This lab is a phone's worst nightmare
I've broken my fair share of phones.
Some on purpose, some not so much.
But these guys have it down to a science.
I think sometimes people here in meetings drop their phones on purpose.
it almost feels like it sometimes.
We went to the Otterbox labs in Fort Collins Colorado to figure out how they make their cases tough enough to protect your phone from just about anything.
Three, two, woah
It starts with getting the phone specs from the manufacturer.
if it's a galaxy phone they'll have them ahead of lunch but in the case of an iPhone, even otter boxes are kept in the dark.
About every conference room is booked and we're live streaming the Tim Cook speech as well
Following all the information, all the details and stuff.
Within 24 hours, they're ready to 3D print cases in this monster printer to get the feel for how it would work on an actual phone and make the necessary changes before they go to mass production.
And that's not even the half of it.
The real testing happens inside the pit.
An entire lab devoted to torturing cases.
Each one goes through a minimum of 24 tests.
A lot are industry standards, while others were inspired by customer horror stories.
And that's how they came up with the purse test.
This transformed Maytag dryer sends a phone inside of a purse holding loose change, keys and even a nail file about 100 tumbles with a meter drop at each end.
Then there's what looks like a tanning bed for phone cases which tests UV exposure, also a machine that rubs the piece of fabric on the case over and over again, and one whose sole purpose in life is to press a button.
Really we're putting a wrapper, if you will, on someone else's product.
When we do that we want to make sure that we are not making the way that that thing performs, that device performs Any less than it would then when it's the bare, the naked device.
That include audio quality.
Some of the more rugged otter box cases and the water resistance life proof case assist brand of otter box under go test in a studio with this guy.
[INAUDIBLE]
I think it's wooky.
I'm not sure, definitely not English.
The dummy emits a series of sounds covering every pitch in the vocal spectrum.
The test said the case won't muffle your conversations.
Love you, too.
Okay.
Bye.
[SOUND] [LAUGH]
After a day of putting these cases through the ringer, I asked if they ever pushed them beyond the standard testing limits, which is how I ended up standing below the guillotine, the ultimate torture machine that can drop a phone from up to two stories.
I'm worried more about myself than the phone.
[LAUGH]
One.
Watch the rope.
Two, three.
Whoa!
And though we didn't break anything on our visit, we learned that torture testing is a serious business.
[MUSIC]
Up Next
Can I Live With a Nokia Flip Phone in 2024?
Up Next
Can I Live With a Nokia Flip Phone in 2024?
How Google Captures 3D Images for Immersive View
How Google Captures 3D Images for Immersive View
How to Get Good Answers From an AI Chatbot
How to Get Good Answers From an AI Chatbot
It's Almost Here: My Big Questions for Vision Pro
It's Almost Here: My Big Questions for Vision Pro
CNET's Best Smartphones From 2023
CNET's Best Smartphones From 2023
Why I Don't Regret Ditching My Android for an iPhone
Why I Don't Regret Ditching My Android for an iPhone
Coolest Toys With a Tech Twist
Coolest Toys With a Tech Twist
CNET's Pro Photographers React to AI Photos
CNET's Pro Photographers React to AI Photos
How Dolby Atmos Makes You Feel Immersed in Movies and Music
How Dolby Atmos Makes You Feel Immersed in Movies and Music
One Month Check-In: We Tested the iPhone 15 Pro's and Pro Max's Batteries
One Month Check-In: We Tested the iPhone 15 Pro's and Pro Max's Batteries
Tech Shows
Latest News All latest news
New Xbox Leaked
New Xbox Leaked
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Apple and Meta Are Competing for Your Memories
Apple and Meta Are Competing for Your Memories
Nvidia's Project GR00T vs. Tesla Optimus: Competing Robot Strategies
Nvidia's Project GR00T vs. Tesla Optimus: Competing Robot Strategies
What Google Gemini AI on the iPhone Could Look Like
What Google Gemini AI on the iPhone Could Look Like
DOJ Sues Apple: Everything to Know About the Antitrust Suit
DOJ Sues Apple: Everything to Know About the Antitrust Suit
Most Popular All most popular
First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
Latest Products All latest products
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More
Best of MWC 2024: Bendable Screens, AI Wearables and More
This Concept Laptop from Lenovo Has a Transparent Display
This Concept Laptop from Lenovo Has a Transparent Display
Motorola's Rollable Concept Phone Wraps on Your Wrist
Motorola's Rollable Concept Phone Wraps on Your Wrist
Latest How To All how to videos
Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro
TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro
Get Your TV Ready for the Big Game: Super Bowl Setup Tips
Get Your TV Ready for the Big Game: Super Bowl Setup Tips
How to Use a Quest 3 Like the Vision Pro