Inside Nokia’s Hardware Damage Lab

Of all the complex and expensive toys that have become standard objects in our lives, mobile handsets probably get the worst treatment. Think about it: they’re the result of many hours of engineering and design and cost hundreds of dollars to obtain, yet within days of purchase they’re generally being smashed into coin-filled pockets or carelessly tossed into cupholders. How do they last a week, much less the years we expect of them?

To help answer that question, Nokia invited us down to their San Diego Test Center to check out some of the trials a new handset goes through before they make their way into our dangerous hands. Of course, we couldn’t leave our readers out of the fun – so we shot video throughout the entirety of the tour and brought it back for all to see.

While we captured much of the physical testing/examination process, there’s a whole lot that goes into device testing that we didn’t see – mainly because it wouldn’t be all that exciting to watch. If you’re looking for extreme code debugging videos, you’ll have to search elsewhere. Apologies for the sound quality of some of the videos. A room filled with the whirs of a dozen or so never sleeping robots isn’t an optimal recording environment, but we did our best to make things audible. If all else fails, headphones help.

These are the Tests All the Phones go through before they are sent to Production line.

  1. Impact testing
  2. Electron Microscope
  3. 2D X-Ray Machine
  4. 3D X-ray machine
  5. Abrasion testing
  6. Strap/Charm hole snag testing
  7. Rain resistance testing
  8. The pant leg test
  9. Flip tension test
  10. Flip durability test
  11. Drop testing
  12. Dust/Particle testing
  13. Cover/SIM/Battery removal and insertion
  14. Plastics vs Household chemicals testing
  15. Ball Drop test
  16. UV testing cage
  17. USB/Headset insertion testing
  18. Tumbler
  19. Temperature testing
  20. Over-extension tests
  21. Screen Clarity testing
  22. LCD intensity measuring
  23. Screen Scratch resistance
  24. Paint adhesion test
  25. Key press testing

Source: Click Here (For Testing Videos)

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