Why Dropping a Phone From 300 vs. 16,000 Feet Is Basically the Same Thing | WSJ

An Apple iPhone that flew out of an Alaska Airlines flight at 16,000 feet survived without a scratch. How is that possible? Was it the phone case? Are iPhones becoming more durable?
WSJ’s Joanna Stern decided to find out by launching iPhones 14s and Samsung Galaxy S23s out of a phone-dropping drone.
Chapters:
0:00 Dropping phones
0:50 Grass tests
2:31 Asphalt tests
4:42 Drone vs. airplane
5:45 Takeaways
Tech Things With Joanna Stern
Everything is now a tech thing. In creative and humorous videos, WSJ senior personal tech columnist Joanna Stern explains and reviews the products, services and trends that are changing our world.
#iPhone #Tech #WSJ

[@wsj]

Read more about why an iPhone can survive a drop from a plane, but not from your kitchen counter: on.wsj.com/3xQu62t

[@mikeyoung9810]

She's funny. I like her.

[@Masada1911]

Getting a budget for this video must’ve been interesting lol.

[@klam77]

and the "after party"?

[@CaptainEd]

@@klam77 🤣🤣

[@justahugenerd1278]

"Hey boss, can you uh... get me like 10 iPhones and Samsung phones? So I can drop them from 300 feet multiple times? ... Why are you looking at me like that?"

[@acer6049]

Sounds like what RED BULL does everyday

[@Chemson1989]

Try Nokia from space, the impact would cause an extinction level event.

[@fanmeihili]

Nope, didn’t you listen: TERMINAL VELOCITY

[@user-ew4qm7wz7g]

Nokia 3310

[@UnlockRiverHQ]

Nokia = Legend

[@Fakename-ub8pw]

I'm still using Nokia!

[@PlatinumBuckGorilla]

The Galaxy would crumble

[@bearowen5480]

In Santa Fe, New Mexico, I somehow dropped my Samsung Galaxy with protective case on a busy street in front of a Hilton hotel. After some innovative detective work by a desk clerk at the hotel, the phone was returned to me in working order. It had been run over by at least one passing car. The screen glass was cracked and the case was roughed up a bit, but the phone still worked fine for a couple of years before I retired it for a newer model. So yes, definitely install a protective case, they work!

[@blorpblorpblorp]

But only in Santa Fe, ya hear?

[@kaizu4914]

try 5ft on ceramic ground, like in bathroom for example, you will be surprise

[@Jess88363]

I will be surprise

[@StoriesWithGR]

I will be shock!

[@blorpblorpblorp]

Not as shock and surprise as the ceramic ground

[@LanguagesWithAndrew]

Seriously doubt there's going to be any difference between that and asphalt in this context.

[@UnlockRiverHQ]

iPhone & Samsung: Omg I am gonna fall from so much height Nokia: First time? Nokia 300FT Drop Test Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/npSXgaitYqeMjtk

[@Eoin-B]

Don't tell WSJ about tiles. A 4ft drop onto them and your screen is toast.

[@chiquita683]

Fact

[@SorminaEriana]

😂😂😂😂

[@ziggy7676]

Would have been nice to see the accelerometer data from the phones

[@jason8876]

Would like to see some phone diagnostics run to see if anything internal might be broken.

[@roastpuff]

Joanna you’re the best, love the video 😂

[@SorminaEriana]

I love Zoe Thomas❤, her voice's so amazing, like it

[@parthibanarivalagan3119]

Man same , if I remember all the tech news briefing on covid was done by her !

[@chiquita683]

Me watching on my screen that got cracked falling from the sink to the floor 🤔

[@KAZAM707]

Read about that in the written version of this

[@posthocprior]

You needed one more calculation for terminal velocity: at what height is it reached for a smartphone? (I realize Marc said 300 ft. but I assume he was guessing and this wasn't based on a calculation. If you're curious, solve the following non-linear differential equation: dv/dt = 1/lambda(v^2) - g), where lambda is the size of the smartphone and v is the drag. Integrate this to get the height that terminal velocity will be reached.)

[@01jbeals]

Love your username 😁

[@01jbeals]

Love your username 😁

[@billyponsonby]

Fun. Unscientific of course.

[@KAZAM707]

How so

[@abrahammc2125]

@@KAZAM707 The real phone that fell from the airplane landed in mud. Mud absorbs all the impact.

[@donireland3411]

Joanna: Enjoyed the video. Guess we all should know a good case always helps protect our phones. BTW, what type of drone was used in the video? Looks like some time of DJI? (I'm a drone guy...)

[@kjmok]

When you see mark rober being summoned, you know they mean business 🤣

[@TuaTagovailoaTouchdowns]

OtterBox is awesome

[@kaustavpal5510]

if the manufacturers make the phone heavier at the bottom half will it probably land on that half ? will it be enough to control the fall from 3 feet ?

