Nexus 7 holds up better than iPad in drop, water-dunk tests

Computerworld - Drop and dunk tests of both the new Apple iPad and the Google Nexus 7 show the Google device is more resilient.

The tests are described in a 2:50 YouTube video produced by SquareTrade, a company that offers third-party warranties for electronics.

In the video, two separate drop tests onto concrete show the iPad came out in worse shape than the Nexus 7 with damage to the glass front of the 9.7-in. iPad both times.

In the dunk test into water in a bathtub, the Nexus 7 survived intact, with video and sound still working, while the iPad lost its ability to play sound.

In the first drop test, both devices were dropped at the same time onto concrete from about five feet, about chest high. In the second drop test, both were slid off a concrete bench to a concrete sidewalk from about two feet.

In both drops with the two devices, the 7-in. Nexus 7 got scuffs to the rear with no glass breakage, while the iPad suffered front glass damage with minor scuffs on the metal back.

In the dunk test, both devices were dropped for a few seconds into water while they were running. The iPad came out with touch capability and video still working, but no sound. The Nexus 7 had video and touch controls after the water dunk, as well as sound. "Wow, that's impressive," a tester says in the video after hearing the sound still working on the Nexus 7.

On its Web site, the company offers a two-year warranty for the $499 iPad, (16GB version with Wi-Fi only) for $99, with no deductible. A two-year warranty for the Nexus 7, priced new for $199 is $18.99, but no information was provided about the amount of the deductible on the site's quote tool.

The SquareTrade warranties for iPad are described as providing protection from "drops, spills and more."

SquareTrade said in the video that nine out of 10 of its tablet claims are due to drops and spills. Also, one in three reported broken tablets have cracked screens, the company said.

Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at @matthamblen or subscribe to Matt's RSS feed. His email address is mhamblen@computerworld.com.

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