Hardware review YouTube channel JerryRigEverything has put the new iPhone 7 through an intensive durability test, concluding that Apple has designed a "solid phone" with good build quality, but with a couple of reservations.
The latest video shows how a black matte iPhone 7 stands up to scratching, applied heat, and bending. In the first test, the screen stands up to a utility knife with no problems. However, when a harder level 6 mineral pick is applied it incurs damage, suggesting that coins and keys won't scratch it, but care should be taken to protect it against other abrasive materials that can be found in pockets and purses.
The iPhone 7 screen also lasts almost 10 seconds on contact with an open flame, after which the pixels get warm and turn off before completely recovering within seconds. In conclusion, screen durability is described as being "on par with typical smartphone screen hardness".
On the back of the phone, the anodized aluminum casing on the matte black model holds up well against key scratches, leaving hardly a mark, but it can't stand up to the cut of a razor blade.
Elsewhere, the new Taptic Engine home button stands up to the assaults of a razor blade, but suffers a deep scratch with a mid-level hardness pick. JerryRigEverything claims that this proves it is regular glass and not sapphire, contradicting Apple's own specifications for the phone.
Similarly, the rear camera lens on the iPhone 7 is demonstrated to be scratch-resistant when a razor blade is used, but it scratches deeply with a level 6 hardness pick. According to the reviewer, sapphire would be expected to withstand up to level 9, so the lens isn't sapphire either, but Apple would disagree. Meanwhile, the buttons are confirmed as metal, while the antenna bands remain plastic.
From a purely durability perspective, JerryRigEverything calls the removal of the headphone jack on the new iPhone "an extremely bad move", owing to the fact that two accessory types – headphones and charging cables – must now use the same port, doubling the rate of wear and tear. Another reason to use wireless headphones instead, perhaps.
Lastly, the bend test confirms the iPhone 7's aluminum chassis isn't susceptible to bending like the iPhone 6, which received plenty of criticism for this. However, waterproofing adhesive between the screen and the frame does begin to tear when significant pressure is applied, suggesting that sitting on the phone is still inadvisable.
Update: Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller has confirmed that the top of the home button and the lens cover are both made of sapphire.
Not true. Camera lens cover and top of Home Button both Sapphire. #iPhone7 — Philip Schiller (@pschiller) September 17, 2016
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Got it.
From a purely durability perspective, JerryRigEverything calls the removal of the headphone jack on the new iPhone "an extremely bad move", owing to the fact that two accessory types - headphones and charging cables - must now use the same port, doubling the rate of wear and tear. Another reason to use wireless headphones instead, perhaps.
Bold: This is complete nonsense, reason, not one single person uses this port the same, some won't ever use the headphone while others will use them more than charging the phone, so it could be from zero extra wear on the port until more than double, even triple or quadruple.They didn't get to perform an abrasion test on the jet black model by any chance?
He said that he would do one very soon.Read the above statement again, it clearly says so, but here you are:
Geez, just stop taking it literally. Of course the wear-and-tear rate won’t be exactly a factor of 2.0. The gist of the statement is absolutely true. Whether that means anything in practice is a different matter.Just don't abuse it and it'll be fine.
Bold: This is complete nonsense, reason, not one single person uses this port the same, some won't ever use the headphone while others will use them more than charging the phone, so it could be from zero extra wear on the port until more than double, even triple or quadruple.
That's not what he is saying though. He is saying the port -- all ports -- have a defined lifespan and when you double up the use then it has the potential to wear out quicker than if it was primarly single purpose. Of course it's YMMV, just like everything else.[doublepost=1474024484][/doublepost]
Razors? Open flame? Mineral pick?! This phone holds up better than most humans would under the same circumstances!
And that is why his next test will be iPhone 7 vs Jack Bauer. :DJust don't abuse it and it'll be fine.