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iPhone Stress Tests - PC World Video

pcworld.com — Can you scratch it? What happens when you drop it? PC World's Eric Butterfield takes the iPhone through a grueling set of tests to check how the device handles abuse.

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  • MrMoonlight, on 10/11/2007, -13/+39nice test
    • dustyshadow, on 10/11/2007, -19/+5Would have been better if he did the real phone killer test: a glass of beer or a toilet.
      • Trapped, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Real? Odd.... I have been using mobile phones for about 15 years now. Not one of them have ever came in contact with either beer or the toilet. In pockets with keys and dropped on various surfaces, sure... but they never found themselves in the toilet or beer.
    • Scheissen, on 10/11/2007, -13/+4Hardly. Of course the scratches wont show because the backlight hides them.
    • ToadLeg, on 10/11/2007, -1/+23More of a "use test" than a "stress test". A stress test is when you test how much stress it can take until it actually breaks.
      • migitalwarfare, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3thats what i was hoping for. i want to see just how much torque it can take before the screen shatters
    • spacebar14, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9What the ***** is with that ad? "Come with me, and I'll make you a legend!"
      WTF?
    • nipterink, on 10/11/2007, -1/+8what if you carry jagged diamonds in your pocket
      • migitalwarfare, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3thats like asking "what if you carry a snuke in your snizz?"
      • bradpurchase, on 06/12/2008, -0/+4I feel bad for your legs.
    • jim1977, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1Nice test or retarded way to get a slice of iPhone release day traffic?

      YOU DECIDE.
  • FknGoAway, on 10/11/2007, -3/+134At least we know you can bang it around some without to much worry. Don't think I will try these tests myself though.
    • spacebar14, on 10/11/2007, -8/+4*too
    • blackacre, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0Yes, but I want to know exactly what it will take to render the phone inoperative. That test would be truly interesting.
    • MagicBobert, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Go download the latest Systm. They drop the iPhone from about 6 feet on it's screen and the whole screen cracks.
    • bluesdealer, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Yeah, I wouldn't take any chances, though. The designers at Apple obviously did a good job in making the glass durable, but mine's going in a case from the date of purchase and forever after.
  • kenvsryu, on 10/11/2007, -17/+119PC World please use YouTube.
    • stupergenius, on 10/11/2007, -2/+33Then they couldn't force us to watch their ads.
      • bobcrotch, on 10/11/2007, -4/+8Meh it's not that big of a deal really though
        • minigamer1896, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4*opens up MSIE at work and gets blasted by ads that he didn't know that existed*
    • minigamer1896, on 10/11/2007, -0/+15Why? They already had the framework in place on their servers before YouTube became popular if I remember correctly.
      • DextaRussell, on 10/11/2007, -12/+1Because it's *****?
        • asuraci, on 10/11/2007, -1/+14How is it *****? Just because it's not a ripoff of YouTube doesn't make it terrible, I had no trouble using their player at all. Hell, at least they have a sensible volume control.

          God, some of you digg users will just bitch about anything.
    • protossss, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Still no one jacked it on to youtube? DIGG HAS FAILED ME !!!
  • sparky99, on 10/11/2007, -37/+9This should shut up the unbelievers :-)
  • borninda818, on 10/11/2007, -38/+28Yes Yes, i doesn't scratch...but will it blend?
    • killerofkiller, on 10/11/2007, -16/+4i'll give u that one, it's been a while since i've seen one of those comments
  • Dynamosa, on 10/11/2007, -6/+74Funny how surprised the guy is the entire time that the iPhone holds up to his 'drop on pavement' and 'key scratching' tests.

