0.35 mm Pitch — the board-edge real-estate decision
The Molex 5050702220 is a 22-position plug from the SlimStack 505070 series, using a 0.014" (0.35 mm) pitch in a dual-row arrangement. That pitch is the tightest constraint for the board layout — it sets the routing channel width and forces a matching 0.35 mm pitch receptacle. With 22 circuits across two rows, the connector saves board-edge length compared to a single-row layout at the same pitch. The mated stack height is 0.6 mm, and the height above board is just 0.019" (0.48 mm), making this part suited for ultra-thin portable devices where every tenth of a millimeter matters.
Solder retention holds the line during reflow
The connector includes solder retention features that anchor it to the board during reflow. Without those, a 22-position SMT connector at 0.35 mm pitch can shift from paste surface tension alone.
22 positions — match the circuit count exactly
The 22 positions are the first thing to check against the BOM. The 505070 series offers 16-, 20-, and 34-position siblings at the same 0.35 mm pitch and 0.48 mm height. If the circuit count is 22, this is the one — no footprint change needed across the family, just the position count. The dual-row layout halves the connector length versus a single row, which matters when routing traces out from under the connector body.