LG Velvet vs Samsung Galaxy S22 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Two Android Approaches

The LG Velvet, released in 2020, represents a different era of Android design and value. Now, with the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G available at increasingly competitive prices, the question arises: can the older Velvet still hold its own against a more modern flagship? This comparison dives deep into the hardware and performance differences to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G is the superior choice. Its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (or Exynos 2200) chipset, brighter display, and more refined camera system justify the price premium, despite the similar battery endurance ratings. However, the Velvet remains a compelling option for budget-conscious users prioritizing a unique design.

PHONES
Phone Names LG Velvet Samsung Galaxy S22 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 401, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2020, July 28. Released 2020, July 312022, February 09
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, February 25
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions167.1 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm (6.58 x 2.92 x 0.31 in)146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm (5.75 x 2.78 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight180 g (6.35 oz)167 g / 168 g (mmWave) (5.89 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditionsIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeP-OLEDDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)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 SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 630Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 12Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single-10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/1.9, 29mm (standard), 1/3.06, 1.0µm10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging15W wired, QC3 9W wireless25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4300 mAhLi-Ion 3700 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Aurora SilverPhantom Black, White, Pink Gold, Green, Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet, Cream, Bora Purple
ModelsLMG910EMW, LM-G910EMWSM-S901B, SM-S901B/DS, SM-S901U, SM-S901U1, SM-S901W, SM-S901N, SM-S9010, SM-S901E, SM-S901E/DS
PriceAbout 360 EUR$ 172.63 / C$ 304.00 / £ 186.11 / € 198.01
SAR-1.03 W/kg (head)     1.15 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.21 W/kg (head)     1.59 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 85h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 745496 (v8), 881428 (v9) GeekBench: 3682 (v5.1) GFXBench: 69fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

LG Velvet

  • Unique waterfall display design
  • More affordable price point
  • Headphone jack (likely, based on LG's historical inclusion)

  • Outdated Snapdragon 845 chipset
  • Slower charging speeds
  • Less advanced camera system

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G

  • Significantly faster processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200)
  • Brighter and more color-accurate display
  • Faster charging and wireless charging capabilities

  • Higher price point
  • Potential for Exynos 2200 thermal throttling (Europe)
  • More conventional design

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 982 nits, compared to the LG Velvet’s unspecified peak brightness. While the Velvet’s waterfall display is visually striking, the S22’s panel likely offers superior outdoor visibility and color accuracy. The S22’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a more effective implementation of OLED technology, delivering deeper blacks. The lack of refresh rate information for the Velvet means the S22 likely has a smoother experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the S22 likely holds an advantage in image processing and overall versatility. While both are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, the S22 benefits from a more modern image signal processor (ISP) within its chipset. The Velvet’s camera details are sparse, but it’s unlikely to match the S22’s ability to capture detail in challenging lighting conditions or record high-resolution video. The S22’s sensor size and lens apertures are likely larger, contributing to better low-light performance.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The LG Velvet’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (10nm) is a capable performer, but it’s generations behind the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G’s Exynos 2200 (4nm - Europe) or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm - ROW). The 4nm process node of the S22’s chipsets provides significantly improved power efficiency and thermal performance, allowing for sustained peak performance during demanding tasks. The S22’s CPU architecture, featuring Cortex-X2 cores, offers a substantial performance uplift over the Velvet’s Kryo 385 cores. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a better gaming experience.

Battery Life

Interestingly, both devices share an Endurance rating of 85h, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite the significant differences in chipset efficiency. However, the S22 offers faster charging at 25W with PD3.0, compared to the Velvet’s 15W QC3.0. This means the S22 can be topped up much quicker. The S22 also includes 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the Velvet.

Buying Guide

Buy the LG Velvet if you prioritize a unique, waterfall display design and a lower price point, and are willing to accept compromises in processing power and camera capabilities. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G if you demand flagship-level performance for gaming and demanding applications, a brighter and more color-accurate display, and a more versatile camera system, even if it means spending more.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 chip in the European Galaxy S22 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 2200 has been known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, particularly in graphically intensive games. While Samsung implemented software optimizations, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 variant generally offers better thermal performance. Users in Europe may experience reduced performance after extended gaming.
❓ Is the 15W charging on the LG Velvet slow enough to be a major inconvenience?
Yes, 15W charging is considerably slower than the 25W charging on the Galaxy S22 5G. Expect significantly longer charge times to reach 100%, making it less convenient for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 845 in the LG Velvet handle modern mobile games?
The Snapdragon 845 can still run most modern mobile games, but you may need to lower graphics settings to achieve smooth frame rates. It won't deliver the same level of performance or visual fidelity as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200.
❓ What are the benefits of the 4nm process node used in the Galaxy S22's chipset?
The 4nm process node allows for a higher transistor density and improved power efficiency compared to the 10nm node used in the LG Velvet's Snapdragon 845. This translates to better performance, reduced heat generation, and longer battery life.