The Samsung Galaxy S7 is now on the market, and has already drawn many comparisons with the iPhone 6s. In one of the most recent, SquareTrade Labs tested the two devices to determine their overall water resistance and durability. In such tests, few phones come out alive, but the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge held their own.
Each device earned a score indicating a medium risk of suffering damage beyond repair, trouncing the iPhone 6s overall, but performing only slightly worse than the iPhone 6s Plus.
Water resistance is a primary feature on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. The devices have an IP68 rating, which indicates water resistance for up to 30 minutes in five feet of water. SquareTrade determined that leaving the handsets in water for longer than 30 minutes can permanently disrupt the sound quality. However, the device held up in a pool significantly better than either the iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, neither of which feature water resistance. The handsets began to malfunction after about 10 minutes underwater, and became completely unusable after 24 minutes.
But what the iPhone 6s lacks in water resistance, it makes up for in display durability. The handset withstands significantly more drop torture than the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. Samsung’s handsets shattered on their backs and corners during SquareTrade’s tumble test, while the iPhone 6s suffered only a few scratches. The iPhone 6s Plus; however, also suffered major screen shattering.
In a bend test, all four devices eventually succumbed to extreme pressure. But the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge proved to be the weakest of the bunch, suffering an irreparable bend at about 170 pounds. The iPhone 6s and Galaxy S7 both bent beyond repair at about 250 pounds.
The moral of the story is pretty simple: keep your Galaxy S7 in a case and your iPhone 6s away from water. Either way, it’s pretty much a 50:50 chance that your handset will survive any given instance of danger.
