Galaxy S22 unboxing: unpacking and setting up, first impressions

The Galaxy S22 is the smallest of the three models in Samsung’s lineup at the time. I was excited about the handy smartphone because I had heard a lot of good things about it. Here I unpack it and set it up. This is a first impression, and the detailed hands-on review will follow later. I bought the device myself.

Unboxing: what’s in the box

I’m a big fan of used devices, because you can save a lot of money and they’re often like new. My Galaxy S22 is used, in white, with 128 GB.

In the box are the device, the paperwork with a SIM pin, and a USB-C to USB-C cable. A matching charging adapter is missing. If you want to use the cable for charging, you need an adapter with a USB-C port, which you don’t actually have at home and which is quite expensive. Alternatively, you can use an old USB-C cable.

Specs

	Samsung Galaxy S22
Dimensions	146 × 70.6 × 7.6 mm
Weight	167 g
Display	6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED, 1080 pixels
Glass	Gorilla Glass Victus+ front and back
Frame	polished aluminum frame
Protection	IP68
Processor	Exynos 2200
Battery	3,700 mAh with fast charging
Main camera	50 megapixels
Ultrawide	12 megapixels
Telephoto	10 megapixels
Front camera	10 megapixels
Other features	ultrasonic fingerprint sensor under the display, stereo speakers, no memory card slot

The Exynos 2200 caused many performance problems at launch, especially on the Galaxy S22 Ultra. I hope it works better on the S22 with the updates so far. For fast charging you need at least 25 watts. The power adapter for that is not included.

First impression in the hand

The device sits incredibly well in the hand. It’s light, and the 6.1-inch display is wonderfully handy. I can easily reach the volume rocker and power button with my fairly small hands. That’s a real blessing for me.

Otherwise I’m a big fan of curved displays like on the S22 Ultra. How much I like the flat display here surprises me a lot.

Setup step by step

1. Choose the language (German, Germany) and agree to the end user license agreement. Sending diagnostic data is optional.
2. Confirm permissions: searching for nearby devices, calls with earphones, call logs, calendar, and contacts. You can agree to everything or not.
3. Set up Wi-Fi.
4. Copy apps and data from a previous phone or, like me, set up a completely new device.
5. Sign in to your Google account and agree to the terms of use. You can enable the Google services (backup to Google Drive, location, Wi-Fi scanning, usage data, automatic updates) or not. I agree.
6. Choose a search engine. A few alternatives to Google are suggested, and I stay with Google.
7. Protect the phone: face recognition, fingerprint, pattern, PIN, or password. I take the PIN and set up face recognition. It is considered less secure than a fingerprint or password.
8. Set the device to stay on the lock screen after face recognition until you swipe. That way I can read a notification without landing on the home screen right away.
9. Allow the voice assistant even when the smartphone is locked. I find that very handy in the car, for example.
10. Install suggested apps and sign in to your Samsung account.

Like the S22 Plus and S22 Ultra, the Galaxy S22 comes with Android 12 and One UI 4.0.

First impressions of software and display

I had massive problems with the side panel on the S22 Ultra. It always crashed when I added apps. On the S22, it can be set up completely normally.

The 120 Hz panel provides very smooth scrolling, and I haven’t noticed any stutters so far. After my experiences with the S22 Ultra, that’s an absolute blessing. Apps also open smoothly. A software update is available, with a security patch from April 1, and I install it right away.

I’ll put the device through its paces over the next 14 days. I’m looking forward to it, because it’s been a while since I had a handy smartphone.