Recent tests reveal that the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, after three years of use, maintains or even improves its benchmark scores, challenging assumptions about tech ageing, though battery life and thermal performance still decline.
A three-year-old Android phone does not necessarily slow down just because time has passed, and a fresh set of tests on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra suggests the opposite can even be true. In a repeat of the 3DMark benchmarks used in Canaltech’s original 2022 review, the handset posted slightly better scores after years of daily use, although that does not mean the hardware itself has become stronger. Software changes, benchmark updates and shifting conditions can all affect the numbers.
The clearest improvement came in Wild Life Extreme Unlimited, where the Galaxy S22 Ultra moved from 2,292 points to 2,488, an increase of about 8.6%. In Wild Life Unlimited, the score rose more modestly, from 10,037 to 10,227, up 1.9%. Taken together, the results point to steady performance rather than measurable decline. Tom’s Guide’s launch review and PhoneArena’s testing both showed the S22 Ultra as a high-end performer at launch, while NanoReview’s later benchmark data still places it firmly in flagship territory.
That does not mean the test proves the phone has aged without any loss at all. Canaltech noted that benchmarks and software environments change over time, so a direct one-to-one comparison with 2022 is impossible. A small drop in speed could still be there, only below the threshold these tests can detect. Even so, the broader picture is clear enough: three years of use did not produce a visible performance slide in this unit, and everyday tasks remain quick, with apps opening promptly and no obvious stuttering in normal use.
Heat, however, remains part of the S22 Ultra’s character. The device still gets warm during demanding jobs such as 4K video recording and gaming, which mirrors observations from other early reviews that described the phone as powerful but thermally active under load. Battery life is where age shows most plainly. Canaltech found that the handset no longer comes close to its original endurance and now struggles to last through a full day of moderate to heavy use. In other words, the phone may not feel slower, but it does need the charger far more often than it once did.
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