Torture tests expectedly find iPhone SE less durable than iPhone 6s

SquareTrade iPhone SE bend test image 002

Extended warranty provider SquareTrade has put the new iPhone SE through its paces in terms of durability. After pitting the device against the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models in bend, drop and water tests, the firm has found the iPhone SE to be less durable than the iPhone 6s series, made from a strengthened aluminum alloy.

“While it holds its own against the much bigger iPhone 6s Plus, the new iPhone SE still has some growing up to do before it can compete with the durable iPhone 6s,” concluded SquareTrade. A video of the tests shows the four-inch iPhone SE being submerged in water, dropped on its corner and bending under pressure.

First, the bending.

The iPhone SE bent under 160 pounds of pressure versus 170 pounds of pressure that the iPhone 6s was able to withstand. Despite its more compact design, the iPhone SE couldn’t emerge victorious in pressure testing because its chassis is not made from Series 7000 aluminum as the iPhone 6s’.

In terms of water resistance, the firm submerged the iPhone SE, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus under five feet of water. The iPhone SE died after less than sixty seconds while iPhone 6s survived a full 30 minutes and only lost audio. As for the iPhone 6s Plus, that device started malfunctioning at ten minutes and eventually died.

All three phones couldn’t survive a facedown drop from six feet high, their screens cracking. This isn’t a scientific test and as such should be taken with a grain of salt. If anything, these kinds of videos prove that the new iPhone SE uses the same material for its chassis as the iPhone 5s.

Source: SquareTrade via MacRumors