Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: A Deep Dive Comparison

The Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra represent distinct philosophies in the smartphone world. The Asus prioritizes unadulterated performance and gaming features, while the Samsung aims for a more balanced, premium experience with a focus on camera versatility and broader usability. This comparison dissects their core components to determine which device reigns supreme for different user needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For dedicated mobile gamers, the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate offers a more focused and powerful experience, leveraging its Snapdragon 888 and aggressive cooling. However, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra wins for the average user due to its superior camera system, brighter display, and broader feature set, despite the potential for thermal throttling with the Exynos variant.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46, 48, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2021, July 082022, February 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 31Available. Released 2022, February 25
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions173.2 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm (6.82 x 3.04 x 0.38 in)163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight210 g (7.41 oz)228 g / 229 g (mmWave) (8.04 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus, 2.8ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels (~395 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak)
 Always-on displayAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROW
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 660Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 11Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 112˚, 14mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.82", 0.7µm, PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 Snapdragon Sound Technology 32-bit/384kHz audio32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Illuminated Snapdragon fireball icon on the backSamsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 50% in 30 min, 100% in 50 min45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight bluePhantom Black, White, Burgundy, Green, Graphite, Red, Sky Blue, Bora Purple
ModelsI007DSM-S908B, SM-S908B/DS, SM-S908U, SM-S908U1, SM-S908W, SM-S908N, SM-S9080, SM-S908E, SM-S908E/DS
PriceAbout 1270 EUR€ 397.07 / $ 269.98 / £ 304.99 / ₹ 63,899
SAR-1.18 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.05 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 108h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker--27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 968359 (v9) GeekBench: 3657 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders

  • Significantly faster 65W wired charging
  • Optimized for sustained gaming performance
  • Aggressive cooling system minimizes throttling

  • Camera system likely inferior to the S22 Ultra
  • Less versatile feature set compared to Samsung
  • Bulkier design geared towards gaming

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

  • Superior camera system with versatile features
  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • S Pen integration for productivity and creativity

  • Slower 45W wired charging
  • Potential for thermal throttling with Exynos variant
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, peaking at 1266 nits measured, compared to the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate (brightness data unavailable, but typically lower on gaming phones). While the Asus likely features a high refresh rate, the S22 Ultra’s contrast ratio is listed as infinite (nominal), suggesting deeper blacks and a more vibrant image. The S22 Ultra’s display is geared towards outdoor visibility and media consumption, while the Asus prioritizes responsiveness for gaming.

Camera Comparison

Samsung consistently excels in camera technology, and the S22 Ultra is no exception. While specific sensor details are missing for both, the S22 Ultra’s reputation for image processing and versatility is well-established. The Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate, while capable, typically prioritizes other features over camera innovation. The S22 Ultra’s camera system is designed for a wider range of shooting scenarios, from detailed landscapes to low-light portraits, while the Asus is likely more focused on quick snapshots and social media sharing. The absence of detailed camera specs for the Asus suggests it won't compete directly with the S22 Ultra's photographic prowess.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate utilizes the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm), while the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra comes in two variants: Exynos 2200 (4 nm) for Europe and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) for ROW. The 4nm process node of the Exynos 2200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 theoretically offers better power efficiency than the 5nm Snapdragon 888. However, the Snapdragon 888 in the Asus is known for its strong sustained performance, and the ROG Phone’s cooling system is designed to mitigate throttling. The S22 Ultra’s CPU, with its Cortex-X2 core (2.8 GHz in Europe, 3.0 GHz ROW), offers a slight architectural advantage over the Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 (2.84 GHz), but real-world gains depend heavily on thermal management.

Battery Life

Both devices have an endurance rating of 108h, suggesting similar overall battery life despite differing approaches. The Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate features 65W wired charging, significantly faster than the S22 Ultra’s 45W. This translates to a 50% charge in 30 minutes and 100% in 50 minutes for the Asus, while the S22 Ultra takes longer. The S22 Ultra compensates with 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Asus. The Asus prioritizes rapid refueling, while the Samsung offers more charging flexibility.

Buying Guide

Buy the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate if you demand maximum Android gaming performance, prioritize sustained frame rates over all else, and appreciate features like AirTriggers. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra if you value a versatile camera system, a stunning display, S Pen integration, and a more polished, all-around smartphone experience, even if it means potentially sacrificing some peak gaming performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 in the European S22 Ultra suffer from significant overheating during prolonged gaming sessions?
Yes, the Exynos 2200 variant of the S22 Ultra is known to throttle more aggressively under sustained load compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. While Samsung implemented cooling solutions, the Exynos chip's thermal efficiency is lower, leading to reduced performance during extended gaming.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
While present, the 2MP macro camera on the S22 Ultra is often considered a marketing feature rather than a genuinely useful tool. Its low resolution limits detail, and image quality is often subpar compared to using the main sensor with digital zoom. It's unlikely to be a deciding factor for most users.
❓ Can the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate maintain a stable 60fps in demanding games like PUBG Mobile at maximum settings?
Yes, the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate is specifically designed to handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile. Its Snapdragon 888, coupled with the advanced cooling system, allows it to maintain stable frame rates at maximum settings for extended periods, often exceeding the performance of the S22 Ultra (especially the Exynos variant).
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra?
The Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate features a heavily customized Android skin (ROG UI) geared towards gaming, with features like AirTriggers and Game Genie. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra runs One UI, a more polished and feature-rich experience focused on broader usability and Samsung ecosystem integration. The Asus is more niche, while Samsung offers a more mainstream Android experience.