OPPO Reno 7 Pro Review: Old wine in a new bottle

The OPPO Reno 5 Pro was one of my favorite smartphones from the brand in 2021. It offered powerful hardware, a gorgeous display, and an attractive design — all at a price point that was rather aggressive by OPPO’s standards. Later that year, OPPO also launched the Reno 6 Pro which I called a renovated version of its predecessor. This was because the Reno 6 Pro brought about iterative upgrades that didn’t make a lot of difference.

About 6 months later, we now have the OPPO Reno 7 Pro following the exact same philosophy. Yes, there’s a shiny new design with flat edges because that’s the new trend in the Android world. But apart from that, there’s not a lot that has changed with the Reno 7 Pro. At its heart, it’s still a Reno 6 Pro just repackaged into a newer chassis with some minor changes. That’s not something that concerns the end-consumer, though. What’s important is to know whether or not you should get the OPPO Reno7 Pro and that’s what I aim to do with this review.

OPPO Reno 7 series: Specifications

Specification	OPPO Reno 7 Pro	OPPO Reno 7 5G
Dimensions & Weight	158.2 x 73.2 x 7.5mm 180g	156.8 x 72.1 x 7.8 mm 173g
Display	6.55-inch AMOLED FHD+ (1080 x 2400) 90Hz refresh rate 180Hz touch sampling rate HDR10+ support 99.94% DCI-P3 coverage 920nit peak brightness	6.43-inch AMOLED FHD+ (1080 x 2400) 90Hz refresh rate 180Hz touch sampling rate HDR10+ support DCI-P3 wide color gamut 800nit peak brightness
SoC	MediaTek 1200-MAX Octa-core (up to 3.0GHz) ARM G77 MC9 GPU	Mediatek Dimensity 900 2x ARM Cortex-A78 @up to 2.4GHz 6x ARM Cortex-A55 @up to 2GHz ARM Mali-G68 MC4 GPU TSMC 6nm process
RAM & Storage	12GB RAM 256GB UFS 3.1 storage	8GB RAM 256GB UFS 2..2 storage
Battery & Charging	4,500mAh battery 65W fast charging	4,500mAh battery 65W fast charging
Security	In-display fingerprint scanner	In-display fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP Sony IMX766 main camera Secondary: 8MP f/2.2, ultra-wide Tertiary: 2MP macro	Primary: 64MP f/1.7 main camera Secondary: 8MP f/2.2, ultra-wide Tertiary: 2MP macro
Front Camera(s)	32MP f/2.2	32MP f/2.2
Port(s)	USB Type-C	USB Type-C 3.5mm audio jack
Connectivity	5G NR NFC Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 USB Type C	5G NR NFC Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 USB Type C
Software	Android 11 with ColorOS 12	Android 11 with ColorOS 12

About this review: OPPO India sent us the OPPO Reno 7 Pro and the device was used for a period of ten days before writing this review. OPPO did not have any input into the contents of this review.

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Design

OPPO has done a great job at making the phone look and feel fantastic

Most of OPPO’s smartphones score high in terms of design and the Reno 7 Pro is no different. The Reno 6 Pro had a curved display that merged into a back that was also curved in a similar fashion. This made the phone look sleek and comfortable to hold. This time around, OPPO has opted to go with flat edges on the Reno 7 Pro inspired by we all know whom. While the design isn’t unique, OPPO has done a great job at making the phone look and feel fantastic.

The Reno 7 Pro is the best-feeling flat-edged Android phone right now

Several OEMs have adopted the flat-edge design lately but I feel OPPO has nailed it on the Reno 7 Pro. The phone isn’t too large which makes it easier to hold and the chamfered edges aren’t sharp so they don’t bite into your palm. The metallic chassis feels premium and can stand on its own when kept on a flat surface. Of course, OPPO has also flattened out the back and the front of the phone to match the overall aesthetic. I really like the way the OPPO Reno 7 Pro looks. The weight management has also been done in a way that the phone feels light when you’re using it for extended hours. The Reno 7 Pro is the best-feeling flat-edged Android phone right now.

The glass back is pretty generic since we’ve seen a similar design on previous devices in the Reno series. Nothing special here. What is special though is the illuminating ring around the camera module. It’s neatly tucked around the perimeter of the camera module and glows each time you receive a notification or when you’re charging the device. If you remember a few years back, notification LEDs were common on the front of smartphones but were soon phased out due to increasing display sizes leading to a lack of space and an abundance of excuses.

This ring brings back that feature that too in an elegant manner. Since the LED is on the back, though, you’ll have to place your phone face down in order to see it clearly. If you’re using the case provided in the box, you can still see a hint of the illumination on the top edge of the phone since the case diffuses the LED. Some might find it gimmicky but I personally liked having this LED. This is probably the only department where OPPO has done something new.

Display

As mentioned earlier, the display too has been flattened out on the Reno 7 Pro along with the frame and the back. The Reno 6 Pro had curved edges on either side of the display which I’m personally a fan of. I know a lot of people don’t like curved displays due to various reasons but I like the aesthetic of a display that just flows into the frame of the phone. However, that’s now gone and what you get is a flat display with a hole-punch cutout on the top-left corner.

