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[Merged] iPhone 4 Glass Body, Durability, and Drop Test Results

My iPhone is going to look sweet when the back shatters (hopefully not the front!).

Of course this won't be much more scratch resistant than the current generation, and I seem to have quite the ability to get scratches on my iPhone's screen. Apple doesn't recommend any screen protectors, so I'm not quite sure what I should do.

gilkisson said:
But if it is Gorilla Glass-like, it probably will perform much like sapphire crystal. Can't kill that stuff with a fire axe.
Click to expand...
But you can break the new iPhone's glass with a short drop, as demonstrated in another thread. I'm sure you can scratch it too with a penny or something rough in your pocket.
 
Press22 said:
Next test should be to drop a marble and a bowling ball at the same height... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Hmmmm…
galileos_experiment.gif

;)
 
I would also like to know how the stainless steel band held up through all of these drops? Was there any visible damage to the band?

Also, sand was able to scratch my 3GS, I wonder how the iPhone 4 will hold up to sand?

Thanks for sharing! :)
 
iFixYouri said:
1. First test was conducted on office carpet, which it held up fine. Concrete is what broke it.
2. Weight should not effect the acceleration...all objects accelerate to the ground at 9.8 m/s^2....however as since we live on earth, denser objects will fall to the earth faster than lighter objects because they can overcome air resistance....like if u go to the moon and drop a feather and a bowling ball, they will both land at the same time (because there is no air resistance). However here on earth, heavier objects will fall faster than the lighter ones because they overcome drag better than lighter objects (they are denser and have less spaces between particles).

Okay...so now that we have that cleared up...we have results of round 2...

So here's what we did this time.

First and foremost: The scratch test. Wow is all i can say. We went at it with keys, screwdrivers, razors, and not a mark. Good job apple! Very scratch resistant.

Second: The drop test.

Rather than dropping it flat, we dropped it a few different ways. We dropped on hard carpet, no problems, no cracking, held up well. Then we moved out to the concrete. We dropped it while walking out of our pocket, standing still and fumbling it, on the corner, spinning, etc. It did hold up quite well, much better than a 3G or 3Gs, but after drop #7 it hit the sweet spot(on the corner, top left) and shattered.

Our conclusion...it did take quite the beating, more than the predecessors, 2G/3G/3Gs, but it is still breakable.

No pictures yet....still have to upload them...coming soon :-D
Click to expand...

Thanks :)


One request though: Please, please, PLEASE, try sandpaper to scratch it! I think it is fine with metal, but i think little rocks/sand/quartz may scratch it.
 
Hellishness said:
Thanks :)


One request though: Please, please, PLEASE, try sandpaper to scratch it! I think it is fine with metal, but i think little rocks/sand/quartz may scratch it.
Click to expand...


I would like to know this as well. Sand was able to scratch the screen on my 3gs, but keys, nails, razors, etc were not able to.
 
marksman said:
The video about the iPhone that is posted everywhere shows the process of the glass and how it is like 30 times harder than very strong plastic or something like that.

It is not going to shatter if you tap in on the desk.
Click to expand...

kas23 said:
This is what I'm worried about. I couldn't care less if it's flexible. I just don't want it to shatter upon hitting the ground. I want it to be able to withstand a collision with cement.
Click to expand...

Not sure whether some people are trolling or are just lacks basic understanding of how iPhones are designed.

This shows 2007 iPhone. It's now 2010. Do you think Apple would improve on a good product?

http://www.pcworld.com/article/157529/the_original_iphone_stress_tests.html
 
If the scratch resistance is *similar* to sapphire crystal then it will not scratch under normal use. Ever.

The bezel on my 8-year old sapphire watch is scratched to bits but the glass is pristine.
 
TuffLuffJimmy said:
My iPhone is going to look sweet when the back shatters (hopefully not the front!).

Of course this won't be much more scratch resistant than the current generation, and I seem to have quite the ability to get scratches on my iPhone's screen. Apple doesn't recommend any screen protectors, so I'm not quite sure what I should do.


But you can break the new iPhone's glass with a short drop, as demonstrated in another thread. I'm sure you can scratch it too with a penny or something rough in your pocket.
Click to expand...

Are you referring to the thread by the guys at iFixYouri ? If so, they said they could NOT scratch either the front or back no matter what they tried. At it took several drops onto concrete to crack the screen.
 
Cougarcat said:
Do you guys have a bumper yet? I'd be interested in the same test, but with a bumper attached.
Click to expand...

I personally believe Apple designed the new iPhone so even more people will purchase the bumper case. I think the bumer should avoid the glass shattering.

how about the back? it's the same material as the front correct? It should shatter just as easily unless we buy a case. It's Apple's Master plan to get us to buy more stuff. :)
 
rusty2192 said:
Are you referring to the thread by the guys at iFixYouri ? If so, they said they could NOT scratch either the front or back no matter what they tried.
Click to expand...
I watched a fair number of reviews for the first iPhone where they couldn't scratch the screen. Then after a day or two with my iPhone I noticed scratching. I'll believe it when I experience it.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/932350/
At it took several drops onto concrete to crack the screen.
Click to expand...

All it takes is one drop.
 
Has there ever been any tests on whether or not Zagg or bestskinever type screen protectors inhibit the performance of the touch screen at all? I for one have always liked the zagg screen, mainly because I have a habit of putting the phones in my pocket with my keys rubbing up against the screen. That, or I'll drop it in gravel screen side down, never fails.

I've had zagg protectors on my ipods and laptops for years and no problems...just don't know if this new glass sent from heaven and remanufactured at the hands of SJobs will not need it.

Thoughts?
 
I know that the glass itself is very scratch resistant, but how about the oleophobic coating on top of it? :confused:
 
TuffLuffJimmy said:
I watched a fair number of reviews for the first iPhone where they couldn't scratch the screen. Then after a day or two with my iPhone I noticed scratching. I'll believe it when I experience it.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/932350/


All it takes is one drop.
Click to expand...

To each his own. I'll wait until I get my iPhone 4 in my hands to decide if I want any kind of protection for it. I've never had any kind of screen protector on my 3GS and a year later it's flawless, so I'm leaning towards naked. I guess we'll find out in a couple weeks.
 
My 3G front actually never scratched, but 3GS did easily. Even though I treated 3G much roughly. I´ve always wondered was it the oleophobic coating´s fault. :confused:
 
I'm not worried about scratching at all. My 3gs was in my pocket with no screen protection for a year and got 0 scratches. I even put it in my pocket with my keys a few times on accident.

I'll never use screen protection again.
 
Just wait for the first day. Some clown will buy one and smash it outside the store, like someone does every time (including the iPad).

I'd actually like to see how durable the screen (and back) is on the new iPhone.
 
Learning from dropping my 1st gen iPhone, I always am careful when taking my phone out of my pocket. I never use a case and all my iPhones have been in very good condition. Besides, how can you put a case on iPhone 4?! It's so BEAUTIFUL!!!
 
apple is releasing an official case for it according to jobs at the keynote. it's basically just going to cover the metal and it looks to be silicon like. it'll probably prevent most breaks like this.
 
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