MASSIVE Samsung Galaxy deals during Discover Samsung!

SamMobile has affiliate and sponsored partnerships. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn a commission.

Galaxy S23 Ultra makes DIY battery replacements a lot easier

Phone
By 

Last updated: February 9th, 2023 at 14:16 UTC+01:00

The first Galaxy S23 Ultra teardown videos are in, and it looks like Samsung has indeed addressed one of the worst aspects that negatively affected the repairability scores of its flagship phones. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the first Samsung flagship that makes battery replacements easier, as the company finally gave up on the practice of gluing this component to the mid-frame.

When other OEMs began using pull tabs to make battery replacements easier, Samsung stuck with glue — no pun intended. But due to new EU regulations demanding easier repairability, Samsung finally turned around and is now trying to make more sustainable consumer electronics.

As a result, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is its first flagship to use an adhesive pouch with a pull tab for the battery. DIY-ers will no longer have to use a heat gun to soften the glue keeping the battery stuck to the mid-frame, and this lends the Galaxy S23 a much higher repairability score of 9/10 (via PBKreviews). In contrast, last year, the Galaxy S22 Ultra received a score of 3/10.

We’re guessing that the other two models in the flagship series, i.e., the S23 and S23+, adhere to similar practices and should get a similar repairability score. And it’s worth noting that the adhesive battery pouch is not exclusive to Samsung’s high-end phones. The first phone we saw using this method was the Galaxy A14, released earlier this year ahead of Unpacked 2023.

Furthermore, the teardown video below confirms previous reports on the Galaxy S23 Ultra using a larger vapor chamber than the 2022 model. It helps keep the new and overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset cooler.

The Edge display remains vulnerable to damage from drops

Repairability is one thing, but what about durability? Well, the independent reviewer behind the Galaxy S23 Ultra teardown also ran a few drop tests on Samsung’s new flagship, and you’ll find the results below.

In short, even though the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Armor Aluminum frame is as durable as ever, the smartphone’s slightly curved design makes it more vulnerable to drops from certain angles. Despite featuring Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, which is supposed to be more resistant to drops, the S23 Ultra’s curved edges don’t help durability. So if the phone lands on the pavement face down or at a slight angle, chances are that its display will crack.

In contrast, in our own day-to-day testing, we found that the flat design used by devices such as the Galaxy S22+ might lend more durability and longevity to the phones. In any case, if you want to see the Galaxy S23 Ultra face-planting on asphalt, you can check out the video below. And if you want to pre-order the phone, Samsung has the window open until February 17.


Phone Galaxy S23Galaxy S23 Ultra
Load comments

You might also like

Galaxy S23 update brings feature to transfer video calls to tablet

Galaxy S23 update brings feature to transfer video calls to tablet

Samsung has started rolling out a new software update to the Galaxy S23 series that brings a feature that offers flexibility with video calls. It lets users transfer video calls from the Galaxy S23 series to a compatible nearby Galaxy tablet. The update is rolling out in China, according to tipster Ice Universe (@UniverseIce). Galaxy […]

  • By Asif Iqbal Shaik
  • 13 hours ago
Massive deal lets you buy the Galaxy S23 Ultra for $449 only

Massive deal lets you buy the Galaxy S23 Ultra for $449 only

The Discover Samsung event is live today and the company is offering some amazing deals on many of its products. Throughout this week-long event, there’s going to be a special daily deal which will offer exceptional discounts on some of the company’s best products. Samsung is starting out strong with a special deal on the […]

  • By Adnan Farooqui
  • 2 days ago
This one Galaxy S23 Ultra color gets you a free memory upgrade

This one Galaxy S23 Ultra color gets you a free memory upgrade

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is undoubtedly one of the best phones released this year so far and might very well win the title of the best phone of 2023. Those who have used the Galaxy S23 Ultra know how smooth the One UI 5.1 experience is, enabled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 “for Galaxy” […]

  • By Mihai Matei
  • 2 days ago
Samsung announces Galaxy S23 and XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition for the US Military

Samsung announces Galaxy S23 and XCover 6 Pro Tactical Edition for the US Military

Inspired by the success of the Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition, which Samsung says was adopted by thousands of DOD (Department of Defence) personnel across all service branches, the Korean tech giant has announced its new Tactical Edition portfolio, consisting of two new phones: Galaxy S23 and Galaxy XCover 6 Pro. The Galaxy S23 and XCover […]

  • By Mihai Matei
  • 2 days ago
Samsung launches Galaxy S23 in Lime color in India

Samsung launches Galaxy S23 in Lime color in India

A few days ago, Samsung teased the launch of the Lime version of the Galaxy S23 in India. Today, the company announced it will be available in the country starting tomorrow (May 16, 2023) from 12 PM. While the company hasn’t revealed its pricing yet, it is expected to cost similar to other color variants […]

  • By Asif Iqbal Shaik
  • 2 days ago
Samsung has released Galaxy S23 Ultra Limited Edition

Samsung has released Galaxy S23 Ultra Limited Edition

Samsung has released a Galaxy S23 Ultra Limited Edition bundle for a promotional price. It’s available in Vietnam and includes the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Galaxy Watch 5, and a 15W super fast Wireless Charger Duo. The Limited Edition bundle doesn’t feature any special or unique colors or color combinations. The Galaxy S23 Ultra included […]

  • By Mihai Matei
  • 5 days ago