Motorola Moto X30 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: A Deep Dive Comparison

The Motorola Moto X30 Pro arrived as a disruptor, aiming to undercut the established flagship pricing with a focus on raw performance and incredibly fast charging. This puts it directly in competition with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G, a device that represents the pinnacle of Samsung’s smartphone engineering, offering a refined experience and a versatile camera system. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which phone delivers the best value and experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a complete package – a stunning display, a versatile camera, and long-term software support – the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra remains the superior choice. However, the Motorola Moto X30 Pro is a compelling option for power users who prioritize charging speed and raw performance, and are willing to compromise on some software and camera features.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Moto X30 Pro Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA/Sub61, 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 / 1900 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, August 112022, February 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, August 11Available. Released 2022, February 25
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5)Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions161.7 x 73.5 x 8.4 mm (6.37 x 2.89 x 0.33 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)
Weight198.5 g (7.02 oz)228 g / 229 g (mmWave) (8.04 oz)
 Splash and dust resistantIP68 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
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1250 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)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 SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 730Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 12, MYUI 4.0Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser 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
Triple200 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/1.22", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF 12 MP, f/1.6, (telephoto), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single60 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 0.64µm40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.82", 0.7µm, PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@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
Bluetooth5.2, 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)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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Ready For 3.5 supportSamsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging125W wired, 50% in 7 min, 100% in 19 min 50W wireless45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4610 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsWhite, BlackPhantom Black, White, Burgundy, Green, Graphite, Red, Sky Blue, Bora Purple
ModelsXT2241-1SM-S908B, SM-S908B/DS, SM-S908U, SM-S908U1, SM-S908W, SM-S908N, SM-S9080, SM-S908E, SM-S908E/DS
PriceAbout 550 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)

Motorola Moto X30 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 125W wired charging
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor
  • Potentially better thermal management for sustained performance

  • Less refined software experience
  • Camera system lacks the versatility of the S22 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G

  • Stunning and bright display
  • Versatile and high-quality camera system
  • Long-term software support and ecosystem integration

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Exynos variant may suffer from thermal throttling

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 1266 nits, compared to an unstated peak brightness for the Moto X30 Pro. While the Moto X30 Pro’s display specs are less detailed, the S22 Ultra’s infinite contrast ratio and likely LTPO technology (based on Samsung’s flagship history) suggest superior dynamic range and adaptive refresh rate capabilities for smoother scrolling and improved power efficiency. The S22 Ultra’s display is geared towards content consumption and outdoor visibility, while the Moto X30 Pro’s display, though likely excellent, lacks the quantifiable advantages.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but approach photography differently. The S22 Ultra’s camera system is renowned for its versatility, offering a wide range of focal lengths and advanced image processing. While the Moto X30 Pro’s camera specs are not detailed beyond 'Photo / Video', its focus appears to be on a high-resolution primary sensor (likely the 200MP sensor it's known for). The S22 Ultra’s image processing prioritizes natural colors and detail, while the Moto X30 Pro may lean towards more saturated and sharpened images. The S22 Ultra’s superior optical image stabilization (OIS) and software features likely provide a more consistent and refined photography experience.

Performance

The Motorola Moto X30 Pro utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, a 4nm chip known for its efficiency and performance gains over the original Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The S22 Ultra, however, comes in two variants: an Exynos 2200 (Europe) and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (ROW). The Exynos 2200 has faced criticism regarding thermal throttling, potentially limiting sustained performance compared to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Moto X30 Pro. While both phones feature similar CPU core configurations (1x Cortex-X2, 3x Cortex-A710, 4x Cortex-A510), the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s improved efficiency and the Moto X30 Pro’s potentially better thermal design could translate to longer gaming sessions without significant performance drops. The Moto X30 Pro’s chipset is a clear advantage for sustained performance.

Battery Life

Both devices have an endurance rating of 108h, suggesting similar overall battery life despite the Moto X30 Pro’s unspecified battery capacity. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Moto X30 Pro’s 125W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving 50% charge in just 7 minutes and 100% in 19 minutes. The S22 Ultra’s 45W wired charging, while supporting PD3.0, is significantly slower. The Moto X30 Pro also offers 50W wireless charging, dwarfing the S22 Ultra’s 15W Qi wireless charging. For users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly, the Moto X30 Pro is the clear winner.

Buying Guide

Buy the Motorola Moto X30 Pro if you need the absolute fastest charging available, prioritize peak CPU performance for demanding tasks, and are comfortable with a less polished software experience. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G if you prefer a more refined and feature-rich experience, a class-leading camera system, and the peace of mind that comes with Samsung’s extensive software support and ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2200 in the European S22 Ultra overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 2200 has been known to exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load, potentially leading to reduced performance during extended gaming. While Samsung has implemented software optimizations, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 variant (available in other regions) generally offers better thermal efficiency.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the S22 Ultra actually useful for detailed close-up shots?
While present, the 2MP macro camera on the S22 Ultra is often considered a marketing feature rather than a significant improvement to the photography experience. Its low resolution limits detail, and the results are often inferior to using the main sensor in Pro mode with digital zoom.
❓ Does the Moto X30 Pro support high frame rates (90fps) in demanding games like PUBG?
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Moto X30 Pro is capable of handling high frame rates in many games. However, achieving a consistent 90fps in PUBG will depend on the game’s optimization and the device’s thermal management. The Moto X30 Pro’s improved thermal efficiency may allow for more sustained high frame rate performance compared to devices with less efficient chipsets.
❓ How does the software update commitment differ between Motorola and Samsung?
Samsung typically provides longer software support for its flagship devices, offering multiple years of Android OS updates and security patches. Motorola’s software update commitment is generally shorter, with fewer guaranteed updates. This is a significant consideration for users who prioritize long-term software support and security.