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How tough are series 7000 aluminum phones

J

jcorbin

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 18, 2011
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D.C.
I am curious how tough the 7000 series aluminum phone are. I'm not talking about drops but more little bumps and scratches. Specifically the aluminum not the glass

How much pressure can they take on the sides? I installed a snap in case and it felt really tight when installing and removing. Like really tight
 
Thanks I'll have to check that it. Any idea about pressure? Not bending in half but in the sides. It was a plastic snap on case that was really tight going on and off and concerned me
 
Cases that fit that tight can be a problem as I found that you need to remove them occasionally to get any debris or grit out that will damage the phone. If it is real tight it makes that hard to do.
 
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It's made by my carrier. They make these cases for every phone. But this one seems tighter than usual. Well I'm leaving it off. But I'm concerned that removing it could have damaged the phone in some way.
 
jcorbin said:
It's made by my carrier. They make these cases for every phone. But this one seems tighter than usual. Well I'm leaving it off. But I'm concerned that removing it could have damaged the phone in some way.
Click to expand...

I know how you feel as I had a case get stuck on my iPhone years ago and I ended having to cut it off because I did not want to put more pressure on my phone.
 
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Think a phone sporting 7000 series aluminum (space grade) should be ok
 
Floris said:
Check out jerry rig everything on youtube - he does scratch tests on all sorts of phones, including the iPhone 7.
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I don't know how people could look such tests, unboxing new iPhone and scratch him, burn him, throw him from 1000 ft, etc... My heart hurts me and I never look such video clips.:)
 
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It looks like the cut out for the cut out for the buttons allows the buttons to pass under the case as it's being installed or removed without the case pushing on it
 
Tried an otterbox symmetry case and that was even harder to get on and off. Sure hope his phone can take a lickin'
 
jcorbin said:
Think a phone sporting 7000 series aluminum (space grade) should be ok
Click to expand...

Well, theres different varieties in the 7000 series, i found this

7068 aluminium alloy is the strongest commercially available aluminium alloy, and comparable to that of some steels.

Primarily developed for ordnance applications, alloy 7068 is now being used or considered for markets like the aerospace and automotive industries (valve body and connecting rod applications), medical devices, such as prosthetic limbs, as well as recreational products like bicycles and mountain climbing equipment.[3] Most recently, it was discovered that 7068 is used to make the outer encasing of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

Manufactured by Kaiser USA. Supplied throughout Europe by Smiths Advanced Metals.

but also 6061 aluminum is also used in aviation and its more popular and used in

6061 is commonly used for the following:

  • construction of aircraft structures, such as wings and fuselages, more commonly in homebuilt aircraft than commercial or military aircraft.[7] 2024 alloy is somewhat stronger, but 6061 is more easily worked and remains resistant to corrosion even when the surface is abraded, which is not the case for 2024, which is usually used with a thin Alclad coating for corrosion resistance.[8]
  • yacht construction, including small utility boats.[9]
  • automotive parts, such as wheel spacers.
  • some tactical flashlights
  • aluminium cans for the packaging of food and beverages.
  • SCUBA tanks (post 1995)
6061-T6 is used for:



I also looked a little more and found that the aluminum used on the iPhones now is not what they used for high end aerospace/space missions. they use a special version of the 7000 series.
 
Still sounds pretty tough
lakaiordie said:
Well, theres different varieties in the 7000 series, i found this

7068 aluminium alloy is the strongest commercially available aluminium alloy, and comparable to that of some steels.

Primarily developed for ordnance applications, alloy 7068 is now being used or considered for markets like the aerospace and automotive industries (valve body and connecting rod applications), medical devices, such as prosthetic limbs, as well as recreational products like bicycles and mountain climbing equipment.[3] Most recently, it was discovered that 7068 is used to make the outer encasing of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

Manufactured by Kaiser USA. Supplied throughout Europe by Smiths Advanced Metals.

but also 6061 aluminum is also used in aviation and its more popular and used in

6061 is commonly used for the following:

