The Ultimate Phone Durability Test: Can the iPhone 16 Pro Max Survive Scratches, Bends, and Fire?

The Ultimate Phone Durability Test: Can the iPhone 16 Pro Max Survive Scratches, Bends, and Fire?

YouTuber Zack Nelson, from the popular channel JerryRigEverything, conducted a durability test on the iPhone 16 Pro Max using advanced testing tools.

He began by examining the titanium frame, comparing it to the previous iPhone 15, and noting that they looked very similar.

Upon unboxing, Nelson expressed frustration with the included USB cable, as it was a USB-C 2 cable, even though the iPhone 16 Pro Max is equipped with a USB-C 3 port.

Next, he tested the new camera button on the right side of the phone, demonstrating how it controls zoom by touch. The button is pressure-sensitive, able to detect full, partial, and minute touches. Interestingly, the button is coated with sapphire.

Nelson explained that Apple uses sapphire for its smooth texture and thermal conductivity. He further detailed that thermal conductivity, measured in watts per meter per kelvin (W/mK), is 1 W/mK in glass but 35 W/mK in the sapphire used in the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

He then moved on to the durability tests, starting with the sapphire-coated camera button. He performed scratch tests at varying levels and discovered that scratches appeared at levels 5, 6, 7, and 8 on the Mohs scale, even though pure sapphire typically scratches only at levels 8 and 9.

Nelson attributed this to microscopic fractures that occur during Apple's process of shaping the button from a larger block of sapphire.

To confirm, he used an advanced gemstone testing device, which showed that the button barely registered as a gemstone compared to a Tissot watch and a piece of real sapphire, which he found somewhat disappointing.

As for the screen, Nelson noted that it features an upgraded Ceramic Shield, a blend of glass and ceramic. Apple claims that the Ceramic Shield on the iPhone 16 is 50% stronger than the previous version and twice as strong as the glass on any other phone.

During the scratch test, the screen showed scratches at level 6 and deeper marks at level 7.

Nelson then used his JerryRig knife to scratch both the screen and the titanium frame. The scratches were visible, accompanied by an unpleasant screeching sound.

Moving to the back of the phone, Nelson found it to have a smooth, matte finish across the rear glass, except for the Apple logo, which was extremely slick.

He also pointed out one change in the iPhone 16 series: the bezels are slightly smaller than in previous models, making the screen appear larger.

For the flame test, which typically turns screen pixels white, there was no visible effect on the iPhone 16 Pro Max's screen.

Finally, Nelson concluded with a bend test. Despite removing a significant portion of the titanium frame and the camera control button, the iPhone 16 Pro Max remained relatively inflexible, with no cracks, creaks, or bends—performing much better than the iPhone 15.