How Repairable Is The Galaxy S22? Here's What We Know
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S22 this week to a largely positive response, and a teardown of the device now reveals that it is as repairable as its predecessor. Samsung this week announced the Galaxy S22-series of smartphones, including the S22, S22 Plus and the S22 Ultra. While the S22 Ultra is getting the most attention from the media, the vanilla S22 is a stellar device in its own right, especially for people looking for a relatively affordable flagship that would be both durable and repairable.
In a durability test this week, the Galaxy S22 surpasses the drowning, scratch resistance and bend tests. While the water-proofing test showed that the device could survive being dunked in the water, the scratch test showed that it survived a number seven Mohs pick where almost every other smartphone glass fails. The most impressive was the phone's performance in the bend test, where its new Armor Aluminum build admirably preserved its structural integrity. Now a teardown reveals that it is also one of the most repairable premium phones around.
YouTube channel PBKreviews conducted the durability test mentioned above has now completed a full teardown of the Galaxy S22. The device looks pretty similar to the Galaxy S21 from the inside, which is expected, given how similar they look on the outside. The video shows that the camera module is held together by an adhesive and can be easily replaced, which is positive for repairability. In addition, the screen and the backplate could also be easily replaced, further improving its repairability quotient.
The one area where the phone falls short in repairability is the battery, which is glued to the frame with a strong adhesive. Unfortunately, there are no pull-tabs on it, making it inordinately difficult to remove. It is a disappointment because, in most units, the battery will be the first (and hopefully, the only) component that will require a replacement, so the lack of an easy removal mechanism is a negative. However, that minor roadblock notwithstanding, the Galaxy S22 is a reasonably repairable device overall. It received a score of 7.5 out of 10 on the repairability scale.
The Galaxy S22 is already getting a rave review. The excellent results in the durability and repairability tests further establish it as a front-runner for the title of the best 'affordable' premium smartphone of 2022. The Galaxy S22 price in the U.S. begins at $799, and it promises to be one of the best smartphones at that price this year. Samsung has well and truly thrown down the gauntlet with its new lineup, so it remains to be seen how OnePlus and the other Android vendors respond to it in the coming weeks and months.
Source: PBKreviews/YouTube