Samsung S22 Ultra Camera: Known Flaws and Workarounds

When the Galaxy S22 Ultra was new back in 2022, reviewers praised its camera. But they also noted issues like grainy daytime images, sluggish autofocus and soft low-light tele shots. Some of those problems stemmed from initial software hiccups, and some were hardware-based.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking about buying a used Galaxy S22 Ultra, or if you own one and just want to get the best from its camera.

S22 Ultra camera specs

The S22 Ultra features a similar rear camera layout to the S21 Ultra. However, the S22 Ultra has separate rings around each camera, and has the S Pen built into the phone.

According to GSMArena, the 108MP main camera and ultrawide camera are accompanied by two telephoto cameras. The sensor sizes for these are 1/3.52 inch, a slight decrease from the S21 Ultra’s 1/3.24 inch sensor.

Grain in daylight photos

GSMArena’s reviewers found plenty of detail, but did notice that their S22 Ultra sample was exhibiting more noise than expected out of the main camera, even at its baseline ISO setting when used during the day. They suspected this might be a firmware issue, as their Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra sample captured noticeably cleaner images at the time (25 February 2022). In its Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review (a year later), GSMArena did note that the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s noise issues have been improved through software updates, but that its images still weren’t exactly noise-free in most cases above ISO 100. DXOMARK’s comments on the Snapdragon variant also list luminance noise in photos and video as a drawback.

Update your Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra to the latest firmware/software. Some of the noise problems noted in Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra reviews seem to have been addressed/improved through subsequent updates.

If you’re planning on post-processing your photos, use Expert RAW shooting mode and you’ll be able to make use of more advanced noise reduction options in apps such as Lightroom. You can accept a little grain in exchange for some fine detail if necessary.

Slow autofocus for photos

DXOMARK tested both Exynos and Snapdragon versions of the S22 Ultra and found slow AF to be a weakness in both. In the reviews, they mention it's slow for stills, but not for video, so it's able to track moving subjects just fine in videos.

For photos of children or street photography, pre-focus in an area where action may take place by tapping and holding down on the screen to lock focus and exposure. Then just hit the shutter button when your subject walks into frame. The AE/AF lock guide walks through it, and there’s burst mode, too; just swipe down on the shutter button in the Camera app and you’ll capture a few frames to choose your favourite from.

Soft zoom shots at night

GSMArena observed that the 3x telephoto is often soft in Photo mode when shooting at night, and in some situations in dim lighting the phone may use a crop of the main camera in place of the 3x camera. In 10x mode it may crop in from the 3x camera. They found Night mode significantly improves the sharpness of both telephotos and lifts the shadows, singling out 10x as seeing a marked improvement. Android Authority noted 10x images were softer and grainier than those taken with the 3x and that the f/4.9 lens is the weaker choice in low light.

Try shooting zoomed-in images in Night mode and brace the phone against a railing or wall for stability. If conditions are too dark for 10x, try edging in closer or use 3x instead. Our night mode guide covers the rest of Night mode.

Flare and awkward portraits

Bright lights can cause lens flare, so try not to include them on the edge of your frame (or rotate the phone a couple of degrees to shift the flare from your main subject), and make sure there’s not a fingerprint on the lens (which can exacerbate flare on any phone). The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s night shots were hit or miss for Android Authority, mostly because of flare.

When shooting people in decent lighting, GSMArena preferred using the 3x Portrait mode as opposed to using Portrait mode with the main camera. That’s because the 23mm-equivalent view of the main camera can make noses look especially large in a head-and-shoulders portrait. But in lower light, GSMArena found that the 3x camera would have trouble focusing, and ended up getting better results using Night mode with the 1x camera.

What reviewers liked

GSMArena lauded the S22 Ultra’s zoom abilities, hailing it as Samsung’s best camera phone to date with zoom capabilities few can match.

Similarly positive reviews of the S22 Ultra’s camera came from DXOMARK, which particularly liked the camera’s white balance and colour rendition in all lighting situations as well as the pleasingly natural background blur in Portrait mode.

Android Authority praised the S22 Ultra’s camera system overall, singling out its video shooting capabilities including its image stabilisation and clear night videos.

Features it has and lacks

According to Samsung’s own website, you’ll need an internet connection and a Samsung Account in order to use Generative Edit. The Object Eraser and Photo Assist guide explains the differences between the editing tools, and our Expert RAW guide covers Astrophoto.

Software support

According to GSMArena, the S22 series' final major update is One UI 8 built on Android 16, which was made available for the trio in October 2025.

Samsung originally committed to providing security updates for the Galaxy S22 series for up to five years, which should see coverage ending sometime during early 2027 (the S22 series launched in February 2022). As of writing (4 November 2026), the S22 Ultra is still listed to receive quarterly security updates on Samsung's security updates page and has been since February 2026.

Who should still buy one

If you want an optical 10x lens and the built-in S Pen without breaking the bank, and don't mind making do with Night mode and Expert RAW, your best bet is a used S22 Ultra. It's a sensible choice for daylight wildlife and travel, and the Galaxy AI editing tools keep it more useful than the S21 Ultra.

If you think you’ll be using this phone beyond 2027, consider splurging a bit for the S23 Ultra. The 10x reach may be the same on paper, but you get a 200MP main camera. It’s still receiving Samsung’s monthly updates. The Galaxy Ultra ranking compares every generation. If you already own one, our S22 Ultra settings page lists starting values by situation.