Chances are, your smartphone has crept into your workflow and become one of your main modes of working without you even realising it. And no, that’s not just referring to emailing on the fly.
Countless times, I’ve researched, edited images and videos, Zoomed, written and published entire stories on my phone while out of office, which made me wonder: what if we cut out the middleman — or, rather, middletech — and went mobile-only for work, cutting out our desktops and laptops entirely?
The idea isn’t that strange: as a 2018 Deloitte report estimates, 70% of workers across the globe aren’t behind a desk, and those workers — from American retail employees and couriers to the Queensland Police, as per Deloitte’s global case studies — are moving away from any work involving a PC to going 100% mobile. Deloitte Digital leader Mike Brinker calls it the “untethered workforce”, and estimated that in the next decade, the “100% mobile employee will be the majority”.
And that was in 2018. In 2022, our smartphones are more powerful than ever. To test out working solely from a smartphone, we’re taking the Galaxy S22 to task as Samsung’s latest model of their flagship phone, available to purchase on eligible plans at Optus, offering price-match guarantees on 5G phones and the added perk of being able to pay over time, interest-free.
Are They Big Enough To Work Off?
Naturally, you don’t want to squint through your workday or struggle to get an eye on everything you need at once: here, size does matter.
While a smartphone doesn’t offer the side-by-side tab experience of a computer, the Galaxy S22’s sizable screen (6.1, 6.6 or 6.8 inches, depending on whether you get the S22, S22+ or S22 Ultra) and ability to switch seamlessly between apps means it’s a fluid experience, and easy on the eyes. If you opt for the Galaxy S22 Ultra, it also has a built-in S Pen, the stylus option that’s perfect for quick note-taking during a meeting or call.
Plus, the screen is brighter than ever, and a new Vision Booster (available on the Galaxy S22 Ultra) optimises the display to match your lighting wherever you are and reduce glare. With the Galaxy S22, you’ll be able to work whether sitting in a sun-soaked park or crossing through city tunnels in the back of an Uber. Productivity will be a piece of cake with Optus’ super-fast 5G network that’s optimised for smartphone use.
Can They Run Everything I Need?
Most day-to-day work tools like Slack and Trello have dedicated mobile apps (and I’d even argue Zoom works better on a phone) meaning there’s little that can’t be done via a smartphone. And more performance-taxing apps — say, photo or video editing — also work smoothly on the Galaxy S22 due to Samsung’s first 4nm chipset (the Qualcomm chip, for any tech-heads), while the all-day battery capabilities will ensure you’re not going to run out of juice after work.
If you’re like me and have a whole lighting system for your video calls, the S22 will keep up the quality with its new Nightography technology, which improves after-dark photos and videos no matter where you are. By pulling in light and reducing pesky lens flares, images are as clear as day.
What About The Vibe?
So, the tech is there, but the real question is, how does it feel to work “untethered”?
The short answer is pretty good, to be honest. There’s a rare sense of focus working exclusively on a phone as opposed to a computer, where multiple tabs and windows distract from a single task. At the same time, going smartphone-only creates a more reactive working environment, reducing the mental barriers that come with certain tasks (for me, email). Everything felt lighter, if that makes sense.
But if you’re not quite ready to abandon your computer completely, splitting your work between it and the Galaxy S22 is seamless and helps ease that restless 3pm-itis that comes from sitting at a desk.
If you’re looking to galvanise your work routine, Optus’ 5G network and 5G phone price-match guarantee offer makes it the obvious option when it comes to the Samsung Galaxy S22 series.
5G Phone Price Match Guarantee: T&Cs apply. Excludes prices tied to other offers. Find out more at optus.com.au/5Gphonepricematch
5G Network Capability: T&Cs: 5G available in selected areas and on select plans (excl. NT). See the Optus website for coverage details.
All-day battery life: Actual battery capacity value may vary.