[@Kridez23]

You dropped it on grass

[@FBandSpin]

Love your dry wit!

[@ftlbaby]

Thanks Joanna, I'll be sure to do that.

[@user-ni4pk8xh6n]

Theyre only doing it on grass and asphalt but not on sharp rocks or in other environments

[@1stGruhn]

I had dropped a Samsung S21 off a building while I was working on the roof. It was around 40ft and it landed on concrete. I had a Pelican case on it. It was completely fine except a small dent/crack in the back. Unfortunately it did damage the port where the sim card sat, so the sim card would periodically stop working. But because the screen was fine, I was able to get a full trade in value for it, so that was nice. This is why I always get good cases lol

[@josephvelarde5943]

i miss joana stern videos!! glad she decided to create new videos

[@spy_on_the_web]

Which drone is this?

[@cybertruck2008]

A new DJI drone

[@mbogitechconpts]

How can I subcribe more than once to this channel? WSJ is just crazy, coming up with some nice experiments I would have never imagine. Please ship the iphone to me. I will fix it and brag of owning iphone to your credit. Please.

[@gulcangulcan3385]

Preparing news like a tiktoker

[@EnronnSierra]

Well, we have come a long way from stationary phones and mobile cellular phones that were big as a brick with an antenna to a device thin and light that you can carry anytime, anywhere in your pocket with a reasonable level of durability; even more so with a case on it. I am still using an iPhone X with a Apple leather case on it and I have lost count the amount of times it’s dropped or flew off the bed onto the floor. Using a case and being a little conscious of the device goes a long way to reducing the chances of getting broken from accidental drops and saves you having to pay for Apple Care Plus.

[@roderzzz]

Dropped my pixel 7 pro from my pocket on to the garage concrete floor and toasted my screen, twice now in 6 months, some phones are just not built that well.

[@guptabhishek]

Peak journalism amirite ?

[@leiperinc]

Seriously dropping them on grass🤣💀 You're not serious

[@shaduck06]

thanks for making a video on mobiles falling out of the sky interesting

[@zegamerz1980]

Any kind of drop test like this is totally not scientific. The same phone dropped from the same height can have different outcome depending on the wind strengths and direction. The iphone dropped from 300 ft on asphalt had its back glass cracked, it would have been the screen if it hit the ground from the other side. Same for the samsung. To get the "real" result, you would need to drop the phones in a closed area to remove the wind impact, dropping each phone at least once in each direction (top up, top down, left down, right down, screen down, back down) and see what the results are. then it is not only a matter of randomness on how the phone lands, but how the shape of the phone really affects how it lands, and how solid the materials really are.

[@AndreaDoesYoga]

Incredible survival skills, iPhone! 👏

[@Target135]

Joanna Stern makes great videos :)

[@klam77]

Jersey grass is not the right pedigree! (aside: Jamaican grass is far superior) I highly recommend phone drops into tree brushes, young freshly watered supple junipers, intertwined fern trees below a certain age.

[@whartanto2]

0:35 there is only one thing to do... drop $1500 a piece phones so we can make a youtube video about it :P

[@EhCloserLook]

Could have been a 10 second video with just the part at the end there.

[@user-ce5xz5rc2s]

a lot has to do with the surface the iPhone lands on

[@rasjahson6261]

Only in a perfect scenario.

[@pianobench6319]

Ms. Stern missed the perfect opportunity to say that this video was sponsored by otterbox.

[@BrianBest]

Cool

[@yemail5555]

DJI FTW

[@jacobgibbs8133]

This was awesome!

[@SorminaEriana]

The marketing of thing is always so smart than AI😂😂😂, always to be number one😂😂😂😂😷

[@rktDchk]

"Dracarys" instead of release!!

[@chaitanyapatel1946]

Isn't this obvious? Terminal velocity.

[@brbhave2p00p4]

Lowkey Apple advertising

[@timtim2668]

Oh I think she Really Wanted to Try the Dropping a Grenade from a drone.😂😂😂 But that's too controversial so "Dropping a iPhone will do" for making a new video

[@kelvinnadal1495]

Why not s24 ultra

[@mfridmanyt]

Mark Rober!

[@EcklandEaring]

Thanks for keeping us updated! I feel sympathy and empathy for our country. low income people are suffering to survive, and I appreciate Deborah. You've helped my family with your advice. imagine investing $30,000 and receiving $95,460 after 28 days of trading.

[@PierluigiNosilia]

I began investing in stocks and Def earlier this year, and it is the best choice l've ever made. My portfolio is rounding up to almost a million, and I have realized that when a stock makes it to the news. Chances are you're quite late to the party, the idea is to get in early on blue chips before it becomes public. There are lots of life changing opportunities in the market, and maximize it.

