Samsung’s Galaxy S22 better have these upgrades

With its quality specifications and performance, the Samsung Galaxy S21 has earned a place among the best phones of 2021. Now, a year later, the Galaxy S22 series is likely on the horizon, with an Unpacked event scheduled for February 9. (Here is how you can log in to watch the expected Galaxy S22, S22 Plus and S22 Ultra live debut.) Rumors suggest that The Galaxy S22 series can look pretty exciting, but I have my own list of features that I would like to see in the next line of Samsung phones.

The buzz around S22 been flying for a while now, with some anticipated features such as a 200-megapixel image sensor and a smaller display. Find out how the The Galaxy S22 could compare to the Galaxy S21 and the Galaxy S21 FE. We saw glimpses of the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Ultra in various rumors and leaks over the past few months, but we’ll have to wait for the reveal of the phone to determine if the gossip was true.

So here are my top five wishes for the Galaxy S22.

1. The Galaxy S22 needs a better camera

The camera on the S21 Ultra looks great, with impressive optical zoom that lets you get shots few other phones can. But it wasn’t a big upgrade over the S20. Both had 100x zooms, both did 8K video, both had 108-megapixel sensors. The S20 Ultra was the big step forward, the S21 Ultra just refined it slightly. So it’s time for a bigger update, and some early rumors suggest a 200-megapixel sensor and much improved zoom systems on the S22 Ultra.

That would be nice, but more megapixels doesn’t necessarily mean better photos, so I’d also like to see an even larger image sensor – perhaps a 1-inch sensor. It’s no secret that a larger image sensor allows for better dynamic range in a photo. If Samsung paired that resolution with a large sensor capable of capturing tons of light and contrast detail, it could have an absolutely stunning camera system on its hands.

But Samsung also needs to make sure its software is on point. Further advances are needed to enable better computational photography and better raw image capture. Apples ProRaw blew me away: It can capture beautiful HDR images that still give me full control over editing in apps like Adobe Lightroom, just like I would with any raw file from a DSLR. Samsung’s software isn’t quite at that level and I’d like to see more attention here.

2. Samsung, please make the storage expandable to us

Samsung used to let you expand the base storage of its phones with microSD cards, but it removed that option with the S21 line. That means you’re stuck with only the phone’s built-in storage.

This might not be an issue on the lower end models, especially if you don’t shoot a lot of video or play a lot of demanding games, but if you’re into your photos and videos and you have opted for the Ultra model, this basic storage may be limited. If you’re shooting 8K video on the S21 Ultra, you’ll know you can fill that storage up fast – and it’ll go even faster if Samsung brings 200-megapixel stills to the S22. I can’t even begin to imagine the size of these files. The 512GB maximum storage currently available on the S21 Ultra won’t last long.

Even if you’re not into photography, there are plenty of brilliant games in the Google Play Store (such as Asphalt 9: Legends) that are several gigabytes in size and may require you to delete other apps or media in order to to make a piece.

Inserting a microSD card would allow you to dramatically increase the storage to 1TB or more, giving a huge amount of space for all your apps and videos. But then Samsung couldn’t charge you extra for a larger capacity model, so don’t hold your breath for this one.

3. Galaxy S22 should have dedicated AMD graphics

The S21 series already offers superb performance all around, but a partnership between Samsung and graphics chip maker AMD has us hoping for a big leap in graphics power for gaming apps. This partnership actually happened back in 2019, but so far, Samsung has not integrated any type of AMD hardware into its phones.

I’d like to see dedicated AMD graphics on the S22 line that pushes the boundaries of what we expect from mobile gaming. Sure, some phone games already nearly rival the quality you’d expect on older consoles, but if Samsung and AMD could give that processing power a big boost, it could enable a lot more standard console games. to make their way to phones, turning your handset into a capable mobile games console.

4. I want a smaller Galaxy phone

Today’s high-end phones with the best specs are, let’s face it, huge. The S21 Ultra measures a whopping 6.8 inches, while even Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro Max comes in at 6.68 inches. That means if you want the best performance and the best camera, you have to be prepared to stretch those pockets of jeans to accommodate a massive phone slab. And maybe start doing thumb exercises to help them reach the screen.

I’d like to see smaller versions of this phone – 6 inches or less – that don’t require you to compromise on performance. There are rumors suggesting that the base S22 models might get a small reduction in screen size, which is great news if you have smaller hands, but there’s unlikely to be any real downsizing in the top-of-the-line Ultra model. So, again, we’ll likely be in a situation where buying a smaller phone size means missing out on those premium features. Excuse me while I go and sew some expansion panels in my pockets.

5. S22 price should be more affordable

Of course, we all want the best technology and we want it wrapped up in a sleek design, packed with cool new features. But we Also want it to be affordable. It’s a tough combination to pull off, but Samsung has managed to make its S21 range cheaper than the previous S20 series. It had to because the S20 series was not selling well, in part due to financial uncertainty around COVID-19.

Samsung has used a range of tactics to make the S21 range more affordable, including replacing the glass backs of some models with reinforced plastic. And you know what? It worked. It also knocked a decent amount off the asking price. While the base Galaxy S20 went on sale for $1,000, the base S21 marked it down to $800. So I’m looking forward to seeing similar decisions made with the S22 that will allow for a great all-round mobile experience at an affordable price.

So what I’m asking for is an AMD-powered super-powered phone with the best camera in the world that will also fit comfortably in the palm of my hand, at a reasonable price. and allows me to expand storage at a lower cost. That’s not too much to ask, is it, Samsung? Come on, guys, come up.

For more, check out all the rumors we know about the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Ultra until now. You can also check out CNET’s list of best samsung phones to buy right now and how to watch the next Unpacked event.