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Is the iPhone 6’s display really unbreakable? These videos hold the answer

Published Jul 21st, 2014 9:20AM EDT
iPhone 6 Sapphire Display Torture Tests

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Two new extreme torture tests of the iPhone 6’s alleged front panel made of sapphire glass were recorded on video by Marques Brownlee, and the display survived one of them – just like it did in previous tests – although it was not left unharmed. And in the second video, the supposed iPhone 6 screen failed miserably.

FROM EARLIER: Watch someone break the iPhone 6’s unbreakable sapphire screen

In the first test, Brownlee used two types of sandpaper on the leaked iPhone 6 component, with both capable of harming the sapphire display.

Garnet sandpaper left the iPhone 6’s pure sapphire glass that covers the home button unscathed but not the Gorilla Glass panel, and slightly damaged the iPhone 6 front panel. Emery sandpaper did even more damage to the Gorilla Glass on the iPhone 5s, and also scratched the iPhone 6 front panel.

However, emery sandpaper was not able to scratch the Touch ID home button on the iPhone 5s.

The video blogger suggested that the iPhone 6 is likely a sapphire composite, which explains its durability in various stress tests, but also the fact that it’s not as scratch-free as expected, when dealing with sandpaper.

“As long as you’re not carrying some high-quality sandpaper in your pocket, you should be good without a screen protector on the next iPhone,” Brownlee says.

A second video shows the same iPhone 6 front panel in a different test, a collision with an arrow, as published by Unbox Therapy featuring Joe Rogan. Unsurprisingly, the arrow, which is good for hunting grizzly bears and water buffaloes, won the confrontation, showing that the iPhone 6’s sapphire display clearly has its limits.

The two new iPhone 6 torture test videos follow below.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.