This video presents a comprehensive durability test and review of the new iPhone Air, marketed as Apple's thinnest smartphone. The device's design, featuring a mirror-finished grade 5 titanium frame and Ceramic Shield 2 display, is thoroughly examined. The reviewer conducts scratch tests, finding significant improvements in the Ceramic Shield's resistance (scratching at level 7). The innovative use of titanium is highlighted for its strength, lightness, and elasticity, leading to an exceptional bend test performance where the phone resists permanent deformation. A destructive test utilizing a crane scale quantifies the iPhone Air's structural resilience, revealing it can withstand 216 pounds of concentrated force before breaking. Additional observations include the phone's thinner profile, specific camera features, charging speed limitations, and a humorous anecdote about tariffs. The video also incorporates promotions for Dbrand screen protectors and cases, emphasizing protection for the otherwise robust device.
Summarizing the iPhone Air Durability Test:
0:02 Introduction: The video introduces the new iPhone Air, Apple's thinnest smartphone, setting the stage for a durability test.
0:35 Initial Impressions: The iPhone Air is noted for being surprisingly light, featuring a mirror-finished grade 5 titanium frame that matches the original iPhone's polished edge.
0:53 Thinness Comparison: The phone's 5.6 mm thickness is illustrated by comparisons to common items like an Oreo wafer, toothpicks, and Lego bricks.
1:31 Design Concerns: The reviewer expresses worry that button cutouts might compromise the titanium frame's structural integrity, likening it to a Jenga tower.
1:51 Ceramic Shield 2 Scratch Test: The new Ceramic Shield 2 display demonstrates impressive scratch resistance, showing only minor marks at a Mohs level 7, a significant improvement over typical glass.
2:28 Screen Protection (Sponsor): Dbrand Prism screen protectors are recommended, highlighted for their easy application and availability.
3:10 Anti-Reflective Coating: The iPhone Air's anti-reflective coating is found to be less effective than that on a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
3:42 Titanium Properties: Titanium is praised for its lightness, strength, biocompatibility, and the iPhone Air's use of 80% recycled titanium.
4:22 Bottom Features & Charging: The phone features an off-center charging port with extra microphone holes (due to a mono earpiece speaker), and charges slower (50% in 30 minutes) than Pro models, with a smaller battery.
4:59 Back Design & Camera: The back features etched glass with a shiny Apple logo. A singular 48-megapixel lens (described as "two cameras in one") serves as the primary camera, lacking the dedicated wide-angle and telephoto lenses of Pro models.
5:47 Tim Cook Anecdote: A story is shared about Tim Cook's alleged intervention with a gold bar to eliminate tariffs, saving consumers $1000 per iPhone.
6:35 Bend Test (Initial): The iPhone Air's titanium frame demonstrates exceptional resilience against bending. A first attempt from the back yields "nothing," while bending from the front causes temporary curvature that snaps back straight.
7:24 Destructive Force Test Setup: To find the exact breaking point, the phone is subjected to a quantitative test using a crane scale in a garage setup.
7:52 Destructive Test Results: The iPhone Air sustains 216 pounds of concentrated pressure before its front glass shatters (below the bottom volume button), while the back glass remains intact and the phone's internal components surprisingly functional.
9:04 Durability Conclusion: The iPhone Air is declared "structurally indestructible" against bending, capable of withstanding significant force. However, it remains vulnerable to drops and scratches like any other smartphone.
9:35 Device Protection (Sponsor): Dbrand Ghost cases are recommended for drop protection, noted for being thin, non-yellowing, and MagSafe compatible, with a bundle discount for screen protectors.