iPad Mini Survives Dunk Test, Cracks in Drop Tests but Still Functions - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iPad Mini Survives Dunk Test, Cracks in Drop Tests but Still Functions

As is always the case with new iOS device launches, some early purchasers are interested in putting the products through drop tests and other experiments in order to test their durability. The iPad mini is no exception, and several drop and dunk test videos have already been posted.

Android Authority has a comparison between the iPad mini and Nexus 7 tablets, putting each device through a series of three drops from approximately chest high.

ipad mini cracked
While the iPad mini did suffer a fair amount of damage, including a cracked screen, it did outperform the Nexus 7 in that it continued to function after being dropped.


Warranty company SquareTrade has also performed its own drop and dunk tests comparing the iPad mini to the Nexus 7 and the third-generation iPad. In the drop tests using a dedicated rig, the iPad mini held up well in a corner drop, but the screen did shatter on a face-down drop. In the dunk test, which involved placing each device in a tub of water for ten seconds, the iPad mini continued to function normally, while the iPad appeared to develop a sluggish home button and the Nexus 7 reset itself and became non-responsive.

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iPad mini 7 Review Thumb 1 sans text

iPad Mini 8: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Wednesday August 19, 2026 5:17 am PDT by
According to the latest rumors, Apple is close to launching its next-generation iPad mini. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over 21 months ago. Read on to find out. Processor and Performance Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to information found in...
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro: Pre-Orders and Release Date

Sunday August 16, 2026 8:24 pm PDT by
Apple has yet to reveal when the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra will be announced and released, but the dates usually follow a familiar pattern. As usual, the event is expected to take place in the first half of September. Labor Day falls on September 7 this year. The last time the holiday was on that day was in 2020, but the iPhone event that year was delayed until October due to the...
apple camera airpods

Apple's Camera-Equipped AirPods Confirmed: See Them in Action

Monday August 17, 2026 6:21 pm PDT by
Apple is working on camera-equipped AirPods that appear to be nearly ready to launch, based on a video MacRumors found in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate. In a short demo, a man holds a book up so the camera in the AirPods can see the title. "With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later," says the voiceover text. Here ...

Top Rated Comments

notjustjay Avatar
180 months ago
Breaking news: electronic devices made of glass break if you drop them!

:confused:
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Les Kern Avatar
180 months ago
$1,000 worth of useless reporting.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
180 months ago
I wish somebody dropped him face down...
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Krazy Bill Avatar
180 months ago
Breaking news: electronic devices made of glass break if you drop them!

:confused:

And... probably won't work if you take them in the shower with you. :eek:
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
180 months ago
Well not scientific but still a decent example of durability.

----------

Personally I'd kick my device on the way down to break the fall
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MonkeySee.... Avatar
180 months ago
These people are idiots. This doesn't make me want to drop my devices any more or any less.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)