It is still an AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, just like the one on the Reno 6 Pro. The colors are excellent and the viewing experience is right up there with other premium phones with OLED displays. The 6.55-inch display is relatively handy so the phone doesn’t feel too large to hold or use. One gripe that some people may have with this display is that the refresh rate is capped at 90Hz while competitors are offering 120Hz displays in this price range.

Personally, I can’t tell the difference between a 90Hz display and a 120Hz display so this didn’t bother me too much. If you’re someone who can tell the two apart or you just want a higher refresh rate for bragging rights, this is one aspect that can bother you. There’s an in-display fingerprint scanner on the phone for biometrics which is both fast and accurate. There’s HDR 10+ support on the phone so if you watch a lot of content on OTT platforms, you’re going to have a pleasing experience. And yes, OPPO has finally given us a stereo speaker setup that further enhances the media-watching experience.

Like the flat edges on this phone, I dig the flat display as well purely because of the way it looks. OPPO has kept the bezels around the display to a minimum which actually makes a big difference when viewing the front of the device. Despite being a fan of curved displays, I prefer the flat design on the Reno 7 Pro. This phone is a looker from the front.

Performance and Software

There’s not a lot for me to talk about here since the OPPO Reno 7 Pro uses the same Dimensity 1200 chipset that was found on the Reno 6 Pro. OPPO mentions that the Reno 7 Pro uses the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 Max SoC that has been co-developed with OPPO. However, there’s no difference in the way the CPU or GPU functions, and the clock speeds of this CPU are also the same. The only difference as a result of this collaboration between MediaTek and OPPO is that the Reno 7 Pro shows better visuals on the display compared to its predecessor, or at least that’s what OPPO is claiming.

The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 is a proven performer

In real life, I couldn’t find any apparent differences or factors that made me feel like the Max variant of the chipset is making an impact. However, the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 is a proven performer. The Reno 7 Pro had no issues running all sorts of apps and games that you use regularly. It feels like a flagship phone in terms of performance which is what you expect from a phone that costs ₹40,000 (~$530). For those wondering, BGMI can be played at 60fps without any issues for the most part. I did notice some lags occasionally especially during hot drops. If you play heavier games like Genshin Impact, you will see some frame drops from time to time.

A newer chipset would have made the upgrade from the Reno 6 Pro feel more substantial

I would’ve liked to see a newer chipset though since the Dimensity 1200 is last year’s SoC, albeit great in its own way. A newer chipset would have made the upgrade from the Reno 6 Pro feel more substantial in my opinion. Nonetheless, you will not have any issues with performance on the OPPO Reno 7 Pro. Just like every OPPO phone, you get ColorOS 12 out of the box which is, unfortunately, still running on Android 11. Old chipset, old software. It works, but a successor needs to have newer elements apart from a refreshed design.

ColorOS 12 runs well on the device, though, and I didn’t face any lags or hiccups throughout my usage. You get the usual set of features like dual apps, game mode, resizable multi-window, and a bunch of themes to choose from. If you like using a custom UI that gives you tons of features, you will feel right at home using ColorOS. If you want a simple UI that’s closer to AOSP, you will need some time to get used to the interface.

Cameras

Let me get straight to the point. The 50MP primary camera on the Reno 7 Pro clicks pictures that are pleasing to look at in most lighting conditions. In daylight, the colors look great and so does the dynamic range. The natural bokeh when clicking close-up shots also looks attractive. Shots tend to be slightly on the cooler side which some people may prefer, especially if you like photos with higher contrast levels. Even in low-light situations, the phone can capture good shots with the in-built Night Mode. There is a noticeable loss in the levels of details and the white balance can get slightly messed up, but I would say OPPO has done a good job with the primary camera on the Reno 7 Pro.

The Reno 7 Pro clicks pictures that are pleasing to look at in most lighting conditions

The ultra-wide camera can’t match the performance of the primary camera and is a let-down. An 8MP sensor at this price seems like a cost-cutting measure. The details are lacking and the colors seem dull compared to the primary camera. The third shooter on the back is a 2MP macro camera that’s also quite pointless.

What’s good though is the 32MP selfie shooter. Selfies look crisp with saturated colors and impressive dynamic range. Skin tones are slightly off as it tends to brighten the face a little, but nothing too drastic. Edge detection in portrait mode also looks great. If you take a lot of selfies or you make short-form content for social media, you will like the front-facing shooter on the OPPO Reno 7 Pro.

Battery and Charging

There’s a 4,500mAh cell on the Reno 7 Pro that did not have any issues powering through an entire day’s use of social media apps, browsing, clicking some photos, a 20-minute video call on Google Duo, and binge-watching a few episodes of Shark Tank India. I ended most days with 6-6.5 hours of screen-on time which I think is adequate. The phone is slim and light but doesn’t compromise battery life.

The phone is slim and light but doesn't compromise battery life

For times when you are running out of juice, the Reno 7 Pro charges at 65W via the charger provided in the box. It generally took me about 35 minutes to go from 5% to 100% which is surely impressive. Once again, these results are exactly similar to what we saw on the Reno 6 Pro. No change at all.

