My thoughts on a few smartphones

AsSiMiLaTeD

And here is a video of the HTC One X drop test...

http://youtu.be/sBo3W6HdPbM

AsSiMiLaTeD

Here's a screen shot from the HTC showing let speed, very quick on all three let devicesvs

AsSiMiLaTeD

And here's another one from the iPhone. These are three days apart, but speeds seem to range from 25 to 30 with either device depending on where I'm at

Syndil

I saw the video--not that impressed. Not surprised the S3 failed, though, either. That phone feels cheap. Pretty sure I could shatter the S3's glass just from flexing the phone, which should not be possible. I doubt you could flex the iPhone enough to shatter it.

The iPhone's screen survived but the phone itself took permanent damage in the form of scuffs where the phone impacted the ground. As for the glass not breaking, probably just a matter of luck--there is no reason that edge should be exposed. The potential is still there. But that's Apple putting form over function once again.

Also there have been reports showing that the anodized finish on the phone scratches too easily: http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipad-iphone/news/?newsid=3399823

[Deleted User]

The one and only thing I give to my iPhone 4S, is the build quality. Simply put, there are zero phones out there that has the solid build and feel as the iPhone. The lastest Android based phones have features beyond even what the iPhone 5 has to offer, but that is the software side. I do see a strategy that each company is taking, screen size, processor speed, camera pixels, etc.. Ultimately, it is not about the brand of the phone, but what works for each person. Reading about drop tests, speed tests, screen size, blah blah. I mean, really? What kind of home theater setup do you have on these phones? What movies are you really watching on these phones and calling it movie night with the family, on an effin phone? What kind of high quality pictures do you really want to take? low lighting? come effin on. What a joke, This trend is funny at best. Unless a phone could cook me breakfast, lunch and dinner, cut my lawn, wire my speakers, etc etc...I will think otherwise. Crazy how these simple matters become so complicated.

Halen

AsSiMiLaTeD

Syndil wrote: »

I saw the video--not that impressed. Not surprised the S3 failed, though, either. That phone feels cheap. Pretty sure I could shatter the S3's glass just from flexing the phone, which should not be possible. I doubt you could flex the iPhone enough to shatter it.

The iPhone's screen survived but the phone itself took permanent damage in the form of scuffs where the phone impacted the ground. As for the glass not breaking, probably just a matter of luck--there is no reason that edge should be exposed. The potential is still there. But that's Apple putting form over function once again.

Also there have been reports showing that the anodized finish on the phone scratches too easily: http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipad-iphone/news/?newsid=3399823

i didn't figure you'd be impressed since its an apple product. There are multiple videos online showing the same results, so I doubt it's 'luck'.

The phone drop tests were done by multiple independent guys one of which was an android place. The phone still operates fine in both videos, seems like 'function' is just fine to me, and the same on the 4s when it was compared to the s3, even though it was more cosmetically damaged it still functioned fine whereas the other didn't.

Seems like by ignoring that and worrying about the cosmetics vs the actual working condition of the phone YOU are putting form over function.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I hadn't heard about the scratching on the back of the new phones, though I have heard that the black keeps fingerprints pretty bad, good thing I ordered white and aluminum and don't have to worry about either of those

Syndil

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

i didn't figure you'd be impressed since its an apple product. There are multiple videos online showing the same results, so I doubt it's 'luck'.

The phone drop tests were done by multiple independent guys one of which was an android place. The phone still operates fine in both videos, seems like 'function' is just fine to me, and the same on the 4s when it was compared to the s3, even though it was more cosmetically damaged it still functioned fine whereas the other didn't.

Seems like by ignoring that and worrying about the cosmetics vs the actual working condition of the phone YOU are putting form over function.

Not at all. Durability of the phone is a function of the phone, and it's one of the primary functions of the phone. Cosmetics is part of that. Not as important as the screen working of course, but it's not something that I'm going to simply say "oh well, it got dropped so now it's permanently damaged" over either. I keep my phones far longer than most people so it's very important to me. I need a phone to be able to survive a drop and not get damaged at all. If it can't do that, it won't impress me.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Syndil wrote: »

Not at all. Durability of the phone is a function of the phone, and it's one of the primary functions of the phone. Cosmetics is part of that. Not as important as the screen working of course, but it's not something that I'm going to simply say "oh well, it got dropped so now it's permanently damaged" over either. I keep my phones far longer than most people so it's very important to me. I need a phone to be able to survive a drop and not get damaged at all. If it can't do that, it won't impress me.

Fair enough, that's a helluva requirement as the vast majority of phones sold today don't meet that, but hey I'm not gonna pass judgement on your values, you like what you like.

I will say though that, as it relates to this thread and the phones I reviewed here, the iPhone 5 is at the top or among the top phones when it comes to durability, which I was truly surprised by. I mentioned early on that I expected it to fair worse than the other phones given the amount of glass and metal in the build. Then I found those videos to the contrary and wanted to include those in the thread where I'm doing a full review.

The iPhone is certainly not indestructible and doesn't meet your criteria, but holds up well against the others and that was the point of me posting those videos.

Syndil

There aren't many that follow the design steps necessary to create a phone that will survive a fall without taking any damage, but such phones do exist. I own four of them. It's really a simple matter of process of elimination when it comes to selecting the materials used and how to use them. It does seem however that a few companies have figured out the magic formula. None of the phones you tested employ it, however.

BTW here is a drop test of the iPhone 5 in which the front glass cracked on the first drop:

http://www.slashgear.com/cygnett-does-the-inevitable-iphone-5-drop-test-21248879/

AsSiMiLaTeD

Well, the phones I tested are basically the top performing or among those options on each network. For people wanting the fastest and most featured options out there, they're basically the most relevant phones. I'm sure your Palm is a great device and meets your needs well, but clearly your needs are different from what 'the market' wants out of a phone.

As for that video, a few things of note:
- First it's done by a company that makes cases, clearly not the most unbiased people to conduct such a test, which is probably why...
- The test is done from head high to produce worst case scenario results. That's all fine and well, but a drop from waist high is FAR more likely as people drop them going into and out of pockets, falling off laps, or while walking around looking DOWN at their phones. I'm not saying NOBODY ever dropped a phone from head height, but seriously people just don't drop phones from that height. The videos that I linked showing drops from multiple heights are far more helpful for the average user (which maybe you could argue), not to mention they're far more comprehensive (which you can't argue),
- Finally, here is their conclusion on the iPhone 5, this is text quoted from their site right below that video, they seem to be impressed:

So how does the all new and improved iPhone 5 handle the 4 foot drop? Quite well actually. Even with no case involved the new brushed aluminum design seems to handle the rough ground somewhat okay. No shattered glass everywhere and the back still looks pretty, aside from a few scratches. The front glass covering that beautiful and bigger 4-inch Retina Display takes on a little damage however. This time around it surely isn’t bad and won’t hider your usage too bad. Obviously you’ll want to protect this beauty with a new case from Cygnett, right?

Syndil

Actually there is a top-tier phone in the works that follows the magic formula, the HTC 8X. However I haven't gotten my hands on it yet to see how closely it was followed. If the rubberized shell is too thin or inflexible, it could still crack on impact. And I haven't been able to discern how much of a lip it forms around the front face, but it does appear from side views that the front face is obscured by the shell, so at least it doesn't stick out like the face of the iPhone. If the shell is easily and cheaply replaceable (as it is on the Pixi) then that's even better, but no word on that yet. Still wouldn't be a replacement for my Pixi since there is no keyboard, but if I was in the market for a top-tier phone with a large screen, that would be my choice based on physical design alone (it happens to run WP8).