STACK #239 September 2024

TECH FEATURE

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DIY REPAIRS

If a damaged phone can be salvaged, repairs can often be costly and time

It’s inevitable that our phones will suffer numerous drops, knocks and splashes throughout their lifetime. Fortunately most modern smartphones are built tough, and here’s what to look out for in high strength durability. Words Bec Summer Gorilla Glass TOUGH STUFF!

consuming. The good news is that Nokia and HMD, in partnership with iFixit, offer a sustainable alternative with repairable phones. From cracked screens and scratched back covers to bent charging ports and dead batteries, supported models can be quickly repaired using free step-by-step guides and disassembly instructions, plus affordable tools and replacement parts or all-in one fix kits from iFixit. Simply head to the iFixit website for everything you need to get started. While this might sound challenging, and some basic skill level is required, the repair guides come with a difficulty rating, so a quick scan of what’s involved will probably tell you if you’re up to the task. Choosing a phone that supports RIY (Repair It Yourself) will not only prolong its life, but also reduce e-waste and its impact on the environment – and you’ll get the satisfaction of having fixed it yourself! • Supported phones include the HMD Pulse , Pulse Pro , HMD Skyline , and the Nokia G42

And if you want even tougher stuff, Titanium is sometimes used in premium models, such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, for even greater body protection. Military grade If you see a phone boasting MIL-STD-810 or 810H it means it has passed military standard testing for extreme environmental conditions, dust and shock resistance. The rigorous classification process of up to 30 tests also includes determining resistance to things like pressure, ballistic shock, explosive atmosphere, solar radiation, and even fungus! In other words, a military-standard phone is one incredibly rugged device that’s built for outdoor work and extreme adventure. IP rating Just like other portable tech, smartphones generally have an IP or IPX rating in the specs, which indicates the device’s resistance to water and dust. While many modern phones are generally splashproof, it pays to check the IP rating for the level of protection – the higher the number, the greater the resistance.

Many brands tout screen protection by Corning’s Gorilla Glass, but is it as strong as its simian moniker suggests? Yes it is. Designed to cover and protect portable tech like smartphones, Gorilla Glass is a thin, specialised glass that balances scratch and drop resistance with visual clarity through rigorous testing. It’s the more common tough screen protection found on today’s premium phones, and you’ll come across different generations, such as the even tougher Gorilla Glass Victus and Victus 2, along with a version designed for mid-range phones, Gorilla Glass 7i. Then there's Gorilla Armour for high-end phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which offers four times more scratch resistance than its competitors. Whichever generation a phone sports, Gorilla Glass protection is a good indicator that you’re less likely to suffer the bane of all phone owners, a cracked screen. Armour Aluminium Lightweight, strong, and offering high protection against external impacts, and also resistant to corrosion, Armour Aluminium reinforces the frame of flagship Samsung phones.

TOUGH PHONES

OPPO Reno 12 series

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra • Titanium tough!

Nokia XR21 • Military grade ruggedness

• A tough mid-range phone

16 SEPTEMBER 2024

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