Should you buy the OPPO Reno 7 Pro?

I chose this particular title for a reason. The OPPO Reno 7 Pro is essentially a Reno 6 Pro repackaged in a new chassis with some minor improvements. Remember how at the end of each episode of Scooby-Doo, they would remove the mask from the bad guy’s head and it would turn out to be someone they already knew? The Reno 7 Pro is exactly that. Remove the flat edges and display, and you have a Reno 6 Pro right there.

For a starting price of ₹40,000 (~$530), the OPPO Reno 7 Pro doesn’t offer the best value unless a good-looking phone is on top of your priority list. The Reno 7 Pro has a beautiful design, a great display with slim bezels, solid performance, reliable cameras, good battery life, and fast charging. You see, it’s a perfectly good phone. However, there’s nothing really that justifies that asking price especially when you factor in the older chipset that was found on the previous-gen Reno 6 and the fact that the phone still runs on Android 11. OPPO’s track record with updates isn’t exactly stellar either which makes matters worse.

OPPO Reno 7 Pro

The Reno 7 Pro is the latest phone in the Reno series that comes with a refreshed design.

Features:

Pros: Cons:

View at Flipkart

Unless you’re really impressed with that design, there are better phones in the market at this price range. The OPPO Reno 5 Pro was launched at an aggressive price of ₹34,999 and if they could match that with the Reno 7 Pro, which I’m sure they very well could since they’re using older hardware, my verdict would have been different.

The post OPPO Reno 7 Pro Review: Old wine in a new bottle appeared first on xda-developers.

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OPPO Reno 7 Pro Review: Old wine in a new bottle

The OPPO Reno 5 Pro was one of my favorite smartphones from the brand in 2021. It offered powerful hardware, a gorgeous display, and an attractive design — all at a price point that was rather aggressive by OPPO’s standards. Later that year, OPPO also launched the Reno 6 Pro which I called a renovated version of its predecessor. This was because the Reno 6 Pro brought about iterative upgrades that didn’t make a lot of difference.

About 6 months later, we now have the OPPO Reno 7 Pro following the exact same philosophy. Yes, there’s a shiny new design with flat edges because that’s the new trend in the Android world. But apart from that, there’s not a lot that has changed with the Reno 7 Pro. At its heart, it’s still a Reno 6 Pro just repackaged into a newer chassis with some minor changes. That’s not something that concerns the end-consumer, though. What’s important is to know whether or not you should get the OPPO Reno7 Pro and that’s what I aim to do with this review.

OPPO Reno 7 series: Specifications

Specification	OPPO Reno 7 Pro	OPPO Reno 7 5G
Dimensions & Weight	158.2 x 73.2 x 7.5mm 180g	156.8 x 72.1 x 7.8 mm 173g
Display	6.55-inch AMOLED FHD+ (1080 x 2400) 90Hz refresh rate 180Hz touch sampling rate HDR10+ support 99.94% DCI-P3 coverage 920nit peak brightness	6.43-inch AMOLED FHD+ (1080 x 2400) 90Hz refresh rate 180Hz touch sampling rate HDR10+ support DCI-P3 wide color gamut 800nit peak brightness
SoC	MediaTek 1200-MAX Octa-core (up to 3.0GHz) ARM G77 MC9 GPU	Mediatek Dimensity 900 2x ARM Cortex-A78 @up to 2.4GHz 6x ARM Cortex-A55 @up to 2GHz ARM Mali-G68 MC4 GPU TSMC 6nm process
RAM & Storage	12GB RAM 256GB UFS 3.1 storage	8GB RAM 256GB UFS 2..2 storage
Battery & Charging	4,500mAh battery 65W fast charging	4,500mAh battery 65W fast charging
Security	In-display fingerprint scanner	In-display fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP Sony IMX766 main camera Secondary: 8MP f/2.2, ultra-wide Tertiary: 2MP macro	Primary: 64MP f/1.7 main camera Secondary: 8MP f/2.2, ultra-wide Tertiary: 2MP macro
Front Camera(s)	32MP f/2.2	32MP f/2.2
Port(s)	USB Type-C	USB Type-C 3.5mm audio jack
Connectivity	5G NR NFC Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 USB Type C	5G NR NFC Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 USB Type C
Software	Android 11 with ColorOS 12	Android 11 with ColorOS 12

About this review: OPPO India sent us the OPPO Reno 7 Pro and the device was used for a period of ten days before writing this review. OPPO did not have any input into the contents of this review.

---

Design

OPPO has done a great job at making the phone look and feel fantastic

Most of OPPO’s smartphones score high in terms of design and the Reno 7 Pro is no different. The Reno 6 Pro had a curved display that merged into a back that was also curved in a similar fashion. This made the phone look sleek and comfortable to hold. This time around, OPPO has opted to go with flat edges on the Reno 7 Pro inspired by we all know whom. While the design isn’t unique, OPPO has done a great job at making the phone look and feel fantastic.