[@nekiroystyan2692]

What opportunities are there in the market, and how do l profit from it?

[@EcklandEaring]

You can make a lot of money from the market regardless of whether it strengthens or crashes. The key is to be well positioned.

[@DeisGaff]

I would really like to know how this actually works.

[@EcklandEaring]

All you need is a good capital, and the service of a professional broker, with those your investment will most certainly produce high yields.

[@amateurgamer149]

Nice iPhone ad.😂😂😂

[@spy_on_the_web]

Iphones are out of innovation. So they are using drop test as their marketing

[@v1d300]

This still doesn't answer why that phone was so lucky to not break when your test with cases show cracks everywhere.

[@KAZAM707]

The actual article covers that

[@nicki9356]

Convertible airplanes let’s go

[@ethanpowell3203]

It’s nice to know that if I ever fall out of an airplane, my phone will likely survive.

[@shirleykaye4344]

Good one! My first smile today!

[@andrew871124]

Where is the comparison table? No scientific record?

[@xb5801]

WSJ sponsors these types of videos now? 😅

[@abirhossain5864]

Don't destroy these expensive phones . Instead give those to me

[@Frostmoth]

why did i watch this

[@apokalipsx25]

І. On derogation measures 1. In connection with the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, based on the proposal of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, in accordance with paragraph 20 of part one of Article 106 of the Constitution of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law", martial law in Ukraine was introduced by the Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 64/2022 dated February 24, 2022 (hereinafter - the Presidential Decree). The Presidential Decree came into force simultaneously with the entry into force of the Law of Ukraine No. 2102 dated February 24, 2022 "On Approval of the Decree of the President of Ukraine "On the Introduction of Martial Law in Ukraine". The Law came into force on the day of its publication on February 24, 2022 and was immediately announced through the media. Pursuant to Article 3 of the Presidential Decree, in connection with the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, constitutional rights and freedoms of a person and citizen provided for in Articles 30-34, 38, 39, 41- 44, 53 of the Constitution of Ukraine may be temporary restricted for the period of martial law; temporary restrictions on the rights of persons to the extent necessary to ensure the possibility of implementing measures of the legal regime of martial law provided for in part one of Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Legal Regime of Martial Law" (hereinafter - the Law) may be introduced as well. The above-mentioned articles of the Constitution, which may be subject to restrictions, guarantee the inviolability of the home (Article 30); secrecy of mailing, telephone conversations and other correspondence (Article 31); non-interference in personal and family life (Article 32); freedom of movement, free choice of place of residence, the right to freely leave and return to the territory of Ukraine (Art. 33); the right to freedom of thought and speech, free expression of views and beliefs, as well as the right to freely collect, store, use and disseminate information (Article 34); the right to participate in the management of public affairs and referendums, to freely elect and be elected to state and local authorities, equal access to public service (Article 38); the right to hold meetings, rallies, marches and demonstrations, as well as the right to strike (Articles 39,44); the right to own, use and dispose of one's property (Article 41); the right to entrepreneurship and work (Articles 42,43); the right to education (Article 53). According to the above-mentioned Article 8 of the Law, on the territory where martial law has been introduced, the military command may, within the limits of temporary restrictions on constitutional rights and freedoms of a person and citizen, implement measures of the legal regime of martial law, in particular: - to compulsorily alienate privately or communally owned property for the needs of the state under regime of martial law in accordance with the procedure established by law and issue relevant documents in this regard (para. 4); -to introduce curfew (a ban on staying on the streets and in other public places during certain periods of time without specially issued passes and certificates) according to the established procedure (para. 5); - to establish a special regime of entry and exit in accordance with a certain procedure, to restrict the freedom of movement of citizens, foreigners and stateless persons, as well as the movement of vehicles (para. 6); - to inspect the belongings, vehicles, baggage and cargo, office premises and homes of citizens in accordance with the established procedure with the exception of restrictions established by the Constitution of Ukraine (para. 7); - to prohibit peaceful assemblies, rallies, marches, demonstrations and other mass events (para. 8); - to establish in accordance with a certain procedure, a ban or restriction on the choice of place of stay or place of residence of persons in the territory where martial law is in force (para. 10); - to prohibit citizens registered with the military or special registry to change their place of residence (place of stay) without proper permission (para. 16); - to establish military housing duty for individuals and legal entities (para. 17). The possibility of application of the abovementioned measures necessitates a derogation from the obligations under Articles 12, 17, 19, 21, 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (hereinafter - the Covenant) and Articles 8, 10, 11 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (hereinafter - the Convention), Articles 1, 2, 3 of the Additional Protocol to the Convention, Article 2 of Protocol No. 4 to the Convention. Derogation under the previously defined Articles 3, 8(3), 9, 13, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27 of the Covenant and Articles 4(3), 9, 13, 14, 16 of the Convention is withdrawn. II. On the territory covered by derogation and the time of its introduction Martial law has been in force on the territory of Ukraine since 05:30 a.m. of February 24, 2022.

