Going Waterproof – New standard for Premium Phones
Over the years, cell phones have evolved from large bag phones with limited applications, into the miniature computers we carry in our pockets that can do pretty much anything and everything. With so many advancements in software and computing technology, another paramount aspect of your smartphone gets swept under the rug, your smartphones durability.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve accidently dropped one of my iPhones and stood there in utter confusion before ‘the moment of truth’ for a time of picking up my phone. Seeing a shattered phone screen has become a thing of the past in the last few years with some of the latest advancements in the hardware that constructs our phones. Improvements like gorilla glass, which is a shatter and scratch resistant screen that most cell phone manufacturers have started utilizing; making our phones nearly indestructible. There is still one enemy that can destroy a cell phone faster than gravity, that ladies, and gentleman is water. Water has been the bane of electronic devices existence since electronics have existed, but, that has begun to change as well. Today, we will talk about how smartphones have evolved from their fragile counterparts into the tanks they are today.
The Industry That Answered the Call
As long as cell phones have been out, customers have had a lot of feedback to offer on their needs and wants. This influx of direct user feedback has helped the mobile phone technology industry with the development of some incredible advancements in the hardware and software that we use today.
The first truly mobile cell phone, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x was released into the market. Even though the price was astronomical by today’s standards, the mobile phone became a pop culture icon; everyone had to have one to fit in 1983. With the help of trendsetters, cellular phone companies have been able to develop better displays, longer-lasting batteries, and more ergonomic designs. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, mobile developers have started incorporating more technologies into their phones to expand that model’s features. Some of the technologies that were incorporated include email, internet access, instant messaging and your address book and calendar.
In the last eight years, cell phones have shifted from a form of verbal communication into a complete, multimedia device. Nowadays, we use our cell phones more for keeping up to date with our social media accounts, browsing the web, and snapping pics more than we use them for talking. That’s how the name “smartphone” came to life. Smartphone companies today have taken all our wants and needs and rolled them into slick little computers we can’t live without today.
IP67 and IP68: The Smartphone Companies Secret Weapon’s
Has your iPhone ever fallen out of your pocket more than bombs dropped in World War II? Mine too, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve picked my phone up off the pavement and thanked the Apple Gods for sparing my 6s a busted LCD. We have the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to thank for that. The IEC has implemented standards for Smart Phone companies to grade their products called the International Protection Marketing standards or IP for short.
The IP rates smartphones on their resistance to dust, dirt, and sand. The iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 have both achieved a 6, which is the highest rating you can achieve against dust and dirt resistance. For water resistance, The Galaxy S7 received an eight certification, which means the phone can be submerged one and a half meters underwater for 30 minutes before water can enter the device. In the same test, the iPhone 7 received a seven certification, which means you can submerge the device underwater for 30 minutes at a depth up to a meter.
What does all of this mean in real life? If you accidently drop your phone in the pool while you’re snap chatting or drop it in the toilet while you’re tweeting, you will probably be okay, just make sure you clean it before you put it up to your face. Even something as extreme as jumping into a pool with your phone in your pocket, which I did last July, if you have one of the latest and greatest smartphones, you’ll probably be okay!
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