JerryRigEverything Puts Galaxy Note 8 & Essential Phone To The Test

Smartphone durability tester Zack who runs the popular YouTube channel JerryRigEverything recently put the Galaxy Note 8 and Essential PH-1 (also known as 'Phone') to the test. The result was good as both the phones passed Zack's scratch, burn and bend tests with flying colors.

The Essential Phone sports a 5.7" QHD IPS LCD display backed by Gorilla Glass 5. Just like other Gorilla Glass protected smartphones, the PH-1's screen was scratched by a level six Moh's pick, on par with other flagship devices. The front facing 8MP shooter slices a chunk of the screen to make space for itself. The camera is protected by the same Gorilla Glass 5 which makes it resistant to scratches from coins and keys. The earpiece is a thin line made out of fabric which could easily be taken off by Zack's blades. Fabric made earpieces aren't considered so durable since they may fall off in the future. The PH-1 doesn't have any hardware keys on the front side. The touch navigation buttons are under the hood of the Gorilla Glass and hence are well protected.

Zack was particularly impressed by the glass and ceramic back panel design. The blend of glass and ceramic provides a beautiful combination of strength coupled with beauty. Ceramic is hard (scratches at level eight on Moh's scale of hardness) and reflective, while the glass provides that extra touch of protection and premium feel. The rear dual camera setup is protected by glass (Gorilla Glass 5) while the flash lens is covered by plastic. Since the camera is flush with the glass back panel, it is at the same risk of damage as the entire back panel when the phone faces a drop. To protect the camera lens from damage due to drops, Zack recommends using a skin or back cover. The sides of the Phone are made of titanium (along with a plastic rim) and scratch at a level 6. PH-1 lasted nine seconds under the flame during the burn test. The burnt pixels restored themselves after they turned  black for a while. The ultimate test of durability is the bend test. The Phone didn't flex at all when it was bent hard from both the front and the back faces.

Owing to the hard materials like titanium and ceramic used for making the PH-1, the PH-1 is definitely one of the most durable smartphones this year.

The Galaxy Note 8 features Gorilla glass 5 just like the PH-1 and scratches at level 6. The iris scanner and the front facing camera are under the glass and hence protected from scratching. The earpiece is metal and Zack states that it shouldn't fall out on its own. The Note 8 has software navigation buttons under the glass, hence they are not at risk of damage. The back of the Note 8 is made of Gorilla Glass 5 and is hence protected from casual scratches. The camera rim sticks out to protect the camera lens and flash, both of which are covered by glass. The fingerprint scanner worked even after it was scratched heavily. The metal edges and buttons give a premium touch to the phone adding strength to it at the same time. The 6.3" Super AMOLED screen lasted 10 seconds after which the pixels exposed to the flame turned white and didn't recover. The Note 8 didn't flex when it was bent from the either side showcasing how well built the phablet is.

Both the Essential Phone and Galaxy Note 8 pass JerryRigEverything's tests with flying colors. Both the smartphones are extremely durable, so you can go for either of them if you value durability. The Essential Phone costs $699 while the GN 8 has a hefty label of $1000 to it. If you wish to check out the videos directly on YouTube then you can click on the links in the source.

Source: JerryRigEverything YouTube - Essential Phone | Galaxy Note 8

[All images were sourced from the videos linked in the source]

Krittin Kalra

Krittin Kalra is a 20 year old Android freak. Striving for passions, chasing down his dreams and living a life without regrets is his sole mantra. A bit moody, he also does custom ROM reviews for AndroGuider. Currently pursuing his B.Tech, he aspires to follow his heart.