Those of you awaiting LG's latest Nougat-running flagship, the LG V20, would be pleased to know that Verizon will put it on shelves in its retail stores on Oct. 25, earlier than the official Oct. 27 launch date.
Like majority of smartphones in the market, the V20 has now gone through the inevitable scratch and torture test ahead of its release date.
Whether you like it or not, gadget stress tests are a necessary evil. Indeed, it feels such an incredible waste of money to witness a fully functioning device pelted, dropped or thrown in a ridiculous surfeit of acrobatics, but this is an essential pseudo-scientific requirement for users to see exactly how the device will fare in real world worst case scenarios. Granted, some of these tests might be pushing the term "real world situations," but the whole experiment speaks volumes about just how much the device can withstand even the most damaging human error.
Scratch Test
The V20's screen was divided into multiple columns, with each designated area being jabbed by a tool with varying levels of sharpness to see which level from two to nine will scratch the V20's screen. The device's tempered glass screen finally suffered noticeable scratches starting level six, meaning that the V20's screen can pretty much endure friction with keys or coins without a scuff.
Like last year's LG V10, the V20 is bookended by plastic bottom and top sections, and their surfaces chipped off easily when sliced with a sharp cutter. The sections were found to be just regular old plastic material and not coated with a special primer or paint. The buttons and the speaker grill are made of metal, so there's still a somewhat premium feel to it despite the predominantly plastic sections. Metal buttons won't fall off with wear and tear, making the V20 very durable in that aspect. The back of the device is made of solid metal, and while it suffered scratches, it was found to have a protective coating to prevent superficial scratches.
The fingerprint scanner endured a rigorous amount of scratching, but according to the test, it was still able to work without fail.
The V20's glass-covered dual cameras were able to withstand scratches. However, it shattered on its own a couple of seconds later, so it would be wise to use a case that levels the dual cameras' bump so as to not have it rub against any material.
Burn Test
The V20's screen lasted six seconds before a section of the panel turned black when heated with a lighter. When the fire was put out, the screen was able to recover the pixels as if nothing had happened, and was cool to the touch within seconds. So you have exactly six seconds to save the device if it accidentally brushes with fire.
Bend Test
When bent from the back, the V20 flexed more than the V10 did, with the front panel unlatching slightly from the main body. However, the screen did not break and remained functional.
The back panel and the battery popped off when bent from the front, causing the V20 to turn off. When turned back on, the device was still functional. This means that it can weather accidental situations where users leave the device on their back pocket and unawarely sit down. The device bends considerably since the back is removable, but it didn't snap.
In conclusion, the LG V20 may not be as durable as its predecessor, but it successfully stayed functional despite the scratch, burn and bend test.
You can get the LG V20 from Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. The device ships Oct. 25 on Verizon and Oct. 27 elsewhere.
