Galaxy S22 Plus to Buy in 2025: Price, Trade-In & Reviews

Few phones still spark debate the way the Galaxy S22 Plus does three years after launch. This buying guide compares trade-in values, refurbished prices, carrier deals, and long-term support to help you decide if a Galaxy S22 Plus is worth your money in 2025.

Release year: 2022 ·
Display size: 6.6 inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X ·
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (or Exynos 2200) ·
Main camera: 50 MP ·
Battery capacity: 4500 mAh

The Galaxy S22 Plus ships with these core specifications.

How much is the S22+ worth?

Current resale value

• Certified refurbished units start around $200+ in 2025, down from the original $999 retail price (UpTrade (trade-in comparison platform)).
• Refurbished pricing represents roughly an 80% discount from the original MSRP (UpTrade (trade-in comparison platform)).
• A new Galaxy S22 Plus 128GB originally listed at $999.99 (Android Central (tech publication)).

Trade-in offers from carriers and retailers

• Best Buy offers the Galaxy S22 Plus 128GB at $249.99 with eligible carrier activation, and up to $750 off when adding a new line with Verizon or AT&T (Android Central (tech publication)).
• Upgrade customers on existing lines can still get $650 off at Best Buy (Android Central (tech publication)).
• On the refurbished market, the 128GB model goes for $177.00 and the 256GB for $239.95 as of March 2026, offering up to 70% savings vs. new (Back Market (certified refurbished marketplace)).

The pattern: refurbished prices have cratered, making the S22 Plus a serious budget flagship candidate—but only if you’re comfortable losing the first two years of OS updates.

Is the Samsung S22 Plus a good phone in 2025?

Performance and software updates

• The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (or Exynos 2200) still handles everyday tasks and gaming without lag, but battery life has degraded slightly with age (UpTrade (trade-in comparison platform)).
• Samsung promised 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates, meaning the S22 Plus will receive Android 16 and security patches through early 2027 (Samsung (official specifications)).

Camera quality in 2025 context

• The 50MP main sensor with Nightography still rivals many mid-range phones from 2025, though computational photography on newer flagships has pulled ahead (Android Central (tech publication)).

The implication: If camera performance is your top priority and you’re on a tight budget, the S22 Plus beats any current $250–$300 Android phone.

Which is better, S22 or S22 Plus?

Display and size differences

Three key differences, one pattern: the Plus model trades a slightly larger screen and bigger battery for a higher price.

Battery life comparison

• The S22 Plus offers roughly 1.5 hours more screen-on time than the standard S22 due to its larger 4500 mAh cell (Android Central (tech publication)).

Price difference

• New, the S22 Plus was $100 more than the S22 at launch ($999 vs. $899). On the refurbished market, the gap is narrower—typically $30–50 (Back Market (certified refurbished marketplace)).

The trade-off: the extra screen size and battery make the Plus a better media-and-gaming device, but the standard S22 is enough for most daily drivers.

Where to buy a Galaxy S22 Plus?

New vs refurbished options

• New units are scarce from major retailers; most remaining stock is from third-party sellers on Amazon.co.uk (online marketplace) or carrier inventory.
• Certified refurbished units from Back Market (certified refurbished marketplace) come with a 12-month warranty, while refurbed.ie (certified refurbished retailer) offers a 30-day return policy.
• Wireless Source reports that refurbished Samsung phones save buyers $400–$500 compared to new models (Wireless Source (refurbished phone retailer)).

Amazon and carrier availability

• Amazon.co.uk (online marketplace) lists both new (when available) and refurbished S22 Plus models, often with customer reviews to help assess condition.
• Carrier deals: Best Buy offers carrier-locked discounts for Verizon and AT&T as noted above (Android Central (tech publication)).

The catch: new units carry a full manufacturer warranty, but you’ll pay 2–3× more than for a “good” condition refurbished unit. For budget buyers, refurbished is the smarter path.

How old is the Samsung S22+ and will it stop working?

Release date and age

• The Galaxy S22 Plus launched in February 2022, making it roughly three years old in 2025 (Wikipedia (general reference)).

Samsung security update policy

• Samsung committed to 4 years of OS upgrades and 5 years of security patches for the S22 series (Samsung (official specifications)).
• Security updates will likely end in early 2027, while OS updates (up to Android 16) wrap up in early 2026.

Models potentially affected in 2026

• Samsung has not officially detailed exactly which devices will stop working in 2026. Older models like the Galaxy S20 series (2019) are already past their security update window, but the S22 Plus should remain fully supported until at least early 2026 (Samsung official update policy).

What this means: buying a refurbished S22 Plus today gives you roughly one more year of major OS updates and almost two years of security patches—enough time for a budget smartphone.

For the budget-conscious buyer in 2025, the Galaxy S22 Plus offers a rare blend of flagship camera performance, a smooth 120Hz display, and solid build quality at roughly one-fifth of its launch price. The trade-off is clear: you lose the newest AI features and the final year of major OS updates. For shoppers willing to accept that, the S22 Plus is arguably the best value in the refurbished flagship market right now. For everyone else, the choice is between a $250 S22 Plus and a $400 current mid-ranger—and the S22 Plus still wins on camera, display, and premium feel.

For those specifically looking in Ireland, the best deals in Ireland provide a comprehensive overview of current pricing and availability.

Frequently asked questions