The Reno 7 Pro is the best-feeling flat-edged Android phone right now

Several OEMs have adopted the flat-edge design lately but I feel OPPO has nailed it on the Reno 7 Pro. The phone isn’t too large which makes it easier to hold and the chamfered edges aren’t sharp so they don’t bite into your palm. The metallic chassis feels premium and can stand on its own when kept on a flat surface. Of course, OPPO has also flattened out the back and the front of the phone to match the overall aesthetic. I really like the way the OPPO Reno 7 Pro looks. The weight management has also been done in a way that the phone feels light when you’re using it for extended hours. The Reno 7 Pro is the best-feeling flat-edged Android phone right now.

The glass back is pretty generic since we’ve seen a similar design on previous devices in the Reno series. Nothing special here. What is special though is the illuminating ring around the camera module. It’s neatly tucked around the perimeter of the camera module and glows each time you receive a notification or when you’re charging the device. If you remember a few years back, notification LEDs were common on the front of smartphones but were soon phased out due to increasing display sizes leading to a lack of space and an abundance of excuses.

This ring brings back that feature that too in an elegant manner. Since the LED is on the back, though, you’ll have to place your phone face down in order to see it clearly. If you’re using the case provided in the box, you can still see a hint of the illumination on the top edge of the phone since the case diffuses the LED. Some might find it gimmicky but I personally liked having this LED. This is probably the only department where OPPO has done something new.

Display

As mentioned earlier, the display too has been flattened out on the Reno 7 Pro along with the frame and the back. The Reno 6 Pro had curved edges on either side of the display which I’m personally a fan of. I know a lot of people don’t like curved displays due to various reasons but I like the aesthetic of a display that just flows into the frame of the phone. However, that’s now gone and what you get is a flat display with a hole-punch cutout on the top-left corner.

It is still an AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, just like the one on the Reno 6 Pro. The colors are excellent and the viewing experience is right up there with other premium phones with OLED displays. The 6.55-inch display is relatively handy so the phone doesn’t feel too large to hold or use. One gripe that some people may have with this display is that the refresh rate is capped at 90Hz while competitors are offering 120Hz displays in this price range.

Personally, I can’t tell the difference between a 90Hz display and a 120Hz display so this didn’t bother me too much. If you’re someone who can tell the two apart or you just want a higher refresh rate for bragging rights, this is one aspect that can bother you. There’s an in-display fingerprint scanner on the phone for biometrics which is both fast and accurate. There’s HDR 10+ support on the phone so if you watch a lot of content on OTT platforms, you’re going to have a pleasing experience. And yes, OPPO has finally given us a stereo speaker setup that further enhances the media-watching experience.

Like the flat edges on this phone, I dig the flat display as well purely because of the way it looks. OPPO has kept the bezels around the display to a minimum which actually makes a big difference when viewing the front of the device. Despite being a fan of curved displays, I prefer the flat design on the Reno 7 Pro. This phone is a looker from the front.

Performance and Software

There’s not a lot for me to talk about here since the OPPO Reno 7 Pro uses the same Dimensity 1200 chipset that was found on the Reno 6 Pro. OPPO mentions that the Reno 7 Pro uses the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 Max SoC that has been co-developed with OPPO. However, there’s no difference in the way the CPU or GPU functions, and the clock speeds of this CPU are also the same. The only difference as a result of this collaboration between MediaTek and OPPO is that the Reno 7 Pro shows better visuals on the display compared to its predecessor, or at least that’s what OPPO is claiming.

The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 is a proven performer

In real life, I couldn’t find any apparent differences or factors that made me feel like the Max variant of the chipset is making an impact. However, the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 is a proven performer. The Reno 7 Pro had no issues running all sorts of apps and games that you use regularly. It feels like a flagship phone in terms of performance which is what you expect from a phone that costs ₹40,000 (~$530). For those wondering, BGMI can be played at 60fps without any issues for the most part. I did notice some lags occasionally especially during hot drops. If you play heavier games like Genshin Impact, you will see some frame drops from time to time.

A newer chipset would have made the upgrade from the Reno 6 Pro feel more substantial

I would’ve liked to see a newer chipset though since the Dimensity 1200 is last year’s SoC, albeit great in its own way. A newer chipset would have made the upgrade from the Reno 6 Pro feel more substantial in my opinion. Nonetheless, you will not have any issues with performance on the OPPO Reno 7 Pro. Just like every OPPO phone, you get ColorOS 12 out of the box which is, unfortunately, still running on Android 11. Old chipset, old software. It works, but a successor needs to have newer elements apart from a refreshed design.

ColorOS 12 runs well on the device, though, and I didn’t face any lags or hiccups throughout my usage. You get the usual set of features like dual apps, game mode, resizable multi-window, and a bunch of themes to choose from. If you like using a custom UI that gives you tons of features, you will feel right at home using ColorOS. If you want a simple UI that’s closer to AOSP, you will need some time to get used to the interface.

Cameras

Let me get straight to the point. The 50MP primary camera on the Reno 7 Pro clicks pictures that are pleasing to look at in most lighting conditions. In daylight, the colors look great and so does the dynamic range. The natural bokeh when clicking close-up shots also looks attractive. Shots tend to be slightly on the cooler side which some people may prefer, especially if you like photos with higher contrast levels. Even in low-light situations, the phone can capture good shots with the in-built Night Mode. There is a noticeable loss in the levels of details and the white balance can get slightly messed up, but I would say OPPO has done a good job with the primary camera on the Reno 7 Pro.

