| Talk time | Up to 29 hours | Up to 39 hours |
The Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy Fold offer two charging options namely super fast charging and fast wireless charging. Samsung recommends using a genuine Samsung 25W power adapter when super fast charging either device.
Alternatively, the company suggests using a Super Fast Wireless Charger or a Super Fast Wireless Charger Duo rated at 15W or more for fast wireless charging.
Both devices have Wireless PowerShare, which allows users to charge other smartphones with Qi wireless charging. However, reverse wireless charging works best if your device has more than 30% charge.
SIM Card
The Galaxy S22 has a single SIM and a dual SIM model, while the Galaxy Fold is only available in dual SIM. The single SIM in the Galaxy S22 is a nano SIM card sold by mobile carriers. Both phones have three double SIM options, namely:
- One nano SIM and one embedded SIM (eSIM),
- Two nano SIMs and one eSIM,
- Two nano SIMs.
The availability of eSIMs depends on a user’s country, their mobile carrier, and whether they have updated their phone’s software.
Price
The last segment of our Samsung S22 vs. Galaxy Fold review entails comparing their market prices. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is substantially more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy S22. That is because the Fold has superior specifications and features to the S22.
Samsung also released the Fold six months after the S22, influencing pricing. Internal storage space is another factor that significantly influences pricing. The higher the storage space, the higher the pricing. Below are the prices for each Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Fold model according to the Samsung website.
| Galaxy S22 | Galaxy Fold | |
|---|---|---|
| 128 GB | $514.99 | – |
| 256 GB | $564.99 | $1,099.99 |
| 512 GB | – | $1219.99 |
| 1 TB | – | $1459.99 |
Galaxy S22 vs. Galaxy Fold: 5 Must-Know Facts
- The Samsung Galaxy S22 has an ingress protection (IP) rating of IP68, meaning it is dust resistant and can survive a 30-minute submersion in 1.5 meters of freshwater.
- The Samsung Galaxy Fold has an IP rating of IPX8, meaning it has no dust resistance but can survive a 30-minute submersion in 1.5 meters of freshwater.
- The Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Fold have Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus screens and Armor aluminum bodies to enhance durability.
- The screens on both devices support HDR10, which improves image contrast and color.
- Neither device has a 3.5mm audio jack port.
Galaxy S22 vs. Galaxy Fold: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?
The Samsung Galaxy Fold is undoubtedly the better mobile device. The Fold has better specifications than the S22 in most categories addressed in this article. For instance, the Galaxy Fold has more RAM and ROM memory than the Galaxy S22.
Moreover, the Galaxy Fold has a larger screen than the S22, a larger battery capacity, and better video recording capabilities. However, the Galaxy Fold is significantly pricier than the Galaxy S22 putting it out of the economic reach of most consumers.
Ultimately, you should use the Samsung Galaxy Fold, given the option to choose between the two smartphones.
