iPhone: Built for Construction

What kind of abuse can an iPhone take?  If a construction company were to invest in iPhones for its workers or technicians, they would want to make sure that a year later, their investment is still intact.

I have owned my iPhone for nearly a year, and most of that time I have either had no protective case or very slim cases that just give the iPhone a little bounce, should it fall.  My iPhone has survived countless falls and one total underwater submersion.  It took a day for the speakerphone to start working again after my 18 month old threw it in a thankfully empty toilet.  The iPhone can definitely take some serious abuse.

The following video demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses of iPhone durability.



The device is surprisingly robust. Below is a video of the iPhone being dropped 3 stories from a rooftop and although the case takes some serious scratching, the screen survives.



An impact that does not put a focused pressure point will generally not affect the iPhone. But dropping your phone from waist height can break your screen if it lands wrong or a small object hits the screen directly.

So what can be done to protect a company's investment?

Buy a screen protector.
There are many kinds of screen protectors including ones that will hold up to harsh environments. Below you'll see a demonstration of a product by zagg.



Buy a protective case.
I would recommend the Otterbox Defender for construction use. Below is a review so you can see how it works. It combines a hard plastic case, a silicone outer case, and a built in, hard plastic, transparent screen protector. With this your iPhone can take a beating. I have purposefully dropped my iPhone with this case hundreds of times without a scratch.



Replace the screen if it breaks.
iPhones can have their screens replaced if necessary. They are fairly inexpensive and easy to do in house. The glass digitizer can be replaced for about $40 and if the lcd is damaged beneath that, you can get it replaced for about $80. This is much more cost effective than replacing the device. Our construction company has had about 15 iPhones for about a year and has only had to replace 1 screen so far. The below video demonstrates the procedure and informs you where you can go to buy the parts (http://www.pdaparts.com).



Tell your people to be careful.
These devices are as robust or more so than other devices in their category. Just use common sense and take good care of the device and it will serve your construction company for years.