Breaking smartphones

Forgewolf · January 02, 2015, 06:38:32 PM

You know what blows my mind? People breaking their smartphones by dropping them.. I still have my first smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S3, dropped it three times, once before I got a simple case to improve grippage and the other two while it sat on my leg.. No cracks, no dents, nothing! Do I just have magical hands or just big hands to handle big phones?

How do you people do it!?

Super Irish · January 02, 2015, 06:53:15 PM

I had to recently replace my old Samsung with one of the newer S-sumthings

My old phone was certainly less "smart", but it was built like a Nokia, had dents and scratches but that's to be expected after having it for 3 years. I've had to buy a case for my new phone because otherwise I'd feel constantly worried that the thing would break.

It's a mixture of reasons why people smash phones like it was going out of fashion: i) Because the "smarter" phones get as time goes on, the more intricate and delicate the machinery is inside, ii) A rugged, damage resistant, but thick phone isn't fashionable in today's market of teenagers , and finally iii) A weaker phone is to the companies benefit, seeing as they'll just go and buy another expensive phone once it breaks, or buy accessories to protect it. (Or at least that's my take on it).

EDIT: And somehow I missed this; iv) What do (most) teenagers do? Take pictures, and drink alcohol at parties. That is a perfect recipe for a dropped phone and a broken screen.

BaconShelf · January 02, 2015, 07:12:51 PM

I don't know either. I've had my iPod touch for >2 years without so much as a scratch, let alone a crack.

DAS B00T x2 · January 02, 2015, 07:16:33 PM

I destroyed two screens on my nokia at work. Gorilla glass is fickle at certain impact angles.

Forgewolf · January 02, 2015, 07:42:05 PM

Quote from: DAS B00T x2 on January 02, 2015, 07:16:33 PM

I destroyed two screens on my nokia at work. Gorilla glass is fickle at certain impact angles.

But what causes you to drop a phone so easily!?

DAS B00T x2 · January 02, 2015, 07:44:41 PM

Quote from: Forgewolf on January 02, 2015, 07:42:05 PM

Quote from: DAS B00T x2 on January 02, 2015, 07:16:33 PM
I destroyed two screens on my nokia at work. Gorilla glass is fickle at certain impact angles.
But what causes you to drop a phone so easily!?

The first one was a pocket malfunction. The second time I dunno.

Jono · January 02, 2015, 10:45:45 PM

I dropped my iPhone 4 on concrete twice and it still hasn't cracked.

Statefarm · January 02, 2015, 11:41:18 PM

I get cases for all my mobile devices

The Lord Slide Rule · January 03, 2015, 12:00:53 AM

I have a bit of a theory about why it's so easy to crack the screens.

I've noticed, at least every time I've cracked a screen, that when it happens people will try to catch it and it'll end up landing on the corner. The issue here is that the screens are glued all around the edge of the phone, causes there to be a lot of tension in the screen it self because it's being pulled in several directions by what really amounts to too much glue. When the phone lands on the corner it flexes and the tension in the screen causes it to crack.

I bet if you were to glue the screens just in the corners this would happen less often. I have to replace a cracked screen now and intend on just replacing it myself in order to test it.

Kinder Graham · January 03, 2015, 12:27:53 AM

I once threw my phone in anger. Made a small crack on the screen

DAS B00T x2 · January 03, 2015, 12:29:19 AM

Quote from: SexyPiranha on January 03, 2015, 12:00:53 AM

I have a bit of a theory about why it's so easy to crack the screens.

I've noticed, at least every time I've cracked a screen, that when it happens people will try to catch it and it'll end up landing on the corner. The issue here is that the screens are glued all around the edge of the phone, causes there to be a lot of tension in the screen it self because it's being pulled in several directions by what really amounts to too much glue. When the phone lands on the corner it flexes and the tension in the screen causes it to crack.

I bet if you were to glue the screens just in the corners this would happen less often. I have to replace a cracked screen now and intend on just replacing it myself in order to test it.

Gorilla glass does NOT like to be dropped straight on the corner, especially if the screen covers the entire front of the phone and the glass itself makes contact with the floor.

The Lord Slide Rule · January 03, 2015, 12:33:47 AM

Quote from: DAS B00T x2 on January 03, 2015, 12:29:19 AM

Quote from: SexyPiranha on January 03, 2015, 12:00:53 AM

Gorilla glass does NOT like to be dropped straight on the corner, especially if the screen covers the entire front of the phone and the glass itself makes contact with the floor.

So it's just a property of the glass itself instead of the way they assemble the phone?

Goddammit I hate consumer electronics. If everyone was allowed to cut corners the way they do people would die.

DAS B00T x2 · January 03, 2015, 12:35:02 AM

Quote from: SexyPiranha on January 03, 2015, 12:33:47 AM

Quote from: DAS B00T x2 on January 03, 2015, 12:29:19 AM
Quote from: SexyPiranha on January 03, 2015, 12:00:53 AM

Gorilla glass does NOT like to be dropped straight on the corner, especially if the screen covers the entire front of the phone and the glass itself makes contact with the floor.
So it's just a property of the glass itself instead of the way they assemble the phone?