    Still is nice to know the thing won't break after a little abuse...
    • VicFerrari, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1 I went and got the case that covers the screen just incase I have to put into my backpack. Actually I am typing this from my iPhone right now
  • TomPlansMedia, on 10/11/2007, -8/+2seeing in the street next to that puddle made me cringe!
  • sQPha7e, on 10/11/2007, -41/+110The sound of the iPhone smacking the hard concrete was pleasing. (not sarcasm)
    • parkermauney, on 10/11/2007, -17/+10I like turtles.
      • borninda818, on 10/11/2007, -5/+7I always wanted a turtle...but my mom say we cant get one. :( I cry
        • pegisys, on 10/11/2007, -5/+4I had a turtle, the snapping kind, and it bit me

          hurt like hell
    • ThreeDee912, on 10/11/2007, -8/+33And it didn't break. That was even more pleasing.
      • spargett, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4I'd like to see what happened to the phone a few days after the drop test. Sometimes damage can be done that takes a little while to manifest itself.
    • bobdotcom, on 10/11/2007, -8/+2I was disappointed, i was hoping it would break, maybe we should get those guys who trashed the xbox 360 to test this one. That could adequately show my disapproval of how no one shuts up about this thing.
    • jackmeyhauffer, on 10/11/2007, -4/+11Haters
    • dj_sea2005, on 10/11/2007, -7/+2He should have drop kicked the *****.
  • roguenine2000, on 10/11/2007, -37/+6why is pc world reviewing a mac product?
    • esotericguy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+20PC = Personal Computer
      not Windows only magazine.
      • Avalontor, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Oh I see, but now I don't understand the Mac vs. PC ads. Which is it? it can't be both.
        • darwin81, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Don't pay attention to Apple's propaganda. A Mac is by definition a Personal Computer (PC). It's just they want to portray the image that PC (Meaning a PC running Windows) = NERDS!!!! and Mac (Meaning a shiny PC manufactured by Apple) = Cool.
    • Kabrabnzada, on 10/11/2007, -2/+18Uhhhhh do you realize how many Windows PC owners bought iPods? It's not just an Apple market.
    • ncapone, on 10/11/2007, -2/+18It's not Mac, it's Apple, douche!
  • dafragsta, on 10/11/2007, -8/+2Impressive. Most impressive.

    Now if they could only apply the same protection to the facade of my iPod. Bought a case for that which covers everything except the click wheel and ports. Guess where all the scratches are? I also bought an aluminum case for my Treo 700p that's not in such good shape after a lot of the same abuse these guys gave the iPhone. (The metal on those things is so crappy though. It bends and warps with the slightest pressure.)
    • Pyrogen, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1That's because its not metal, its plastic with a chrome finish. :)
    • dafragsta, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Wow. Tough crowd. I guess unless you kiss Apple's ass in a thread about the iPhone, you get Dugg down. People are sheep too. That helps.
  • fanboydcs, on 10/11/2007, -6/+127oh my god, that is way more durable than I thought! Good job!
  • parkermauney, on 10/11/2007, -9/+3's Still not right I tells ya!
  • haastyle, on 10/11/2007, -13/+2hmm when i go to that pcworld site, NOD32 finds a virus lol, a trojan
  • jackwaters, on 10/11/2007, -15/+73That things a ***** tank...
    • B1663r, on 10/11/2007, -2/+17Well the chrome shiny bezel will be all scraped looking in about 6 months, but the phone will still work.
      • fixyourthinking, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9Sure like any phone that you don't keep in a protector on your waist. All ceelpphones get scuffs on the bezel area if you don't protect them.
      • mindsnare, on 10/11/2007, -4/+4If I see one single person with a ***** iPhone strapped to their waist, I will murder them, all the while screaming "Use your god damn pocket *****!"