[@fanhao695]

The question is why you u need to drop a phone from that kind height 😅

[@timtim2668]

I sense a lot of biased favor for the iPhone over the Samsung.

[@HaHaBIah]

A collab or a cameo of Mark Rober

[@LisaSamaritan]

It isn't like Rhett Allain is an unknown either. He was science advisor on Mythbuster.

[@justStardust940]

yeah make the video when a phone hits the concrete. it hit the soil, not the concrete.

[@rayneu5587]

Spigen cases 🙌🏼

[@SauloBenigno]

Mark Rober !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@SorminaEriana]

She was unhappy when she was kid😅😅😅😅😅

[@brockhubbard6336]

Get a mous case

[@petermayanja1766]

Tecno people look away

[@TheJoker-qn6vw]

Its simple, it's called "Maximum velocity", where given the mass of an object, given a long enough time to free-fall, the object eventually reaches max-velocity where, its no longer accelerating or decelerating, the air resistance counters the gravity effect.

[@user-zu2jw5ib6y]

I am not getting case!!!!!! end of discussion

[@hktan1235]

try a Huawei P60 Pro and you will know the real differences it made .....🤫

[@Poppin023]

if you dropped a nokia it wouldve made a hole in the ground and landed in china

[@LivingWaterEternal]

Only flaw in this test is the lawn does not matched density no moisture given the dry spots. You should test it on a golf course or somewhere where uniform irrigation and green lawn is.

[@eikeksi11]

If that 2T is stocks, if stock price is what ppl buys em for, so gamblers increased the price like bitcoint to 2t, is that the value of it? How much does it make? How much plants etc costs

[@montybynum]

4:32 Androids suck

[@nos4me]

Someone has been watching too many videos from Ukraine

[@maemilev]

Why don't God design human this way?

[@huckleberryfinn6578]

You mean evolution? Mostly because we are spending 99% times on the ground.

[@bkapappawya]

Can I have the iPhone 15

[@kindofanmol]

Samsung supremacy

[@suminshizzles6951]

Now go watch the movie called Terminal Velocity. I Just wasted 5 min of my life i will never ever get back. I knew the answer but its 6 am and i am bored.

[@etbuch4873]

iPhones really at the end of their wits. How pathetic and lamentable of them!

[@mokomdane4297]

Are you views hungry?. Why destroy good phones.

[@lastChang]

The Apple's iPhone 15 technologies make the Huawei Puna 70 look like a *museum version.* They are at least 5 years apart, even without Google AI on the former. Apple uses the truth 3nm chip while the Kirin 9010 uses an *enhanced* 7nm. LOL

[@knowledged8420]

Don't buy America product because you can now buy alternative technology Huawei technologies because Huawei technologies is entirely different system from America so if you don't want die your country than avoid usa technology because China can offer alternative technology that is entirely different system from America

[@PlatinumBuckGorilla]

Don’t ever, ever make another video like this… unless it’s a useless politician.

[@Nickcaged]

Tech Rax

[@m3.563]

hey first viewer from Nepal

[@vsznry]

Best cases for phones: OtterBox Best cases for MacBooks: UAG

[@auro1986]

why? wsj advertising for apple, samsung, and that company which makes drone

[@ali_armaan2093]

how to get a phone post falling from airplane?

[@Netryon]

If you declined by a job market for eight years and asked to use youtube to find all the local pieces of information technology and have no goverment support to reach subscribers number are you a falling Remigijus Žemaitaitis or Eduardas Vaitkus smartphone?

[@duran9664]

Yah.. NO! ❌ I broke two iPhones from a short drop on hard surfaces 😒

[@sasstewart1222]

📱Keep in mind the iphone 14 PRO is much more prone to damage because of the OLED vs LCD

[@aenorist2431]

Terminal velocity is a thing. Making sensational articles about basic physics is pathetic.

[@lxonthemix834]

Samsung uses cheap raw material while apple uses genuine parts.

[@roystonboodoo7525]

Basic physics.. time consuming stupid video. Expected whether the phones were still working would be tested.

[@Chris_Hruska]

premium quality from apple. Samsung is still sleeping on their quality and durability.

[@averoes4029]

Most ridiculous test ever What a shame to get paid for such a trash work

[@KAZAM707]

Why do you say that?

[@jackwaterman-lw4co]

Weird, even when I was in the Heart of Darkness in Mexico, I never had these problems. Ask your pimp not to beat you with your phone.