The S22 Ultra is the handset that absorbed the Galaxy Note. It was the first S-series phone with a slot for the S Pen built into the body, and it took the Note’s boxy shape with it — squared corners, flat-ish sides, and a stylus that lives inside the phone rather than in your bag.
That makes it historically interesting and, four years on, a specific kind of buy. It is now old enough that the software support window is the first thing to check, not the last. Anything you are offered will almost certainly be refurbished or certified pre-owned, and the battery will have years of use behind it.
If the appeal is a cheap route to a built-in S Pen, this is it — with the caveats set out below.
Brand or model deal overview
| What defines this handset | Detail |
|---|---|
| Built-in S Pen | The first S-series with the Note’s stylus silo |
| Note-style body | Squared corners rather than the rounded S-series shape |
| Curved display | Later Ultras moved to flat, partly for better S Pen writing |
| 2022 launch | Four years old — the update window is the first thing to verify |
| Condition | Expect refurbished or certified pre-owned, not new |
| Battery | Years of cycles behind it; ask for the health figure |
| Storage | Fixed at purchase — no microSD on S-series |
| Charging port | USB-C, as on all recent Samsung flagships |
Pricing, bundles and stock change regularly. Confirm the current deal and the total contract cost with the provider before applying.
Compare by network
Network options
Availability is the constraint here, not choice of network. A four-year-old flagship appears through refurbished and certified pre-owned channels rather than as standard new stock. Ask which you are being offered and what warranty comes with it.
Coverage first. Check it at your home and work addresses.
Be careful about the term. A 24-month contract on a 2022 handset means reaching the end with a six-year-old phone. Weigh that before committing.
Compare by budget
Budget options
This is a low-monthly-cost route to an Ultra. See deals under R500 for the surrounding market.
Against a current mid-range. A current Samsung A36 will have a longer software window and a new battery, for similar money. It will not have the S Pen or the cameras.
Against a newer Ultra. See Samsung S23 Ultra contract deals — one generation newer, with the 200MP camera and 10x optical zoom.
Current and older alternatives
Alternative models
- Samsung S22 Ultra contract deals — the same handset under its fuller URL form.
- Samsung S23 Ultra contract deals — the next Ultra, with longer zoom reach.
- Samsung A36 contract deals — a current handset at a similar monthly cost.
- Samsung contract deals — the full range.
What to check before applying
- The remaining software update window. On a 2022 flagship this is the single most important check, and it may not cover a 24-month term.
- Whether the handset is refurbished or certified pre-owned, and what warranty applies.
- Battery health, in writing, and whether the battery has been replaced.
- Whether the S Pen is present and the silo undamaged.
- Screen condition — curved displays are more expensive to replace.
- Storage size — fixed, no microSD.
- The total contract cost — monthly × term, plus upfront.
- Coverage at your addresses.
- Whether a current mid-range handset costs the same.
Contract applications are subject to the credit provider’s checks and generally involve a credit and affordability assessment. Approval is not guaranteed.
FAQs
Is the S22 Ultra the same as a Galaxy Note?
Effectively it replaced the Note line. Samsung discontinued the Note and moved its defining feature — the built-in S Pen — into the Ultra, along with the Note’s squarer shape.
Does it still get software updates?
Samsung committed to several years of updates for this generation, but four years have elapsed. Verify the current position before signing a 24-month contract, because the phone may leave support during the term.
Will it be new?
Almost certainly not. Expect refurbished or certified pre-owned stock. Ask which, and what warranty comes with it.
How is the battery after four years?
That depends entirely on the individual handset and whether the battery has been replaced. Ask for the health figure in writing before agreeing to anything.
Is the S Pen included?
It should be, since it stores inside the handset — but on pre-owned stock confirm it is present and that the silo mechanism works.
Is the curved screen a problem?
Some users find curved edges cause stray inputs when writing with the S Pen. Samsung moved the Ultra to a flat display from the S24 Ultra partly for this reason.
Can I expand the storage?
No. S-series handsets do not support microSD cards.
Would a current mid-range phone be better?
For many people, yes. A current A-series handset will have a full software window, a new battery and a warranty. What it will not have is the S Pen or the Ultra’s cameras.
Is a charger included?
Not usually, and on refurbished stock what ships with the phone varies. Confirm before you buy.
Is it worth financing a 2022 phone over 24 months?
Rarely, unless the monthly figure is very low and the remaining software support covers the term. You would finish the contract with a six-year-old handset. Compare a current mid-range model at the same monthly cost before committing.
Compare your options: browse Samsung contract deals, or compare against a current Samsung A36 at a similar monthly cost.
Last updated: August 2026 — pricing, availability and terms can change.