Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S22 Ultra: which refurbished should you buy?
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs Gen 1, Galaxy AI, 7 years of updates and camera processing — all laid out clearly. We put the Galaxy S24 Ultra and S22 Ultra side by side so you know exactly which refurbished Ultra is right for you.
Door The Phone Shopper
Gepubliceerd: 2026-07-18
Two Ultra models, one straightforward question
The Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy S22 Ultra were both the flagship of their respective year, but there's a full generation between them. If you're considering a refurbished Ultra, you'll want to know whether that price difference is worth it — or whether the S22 Ultra still has plenty to offer. We lay out the key differences honestly.
Processor and performance
The S24 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a chip two generations newer than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 found in the S22 Ultra. You'll notice that most with demanding tasks: heavy multitasking, gaming at high settings, and on-device AI features. For calls, messaging, browsing and taking photos, the S22 Ultra still performs more than well enough — the Gen 1 was a flagship chip in its own right.
Display and build
Both phones feature a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with an S Pen slot, but the execution differs. The S24 Ultra has a flatter screen — fewer curved edges means less glare and fewer accidental touches — and a titanium frame instead of aluminium, making it lighter and more durable. The S22 Ultra still has the curved edge display that Samsung has since moved away from.
S Pen: built in on both
One important thing they share: both models have the S Pen built directly into the body, ready to use at any time. That's what sets the Ultra line apart from the rest of the Galaxy S range. Whether you use the S Pen for notes, sketching or as a camera remote, you'll get that functionality on either device.
Camera: 200MP on both, processing makes the difference
On paper, the camera specs look identical: both feature a 200MP main camera. The difference lies in processing. The S24 Ultra benefits from a newer image processor and improved algorithms, resulting in sharper detail at digital zoom, better HDR in tricky lighting, and smoother video when shooting in motion. The S22 Ultra still takes excellent photos for a refurbished device in this price range, but at extreme zoom levels or in low light, the generational gap is most apparent.
Galaxy AI: exclusive to the S24 Ultra
The S24 Ultra was one of the first Samsung phones to launch with Galaxy AI: live translation during calls, Circle to Search, AI photo editing and text summaries. The S22 Ultra doesn't have these features and won't be getting them, as the underlying chip simply wasn't built for it. If this matters to you, the S24 Ultra is the clear choice.
Software updates: 7 years vs a shorter window
Samsung promises the S24 Ultra 7 years of Android and security updates. The S22 Ultra fell under a shorter update policy — four major Android versions plus security updates — and is now closer to the end of that cycle. If you plan to keep your phone for years to come, this is a real difference worth factoring in.
Battery life
Both phones pack a 5,000 mAh battery, but the S24 Ultra gets more out of it thanks to the more efficient chip — slightly longer screen-on time under comparable usage. With refurbished devices from either generation, battery condition is always checked and replaced where necessary, so any difference here comes down to chip efficiency, not wear and tear.
| Galaxy S24 Ultra | Galaxy S22 Ultra |
|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Display | 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, flat, titanium | 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X, curved, aluminium |
| S Pen | Built-in | Built-in |
| Camera | 200MP, improved processing | 200MP |
| Galaxy AI | Yes | No |
| Updates | 7 years | Shorter (closer to end of cycle) |
Refurbished price
This is where the S22 Ultra really makes its case. As a refurbished device, it comes in significantly cheaper than the S24 Ultra, while still delivering the full Ultra experience: a large display, S Pen, powerful camera and premium build quality. If you want the feel of an Ultra without paying top-of-the-range prices, this is one of the smartest refurbished buys in our current lineup.
Which one should you choose?
Go for the Galaxy S22 Ultra if you want the best value for money within the Ultra range and have no daily need for Galaxy AI or the latest chip. Choose the Galaxy S24 Ultra if you want as many future-proof updates as possible, make use of AI features like live translation, and find the difference in camera processing genuinely important. Both devices are refurbished and tested through our 50-point inspection, and come with a 2-year warranty — so quality-wise there's no difference, only in generation and price.
Curious about all the refurbished models we have in stock? Browse the full range and compare for yourself.
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