The Reno 7 Pro clicks pictures that are pleasing to look at in most lighting conditions

The ultra-wide camera can’t match the performance of the primary camera and is a let-down. An 8MP sensor at this price seems like a cost-cutting measure. The details are lacking and the colors seem dull compared to the primary camera. The third shooter on the back is a 2MP macro camera that’s also quite pointless.

What’s good though is the 32MP selfie shooter. Selfies look crisp with saturated colors and impressive dynamic range. Skin tones are slightly off as it tends to brighten the face a little, but nothing too drastic. Edge detection in portrait mode also looks great. If you take a lot of selfies or you make short-form content for social media, you will like the front-facing shooter on the OPPO Reno 7 Pro.

Battery and Charging

There’s a 4,500mAh cell on the Reno 7 Pro that did not have any issues powering through an entire day’s use of social media apps, browsing, clicking some photos, a 20-minute video call on Google Duo, and binge-watching a few episodes of Shark Tank India. I ended most days with 6-6.5 hours of screen-on time which I think is adequate. The phone is slim and light but doesn’t compromise battery life.

The phone is slim and light but doesn't compromise battery life

For times when you are running out of juice, the Reno 7 Pro charges at 65W via the charger provided in the box. It generally took me about 35 minutes to go from 5% to 100% which is surely impressive. Once again, these results are exactly similar to what we saw on the Reno 6 Pro. No change at all.

Should you buy the OPPO Reno 7 Pro?

I chose this particular title for a reason. The OPPO Reno 7 Pro is essentially a Reno 6 Pro repackaged in a new chassis with some minor improvements. Remember how at the end of each episode of Scooby-Doo, they would remove the mask from the bad guy’s head and it would turn out to be someone they already knew? The Reno 7 Pro is exactly that. Remove the flat edges and display, and you have a Reno 6 Pro right there.

For a starting price of ₹40,000 (~$530), the OPPO Reno 7 Pro doesn’t offer the best value unless a good-looking phone is on top of your priority list. The Reno 7 Pro has a beautiful design, a great display with slim bezels, solid performance, reliable cameras, good battery life, and fast charging. You see, it’s a perfectly good phone. However, there’s nothing really that justifies that asking price especially when you factor in the older chipset that was found on the previous-gen Reno 6 and the fact that the phone still runs on Android 11. OPPO’s track record with updates isn’t exactly stellar either which makes matters worse.

OPPO Reno 7 Pro

The Reno 7 Pro is the latest phone in the Reno series that comes with a refreshed design.

Features:

Pros: Cons:

View at Flipkart

Unless you’re really impressed with that design, there are better phones in the market at this price range. The OPPO Reno 5 Pro was launched at an aggressive price of ₹34,999 and if they could match that with the Reno 7 Pro, which I’m sure they very well could since they’re using older hardware, my verdict would have been different.

The post OPPO Reno 7 Pro Review: Old wine in a new bottle appeared first on xda-developers.

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Do the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus support the S Pen?

For years, the S Pen was the key feature of Samsung’s Galaxy Note series of smartphones, and it was the whole reason behind the Note name. But in 2021, Samsung discontinued the Galaxy Note series, and instead, we got S Pen support in the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but it was half-baked. With the Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung is finally building the S Pen back into the phone, but does the Galaxy S22 series also support it?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. The standard Samsung Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S22 Plus don’t include support for the S Pen. You’ll have to use your fingers or a third-party pen that doesn’t require a special digitizer. That digitizer is a central part of the S Pen functionality, so it’s not possible to make it work.

What is the S Pen?

If you’ve never owned a Samsung Galaxy Note before, you may be wondering what the S Pen even is. Essentially, it’s what’s called an active stylus, and while it can be used to just touch the screen, there are a lot of features packed into the S Pen. It first appeared on the original Galaxy Note back in 2011, and it’s been a staple of the Galaxy Note family ever since, getting new upgrades each year.

The S Pen on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (bronze) and on the Galaxy S22 Ultra (purple/black)

You can use the S Pen to select and touch objects on the screen, just as you would do using your finger, but thanks to the fine tip of the S Pen, it’s much more precise. Because of that, it’s also much more suitable for drawing doodling, and handwriting. In fact, two core features of the S Pen are off-screen memos (meaning you can write or doodle even while the screen is off) and handwriting recognition, which can automatically turn your handwriting into proper text.

Another big part of the S Pen feature set is hovering. Because it uses an active digitizer and specialized hardware, a compatible phone can actually detect when the pen is close to the screen, even when it’s not touching it. You can use this to access additional options in certain apps, and there’s even a quick launch wheel on the home screen that only appears with the S Pen.

S Pen being used on the Galaxy S22 Ultra

The latest iterations of the S Pen even have a Bluetooth connection, so you can do things like pressing a button on the S Pen to launch an app. A notable use for this is having the S Pen act as a shutter for the camera, so you can put your phone down and take a picture without touching it. You can also perform certain gestures in the air while pressing the button to access specific features.

