The Galaxy S22 series is now available globally after a successful preorder period, which Samsung said was the most lucrative of all its launches to date. With many new owners of Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra models it’s a great time to know how sturdy the devices are, among all their design and hardware upgrades.
The Galaxy S22 series went on sale on Friday, and now the device protection brand, Allstate has released its drop tests, revealing the durability of the new Samsung flagships. The results found that the Galaxy S22 series have seen downgrades in durability in comparison to its feature bumps. After testing the devices in face down, back down, and side down drops from a six-foot height onto a concrete sidewalk, it was a challenge to determine which was the most durable; however, the Galaxy S22 Ultra did appear to be the most fragile of the three.
The Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Ultra were rendered unusable after one face-down drop, while the Galaxy S22+ was still functional, but needed to be used with caution due to shattering along the corners. The back drop similarly left all three Galaxy S22 models with a completely shattered rear panel. While the camera module did not suffer damage, the condition of the bodies of the phone was not safe for users without protection.
Finally, the side drops yielded the least damage, with the Galaxy S22 and S22+ taking some shock due to their Armor Aluminum frames. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S22 Ultra features a complete glass design and curves on both sides, which led to shattering at the corners and cracks along its display. However, all three models remained functional.
One of the design upgrades includes Samsung using a glass backing on the standard Galaxy S22 model in comparison to the polycarbonate plastic backing it used on the standard Galaxy S21 model. During Allstate’s durability tests in 2021, that model saw little damage when dropped on its back.
However, while considering some nuance in design, the Galaxy S22 Ultra camera system is not protected by a sturdy module like the Galaxy S22 or Galaxy S22+ or even like the Galaxy S21 series, and its lenses survived the drops unscathed. Even older Samsung devices, such as the Galaxy S10 series, have experienced drop tests that destroyed not only the front and rear glass paneling, but also the camera module and lenses. It is possible Samsung has sacrificed overall durability to maintain the integrity of features such as the camera.
The Galaxy S22 currently sells for $799, while the Galaxy S22+ is $999, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra is $1,199. However, with such potential for damage, consumers can consider smartphone insurance, which can help them make decisions about damaged or faulty devices. Allstate offers smartphone warranty programs that start at $12.99 per month.