  • construction of aircraft structures, such as wings and fuselages, more commonly in homebuilt aircraft than commercial or military aircraft.[7] 2024 alloy is somewhat stronger, but 6061 is more easily worked and remains resistant to corrosion even when the surface is abraded, which is not the case for 2024, which is usually used with a thin Alclad coating for corrosion resistance.[8]
  • yacht construction, including small utility boats.[9]
  • automotive parts, such as wheel spacers.
  • some tactical flashlights
  • aluminium cans for the packaging of food and beverages.
  • SCUBA tanks (post 1995)
6061-T6 is used for:



I also looked a little more and found that the aluminum used on the iPhones now is not what they used for high end aerospace/space missions. they use a special version of the 7000 series.
Click to expand...
l sounds pretty
 
I've been using my iPhone 6s Plus without a case for the past two months and it's flawless. 7000 series aluminum is much better than what they used on the 6.
 
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The switch to 7000 series aluminum from the 6000 used in the iPhone 6 was rumored to be due to the prevalence of users "bending" their phones.

The 7000 series aluminum does appear to be more rigid and less prone to bending, however, there have been incidents of corrosion eating at the anodized treatment on the 6s phones: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-6s-plus-aluminium-chipping.1930678/

It has not affected iPhone 7 phones yet. We will see if Apple has improved their anodization to resist this problem.
 
Vlada011 said:
I don't know how people could look such tests, unboxing new iPhone and scratch him, burn him, throw him from 1000 ft, etc... My heart hurts me and I never look such video clips.:)
Click to expand...

I actually like seeing how much abuse my phone can take and how it gets damaged. It makes me feel better about how durable it is, and like I don't have to be as careful with it.

iPhones FEEL like fragile devices, but they are a lot tougher than they look.
 
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Everyone keeps telling me that they are tougher than they look. I've gone through probably 6 different cases and tried them back and forth multiple times and I can't seem to enjoy the phone as much when using them. It just feels and looks so much better without a case.
 
My 7+ jb is bent. I dont know how it happened but it's noticeably bent on the side where the sim tray is. I have an appointment with a genius tomorrow & will update my results after. I guess the 7000 series aluminum can bend.
 
zorinlynx said:
I actually like seeing how much abuse my phone can take and how it gets damaged. It makes me feel better about how durable it is, and like I don't have to be as careful with it.

iPhones FEEL like fragile devices, but they are a lot tougher than they look.
Click to expand...

I agree with you but I try to protect my iPhone SE as much possible.
For now no single scratch on him after 3 months. I specially try to protect glass on back side on top and bottom. Tempered Glass Screen Protector give you opportunity to put him with screen on table and you can enjoy in little Apple and cell phone design.

People should keep their phones better.
I doubt iPhone 7 could bend but I could bend even laptop, only I need to behave as animal and to do crazy things as bending with full force. Any similar device could bend or brake with enough of force but if people use normal their cell phones in some little bag or pocket on jacket on chests iPhone will be safe. I special pay attention when I put him in inner pocket because sometimes you could miss and he will drop on floor.
 
jcorbin said:
Everyone keeps telling me that they are tougher than they look. I've gone through probably 6 different cases and tried them back and forth multiple times and I can't seem to enjoy the phone as much when using them. It just feels and looks so much better without a case.
Click to expand...

Most cases will do little to prevent bending. Most good for the drops. No way I could use my 7+ without some type of case as it is way too slippery. I do use a Seidio Surface case which is very thin but give the feel of the top of a Thinkpad for grip. Been using them for years now and the one for the 7 series is even improved.
 
MICHAELSD said:
I've been using my iPhone 6s Plus without a case for the past two months and it's flawless. 7000 series aluminum is much better than what they used on the 6.
Click to expand...

I have been using my 6 plus without a case and it's still in almost perfect condition. So really how much better can it be?
 
iapplelove said:
I have been using my 6 plus without a case and it's still in almost perfect condition. So really how much better can it be?
Click to expand...

I did end up having the phone slip out of my hand onto tile and the only damage was two very minor scuffs on the side of the device. The 6 would have had two small dents instead. Case still recommended.

As much as I like using an iPhone without a case, my Jet Black iPhone will be encased as well.
 
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