iPhone 7 Undergoes Extreme Durability Test in New Video [Updated]

[macduke]

You don't know that it isn't sapphire and just simply has a coating on it. Stainless steel Apple Watches have an anti-reflective coating over sapphire that can scratch. iPhone screens have an oleophobic coating that helps to prevent fingerprints staying on the screen and that can also scratch (the screens aren't sapphire but the coating will scratch long before the screen does). It stands to reason that since it's so easy to test the authenticity of sapphire (anyone can buy a mineral hardness testing kit on Amazon for less than $20) that it's more likely that there is some coating on the home button/sensor and camera cover than it is Apple falsely advertising them as sapphire. It's not at all a stretch for this to be the case. On the home button, said coating would increase the accuracy of each fingerprint read since the surface would be less likely to retain oil from the skin with each press. Likewise, pictures would be clearer with each photo shot due to less need to wipe off the lens.

People around here need to stop taking the first YouTube video they see as gospel. It's not Apple apologia to not to so.

That's literally the only post I've made about this where I didn't preface it with "If true…" or "If this is the case…". Go back through this conversation and you'll see. I was having a conversation with someone. I'm also looking forward to further confirmation as I was thinking about going caseless—although the revelations about the Jet Black scratching came out, so I've got a backup case just in case. Case closed.

I'm so sorry…

 

[dwsolberg]

nope. those are clearly deep scratches. Are you just regurgitating words you heard from corning's GG5 response?
[doublepost=1474033595][/doublepost]

This might explain it:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7021615?tstart=0

A guy scratched his sapphire watch, but it turned out to be the non-reflective coating.

 

[Keirasplace]

Ports lifespan are measured in "Mating Cycles". Typical consumer mating cycles, say for your USB port is ~500. That's why it's not unusual for your laptop's USB port to "die" on older laptops. A CHEAP USB port is $0.25 where a "High End" USB port runs a whopping $1.10 and may last 20,000 cycles. Now, a common sense approach would be to pay the $0.85 and have one last well beyond the useful life of the product. But, when you manufacture millions, that $0.85 is Millions of lost profits on something that will likely fail AFTER the warranty period, right? Same thing with the Lightning port. It will fail AFTER the 1 year AppleCare is up, but possibly long before the useful life of the iPhone. Hence, his statement. How many times do you plug and charge your phone? Now, how many times do you plug and unplug headphones into your phone? I charge my phone 1-3x a day; but I plug my headset into it 3-5x a day. So the lighting jack went from 1-3 (average 2 a day) mating's a day, to 4-8x a day, or (4x365) ~1,500-3,000 mating's a year (and that's about DOUBLE).

If the Lighting jack was designed for 10,000 mating's for normal life, that means the jack will be "worn out" in about 3 years, versus 6.5 years

You're pluging/unplugging you lightning jack 3300 times a year?
[doublepost=1474042528][/doublepost]

What world do you live in where false advertising is a "non-issue"?

Good grief, get a clue. You do know this crap is on youtube hmm...
I'm guessing Apple changed the Iphone 6 because it bent on Youtube hmmm.... No. No they didn't.
They sold 300M Iphone 6 without a change despite what a moron on the tube claimed.

The kind of off the chart whining we constantly see here is a sight to behold.

I trust Apple more than some moron in a Youtube video doing some random **** and making some random claims about something he doesn't quite understand.

 

[Beck Show]

Was a non-issue up to iPhone 4S when it was metal and not aluminum.

Is aluminum not a metal??

 

[teflonthadon]

So as long as I don't burst into flames whilst shaving with an open blade razor and the phone in my back pocket, it should be ok?
Got it.

Awesome

 

[dampfnudel]

I thought the camera glass and TouchID were sapphire since the 6? Why would they change that?

I can't think of any rea$on, can you? Well, let's wait until Apple clarifies this and explains why Sapphire isn't necessary or something along those lines, if it was actually replaced with a weaker material (with the camera lens in particular). Maybe there was a temporary shortage with sapphire and they plan to reintroduce it with the iPhone 8 next year?

 

[The Barron]

Warning! Do not carry ice picks in the same pocket as your new iPhone 7!

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.

Article Link: iPhone 7 Undergoes Extreme Durability Test in New Video

 

[SSDGUY]

iOS should have a built-in reminder for me to remove any and all level 6 mineral picks from my pockets every morning.

 

[mi7chy]

iOS should have a built-in reminder for me to remove any and all level 6 mineral picks from my pockets every morning.

Common silica sand has a MOH hardness of 5 to 6.

 

[CJM]

Where has Apple said the iPhone 7 has sapphire elements?

 

[steve dave]

Where has Apple said the iPhone 7 has sapphire elements?

Tech specs page on their website. It's been linked and quoted several times in this thread.

 

[ganesh.raam]

There are so many of us who are still waiting to hold the new iPhone 7/7 Plus... Watching this video just makes me sick why people tend to do such a thing to a beautiful phone... We and our first world problems!!!

 

[jimbobb24]

Removal of jack is interesting for durability. Way worse problem on the MacBook. I choose not to buy it for my daughters college because a combination of needing too many adapters and worries about durability (I really worry about USBC design with the crazy tounge designs - those should be banned as way too breakable). It will increase wear as you focus on one port but the lightning looks like about the best port for simplicity and durability.

