Just two days after its grand announcement, Samsung’s debut new Galaxy S22 underwent durability and teardown tests. These were conducted by PBKreviews, and tests showed that the smallest S22 members performed better on both assessments.
Durability testing started with a one-minute water immersion test, which didn’t detract from this IP-68-rated device. The screen scratch test showed deep marks on the Mohs scale of 8, which is the norm for glass screens — even if this one is the latest Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ type. The back is also made of the same glass material as the screen, and the scratch test level is also eight.
The frame, buttons, camera island and SIM tray are all made of aluminum, which adds solid structural integrity. Bending the phone from either side resulted in no buckling or damage, giving the S22 a 10/10 durability score.
Next is dismantling, first removing the glass rear panel. The glass back panel is attached to the metal camera frame, which is held in place by adhesive. There are a total of 19 screws that need to be removed further to gain access to the wireless charging coil and NFC antenna.
Prying off the battery cord and the top plastic cover frees up the motherboard, which houses key components like the chipset, memory, storage and three rear cameras. Both the main 50-megapixel sensor and the 10-megapixel telephoto module come with OIS, which is shown in the video. Next is to remove the top and bottom speakers.
Replacing the screen requires disemboweling key parts of the phone and heating the adhesive on the front to loosen it. The 3,700mAh battery doesn’t have a pull tab, which means alcohol and a pick are required to pry it open. This gives the Galaxy S22 a repairability score of 7.5/10.