The iPhone 7 is water resistant, but if you drop it, it will probably break
SquareTrade carrying out a bend test of the iPhone 7. (Image: SquareTrade)
So, just how tough is the iPhone 7?
SquareTrade, extended warranty service provider for consumer electronics, tested the durability and water-resistance claims of the new Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus against the Samsung new Galaxy Note 7.
Four tests were carried out:
- Water-resistance test: Both the iPhone 7 and Note 7 survived being dunked in water, but they both suffered from some muffled audio afterward.
- Bend test: In SquareTrade's bend test, the iPhone 7 bent at 170 pounds of pressure, with the iPhone 7 Plus doing a little better, going to 180 pounds. This means that both matched the previous 6s generation for bend resistance. However, Samsung's Note 7 not only bent, but also cracked and became unusable after hitting 180 pounds of pressure.
- Tumble test: After 30 seconds in SquareTrade's TumbleBot, the iPhone 7 suffered scuffed corners and a cracked camera lens, with the 7 Plus only suffering a small crack. The Note 7 suffered the most damage with cracks on all four corners and across its glass back.
- Sidewalk drop test: This is where things get ugly. All three smartphones shattered on their first facedown drop. After the second drop, the iPhone 7 wouldn't turn back on. The third drop for the 7 Plus resulted in major screen malfunctioning rendering it unusable. After three corner drops, the iPhone 7 screen cracked and split along its side, while the 7 Plus had a shattered screen, and the Note 7 had a shattered back.
"The iPhone 7 generation is the first to compete with Samsung's water-resistant ratings in its latest smartphones," said Steve Abernethy, executive chairman at SquareTrade.
"After putting them to the test, there's no doubt the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus aren't scared of going for a little swim. Still, when it comes to surviving a sidewalk drop, we saw no improvement. Broken screens are still the leading cause of smartphone damage -- and both Apple and Samsung still have a lot of work to do."
Cool, new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus accessories
See also:
- How to fix iOS 10's most annoying feature
- Here's how Apple made the iPhone 7 water resistant
- Can I just ignore the recall and carry on using my Galaxy Note 7?
- iPhone 7 shattering pre-order records
- Stop calling the iPhone 7 'waterproof'. It isn't
- iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: New features highlights
- How to securely wipe your iPhone for resale