The rest of the stuff is mostly pointless but fun to watch. I am really curious if Apple dropped sapphire. Its clearly not sapphire on the lens or home button but I wonder why? Was not necessary or other reasons - save Tim a nickle per phone? I dislike non-clickable home button anyway - always thought the Android non-clickable home button was not good user experience.

 

[Peace]

Tech specs page on their website. It's been linked and quoted several times in this thread.

Please provide a link on Apples website that shows the "Home Sensor" being Sapphire.

There is no more button.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

Everyone wants to be Lou from Unbox Therapy ... be originial.

Uhhhh he himself is not original. Not even close. You really think he invented unboxing videos? Get real.
[doublepost=1474048231][/doublepost]The reason they went with glass for the home button is because Sapphire is brittle and prone to cracking with pressure. Since the new home button is based on force touch, clearly they needed a more durable surface for hard presses, and that's where glass comes in.

But I suppose it's more fun to scratch it with razor blades and blame Apple for using "cheap" components, so don't let me interrupt.

 

[ZipZap]

This might explain it:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7021615?tstart=0

A guy scratched his sapphire watch, but it turned out to be the non-reflective coating.

Why the hell use sapphire if they just going to put a scratchable coating on it.

 

[techwhiz]

This guy is a goober.
Completely non-scientific testing.
Doesn't measure force. Doesn't measure temperature, doesn't measure anything.

 

[macs4nw]

LOL, when is sitting on your phone ever advisable?

Had to chuckle at that sentence too.....lol

 

[Suckfest 9001]

Common silica sand has a MOH hardness of 5 to 6.

Lmao why are you even in this thread, the Samsung Note 7 scores 3, barely harder than plastic. And it explodes.

 

[Seanm87]

Uhhhh he himself is not original. Not even close. You really think he invented unboxing videos? Get real.
[doublepost=1474048231][/doublepost]The reason they went with glass for the home button is because Sapphire is brittle and prone to cracking with pressure. Since the new home button is based on force touch, clearly they needed a more durable surface for hard presses, and that's where glass comes in.

But I suppose it's more fun to scratch it with razor blades and blame Apple for using "cheap" components, so don't let me interrupt.

If that's the case why does the apple watch have a sapphire display when it also uses a force touch display?

 

[Beck Show]

Please provide a link on Apples website that shows the "Home Sensor" being Sapphire.

There is no more button.

You are correct that Apple doesn't claim the Touch ID sensor is sapphire crystal. According to their specs pages, the SE, 6S/+, 7/+ don't contain sapphire crystal Touch ID sensors. They only claim the lenses are sapphire crystal.

However, even though the 7 now has a "virtual" haptic feedback button, they still reference it as a new button with Touch ID built in. Here's the link:

http://www.apple.com/iphone/compare/

 

[macs4nw]

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.

Perhaps he should have said 'possibly' or 'potentially' doubling the rate of wear and tear..........

 

[rGiskard]

Awesome to hear that Apple now builds a fairly durable iPhone.

The one feature I'd really love to see in the iPhone 8 is durability. I think it's curious that we all carry around these $500+ smartphones that are extremely delicate relative to something like wallets.

I believe ruggedness will be the next revolution smartphone tech. Imagine an iPhone with inherent ruggedness to match any situation found in the average person's day, one that renders cases to mere fashion accessories. One we could sit on, drop on concrete, even take snorkeling. Such ruggedness will likely derive from flexibility, much like a wallet.

Who leads this design revolution? Ive designs iPhones for his millionaire lifestyle and is obsessed with style and fashion so a functional trait like durability isn't on his radar. More likely it will be an Asian company like Samsung who can design and manufacture all the key smartphone components to make it happen. They're also under more market pressure to differentiate their products since they share the Android OS with most other smartphones.

Still, I don't write off Apple. Ive's dream of an iPhone that's like a sheet of glass may surprise us with it's durability. My glass and steel 4S was tough as nails and rigid enough to sit on occasionally without worry. Maybe Apple has some new material tech to enable the same ruggedness in a 5.5" phone with acceptable weight...

 

[Peace]

You are correct that Apple doesn't claim the Touch ID sensor is sapphire crystal. According to their specs pages, the SE, 6S/+, 7/+ don't contain sapphire crystal Touch ID sensors. They only claim the lenses are sapphire crystal.

However, even though the 7 now has a "virtual" haptic feedback button, they still reference it as a new button with Touch ID built in. Here's the link:

http://www.apple.com/iphone/compare/

They only reference the iPhone 7 with the "New Button". To say they "still reference it" is false.
The other Phones just say "button" Not "new button".


7 Plus :Second-generation fingerprint sensor built into the new Home button

7 : Second-generation fingerprint sensor built into the new Home button

6s Plus :Second-generation fingerprint sensor built into the Home button

6s : Second-generation fingerprint sensor built into the Home button

iPhone SE :Fingerprint sensor built into the Home button.

 

[rGiskard]

There are so many of us who are still waiting to hold the new iPhone 7/7 Plus... Watching this video just makes me sick why people tend to do such a thing to a beautiful phone... We and our first world problems!!!

They do it as a service to the public. It's a form of product testing, same as testing the display properties or SoC performance. Some consumers like to be informed about the stuff they buy and use.