Goddammit I hate consumer electronics. If everyone was allowed to cut corners the way they do people would die.

It's otherwise decently shatter resistant and a little more scratch resistant than other touchscreen options.

The Lord Slide Rule · January 03, 2015, 12:38:22 AM

Quote from: DAS B00T x2 on January 03, 2015, 12:35:02 AM

Quote from: SexyPiranha on January 03, 2015, 12:33:47 AM
Quote from: DAS B00T x2 on January 03, 2015, 12:29:19 AM
Quote from: SexyPiranha on January 03, 2015, 12:00:53 AM

Gorilla glass does NOT like to be dropped straight on the corner, especially if the screen covers the entire front of the phone and the glass itself makes contact with the floor.
So it's just a property of the glass itself instead of the way they assemble the phone?

Goddammit I hate consumer electronics. If everyone was allowed to cut corners the way they do people would die.
It's otherwise decently shatter resistant and a little more scratch resistant than other touchscreen options.

shush, don't ruin my rant

🍁 Aria 🔮 · January 03, 2015, 12:39:55 AM

I've never cracked a phone before, even after dropping/flinging my old iPhone 3GS down a flight of concrete stairs it ended up without a scratch on it.

BrenMan 94 · January 03, 2015, 04:00:18 AM

>Don't scratch phone or crack screen
>Sell on eBay for mucho dinero when a new phone you want comes out
>Still have $100 extra left for video games or w/e

This is what I've been doing since 2006.

Rinev · January 03, 2015, 01:44:35 PM

I don't understand it either. It's the same thing with people that break consoles or controllers.The only damage on my phone is a dent about the size of the head of a pin.

challengerX · January 03, 2015, 02:10:56 PM

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Mad Max · January 03, 2015, 02:11:02 PM

The thing about phones is that most of them are pretty durable, but have an Imperial Death Star-like spot that will make is shatter if it's hit just right.

Mad Max · January 03, 2015, 02:11:22 PM

Quote from: challengerX on January 03, 2015, 02:10:56 PM

Quote from: BrenMan 94 on January 03, 2015, 04:00:18 AM
>Don't scratch phone or crack screen
>Sell on eBay for mucho dinero when a new phone you want comes out
>Still have $100 extra left for video games or w/e

This is what I've been doing since 2006.
I tried selling some iPhones.

Eight different cops called me. Eight.

Why would the cops call you?

challengerX · January 03, 2015, 05:04:01 PM

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Forgewolf · January 03, 2015, 06:44:21 PM

Quote from: challengerX on January 03, 2015, 02:10:56 PM

Quote from: BrenMan 94 on January 03, 2015, 04:00:18 AM
>Don't scratch phone or crack screen
>Sell on eBay for mucho dinero when a new phone you want comes out
>Still have $100 extra left for video games or w/e

This is what I've been doing since 2006.
I tried selling some iPhones.

Eight different cops called me. Eight.

Are you African-American by any chance? You know them Officers love to profile.

TheOneTrueDesticle · January 03, 2015, 07:46:03 PM

Phone screens are made with Gorilla Glass and a lot of the actual phone bodies are composed of aluminum or stainless steel. If you break one of those phones, you probably ought not to handle nice things.

Mad Max · January 03, 2015, 07:53:50 PM

Quote from: TOTDesticle (っ◕‿◕)っ on January 03, 2015, 07:46:03 PM

Phone screens are made with Gorilla Glass

Gorilla Glass is pretty hard to scratch, but will crack if you drop it on an edge.

Nick McIntyre · January 03, 2015, 08:02:18 PM

I've been told my screen will break when my phone drops.

My phone fell out of my pocket at work several times, all on hard ground. All I have is a little scratch on the corner. The more amazing one was when I was done unloading turkeys from our truck, I went to close the trailer door. I had to use my phone as a light source in the trailer and had it in my vest pocket, but when I leaned over to pull down the door, my phone slipped out. It hit the ground, bounced off and smacked into the trailer and then finally fell several feet, screen-face-down, onto pavement. I went out to retrieve it, and by something short of a miracle there were no new dents, scratches, or even cracks on my phone.

TheOneTrueDesticle · January 03, 2015, 08:24:49 PM

Quote from: Mad Max on January 03, 2015, 07:53:50 PM

Quote from: TOTDesticle (っ◕‿◕)っ on January 03, 2015, 07:46:03 PM
Phone screens are made with Gorilla Glass
Gorilla Glass is pretty hard to scratch, but will crack if you drop it on an edge.

My phone is built in such a way that the more fragile edges are pretty well-protected. I can't speak for many other phones.

Ender · January 04, 2015, 08:35:09 AM

My brother threw my phone at the ground and it's fine.

it's a windows too

challengerX · January 04, 2015, 10:30:09 AM

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