iFixit Tears Down Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22 Ultra, Finds ‘Serious Heat Issues’

Image: iFixit

The repair experts at iFixit on Thursday published a video teardown, simultaneously taking apart Samsung’s new flagship smartphones — the base Galaxy S22, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Samsung doesn’t use a slew of different screws to make disassembly more difficult, instead opting for standard Phillips screws across both devices.

Samsung’s methods are a lot more sticky, though — the devices’ displays and rear panels are held on by strong adhesive, which iFixit found didn’t loosen up entirely even after a fair bit of a time on the heating mat. The glue used is so unwieldy that the teardown experts chipped the rear glass while prying it apart from the chassis.

Inside, the battery is held in place with even more stubborn adhesive, and Samsung appears to have found a new location for the vibration motor (which is also new) to better compete with Apple’s Taptic-Engine.

The new, beefier stainless steel vapour chamber and the several other thermal management solutions iFixit came across while going through the Galaxy S22 and S22 Ultra’s innards point to “some serious heat issues,” the publication noted.

The teardown also gives us a detailed look at the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s improved periscope camera, which allows for up to 100x (optical + digital) zoom, as well as the new S Pen housing for the higher-end flagship.

The Galaxy S22 and S22 Ultra didn’t do too well in iFixit‘s Repairability evaluation, earning a 3 out of 10 in Repairability Score. There’s not much that the repair experts and advocates liked beyond Samsung’s use of standard Phillips screws across the board.

However, that is not to say that Samsung’s S22 series lacks power. The S22 Ultra is as snappy and potent as an Android gets right now.

The Galaxy S22 lineup launched in Canada last week and is currently available for purchase. Pricing starts at $1,099.99 for the base Galaxy S22 and $1,649.99 for the Galaxy S22 Ultra.