Is the Galaxy S22 Ultra the only phone that supports the S Pen?

If you’re looking to buy a slab-style smartphone in 2022, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the only one that gives you S Pen support, as you can see in our Galaxy S22 Ultra hands-on. However, if you want a foldable, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a special edition of the S Pen that works specifically with it. There’s also the S Pen Pro, which works on all of Samsung’s pen-supported devices, including tablets and Chromebooks.

S Pen Pro between the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 3

S Pen support is dependent on the device as well as the pen, but phones that don’t support the S Pen won’t support any model, past or present. You can’t use an S Pen with the Galaxy S22 or S22 Plus, just as you couldn’t with the S21 or S21 Plus. You can check out our Galaxy S22 hands-on article to learn more about the features it does include.

If you want to buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, you can pre-order it below. The S Pen is included and built into the smartphone itself. Otherwise. check out the best deals on the Samsung Galaxy S22 family to find the best place to buy them.

Samsung Galaxy S22

The Samsung Galaxy S22 doesn't support the S Pen, but it's still a fantastic phone.

See at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

The Galaxy S22 Plus also has no S Pen support, but it has a big screen and battery.

See at Samsung

SamsungGalaxy S22 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the only one in the series with S Pen support, and it has S Pen built into the phone, just like the classic Galaxy Note models.

See at Samsung

The post Do the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus support the S Pen? appeared first on xda-developers.

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Do the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus support the S Pen?

For years, the S Pen was the key feature of Samsung’s Galaxy Note series of smartphones, and it was the whole reason behind the Note name. But in 2021, Samsung discontinued the Galaxy Note series, and instead, we got S Pen support in the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but it was half-baked. With the Galaxy S22 Ultra, Samsung is finally building the S Pen back into the phone, but does the Galaxy S22 series also support it?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. The standard Samsung Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S22 Plus don’t include support for the S Pen. You’ll have to use your fingers or a third-party pen that doesn’t require a special digitizer. That digitizer is a central part of the S Pen functionality, so it’s not possible to make it work.

What is the S Pen?

If you’ve never owned a Samsung Galaxy Note before, you may be wondering what the S Pen even is. Essentially, it’s what’s called an active stylus, and while it can be used to just touch the screen, there are a lot of features packed into the S Pen. It first appeared on the original Galaxy Note back in 2011, and it’s been a staple of the Galaxy Note family ever since, getting new upgrades each year.

The S Pen on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (bronze) and on the Galaxy S22 Ultra (purple/black)

You can use the S Pen to select and touch objects on the screen, just as you would do using your finger, but thanks to the fine tip of the S Pen, it’s much more precise. Because of that, it’s also much more suitable for drawing doodling, and handwriting. In fact, two core features of the S Pen are off-screen memos (meaning you can write or doodle even while the screen is off) and handwriting recognition, which can automatically turn your handwriting into proper text.

Another big part of the S Pen feature set is hovering. Because it uses an active digitizer and specialized hardware, a compatible phone can actually detect when the pen is close to the screen, even when it’s not touching it. You can use this to access additional options in certain apps, and there’s even a quick launch wheel on the home screen that only appears with the S Pen.

S Pen being used on the Galaxy S22 Ultra

The latest iterations of the S Pen even have a Bluetooth connection, so you can do things like pressing a button on the S Pen to launch an app. A notable use for this is having the S Pen act as a shutter for the camera, so you can put your phone down and take a picture without touching it. You can also perform certain gestures in the air while pressing the button to access specific features.

Is the Galaxy S22 Ultra the only phone that supports the S Pen?

If you’re looking to buy a slab-style smartphone in 2022, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the only one that gives you S Pen support, as you can see in our Galaxy S22 Ultra hands-on. However, if you want a foldable, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a special edition of the S Pen that works specifically with it. There’s also the S Pen Pro, which works on all of Samsung’s pen-supported devices, including tablets and Chromebooks.

S Pen Pro between the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 3

S Pen support is dependent on the device as well as the pen, but phones that don’t support the S Pen won’t support any model, past or present. You can’t use an S Pen with the Galaxy S22 or S22 Plus, just as you couldn’t with the S21 or S21 Plus. You can check out our Galaxy S22 hands-on article to learn more about the features it does include.

If you want to buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, you can pre-order it below. The S Pen is included and built into the smartphone itself. Otherwise. check out the best deals on the Samsung Galaxy S22 family to find the best place to buy them.

Samsung Galaxy S22

The Samsung Galaxy S22 doesn't support the S Pen, but it's still a fantastic phone.

See at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

The Galaxy S22 Plus also has no S Pen support, but it has a big screen and battery.

See at Samsung

SamsungGalaxy S22 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the only one in the series with S Pen support, and it has S Pen built into the phone, just like the classic Galaxy Note models.

See at Samsung

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Will Samsung release a Galaxy S22 FE?

