Samsung's Galaxy S22 was put through a rigorous durability test that revealed water resistance and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ surprises.

Samsung's Galaxy S22 was officially announced just days ago but it has already been tortured and drowned in a smartphone durability test. An actual customer would never abuse their new phone like this so the results don't represent real-life experience. On the other hand, pushing the Galaxy S22 to the extremes does offer an idea of whether it could survive similar accidents.

Flagship smartphones are getting tougher every year and it's becoming more common to avoid a case and screen protector, something that was almost an automatic purchase just a few years ago. Samsung's Galaxy S21 series, for example, features an IP68 rating for very good dust and water resistance. The S21 lineup is also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which can survive drops of up to 6.5 feet without cracking. The Galaxy S22 series features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, a glass which little is known about.

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A very early Samsung Galaxy S22 durability test video was posted by PBKreviews and it reveals a couple of surprising results. Starting with a basic water test, the Galaxy S22 is fully submerged in water that's only a few inches deep. Samsung's Galaxy S22 has the same IP68 rating as the previous generation so this shouldn't pose any challenge whatsoever. The moment the phone drops into the water, however, the screen starts reacting to phantom touches and swipes. After removing it from the water, it behaves normally again. While an overly sensitive screen that reacts to water isn't expected, there isn't any real concern. For underwater usage, a waterproof bag or case is still recommended and would eliminate this problem. The durability test moved on to the always terrifying scratch test and finished with a bend test.

Samsung's Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra are all protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+, a material that hasn't been described well, even by Corning. Samsung simply said that it's the latest Gorilla Glass, but the amount of scratch resistance demonstrated might indicate it is a revolutionary new material. The video shows a standard scratch test, placing a numbered strip of tape on the screen and attempting to mark the screen with a range of Mohs hardness testing picks. The lowest number will only scratch soft surfaces and the hardest will mark almost anything. The Galaxy S22 survived both a number 6 and 7 Mohs pick which is where every other smartphone glass fails. Scratches finally appear at level 8, but it seems Corning has improved scratch resistance beyond the level of Apple's Ceramic Shield, the previous best.

The final durability test challenged the Galaxy S22 by attempting to bend it. Samsung described the new Armor Aluminum feature as its toughest yet and indeed, it wouldn't bend during this durability demonstration. It will be interesting to see how the Galaxy S22 handles drop tests when those begin to appear. In the meantime, it appears Samsung's Galaxy S22 series might be some of the most durable phones available.

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Alan is a Tech Writer living in Nova Scotia, Canada. A tech-enthusiast since his youth, Alan stays current on what is new and what is next. With over 30 years experience in computer, video and photo equipment, you can expect useful tips and insights in his writing. Alan has a degree in programming, many years focused on design, editing, and animation. A period of managing logistics and e-commerce operations for a mobile accessories company rounds out a diverse background. Alan is a true jack of all digital trades in this ever-changing computer-enriched world. To stay flexible in mind and in body, he practices yoga, light cardio, and eats a whole food diet, based on minimally processed plants.