Meizu 17 vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Performance

The Meizu 17, released in 2020, represents a peak in the company’s design and engineering. Now, with the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G available at increasingly competitive prices, the question arises: can a two-year-old flagship still hold its own against a newer generation device? This comparison dives deep into the specifications and real-world implications of each phone, focusing on performance, camera capabilities, and battery life.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G is the better choice. While the Meizu 17 offers a compelling package, the S22’s more modern chipset (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or Exynos 2200 depending on region), brighter display, and continued software support outweigh the Meizu’s strengths. However, the Meizu 17 remains a viable option for those prioritizing a unique design and potentially lower cost.

PHONES
Phone Names Meizu 17 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, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands41, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2020, May 08. Released 2020, May 112022, February 09
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, February 25
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions160 x 77.2 x 8.5 mm (6.30 x 3.04 x 0.33 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)
Weight199 g (7.02 oz)167 g / 168 g (mmWave) (5.89 oz)
 -IP68 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 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~390 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)
Size6.6 inches, 106.9 cm2 (~86.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 700 nits (typ)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 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 SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 650Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 10, Flyme 8.1Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Features5-LED dual-tone flash, Auto-HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)-
Single-10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple-50 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@30/60fps, 1080p; gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 0.8µm10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n/ac/6, 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, compassFingerprint (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
Charging30W wired, QC3, 45% in 30 min25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 3700 mAh
Misc
ColorsGreen, Gray, Aurora WhitePhantom Black, White, Pink Gold, Green, Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet, Cream, Bora Purple
Models-SM-S901B, SM-S901B/DS, SM-S901U, SM-S901U1, SM-S901W, SM-S901N, SM-S9010, SM-S901E, SM-S901E/DS
PriceAbout 530 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)

Meizu 17

  • Unique and understated design.
  • Potentially lower price point.
  • Less prone to thermal throttling under sustained load (compared to early S22 batches).

  • Older chipset with lower peak performance.
  • Limited software update support.
  • Display likely less bright than the S22.

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G

  • More powerful and efficient chipset (Exynos 2200 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1).
  • Brighter and more vibrant display.
  • Ongoing software updates and security patches.

  • Potential for thermal throttling (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1).
  • Higher price point.
  • More mainstream design.

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 982 nits, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the Meizu 17. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While the Meizu 17’s display quality is likely excellent, Samsung’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests deeper blacks and a more dynamic image. The S22’s smaller size (6.1 inches vs. Meizu 17’s 6.6 inches) also contributes to a higher pixel density, potentially resulting in a sharper image, though this is dependent on the Meizu 17’s resolution which is not provided.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but the S22 likely holds an advantage. While both are described as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the S22 benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes (details unspecified). The Meizu 17’s camera system is likely excellent for its time, but the S22’s newer technology will deliver superior low-light performance and dynamic range. The inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the S22 is almost certain, contributing to sharper images and smoother video recording. The 2MP macro camera on the Meizu 17 is likely a marketing feature with limited practical benefit.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Meizu 17 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7nm+), while the Galaxy S22 comes with either the Exynos 2200 (4nm - Europe) or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm - ROW). The 4nm process node of the S22’s chips offers improved power efficiency and thermal performance compared to the 7nm+ Snapdragon 865. The S22’s CPU, featuring the Cortex-X2 core, provides a performance uplift over the Meizu 17’s Cortex-A77. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is known to throttle under sustained load, a potential issue the 865 is less prone to. The S22’s LPDDR5 RAM (speed unspecified) is likely faster than the Meizu 17’s, further enhancing multitasking and application loading times.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S22 has an endurance rating of 85 hours, indicating respectable battery life. The Meizu 17 charges at 30W with QC3 support, achieving 45% charge in 30 minutes. The S22 offers 25W wired charging with PD3.0, 15W wireless charging (Qi), and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. While the Meizu 17’s charging speed is competitive, the S22’s wireless charging capabilities and reverse wireless charging provide added convenience. The S22’s endurance rating suggests comparable real-world battery life despite potentially having a smaller battery capacity, likely due to the more efficient chipset.

Buying Guide

Buy the Meizu 17 if you prioritize a unique, understated design aesthetic and are comfortable with potentially limited software updates. It’s ideal for users who value a compact form factor and don’t require the absolute latest in processing power. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G if you demand the latest features, a brighter and more vibrant display, and a more robust camera system with ongoing software support and security patches. It’s the better choice for power users and photography enthusiasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 chip in the European Galaxy S22 5G overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Exynos 2200 has been known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained heavy loads, such as prolonged gaming. While Samsung has implemented software optimizations to mitigate this, users may experience reduced performance after extended play. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 variant (ROW) generally performs better in this regard, but can still experience some throttling.
❓ Is the 30W charging on the Meizu 17 fast enough in 2024, considering the 65W and 120W options available on other phones?
While 30W isn't the fastest charging available today, it's still a respectable speed and can charge the Meizu 17 to 45% in 30 minutes. For many users, this is sufficient for overnight or quick top-ups. However, if extremely fast charging is a priority, newer devices offer significantly quicker charging solutions.
❓ How does the Meizu 17's software support compare to the Galaxy S22 5G?
Samsung provides a more robust and longer-term software support commitment. The Galaxy S22 5G will continue to receive Android updates and security patches for several years to come. The Meizu 17, being an older device, has limited software support, potentially leaving it vulnerable to security risks and lacking new features.
❓ Is the difference in CPU architecture (Cortex-A77 vs Cortex-X2/A710) noticeable in everyday tasks?
For basic tasks like browsing, social media, and messaging, the difference may be minimal. However, the Cortex-X2 and A710 cores in the Galaxy S22’s chipset offer a significant performance boost in demanding applications like video editing, gaming, and multitasking. The S22 will feel noticeably snappier and more responsive in these scenarios.