How the durabiliy of Nokia phones are tested!

Nokia has been well known for a selection of fortuitously rugged phones. I bet many of you still have a working 3300 despite the many times you have dropped it. Or what about that 1600 that was found in the belly of a fish but still worked? My N82 lives even after swimming in a Pint of Guinness. It took a couple of hours rest but its still chugging along.

Here’s a little preview of the upcoming Click report on the BBC News Channel, “Testing times for mobile phones“.

Nokia has opened its test centre doors to TV cameras so we can catch a glimpse at how they test out their devices before sending it out to us.

I’m curious to see exactly what tests they do perform. The video clip from the BBC shows:

1. Charger in and out tests – some blokes thrusting the nokia charger in and out of the nokia phone
2. The Trouser test – the nokia phone is placed into what seems to be a sown hammok and swivelled about a centre axis. I don’t ever recall that ever happening in my trousers. They should do a test to see how it feels – if it causing any unsightly bulging. I hope they put keys and coins and other scratchy things with the phone.
3. Twist test – this is absolutely horrible. The phone is clamped at both poles and twisted. :'(



4. Smash test – can’t really tell if it’s being hit or just dropped very quickly
5. Squeeze test – with the phone horizontal and supported only at the top and bottom, force is applied to the centre  (notice the light turn on, it looks like this N79 is signalling its pain!)



6. Scratch test – the phones are dunk in churning green and yellow pellets.
7. Weather test – the phones seem to be tested in extreme temperatures and against water.
8. Tumble test – the phone is placed in what appears to be a mini fairground ride as it is spun about.

Watch the full report tomorrow on the BBC’s programme Click: 11.30BST, Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April, BBC News Channel

The most reliable testing of all is unfortunately undertaken by the general consumer, by which time it’s too late for them, but not future consumers who end up with the “i” version or a black “music” version or both.

This brings me onto the subject of:

Nseries Build Rant

We know from the Vertu line up/8800 and co/recent E-series, that Nokia can produce handsets with remarkable build quality and design. So it is bewildering when we see less than desirable, ill-fitting, squeaky plastics take front seats on the material list for what’s meant to be the uberly precious N-series.

It has been particularly laughable at times, remember the N93’s amazing rubber doors for pop-port/memory card? (By heck loads of things were wrong with that phone design wise – as much as I love it)

Or what about the dire chrome peeling that happened to the N76? (Ironically survived being ridden over by a stretch Hummer but not the evil that is the sweat of your hand).

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae4AeN9X57U]

Not forgetting the slide issues with the N95 (experienced by a few, not me though) or it’s awful battery cover that just broke if you looked at it.

Nseries has been getting better, design and build quality wise. Much more refined than before but I do wish they’d consider using real metal/glass.  (instead of plastic brushed metal effects or fake chrome).  This way the N range of multimedia computers will look and feel as expensive as their actual price tags :p.

Tags: BBC, Build, Click, Endurance, Nokia, Quality, Test, Trouser test

Category: Photos, Rant, Uncategorized