The age of 5G is now upon us. As more areas are covered, more 5G-ready smartphones are being introduced in the Philippines. The good thing is that these phones aren’t restricted to the flagship category, as even those who are into mid-range devices can also get a taste of 5G.
Take the Samsung Galaxy A22 5G for example. At PhP 13,990 SRP, it’s approaching the more affordable price range for a mid-range phone. Don’t take it lightly though, as this device has so much to offer.
Specifications
| Galaxy A22 | Galaxy A22 5G | |
| Display | 6.4” HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-U Display | 6.6” FHD+ TFT Infinity-V Display |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 90Hz |
| Processor | MediatTek Helio G80 | MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G |
| RAM | 6GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB |
| Rear Camera | 48MP OIS AF + 8MP (UW) + 2MP (Macro) + 2MP (Depth) | 48MP AF + 5MP (UW) + 2MP (Depth) |
| Front Camera | 13MP | 8MP |
| OS | Android 11 + One UI 3.1 | Android 11 + One UI 3.1 |
| Battery | 5,000mAh (Fast Charging 15W) | 5,000mAh (Fast Charging 15W) |
| SRP | PhP 11,990 SRP | PhP 13,990 SRP |
As you can see, the two variants of the Galaxy A22 mostly share the same specifications, except for the processor, display, camera, and of course, 5G.
Design
The Galaxy A22 5G uses a Glossy rear finish on its back panel with some branding. As for Button Placement, both the power button and volume rocker are on the right side, while the SIM slot is on the left. At the bottom are a USB-C port, a speaker grille, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Contrary to the glossy metallic look that you get on the side for say, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, the Galaxy A22 5G sticks to a matte finish, which also makes it less prone to fingerprints.
Display
The 6.6” Full HD+ display on the Galaxy A22 5G sports a 90Hz refresh rate, which means scrolling through menus, home screens, and other apps is smoother, and more fluid compared to a standard 60Hz screen. For gaming, it depends on whether the title supports it. For the ones that do, including like Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition and Plants vs Zombies 2, guess what, it’s a visual treat.
Unlike the strong and Super AMOLED screen of the 4G variant, the colors on the Galaxy A22 5G are slightly on the colder side. Don’t get me wrong. The screen isn’t bad, but it’s not as good as the one you’ll get on the 4G variant.
Performance
Galaxy A22 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G SoC, which is one of the more usual chips you’ll find in other devices of the same category. It has proven itself to be more than capable enough to handle typical day-to-day tasks with some gaming on the side.
You also get 6GB of RAM, which gives the phone some headroom for multitasking. There’s also 128GB of storage, which is standard for a device in 2021.
Camera
For optics, Galaxy A22 5G has a 48MP main camera, a 5MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. It’s not as flexible as the 4G variant which has a macro camera, but it still takes good quality photos. Look at the samples below.
Normal
Portrait
Ultra-Wide
Selfie
Battery
Both the 4G and 5G variants pack a 5,000mAh battery. While a high refresh rate display usually takes a toll on longevity, the Galaxy A22 5G still managed to score just a little over 12.5 hours in PCMark’s Work 3.0 battery benchmark, which simulates tasks like basic video editing and data manipulation.
Oh, and the test was done with the high-refresh rate of 90Hz enabled, so you can even get more if you lower it to 60Hz.
5G: What’s in it For You?
A compatible device can take advantage of a 5G network in terms of many areas. You’re likely to get better speeds which contribute to the quality of the experience you’re getting. That means consistently high-quality streaming, responsive and lag-free gaming, high-resolution video calling, improved responsiveness due to lower latency, and faster uploads and downloads. Whether you have 5G in your area or not, I think that investing in a 5G-device is worth it, since you’re already future-proofing yourself, and the price difference isn’t that much.
Is there a reason to get the 4G variant?
Of course. If you’re really stuck with that budget, if you really need that Macro camera, or if you just can’t live without a Super AMOLED screen.
Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy A22 5G would also make a good buy for those who want to experience the benefits of 5G without having to spend a ton of money. It also boasts the hardware to deliver good performance for day-to-day tasks since it’s got capable cameras and offers great battery life.
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