Samsung started releasing ‘Fan Edition’ phones in 2019, with the release of the Galaxy S20 FE. We finally received a sequel in January, the Galaxy S21 FE, which has now been overshadowed by the arrival of the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. Even if you take advantage of the best Galaxy S22 deals now, there might be another FE phone in a few months to look out for. So, will Samsung release a Galaxy S22 FE? And even if there eventually is a Galaxy S22 FE, would there even be a point?

The turbulent Fan Editions

The Galaxy S20 FE Fan Edition was one of the best smartphones of 2020. It didn’t have any incredible innovations or exclusive software features, but it did take almost everything people liked about the Galaxy S series (One UI, three years of Android OS updates, flagship hardware, etc.) and cut a few minor corners. The result was a cheaper device, with a $699.99 retail price in the US that often dropped as low as $550. There aren’t many choices for flagship phones under $800 or so in the United States, and even outside of ‘Murica, the wide availability of the Snapdragon-powered variant made it a top seller.

The Galaxy S20 FE

However, the Galaxy S21 Fan Edition wasn’t nearly as exciting. While the original Galaxy S20 FE arrived in the latter half of 2020 (positioned perfectly between the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S21 series), the Galaxy S21 FE was released in January — one month before the Galaxy S22 series was officially revealed. That means it had a chipset that was already a year old (Snapdragon 888/Exynos 2100), and even though it had the same $699 price, it wasn’t the same fantastic value as the original FE. It also had less RAM, unless you bought the 256GB model, and dropped the microSD card slot.

Samsung hasn’t confirmed if it will release another Fan Edition phone, but it seems likely, on the basis of the legacy it has built up for the branding. If the company can release it about halfway between this year’s and next year’s phones, like the original, then it has a reason to exist. However, we also know Samsung isn’t afraid of throwing out its budget devices and trying something different — the Galaxy S10 Lite, Note 10 Lite, and S10e never had direct sequels. So it could go down that route too. If we had to bet, we’d say the likelihood of a Galaxy S22 FE is on the positive side, unless Samsung has other drastic plans.

The Galaxy S21 FE

What could the Galaxy S22 FE look like?

Going with the assumption that Samsung will make a Galaxy S22 FE, what could that phone look like? Well, both of the previous Fan Edition phones were pretty close to the previous base Galaxy S phone, so a Galaxy S22 FE will probably be a minor design iteration on the Galaxy S22. A plastic build is likely, and possibly slightly-worse cameras. For example, the telephoto lens on the Galaxy S21 FE is lower quality than the same one on the regular Galaxy S21.

The internal hardware will probably be close to the Galaxy S22, with the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset in the United States and an Exynos chip in other regions. Hopefully, all models of the Galaxy S22 FE would have 8GB RAM, like the Galaxy S20 FE, which is more than the 6GB available on the base model S21 FE. Sadly, a return of the microSD card and headphone jack is unlikely.

Both existing FE phones had slightly larger screens than the previous Galaxy S phone, so if that pattern continues for a third model, the Galaxy S22 FE should have a larger display than the 6.1-inch panel on the Galaxy S22.

The future

We don’t know at this point if a Galaxy S22 FE is even in the cards for Samsung right now. The last model was something of a disappointment, but if it sells well (or if Samsung thinks it can address its failings), then we might still see a new model later this year or early next year.

Galaxy S21 (left) and Galaxy S21 FE (right)

Samsung’s phone lineup is already fairly crowded, with at least one phone model at every $100 interval from the cheapest Galaxy A03 to the high-end Galaxy S22 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 3. The Fan Edition lineup is never too far away from the base Galaxy S phone in pricing, and even though the Galaxy A50 series doesn’t have the flagship Snapdragon chipsets that make the FE compelling, the hardware is usually close enough that most people wouldn’t tell a performance difference (except maybe when gaming).

If Samsung can release the next FE device sooner, with the same bang-for-your-buck value that the original Galaxy S20 FE offered, it might have a reason to exist. We’ll have to wait and see what Samsung comes up with.

Samsung Galaxy S22

The Samsung Galaxy S22 is the entry flagship for 2022, bringing over top of the line performance and camera capabilities in a form that fits many pockets and budgets.

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Is the Samsung Galaxy S22 series waterproof?

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event is finally over and we got three new smartphones as a part of Samsung’s new Galaxy S22 series. We’re looking at the Galaxy S22, the Galaxy S22 Plus, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra, all three phones marking their spots in the premium smartphone category in 2022. You can check out our Samsung Galaxy S22 hands-on and the Galaxy S22 Ultra hands-on if you’re interested to know what we make of these new phones after using them for a while. The new Galaxy S22 phones are all packed with plenty of great features but there’s one thing that a lot of people are wondering about — is the Samsung Galaxy S22 series waterproof? What kind of IP rating do these new phones have?

Is Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series waterproof?

The Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra all have an official IP68-rating for dust and water resistance. This doesn’t come as a surprise considering all the Galaxy S21 series phones from last year came with an IP68 dust and water resistance too. It is, however, worth pointing out that the new Galaxy S22 series devices are only water-resistant, not waterproof. Here’s what it means.

What does the IP68 rating for the Galaxy S22 mean?