        I have issues
    • spacebar14, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1I don't see what all the fuss is about. My friend has an LG 245 flip phone (one of the cheapest phones you can buy from TELUS now), and he *throws* it at the concrete all the time just to show me how durable it is. Sometimes the battery door comes off, but other then that - it's in mint condition.
      • TomFrost, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Dude... the cheapest phones you can buy don't have absurdly large, delicate screens made of glass, they don't have added technology like wifi and a processor that can handle a full OS, and they certainly aren't this thin and tightly-packed. I'd say this is a *little* bit more impressive.
  • KTULU1, on 10/11/2007, -10/+4What? that's all? I was expecting the hammer test at least if not the monster-truck one... no fun!
  • break99, on 10/11/2007, -4/+88as a non-believer, I have to admit this little toy handled that test pretty well. good job on that.
  • CopyNinja, on 10/11/2007, -12/+112I CAN ONLY WATCH SO MUCH TORTURE! seeing any new electronic gadget being abused like that makes me cringe.
    • djspike, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5good to know i wasn't the only one that cringed a little on the inside to watch him drop it several times on the pavement...
  • Stonekeeper, on 10/11/2007, -11/+4Please more iphone stories!!!
    • Heilige, on 10/11/2007, -6/+1What are you insane? Thats like saying to the entire world, NO MORE PORN! (not that I am into porn which I am not lol)
  • Here4TheFight29, on 10/11/2007, -1/+24this is good i was really surprised about the no scratch test that a great resistant screen..I'm not getting one but if i ever do i know i wont have to worry about anything but getting it stolen damn
    • rssej, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1its locked to the user, good luck on trying to sell a stolen one
  • bizsumpark182, on 10/11/2007, -4/+28Alright! Way to go iPhone!
  • akumous1979, on 10/11/2007, -2/+22I am really impressed by the level of abuse this phone can take and keep on ticking. If I was into cell phones I would have gotten myself one.
  • ViciousVic, on 10/11/2007, -2/+13That is very impressive, I thought it bought the farm with the pavement but damned if the thing was still okay.
    • godd4242, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1dug for the sole reason that I love that expression
  • englishganxta, on 10/11/2007, -2/+41It hurts me each time he does one of these tests on it.
    • minigamer1896, on 10/11/2007, -1/+5Same here, and I'm not even an iphone junkie!
  • Beevo, on 10/11/2007, -8/+20Was prepared to bury this just cause I'm tired of iPhone stories, but that was actually pretty impressive. I still won't buy a first version of any Apple product again, my first gen iPod still works after a battery replacement, but if I'd waited 6 months I could have had a better version. I'll wait for the 80g iPhone Nano.
    • Heilige, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2The battery on my original 5GB iPod still works fine and yes I use the iPod just not every single day
    • tghd, on 10/11/2007, -3/+6What kind of stupid logic is that you wait 6 months on any new tech gadget and there will always be something new. And 6 months after that something newer will come and again in 6 more months.
      • LordVance, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7Because he wants an apple product? And past experience has shown him that, while first gen apple products can be very good - the jump in quality from first to second or third gen is a lot higher than the subsequent upgrades. I'm sure iPhone's second generation will be a large leap in quality because it will be the first generation which was molded through a plethora of user-review and commentary. The first generation is an unveiling, the second will be more what the people want the iPhone to be...

        Apple will improve in the areas the most people complain, and the second generation will no doubt be a much better product. Not to say this first generation of iPhone is crap; of course it is not - only saying that the "second gen" of a product is where you see the most real-user input coming into play.

        If Ford put out a flying car tomorrow, would you want to buy the first generation of them? Or would you wait until the 2010 models came out with a ton of hands-on input as to how well the "idea" of a flying car really works.
    • gbiche, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2I agree with Beevo, because that's just the nature of technology; there will always be something smaller and more powerful and cheaper
    • Quix, on 10/11/2007, -1/+380g iPhone Nano??? Make yourself comfortable, you're going to be waiting a *long* time for that much storage capacity in that form factor.
    • PhoenixAvatar2, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3What about the iPhone Shuffle? No need for a touch screen, you just keep hitting next until you call the person you wanted to.
  • macslut, on 10/11/2007, -7/+37Put it in the microwave!
    • bedouin, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4So I wasn't the only one wishing for that while he was in the kitchen.
  • acidandspatter, on 10/11/2007, -3/+11I agree it's cringing watching something so impressive getting abused.
  • jeet404, on 10/27/2007, -0/+58Now if they could make the Ipod out of the same materials we would be set.
  • diggless, on 10/11/2007, -2/+8although not scientific this was interesting. Apparently they learned a lesson from the plastics they used on the video ipod I have. That thing scratches if you breathe on it wrong.

