iFixit teardown shows how Samsung packed an S Pen into the S22 Ultra
The release of Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone means we’ve got another excellent iFixit teardown to enjoy, which offers a great look at the insides of the Galaxy S22 and S22 Ultra.
The teardown gives us a look at how Samsung has gone about integrating its S Pen stylus into the Galaxy S22 Ultra, as well as the new vapor chamber for keeping the phone cool during use. But the most interesting discovery relates to the vibration motor inside the S22 devices, which iFixit notes is now built into the bottom speaker rather than the top.
The speculation is that Samsung is trying to catch up to the performance of the iPhone’s Taptic Engine, but it’s doing so with a component that takes up less internal space. The changes Samsung has made to the vibration motor were actually picked up on by Marques Brownlee in his review, although he found it made the vibration harder to notice while the S22 was in his pocket. Bummer.
Unfortunately, Samsung’s flagship phones are still a bit of a nightmare to repair, which is bad news for device longevity and hence the environment. Although the internals of both phones are held together with standard Philips-head screws, their casings are stuck together with tough adhesive that’s difficult to tease apart (iFixit actually cracks the back of its S22 Ultra during removal), and their batteries take “a tedious combo of isopropyl alcohol, suction cup lifting force, and patience” to remove and replace.
The result is a pair of three out of 10 scores for reparability, which is the same as last year’s S21 Ultra but represents a slight fall for the base Galaxy S21. For reference, last year’s iPhone 13 Pro scored six out of 10, which proves that it’s possible to do better without sacrificing the premium flagship feel of a device.
Correction March 4th, 2PM ET: A previous version of this post misspelled the name of Marques Brownlee. We regret the error.
iFixit and Google are Launching a Genuine Pixel Parts Program.
We’re delighted to announce that we are working with Google to sell genuine parts for Pixel phones, starting later this year. You can learn more about it in Google’s blog post.
We will be continuing to write our step-by-step Google Pixel phone repair guides, which are comprehensive going all the way back to the original Pixel. Repair guides are live for every Pixel through the Pixel 5, and we are writing guides for the 5a, 6, and 6 Pro right now.
Our parts selection will include everything you need for the most common Google Pixel repairs—batteries, displays, cameras, and more. We will sell them both individually and as part of Fix Kits, which include all the tools you need to fix your Google Pixel, from screwdriver bits to spudgers.
Starting later this year, genuine Pixel spare parts will be available for purchase at ifixit.com for Pixel 2 through Pixel 6 Pro, as well as future Pixel models, in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and European Union countries where Pixel is available.
Each kit comes with the iOpener, our opening tool designed to apply heat directly and evenly to case components joined with adhesive. The kits also include replacement pre-cut adhesive for securing and re-waterproofing your Pixel.
The full set of tools in our Pixel repair kits:
- iOpener
- Replacement pre-cut adhesive
- iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6)
- Spudger
- iFixit Opening Tool
- Suction Handle
- Angled Tweezers
- Precision Bit Driver with Integrated SIM Eject Tool
- 4 mm Precision Bits appropriate for the specific phone
Google already provides the software required to calibrate new fingerprint sensors upon installation to the public for free.
We have been collaborating with Google’s team to improve repairability of Pixel phones for the last five years and look forward to continuing that relationship.
“If we’re going to build a sustainable electronics industry, consumers must have options to repair products themselves. Google is making repair more affordable and accessible, even in places without repair shops. We are committed to enabling repairs at a place and time of your choosing,” says iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens.
With this program, Google joins a growing list of manufacturers leading the industry by supporting repair. We’re thrilled to be able to support manufacturers in enabling people to fix things themselves.
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