Drop tests show new iPhone 8s are a bit more durable than the Galaxy Note8

Just how durable are the new glass-encased Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy Note8? If you drop them accidentally are you saying goodbye to your hundreds (or thousands really) of dollars? Luckily, there are companies like SquareTrade who’ll show us just what would happen if we drop these really expensive devices. The phone insurance company put the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and Note8 through its usual drop and tumble tests as well as a new Shot test that simulates what happens to a phone when it’s being left on the roof of your car and then you speed off (apparently, this is a thing now).

Of course, the glass backs crack. The Note8 seems to fare better in terms of dropping the phone on its face but it renders the device completely useless. The iPhones still seem to work. Apple’s “aerospace-grade” metal band seems to protect it better from side drops. And during the shot test, the Note8 had more of its chunks flying off. When it comes to the breakability score, the iPhone 8 scored 67, the iPhone 8 Plus gets a 74, and the Galaxy Note8 gets an 80.

Source: Phone Arena

Update on Monday, September 25, 2017 at 1:42PM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Please folks, don't try this at home. 

Apple iPhone 8, Apple Watch Series 3 and Apple TV 4K now available

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Today's the day to get the new iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, the new Apple Watch Series 3 with GPS and Cellular as well as the updated Apple TV 4K.

The iPhone 8 introduces a revised design. It retains the general look and feel of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus but has now replaced the stainless steel casing with a glass back. There's not been a glass back on the iPhone since the iPhone 4S, this helps antennas transmit signal better and it also helps with wireless charging which is compatible with the Qi (Chee) platform.

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Apple might get rid of Touch ID for ‘iPhone 8’

The next-generation Apple iPhone might be getting rid of a key feature: Touch ID sensor. GSMArena shows leaks of what is supposedly a complete iPhone 8 display assembly. It can’t be said from the image if this will be an OLED display or if it will have an edge-to-edge design but it does check out on some other rumours about the device. The two new circular cutouts at the upper left side of the phone are said to be for the iris scanner. The bigger circular cutout on the right is also for the scanner, while the smaller hole one the right is for the FaceTime camera.

The Touch ID sensor, though, isn't visible on the panel. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple is ditching the embedded sensor completely. And Apple is said to be using the iris scanner in its place. Some other rumours have previously said that Apple was considering putting Touch ID underneath the glass, among other methods to retain the sensor. But as, Apple Insider reports, a recent HomePod firmware update seems to back Kuo's claims. There are lines of code linked to the phone's “FaceDetect” software, which is referred to as “Pearl ID” in the update. It shows tie-ins with Apple Pay authentication. If there is some veracity to these rumours, we can't say yet what biometric security Apple plans to use for the next iPhone and how secure that will be. With the new device tipped to come out next month, we might not have to wait too long.

Apple leak shows a completely new look for ‘iPhone 8’

We’ve see different leaks about Apple’s upcoming ‘iPhone 8,’ the device which marks 10^th anniversary of Apple’s smartphone, and a new one shows a much more detailed look at its almost bezel-less design. This time, Steve Hemmerstoffer a.k.a. @onleaks is adding to the conversation. The dummy models shows an elongated 18.5:9 aspect ratio, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, and bezels just 4mm thick (or thin) on all sides. The top of the device houses the front-facing camera and sensors.

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