Google Nexus 4 hits the pavement in this new drop test - see what happens
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The guys from the video show us two drops - the first one simulating a drop from the pocket, and the second one from the ear. Thankfully, the handset remained almost perfect after the first drop, with no significant scratches to ruin its fancy glass panels. However, the second, higher drop cause severe damage to the back panel. As you know, both the front and back of the Nexus 4 are made of glass, which contributes to the feel of the handset, but allows for easier shattering. That's what happened with the Google Nexus 4 after the second drop in this video. Still, whether due to a stronger glass, or just luck, the front side remained undamaged, and the touchscreen and phone itself were perfectly usable.
This drop test comes to show us that LG has done a good job with the construction of the Nexus 4, as it is capable of surviving the ordinary everyday hits of life, though it's definitely not in rugged territory with those large glass surfaces.
And here's the video in question. Unfortunately, the guy talks in German, but it's one of those videos where you don't need to understand what's being said to know what's going on.
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34 Comments
27. PhenomFaz posted on 19 Nov 2012, 14:57 3 0
Yup LG has done well with this and the back looks really nice too
2. CanYouSeeTheLight posted on 19 Nov 2012, 09:28 8 0
"both the front and back of the Nexus 4 are make of glass" I suppose its made*. Good article nonetheless.
3. Kronic (banned) posted on 19 Nov 2012, 09:31 8 27
Nothing beats lumia 920 in build quality. Unless of course you talk about Nokia 3100
17. Kronic (banned) posted on 19 Nov 2012, 12:40 1 6
Familiar*
34. bipinm posted on 20 Nov 2012, 00:43 1 0
nothing can beat the old 3310...hihi...it has no gorillla glass...still u can throw it at wall and catch it like a ball...or u can throw it to scare off a chasing dog....kidding....
26. PhenomFaz posted on 19 Nov 2012, 14:57 0 0
WP is good and all but kindly do not troll....this article isnt about how strong the Lumia 920 is or how will it fare compared to the Nexus 4!. its just about what happens if you drop the Nexus 4 and a hint at its durability!
29. chaoticrazor posted on 19 Nov 2012, 17:32 1 0
lol well no offense i like what you just tried doing but please can you say the same when the android fandom raid every wp,bb and apple article too
4. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 19 Nov 2012, 09:31 4 1
Wow I think it's clear, glass just plain old breaks. Still it's a sexy phone & I wish there was a CDMA 4G LTE version. It is what it is.
18. thunder18 posted on 19 Nov 2012, 12:59 2 0
Optimus G for Sprint has both LTE and CDMA as well as 32 GB memory instead of only 16GB. It's also been rooted already.
24. SuperAndroidEvo posted on 19 Nov 2012, 14:35 0 0
That is what I mean. The LG Optimus G is a LG Google Nexus 4 & vice versa. That is why I am STILL so pist-off that Google nixed a CDMA 4G LTE version of the Nexus 4.
Google should have all options available, this is where they failed & the camera on the Google Nexus 4 sucks also.
+1
5. Ninetysix posted on 19 Nov 2012, 09:38 4 20
iPhone 4/4S = Glass backplate that breaks easily and no LTE
Nexus 4 = Glass backplate that breaks easily and no LTE
Welcome to 2010 Google.
6. sorcio46 posted on 19 Nov 2012, 09:51 26 3
iPhone 5 = Apple Maps that fails everywhere (starting @ 729€)
Nexus 4 = Awesome Google Maps (starting @ 299€)
Welcome to 2012 Apple
12. Ninetysix posted on 19 Nov 2012, 11:38 1 8
Problem?
https://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/ios-navigation/id6010?mt=8
7. tech_lover posted on 19 Nov 2012, 09:56 7 0
as if having glass on both front and back is considered a "high end specification" for a phone!!
20. Zero0 posted on 19 Nov 2012, 13:59 0 1
Not so fast.
According to AnandTech, the Nexus 4 can theoretically run LTE on bands 1, 2, and 4. I believe that one of those is T-Mobile's planned LTE band. I'm not sure on how true this may be, but time will tell.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6440/google-nexus-4-review/7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS_frequency_bands
9. zvioocge posted on 19 Nov 2012, 10:35 1 8
of course LG is da best
my friend has some kind of lg phone (with no touchscreen but with capacitive buttons) and he dropped this once and...
screen broked and phone ain't workin'
i have nokia 2730c and i dropped it very many times
i ever dropped it from 2m but NOTHING! everything workin' fine
SO NEXT NEXUS MUST BE BY SONY!!!
10. toiletcleaner posted on 19 Nov 2012, 10:44 4 0
He is drooping a Nexus phone but he cant Buy a new Shoes? ;)
13. StalkinUrMom posted on 19 Nov 2012, 12:09 0 3
Why, why did they HAVE to make it out of glass? This is pretty much the only thing turning me away from the Nexus 4 at this point. It's giving me PTSD flashbacks of cracking my iPhone 4 twice, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I only buy HTC nowadays, they're the only company that seems to understand that ultra high end smartphones need to be somewhat rugged because not all of us have comfy little desk jobs.
23. Zero0 posted on 19 Nov 2012, 14:08 2 0
Because there are few other options than glass.
For backings, you have a choice of glass, plastic, aluminum, and, evidently, Kevlar.
-Aluminum is out. It makes NFC impossible, in addition to interfering with other radio signals a bit.
-Plastic is apparently cheap.
-Kevlar doesn't look very pretty.
-Glass is not sturdy.
Take your pick. Glass feels solid and is very nice looking while it's in one piece. Once it's broken, not so much, but it's only a little bit worse than the other options.
That's the way I see it, at least.
14. UrbanPhantom posted on 19 Nov 2012, 12:12 1 2
Did anybody really expect for the Nexus 4 to be virtually indestructable like the Lumia 920? Nokia phones are in a class of their own, when it comes to build quality...
19. jcoberg10 posted on 19 Nov 2012, 13:24 0 0
Did anyone actually watch the video? it held up really well. after 3 huge drops it barely cracked in the corner, and only on the back not on the front at all! That is pretty impressive. I personally wouldn't want an all glass phone, but this phone is pretty tough. don't just believe what i*honearena post, and their pic for the post watch the video.
22. Zero0 posted on 19 Nov 2012, 14:03 0 0
Most likely luck.
The thing is pure glass. If it falls on concrete, there's a good chance that it's going to break. Gorilla Glass 2 is stronger than average glass, but not indestructible.
Drop tests are not scientific enough to prove the strength of a device.
28. gallitoking posted on 19 Nov 2012, 15:42 4 0
I have never liked the drop test.. they should make better use of those devices other than drop them, put a case on it and protect your investment..
32. remixfa posted on 19 Nov 2012, 22:07 2 1
I have the N4..
GET A CASE.. I got a frikkin hair line scratch on the back ... from.. something.?? the first day. And that thing has been babied like a mofo.
And now that I have a phone with a glass front and back.. I can safely say all those morons that say "glass is premium".. are just that.. morons. Im sorry but it feels no different than smooth plastic.. its in your mind.... and its less durable.
Plastic > > > > glass.
Age old dispute... solved.
33. remixfa posted on 19 Nov 2012, 22:08 1 0
All that said, the phone is phenomenal :) You seriously need it.
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