How does Apple test an iPhone’s durability?

Marques Brownlee, one of the biggest tech YouTubers around, has recently got to visit Apple labs to see the behind-the-scenes of an iPhone’s production. Thankfully for us, he showed off an interesting part of the process: Apple’s durability testing. From impact durability tests to water resistance and vibrations, we got to see a wide variety of “torture tests” by Apple itself.

iPhone water testing

In this test, the testers spray the phone with different water streams at different angles and strengths. Afterward, they completely submerge the phone. All of this is done while the phone is on, presumably to check for any immediate reactions.

#2: There's an entire room of machines for water and ingress testing

Level 1: A drip tray simulating rain, no real pressure. IPX4

Level 2: A sustained, low-pressure jet spray from any angle. IPX5

Level 3: High pressure spray from a literal firehose. IPX6

Level 4: Locking the… pic.twitter.com/5R38I6QVmW

— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) May 29, 2024

iPhone vibration and impact testing

Unlike the iPhone drop tests you often see on YouTube, Apple testers don’t just drop the phone on the floor. This would create too many inconsistencies between drops and would be hard to monitor properly. To achieve lab-effective tests, the testers instead let a robot arm drop the phone. But, like YouTube, they do record the drop in slow-mo. Although that’s more for actual research purposes and not because of the entertaining aspect of it.

For the vibration tests, they connect the device they need to test to a special machine plate. That plate will vibrate at any frequency the testers will want to set it to, which is useful to simulate frequencies of motorcycles, cars, and any other frequencies a phone can encounter.

#4 Ok this one was hard to capture on camera – it's literally shaking everything at computer-controlled frequencies. They can program in the frequency of a certain motorcycle engine or subway car to simulate how well a device will hold up to sustained exposure to that frequency… pic.twitter.com/K981NzQhhk

— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) May 29, 2024

Some takeaway thoughts regarding the camera industry

While some cameras are sturdier than others, most mirrorless cameras can’t handle impact or water too well. I often find myself wishing camera brands would start caring about durability more than now, as I hate the fact that I need to rely on my phone every time conditions get rough. Sure, I can trust OM System and Nikon cameras in the rain, but only to a certain extent. And when you talk about impact resistance, there is no competition; I would much prefer dropping a new phone to a new mirrorless camera.

I understand a big part of the issue with impact resistance is the lens itself, but it’s not impossible to create a rugged lens. The glass elements will need to be smaller so that the body of the lens will be able to protect the glass with ease, but that’s no big deal. It will be way too hard to make an effective 70-200mm f/2.8 with impact resistance, but a 50mm f/2? Nikon, Canon, Sony, or any manufacturer can make such a lens if they wish to.

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