I demoed the Galaxy S22 in Bora Purple – it's just the start of Samsung's surprises
The S22 Bora Purple color ships August 10 – the same day that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 foldable phones are expected to launch
Buying advice: Claim your $200 Samsung credit by signing up before August 9
➡️ The Shortcut Skinny
🟪 New color: Samsung Galaxy S22 in Bora Purple is a mid-cycle addition
📆 Launch: August 10, the same day Samsung will announce MORE devices
📱Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
📱Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
⌚Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 – and the Watch 5 Pro
🌈 Joins: Black, White, Green, Pink Gold, Graphite, Cream, Blue, and Violet
💰Price: $799, but Samsung has A+ trade-in deals + free Buds Live
🤓 Meaning? “Bora” is the Korean word for purple
🙃 So, saying “I got the S22 Bora Purple” = “I got the S22 Purple Purple”
If you waited this long (five months) to buy the Samsung Galaxy S22, you’ll soon be able to select a brand new color: Bora Purple.
I got to demo the S22 in Bora Purple, and I found out that “Bora” means Purple in Korean. So, technically, the name of this phone is the Galaxy S22 Purple Purple 🙃
Announced this morning and on sale starting August 10, the Bora Purple color is a bit different than the lighter Violet/Gold color that’s been exclusive to Samsung’s Store since the phone’s initial launch in February. I got to demo the S22 in Bora Purple, and I found out that “Bora” means Purple in Korean. So, technically, the name of this phone is the Galaxy S22 Purple Purple 🙃
It costs the usual $799, but the price is “as low as $199” with “enhanced” trade-ins and you can get a free pair of Buds 2 or Buds Live. To be honest, getting the price to $299 is more realistic for anyone turning in a two-year-old Galaxy S20 (most people keep their phone for more than two years). This is still a good deal.
I want more bold colors in high-end phones
It may seem silly to get hyped about a new color of a five-month-old smartphone. It always reminds me of this “But she’s got a new hat!” scene from The Simpsons.
But I’m with Smithers on this one. Here’s why: I feel as if most higher-end phones (iPhones and Samsungs included) skip out on fun flashy colors that are exclusive to the cheaper lower-specced models. Instead, I’m often stuck picking among muted color choices. “Do I want burgundy” or “meh dark green?” (the answer was black).
When I asked if the S22 Ultra and S22 Plus would come in Bora Purple, Samsung reps told me that other Galaxy devices in Bora Purple is “TBD.” Unlike the “Bora” trivia that they enlighten me on, I didn’t need a translation for this one. This is welcomed news.
What’s next from Samsung?
This is the prelude to Samsung’s ‘Unpacked’ event on August 10, when it’ll announce the two foldable smaertphones – the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4 – and two smartwatches – the Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
Rumors point to refined versions of the foldable phone pair I got to review last year. For example the Z Fold 4 is supposed to have a lighter design and less bulky hinge, an important step to making mini-tablet-size foldable smartphones more socially acceptable to carry in your pocket.
Samsung makes the best Android phone
I’m still working on a “Best Phones” list – I’ve been doing a lot of testing make it as thorough as possible for The Shortcut audience – but the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is the best Android phone out there and the regular S22 isn’t too far behind (final placement pending).
I’m still unashamedly locked into Apple’s iMessage, FaceTime and Continuity features (seamlessly copying and pasting tweet drafts between iOS and macOS all day). That doesn’t mean I think Apple’s iPhone is perfect.
One area where Samsung beats Apple
I’ll say this in every iPhone and Samsung phone review until things change:
Samsung has the best camera app, and that’s where the iPhone lags behind, even if I think Apple’s photos are sometimes better (it’s subjective at this point; they’re both really good) and its video is always better (iPhone wins hands-down here).
With the Galaxy S22 camera, I’m able to:
Take faster photos with a no-look, coming-from-my-pocket double press of the sleep/wake button (sorry, I’ve never needed Siri that quickly from the pocket)
See the old Aerosmith/Sony Cybershot video below for why this matters
Switch between the front/back cameras with a simple swipe up/down anywhere on the screen (the screen is like a giant button vs iPhone’s tiny switch camera button in the corner – it’s all about hit detection in a pinch)
Trigger selfies with an opened-hand-to-closed-fist gesture – ideal for group selfies at tough arm-stretching angles (Apple has a timer button that’s been buried – sometimes two menus deep)
I find the iPhone camera app to be so difficult to use in the field sometimes – for me, a so-called “tech expert” – that it sometimes stunts my creativity in high-pressure situations (i.e. “hey can we take a selfie?” requests outside of GameStop PS5 restock lines last year. I had just gotten the iPhone 13 Pro Max and I didn’t know that the timer button was buried).
My first digital camera in 2004 was the first Sony Cybershot T1 after seeing it on this commercial. It’s a silly commercial, but accurate when you have that Kodak moment.
I still haven’t had a chance run-in with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, but if I do, I know which phone I’ll be using.