As a passionate smartphone gamer, the three aspects I care most about are sustained high frame rates across games, vibrant and immersive displays for enjoyable extended sessions, and software that doesn’t break the game experience via updates. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra continues to deliver well more than a year since launch on all these fronts.
Let’s analyze in detail how suitable the S22 Ultra proves to be specifically from a mobile gaming perspective in 2023 when competitors like Asus ROG Phone 6 and Nubia Red Magic 8 are pushing boundaries with true gaming phones:
Display – A gamer’s delight
The gorgeous 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, even over a year from launch remains in a league of its own. Gaming visuals shine bright on this OLED display with its industry leading 1500 nits peak brightness levels and pixel density topping the charts at 500+ PPI.
I play a mix of competitive PvP games like COD Mobile and Wild Rift besides open world RPGs like Genshin Impact. The S22 Ultra brings these games alive with its incredible contrast, vibrant colors, and smooth 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. Even fast-action sequences in MOBAs play stutter-free which is a must for competitive titles.
The minimal bezels and curved display make gaming immersive. You don’t feel like you are playing on a phone but a mini tablet. I tested multiple 2022 and 2023 gaming phones but none could unseat the S22 Ultra in providing a wide, expansive AMOLED panel with such incredible image quality. For gaming visuals, phones cannot get better than this even today.
Performance – As smooth as they come
Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip paired with up to 12 GB RAM ensures there is never any performance compromise. My unit with 8 GB RAM blazed through Genshin Impact on max graphics, Call of Duty Mobile on Very High graphics + Max frames as well smooth VR gaming via linked headset – all without breaking a sweat.
Here’s how the S22 Ultra gaming performance specs stack up today against the best phones and consoles as of Feb 2023:
| Spec | Samsung S22 Ultra | Asus ROG 6 | Nintendo Switch OLED |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Custom Nvidia Tegra |
| CPU Speed | 3.0 Ghz | 3.2 Ghz | 1.02 Ghz |
| GPU Speed | Adreno 730 @ 818 Mhz | Adreno 730 @ 998 Mhz | 768 Mhz Custom |
| Display | 1440p 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED, 1500 nits | 1080p 165Hz AMOLED, 1200 nits | 720p 60Hz OLED, 500 nits |
| Avg. FPS popular game benchmarks1 | |||
| – Genshin Impact max settings | 58 FPS | 62 FPS | N/A |
| – Call of Duty Mobile – Very High | 61 FPS | 66 FPS | N/A |
| – Fortnite – Epic Quality | 60 FPS | 66 FPS | 30 FPS |
| Geekbench Score2 | 3200 Multi core | 3891 Multi core | N/A |
1 Source: Smartprix.com, Gamebench.net
2 Source: Geekbench.com
The scores prove S22 Ultra hardware still extremely competent for gaming even vs phones launching now with next gen processors. You will face zero hiccups across any game type – racing, RPG, shooters, platformers etc. Consider these FPS counts represent sustained long duration gaming performance too without any thermal throttling which gaming phones also suffer from.
In real world usage over 6+ months, my S22 Ultra unit has shown zero signs of aging. Asphalt 9 Legends and Genshin Impact play exactly as smooth and lag-free today as on Day 1. This is the reliability you expect from flagship phone hardware built to last years.
Battery – Charge anxiety averted
Gaming does drain the 5000 mAh battery faster but much slower than phones packing smaller batteries like the Galaxy S22+. I get around ~5 hours of continuous playtime on the S22 Ultra if I start my Call of Duty sessions with a fully charged phone.
The key is the phone does an admirable job with thermal management via effective heat dissipation over the metal frame. Despite having a glass back, heat never concentrates uncomfortably in one area to force shutdowns. This is an issue I faced on cheaper phones including the POCO F4 GT meant specifically for gaming.
Fast charging support is excellent too with the S22 Ultra replenishing its battery fully under an hour. So you need not stay tethered to the charger worrying about running out of juice if you forgot to charge. The peace of mind for uninterrupted marathon gaming is well worth it.
Cameras – Visual enhancements for immersive gameplay 📷
The unique quad 108MP camera system on the S22 Ultra brings a nifty enhancement to the overall gaming experience – the ability to capture and stream gameplay in full ultra crisp quality over social and Discord.
Most regular phones manage only 720p 30 FPS streams that look obviously grainy. But with the S22 Ultra, I have streamed up to 1440p 60 FPS gameplay from Wild Rift and Genshin Impact to YouTube without any frame drops or image quality degradation. Everything remains pin sharp catching minute on-screen details.
So besides outstanding gaming credentials, I leverage the S22 Ultra as my go-to device for creating gaming content on the move. Recording cloud streamed footage from Xbox Game Pass at 4K using cameras of this caliber has been impossible on any other phone.
Software – Improving with age
Samsung made big strides in software optimization over the last year rolling out stable One UI 5.0 and 5.1 upgrades optimized for the latest Android 13 OS. Responsiveness has improved, unwanted frame drops in heavy games like Call of Duty are history, device heating is lower. These iterative updates have contributed greatly towards smoother long duration intensive gaming on the S22 Ultra.
Guaranteed 4 OS version upgrades and 5 years of security updates are just the cherry on top assuring this hardware stays capable of delivering high fidelity gaming for years to come. Knowing I don’t need to worry about gaming compatibility for 3+ years due to unmatched software support is very reassuring as a gamer.
Verdict: Still #1 for high-end mobile gaming in 2023 ⚡
If you seek the very best smartphone display coupled with ultra premium build quality for lag and trouble-free high FPS gaming in 2023, look no further than the Galaxy S22 Ultra even today.
No other phone available offers such incredible long-term future proofing – the Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel remains peerless for visual immersion, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 hardware drives max frame rates across any graphic intensive game you throw and guaranteed software updates until 2027 translates to zero obsolescence or performance degradation concerns.
Of course options like the ROG Phone 6 Pro offer higher touch response, expandable storage plus superior heat dissipation and software customization for the ultimate competitive gaming experience today.
But as an all-round daily driver doubling up as a versatile on-the-go gaming rig over years, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra retains its crown for delivering the complete package – crazy good visuals paired with uncompromising lag-free performance guaranteed to stay smooth years down the line.
For passionate gamers seeking no compromises unlocked long-term gaming endurance blended with pro photography chops, industrial grade build and stylus convenience, the S22 Ultra gets my wholehearted recommendation in 2023 based on the following merits:
✔️ Visual popcorn – Best-in-industry cinematic Dynamic AMOLED 2X display
✔️ E-sports ready – Max frame rates on Very High graphics via cutting edge hardware
✔️ Staying Power – Optimized thermals prevent throttling during intensive gaming
✔️ Peace of Mind – Assured software support till 2027, latest Android OS versions guaranteed
✔️ Elite build 💪 – IP68 rating, Gorilla Glass Victus+ keep gaming strong for years
If these benefits translate closely to your key requirements from a gaming smartphone in the long run, pay the premium and grab the Galaxy S22 Ultra eyes closed. You will not be disappointed. Its well rounded arsenal of superpowers deliver mobile gaming nirvana today while aging more gracefully than any other phone in the future.