WATCH: iPhone SE Stands up to Razor Blade Torture Test
Credit: JerryRigEverythingToggle Dark Mode
Apple’s iPhone SE is finally in the hands of consumers, which means it is time to get up close and personal with the phone.
Zach from JerryRigEverything wasted no time snagging an iPhone SE and putting it through his durability torture test. How did the iPhone SE stand up to a razor-blade equipped box cutter and other tools? Read on for the spoiler below.
Leaving no side unturned, Zach started his test with the front display, confirming that it indeed is resistant to scratches. Using hardness test tools, the glass only showed mild scratches at level six and deeper scratches at level 7. Zach notes that the screen does have a plastic buffer between the glass and the casing, which protects the display and makes for easier repair.
The front-facing camera was well-protected by the glass display, as was the speaker grill, which was metal and securely attached underneath the glass display. The Home button shares the same qualities as the glass display and was not marred by the box cutter.
The aluminum sides of the phone and buttons scratch as he drags his box cutter along the edges, making an awful noise around 2 minutes and 50 seconds in.
Like most recent iPhones, the back of the phone is covered with a scratch-resistant glass, which can be expensive (approximately $270) to replace. Take extra care not to break it.
The only area that was substandard on the iPhone SE 2nd generation was the camera cover, which scratched more easily than expected and likely isn’t genuine sapphire claims Zach.
The camera lens cover started scratching at level 6, which should not happen as genuine sapphire scratches at level 8 or 9.
Repairability
The iPhone SE 2nd generation is durable, but it is not bulletproof. Drop it the wrong way, and you may break it accidentally. If you break the phone, then repairability becomes paramount. Good news on that front, though. iFixit tore apart the iPhone SE 2nd generation and found out that it uses a lot of parts from the iPhone 8. Repairability should be easier because you can repurpose so many components.