    I want to know what the hardness (rockwell or otherwise) also the abrasion resistance ( I dont know the name of a measurement for this type of testing) of the screen is. Also they should take something sharp to it. Like a brand new key, or a knife.
    • NickDaddyKing, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1or a machete!
    • superkendall, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1He did take a key to it, about midway throgh! Used the tip on the screen, pressing down pretty hard it looked like to me. No scratch.
  • Playerown, on 10/11/2007, -6/+0Did anyone else's virus protection go off when they clicked that link. Or was it just mine?
  • dbz253, on 10/11/2007, -5/+3i want to see him slide it accross the concrete screen side down.
    • djroketboy, on 10/11/2007, -2/+0I agree, I can't say how many times my 8700c has popped out of the holster when getting into my car....
  • bardo, on 10/11/2007, -3/+9Our Emeryville Apple store was open until midnight last night -- walked right in around 10 and got one. The iPhone is simply amazing... For google maps alone its worth it...
  • ninjanews, on 10/11/2007, -1/+0Man... I swore he was going to microwave it! "I placed the iPhone on sensor cook POPCORN and... hey still works".
    Really good to see some tests. I would like to see more scientific measurements (as diggless mentioned). I wonder how hard it is to break that glass. I'm still going to cradle mine like a little EM emitting baby tho.
  • RyanistheRyan, on 10/11/2007, -7/+3Aggravated Assault!!!!!
    I represent the specific iPhone within the video. I'm gonna stick a phone so deep up your butt that your gonna wish you had a bluetooth headset.
  • Sixcolors, on 10/11/2007, -5/+5Not really a simulation of anything, just some random testing. I hope they put it through a more rigorous test than this. Still impressed with the screen quality, though.
  • exernet, on 10/11/2007, -3/+0I'm looking forward to the smashmyiphone.com stress test
  • huckdunsany, on 10/11/2007, -13/+44But... will it blend?
    • doronster195, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5That is the first time in a while that someone has used that phrase appropriately.
      • NewOntario, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I love that YouTube Show. "Will it blend? That is the question."
  • Mathewh, on 10/11/2007, -4/+1do they do these types of test with anything else, particularly other types of phones? this is a bit spammy - "look what we're doing to an in-demand object". that said, looks like a pretty tough device!
  • drcreek, on 10/11/2007, -6/+7POOR BABY!!! I bet he treats his kids the same way.

    P.S
    Their sound guy really needs to learn the wonders of compression (sounds wise not size wise). I had it turned up full while the guy was whispering then nearly blew my system up once the music started.
    • minigamer1896, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2*isn't sure if he should digg drcreek's comment or bury it*
      I do have to agree with you that they need to have the volume level evened out for the whole video.
  • glui2001, on 10/11/2007, -15/+4...but will it blend??? :)
  • digitalbuzz, on 10/11/2007, -0/+9how about a point impact to the screen? phone in pocket and sharp corner of a desk comes to mind...
    • superkendall, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1He was pressing down pretty hard with the key, though you're right it's not quite the same as a real point impact. Would like to see that test myself.

      The screen is really dense though, you can just feel it...
  • nhassan, on 10/11/2007, -2/+3wonder what would happen if someone got pissed off at the thing and threw it at the floor.
  • Alegoo92, on 10/11/2007, -6/+2You do know that almost nothing can scratch glass, right? That's why is you get paint on glass, you let it dry and get it off with a razor.
    • aelias, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Tell that to my glass counter-tops.
    • kernelhappy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Uhh glass is relatively hard but the reason why a straight edge razor doesn't scratch glass when removing paint or stickers is because the pressure is evenly distributed across the blade. If you put too much pressure on one side or use the corner of the blade you will scratch most glass.
  • brianbennett, on 10/11/2007, -0/+11Ok Ok... I'm impressed.
  • RocketGib, on 10/11/2007, -4/+8They forgot the liquid test... drop it in a toilet and see if it still works. :p
    • DaffyDuck, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1I'd like to see this too but they should drop it in water then let it dry in a bowl of rice (to help soak up the moisture) then try to use it.
  • yabos, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2The screen is glass so I'd hope your keys wouldn't be able to scratch it very much if at all.
    • superkendall, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Not all glass is the same. Take your keys to your windows at home sometime if you think glass is simply impervious in all forms.

