The first Galaxy S22 Ultra drop test has already taken place, and you won't like what you see in the video at the bottom of this piece. The latest Note in Samsung's portfolio has a glass sandwich construction, with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Plus protecting the front and back of the phone. Armor Aluminum, Samsung's most robust aluminium version to date, is used to make the metal frame. Despite this, you'll want to get a case and a screen protector for the Ultra, as the phone may not be able to withstand drops very well.
The design details that matter
Even the cheapest model of the Galaxy S22 has the same glass sandwich design as the other two. That means they all get the same Victus Plus and Armor Aluminum materials. However, the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus are not identical to the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
The latter has a screen with curved edges, rectangular corners, flat top and bottom sides, and rear cameras that protrude independently on the back. Keep these Galaxy S22 Ultra design details in mind as you watch the drop test below.
The Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus have flat screens with curved corners and a metal-encased camera module.
As we've recently seen, all three phones are extremely durable. They'll withstand scratches and liquid immersion with ease. They also do not budge. However, none of this guarantees that the phones will survive all accidental drops.
The drop height and contact surface will have an impact on the phone's survival after such an accident. Smartphone users have no control over this. As a result, putting a case and screen protector on the Galaxy S22 phones is something you should think about right away.
Following the durability tests and the first Galaxy S22 teardown, YouTube channel PBKreviews performed the first drop test on the Ultra.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra is subjected to a drop test.
For the test, the YouTuber used a brand new Galaxy S22 Ultra and dropped it from various heights on concrete. That's what you'd expect from a video like this. And flagship phones usually survive the first drops, which simulate a common type of accident. You take the phone from your pocket or purse and immediately drop it.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra should survive that first waist-high drop, and it does. But what about those protruding cameras? It turns out that the lack of metal around the cameras to absorb some of the shocks may be an issue. In this test, the glass on two of the cameras shattered on the first impact, which was unexpected (image above). The phone's back glass was also scratched near the bottom.
The YouTuber then smacked the phone against the bottom and one of the corners. The screen of the Galaxy S22 Ultra was scratched but not significantly damaged.
Finally, the drop from the same height on the side proved fatal for the screen (image below). The Galaxy S22 Ultra, once again, has a curved edge. When that curved Victus Plus glass collided with the concrete pavement, the screen shattered. Given that the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus have flat screens, it will be interesting to see how they handle the same type of drop. The metal edge should be able to withstand the impact. However, the drop test video only shows the Ultra.
What's important to note here is that the phone is still functional. The display, as well as a couple of cameras, are cracked. However, the fingerprint sensor and screen are operational.
You will require protective equipment.
Following the same script as before, the YouTuber went for a drop from head high. One of these drops resulted in a fatal blow to the Galaxy S22 Ultra screen, which destroyed the screen beneath the Victus Plus glass. To be sure, the repeated shocks may have played a role in this outcome. However, keep in mind that dropping the Galaxy S22 Ultra from this height could result in the screen completely failing.
It's not surprising that the Galaxy S22 Ultra failed its first drop test. We anticipate that phones made of glass will sustain damage in the event of a significant impact. However, the Galaxy S22 Ultra was unable to withstand any drops, suffering significant damage on the first attempt.
If you've purchased or are thinking about purchasing the Galaxy S22 Ultra, you should also get a protective case and screen protectors. You should take advantage of the credit that Samsung provides for such purchases of accessories.