IP rating, in case you don’t know, stands for Ingress Protection. In layman terms, IP ratings will tell you how good that particular device is at stopping dust and water from getting inside it. The third character (or the first digit after characters I and P) tells you how good the device is at protecting against small solid particles including dust, sand, and more. This has a maximum rating of 6, with 0 meaning no protection at all and 6 indicating completely dust-tight. In some cases, you’ll also see X here, which essentially means the device hasn’t been tested for it yet.

Similarly, the last digit denotes the liquid or water resistance rating. This has a maximum rating of 8 which means the device can be submerged in water for 30 minutes, at 1.5m depth. It’s safe to say that IP68 is the highest IP rating for both dust and water resistance. This also means the new Samsung Galaxy S22 series devices all have the best IP rating out there.

Being waterproof, on the other hand, means these phones would be sealed and impervious to water. So, they’re not completely waterproof, just water-resistant. You can go swimming with your new Galaxy S22 series phone or even take it underwater up to 1.5m deep, but we would advise against submerging it in saltwater or ionized water. So don’t take it to the beach for a swim.

If that sounds good enough and you’re ready to buy one of these phones then be sure to check out our Galaxy S22 deals page for some discounts. You can then use the money you saved on discounts to buy one of the best Galaxy S22 cases that offer good protection against drops. Alternatively, if you want to explore other smartphones with an IP rating then we also have a detailed list talking about the best Android phones that might be of interest to you.

Samsung Galaxy S22

The Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone marks the entry point of this year's Galaxy S flagship lineup. It's the smallest of the bunch, yet it packs the same punch as its elder siblings.

Buy from Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is the middle child in the Galaxy S22 series, but this one's got a slightly bigger and better display among other things.

Buy from Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the most powerful device out of the three. This year, the Ultra variant also comes with an S Pen.

Buy from Samsung.com

If you’re scratching your heads over which color variant to pick, then we encourage you to check out the Galaxy S22 colors or even the Galaxy S22 unboxing posts before you hit that purchase button.

The post Is the Samsung Galaxy S22 series waterproof? appeared first on xda-developers.

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Is the Samsung Galaxy S22 series waterproof?

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event is finally over and we got three new smartphones as a part of Samsung’s new Galaxy S22 series. We’re looking at the Galaxy S22, the Galaxy S22 Plus, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra, all three phones marking their spots in the premium smartphone category in 2022. You can check out our Samsung Galaxy S22 hands-on and the Galaxy S22 Ultra hands-on if you’re interested to know what we make of these new phones after using them for a while. The new Galaxy S22 phones are all packed with plenty of great features but there’s one thing that a lot of people are wondering about — is the Samsung Galaxy S22 series waterproof? What kind of IP rating do these new phones have?

Is Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series waterproof?

The Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra all have an official IP68-rating for dust and water resistance. This doesn’t come as a surprise considering all the Galaxy S21 series phones from last year came with an IP68 dust and water resistance too. It is, however, worth pointing out that the new Galaxy S22 series devices are only water-resistant, not waterproof. Here’s what it means.

What does the IP68 rating for the Galaxy S22 mean?

IP rating, in case you don’t know, stands for Ingress Protection. In layman terms, IP ratings will tell you how good that particular device is at stopping dust and water from getting inside it. The third character (or the first digit after characters I and P) tells you how good the device is at protecting against small solid particles including dust, sand, and more. This has a maximum rating of 6, with 0 meaning no protection at all and 6 indicating completely dust-tight. In some cases, you’ll also see X here, which essentially means the device hasn’t been tested for it yet.

Similarly, the last digit denotes the liquid or water resistance rating. This has a maximum rating of 8 which means the device can be submerged in water for 30 minutes, at 1.5m depth. It’s safe to say that IP68 is the highest IP rating for both dust and water resistance. This also means the new Samsung Galaxy S22 series devices all have the best IP rating out there.

Being waterproof, on the other hand, means these phones would be sealed and impervious to water. So, they’re not completely waterproof, just water-resistant. You can go swimming with your new Galaxy S22 series phone or even take it underwater up to 1.5m deep, but we would advise against submerging it in saltwater or ionized water. So don’t take it to the beach for a swim.

If that sounds good enough and you’re ready to buy one of these phones then be sure to check out our Galaxy S22 deals page for some discounts. You can then use the money you saved on discounts to buy one of the best Galaxy S22 cases that offer good protection against drops. Alternatively, if you want to explore other smartphones with an IP rating then we also have a detailed list talking about the best Android phones that might be of interest to you.

Samsung Galaxy S22

The Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone marks the entry point of this year's Galaxy S flagship lineup. It's the smallest of the bunch, yet it packs the same punch as its elder siblings.

Buy from Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is the middle child in the Galaxy S22 series, but this one's got a slightly bigger and better display among other things.

Buy from Samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the most powerful device out of the three. This year, the Ultra variant also comes with an S Pen.

Buy from Samsung.com

If you’re scratching your heads over which color variant to pick, then we encourage you to check out the Galaxy S22 colors or even the Galaxy S22 unboxing posts before you hit that purchase button.

The post Is the Samsung Galaxy S22 series waterproof? appeared first on xda-developers.

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