      Not shattering as it hit pavemnet was also impressive.
  • ShogunWarPig, on 10/11/2007, -2/+2Don't want an Iphone but that was pretty impressive. That said most cellphones are pretty darn rugged nowadays.
  • gronne, on 10/11/2007, -7/+1Why does nothing happen on the screen when he's rubbing the key against it? I realize there's a "lock" button but still it would be nice to see proof that this was a functioning iPhone and not a static image on something looking like an iPhone.
    • quadvods, on 10/11/2007, -3/+7its conductive touch not pressure sensitive.. duh.
      • gronne, on 10/11/2007, -6/+3Wow a smug and condescending response from an Apple Fanboy. Never could've predicted that.
      • TomFrost, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2If Quad weren't a dick, he would have explained that the screen on an iPhone works much the same way a touch-lamp does. There's a fine matrix of capacitors holding a charge near the screen, and when you touch the screen, the capacitors discharge their stored electricity into your fingertip. The charge is so small that you could never feel it, but the iPhone can tell by which capacitors empty out, where on the screen you're touching. It's a pretty cool concept, and really impressive that it doesn't have much impact on the phone's power.

        But that works because your body can accept electrical charges. Any metal that touches the screen (keys, for example) won't accept the charge because there's nowhere for the charge to go. The metal would have to be grounded somehow for that to work.
    • minigamer1896, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Tis because Apple designed it to be that way. Would you like to have the "buttons" activated when your ear, the side of your pocket, a fly, bee, etc touches the screen? (The unlock-slide is a additional feature for that area of protection, but it doesn't turn on immediately unless you tell it to.)
      • gronne, on 10/11/2007, -4/+4Thanks for actually giving me a valid answer without being a dick like the guy that commented before you. I haven't read the technical spec cover to cover so I thought it was a reasonable question and I appreciate the reasonable answer.
    • jamie329, on 10/11/2007, -3/+2You Apple haters are hilarious. And by hilarious, I mean extremely jealous. Try not to cry...
      • TomFrost, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Forgive me, but Gronne doesn't appear to be an Apple hater. I'm pretty sure he was simply curious about how it worked, and snapped back at Quad's incredibly rude response.

        ...that said so, I agree on one point. People who claim to hate Apple just for the sake of hating something that lots of people are raving about are even more mindless than the people who rave about the product without questioning it first.
  • Quix, on 10/11/2007, -5/+41"That's one hell of a resilient screen!"

    And a million iPhone haters wail and gnash their teeth in fury...
    • dn11, on 10/11/2007, -2/+1no, I just feel a LITTLE less sorry for all of you that bought one
  • p51d007, on 10/11/2007, -2/+10Yeah, but could someone please tell me how well it works as a FREAKING PHONE?
    I've seen all sorts of how well it works as an iPod, iPhoto, iMovie, but seriously, how well
    does it work as an iPHONE?
    • pepp5, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4Works great. I tried it out with a friend who said I sounded like I was in the room sitting next to him. He sounded fine to me, 8 or 9 out of 10 quality I suppose. Making the call was a breeze. The demos on apple.com show the UI of the more advanced phone features, and it looks very easy to use. One button to handle most multiple-line features.
    • bigdawg, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I have the phone and have made several phone calls using the headset, the regualar phone and speakerphone. All 3 work very nice and voice quality on my end is awesome. The only thing is that the speakphone is a little weak compared to the other 2. But yes the actually phone function is awesome as well as the other things that it can do.
    • superkendall, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1There is a test on the web describing the voice quality is really good from a frequency measurement standpoint.

      For real use, I thought it sounded very clear - I've always had trouble understanding people on my RAZR, the iPhone was much better,
    • NewOntario, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0I messed with the iPhone today and found that seeking out a contact is FAR more efficient than how I go about using my Motorola L6. For me, I would buy the iPhone for the calender and for how quick and simple the phone feature is. My only disappointments we're that I can't use Finetune on the internet browser and that the switch to and from wide screen mode can be a bit laggy.So what if you can't save pictures from the web or that you can't copy and paste text. When I do get mine someday, dunno when, I'll still use my iBook G4 for using the web.
  • cnldelta, on 10/11/2007, -4/+5My Logitech Attack 3 Joystick would not survive that Hard floor drop test (it did fall from table height resulting in half the buttons not working.)

    That iPod's one fine piece of engineering.
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