Apple’s iPhone has never had a reputation for durability. The iPhone has always been pretty, but it’s also been fragile.
That’s why iPhone case sales are a billion-dollar industry.
Over the past few years, new smartphone technology has helped Android manufacturers add “water resistance” to their phones. Water-resistance typically comes at a rating of IP67 – which means the case is completely impermeable to dust and is capable of staying submerged under one meter of water for 30 minutes without “ingress” of moisture.
If Apple added “water resistance” to the iPhone, it would have been a killer feature. But they didn’t. Apparently, they also didn’t improve the durability of their screens – despite early rumors that the iPhone 6 was going to have a crystal sapphire screen.
iPhone 6 torture tests have appeared online over the past few days. Here are a few of my favorites:
iPhone 6 fails water test in shallow sink
The iPhone 6 failed a water test in a shallow sink in one YouTube video. The iPhone was submerged in approximately six inches of water:
Immediately after dropping the phone in the water, bubbles start rising from the iPhone 6, which means that it is certainly not IP67-protected: obviously, water is entering the device. The iPhone stays submerged for about a minute, although it starts exhibiting serious difficulties at about 49 seconds in. As the timer ticks past the one minute mark, the phone gets dimmer and dimmer before going black for the last time.
iPhone 6 passes two drop tests, fails last one
The only drop tests the iPhone 6 passed in this video was when the phone was dropped on its back and side. Both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus passed the “dropped on its back” test with minor scuffs and damage. The iPhone 6 passed the “dropped on its side” test with minimal damage.
The iPhone 6 Plus’s screen, however, was totally shattered after being dropped on its side edge. Additionally, the display panel became separated from the back – although the phone was still usable.
The glass over both displays shattered after being dropped face-down – although both phones were once again still usable.
iPhone 6 fails liquid nitrogen test and blender test
Ahh yes, now we have the coveted liquid nitrogen and blender tests. How does the iPhone 6 fare after being submerged in liquid nitrogen and tossed into a blender? Check out the videos below:
The iPhone 6 briefly survived that liquid nitrogen test before going dark for the last time. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the iPhone 6 was then bludgeoned with a sledgehammer – putting it out of its misery.
The iPhone 6 does surprisingly well in the blender test – but only because it hid itself against the sides of the blender for most of the test. Eventually, the iPhone 6 was sucked into the swirling death vortex, where its battery promptly caught fire.
So the iPhone 6, just like its predecessors, has no stated IP rating and appears to offer limited protection against the ingress of dust and moisture. It’s also unable to stand up to liquid nitrogen. Your move, Apple fans.
