Reader input required: how would you test a ruggedised handset?

Following on from my post yesterday, I continue to garner test requirements for the physical examination of mobile communications devices by means of impaction of inaminate object(s) – or in other words, how to batter some ruggedised handsets in to submission!

If you would like to see extreme physical peril come to the Nokia 5140 (Old skool but cool), the Samsung Solid (new boy, but not a toy), and the JCB Toughphone (The world’s ruffest and tuffest – apparently), then add some comments to this post.

For reference, we already have (highlights):

Tom: Drop it in front of you while running, and step on it

Chad: Drop it down 2 or 3 flights of stairs, let it “fall” out of your car driving on the interstate

Raimo: Cut and tear test – use a breadknife and have fun!

Mathias: Drop it from at least a couple of stories up

Mihai: bury it in cement …leave it there 2 or maybe 3 days and then brake the cement and if it still work`s

All good suggestions, I think you’ll agree – but I also think we can be more inventive

What I am looking for is 5 tests, to match the 5 (working) days of the week – ranging from “gentle” (if there is such a thing in a ruggedised test!) through to “downright nasty” – once we have our top 5, I will post ‘em up, and we can get to testing!

So get commenting, and let us know what you’d like to see

[Note: keep it sensible folks, any tests that will be either offensive to people, animals, or delicate inanimate objects won’t make it through - the idea is to give these devices a thorough test in the ‘everyday environment’]

About The Author

Ben Robinson

Ben is a 10+ year veteran of the Mobile industry – starting his career when SMS was a still a relatively new concept for most people (!), he has now consulted on everything from bleeding-edge Mobile content, to the next-gen accessories you might view it on. As a result he has a broad and deep knowledge in numerous areas of Mobile – from network operators to device vendors, to infrastructure and middleware vendors (not to mention content delivery) – and has worked for companies in all of these areas! He is based in the UK, a hotbed of activity for mobile, and recently became a father for the second time – as oppose to in his younger years when he was happy spend time tweaking all manner of mobile devices to 'nth' degree, he now looks for services and hardware that provide the most efficient, compact, and reliable improvements to his already manic life! It’s his opinion that Mobile solutions should be there to help to make your life better – if a particular solution (be it service or device) isn’t doing this, he believes you need to ask the very important question of why you continue to use it... His focus at IntoMobile is mainly on Mobile content, services, and infrastructure, particularly as regards the UK market – and with the occasional look at devices. Additionally, using his extensive experience in the industry, he will provide commentary on the industry at large, with regular (and hopefully thought-provoking) articles.

knoxploration

1. Place phone immediately in front of rear tire of parked, rear-wheel drive vehicle. Preferably a large, heavy one.

2. Drive vehicle slowly onto phone and park it *on* the phone for 30 seconds.

3. With nobody standing behind the vehicle, nothing breakable behind the vehicle (preferably just a concrete wall ~10 feet away), and nothing in the way of the vehicle, floor the gas to fire the phone at the wall.

4. Post the results.

There’s your “downright nasty” test.
Tom

Day 1: Drop from shoulder height onto hard surface.
Day 2: Toss from waist height 5 to 10 meters
Day 3: Key scratch screen (maybe this shoudl be day 1?)
Day 4: Freezer test for 2 hours / Oven test at 200 degrees? (maybe 150 degrees)
Day 5: Drop into bowl of water and quickly retrieve…. or not.

Day 6: Will it blend?
Zak

Yea!!
Will it Blend!!!!!
Simon Sage

I second the water and cold testing. I actually hucked some BlackBerrys in a snowback to test OtterBoxes awhile back.
Chad

nastier?? try this then.
1.go the top of your local skyscraper, and drop it off the top floor.
2.see if it will survive a garbage disposal swirlie.
3.leave it under the hood of running vehicle, make sure it will stay under the hood and not fall out, and drive around for a while.
4.set it on fire.
5.run over it with lawnmower, pick it up and do it again,
6.you could also stick in a dryer for a bit, that would probly fry it due to static but would be fun,
7.you could also microwave it.
I’ll post more if I think of them
Tom

I should have specified that the oven tests were in fahrenheit… living in the US has corrupted my brain. Simulate the temperatures experienced by leaving your phone on the dash of your car for a couple hours on a hot summer day.