iPhone 4S drop test

iPhone 4S drop test

Speaking of smartphones, how about durability?

Don’t you just love when someone takes one for the team in a series of drop tests. With all of the killer features these days it’s easy to forget that impact resistance is not to be overlooked. One innocent drop, and whammo there goes $200-300, well or at least a $100 repair job.

ElectronicBreaks does the honors this time with a series of cringe-inducing drops of an iPhone 4S and Samsung Galaxy S II. With over 4 million views there’s a high probability you’ve seen this video already on YouTube, but just in case it’s here, ready to unleash your inner masochism ways.

And the results?

Well, I don’t want to give it all away. Suffice to say that Apple is a pretty boy, but isn’t likely to be seen in many bar brawls (well it might be found in a bar hanging out, just not involved in any kind of fisticuffs… especially with Android).

Another thought: lightness helps it seems in these tests. Like a near weightless bug or fly, it just seems to keep the impact damage to a minimum.

Does this matter to you, and would it impact your decision to pick up the 4S vs S II?

I’d be interested to know.

My theory is that durability is actually far down the buying criteria. Siri is likely woo many. On the Android side, the flexibility of widgets, and overall power and customizability likely win the day.

Clinton shoots videos for Stark Insider. San Francisco Bay Area arts, Ingmar Bergman and French New Wave, and chasing the perfect home espresso shot 25 seconds at a time (and failing). Peloton: ClintTheMint. Camera: Video Gear