I've been using the Galaxy S22+ for almost a year and a half. Not only has it been my Samsung DeX machine, but my daily smartphone for the past sixteen months. And recently, after I had to downgrade to the old Galaxy Note 10 temporarily, I've become more convinced than ever that the mid-sized flat smartphone form factor is my perfect fit. My cravings for a powerful compact phone are virtually gone, and I could never willingly go back to the curved screen design. Even if it would be larger, as it is on the Galaxy S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra.
I never realized how much the Galaxy S22+ improved my smartphone user experience until I went back to using the Galaxy Note 10 about a week ago. For a bit of background story, my S22+ has some puzzling network connectivity issues, and I can't tell whether it has anything to do with the fact that I accidentally dropped the phone a dozen times without it being wrapped in a case.
Whatever the case may be, after a few failed attempts to fix the S22+ connectivity issues on my own, I left my phone at the shop under warranty. Stranded without the S22+, the only alternative was to use my old Galaxy Note 10 again. And only after I switched to the 2019 S Pen model have I realized just how perfect the S22+ is for me. I was already missing it.
Flat-screen mid-sized phones won me over
The first thing I noticed once I picked up the Galaxy Note 10 was that my touchscreen keyboard typing skills nosedived. The other thing was that navigation gestures feel more awkward on an Edge display.
Don't get me wrong: The Galaxy Note 10 performs decently even today — although it's a shame that it never received One UI 5 — but the phone's slippery exterior and awkward curved yet square design became a detriment to my experience like never before.
I quickly realized how much the Galaxy S22+ helped me adapt to touchscreen keyboards and navigation gestures — something no other phone manage to do before. Almost everything about the design of the Galaxy S22+ (and I'm guessing the Galaxy S23+) seems to improve usability: From the flat design and the slightly larger footprint to the almost flat edges and rounded corners. And even the placement of the physical side buttons.
Of course, it's all subjective, and you could argue it's all a matter of getting used to one device and form factor over another. But after a week with my Galaxy Note 10, I still haven't gotten used to it again, and I don't think I ever will. And I probably wouldn't have enjoyed using the premium Galaxy S22 Ultra or Galaxy S23 Ultra, either.
You might have a different experience and end up preferring phones that are larger or smaller than the Galaxy S22+. But after sixteen months of me using the Galaxy S22+, I now realize I could never willingly go back to a curved “Edge” design or even a truly compact footprint. I'd also not want to use something as big (and squarish) as a Galaxy S22 Ultra or Galaxy S23 Ultra. And I would take a flat smartphone with a decently sized display over a curved phone any day of the week.
Now, whether foldable Samsung phones will ever make me rethink my stance is a matter for another day.
