Ubisoft has reportedly told DualShockers that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will run at upscaled 4K/60 frames-per-second on the PlayStation 5.
The publisher recently penned a lengthy blog, detailing the next-gen versions of its upcoming titles. Curiously, the blog mentioned resolutions of 4K/60 fps for the Xbox Series X and 4K “and” 60 fps for the PS5. The latter resulted in people assuming that games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will not be able to support 4K “at” 60 fps on Sony’s console. As speculations made rounds online, Ubisoft updated parts of its blog but confusion still remained.
As of this writing, here’s what we know about the PS5 versions:
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will support 4K at 60 fps
Immortals Fenyx Rising will support 4K and 60 fps
Far Cry 6 will support 4K at 60 fps
Riders Republic will support 4K at 60 fps
Rainbow Six Siege will support 4K at 120 fps
For Honor will support 4K. Ubisoft’s blog doesn’t clarify if that’ll be at 60 fps or not. However, it does mention that 60 fps will be available for both next-gen consoles
As far as “upscaled” 4K is concerned, we’re only hearing this via a PR representative that DualShockers reached out to. It’s unclear if this applies to both consoles or if Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will offer native 4K on the Xbox Series X.
Ubisoft’s PR and communication has been quite a mess lately but we’ll update our readers when we have more information. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will launch on November 10th and 12th so we’ll find out in due course what the PS5 version offers.
Apple launched a service program for AirPods Pro with crackling and static issues, among others.Photo: Adam Clark Estes
If you’ve been hearing static or crackling sounds on your AirPods Pro, rest assured: You are sane. The sound issues are actually an Apple problem, and the company wants to fix them for you for free.
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Apple launched a service program on Friday for AirPods Pro manufactured before October 2020. According to Apple, users with affected devices may hear crackling or static sounds that increase in loud environments, while exercising or while talking on the phone. Besides that issue, some AirPods Pro may have problems with active noise cancellation not working as expected, which can result in problems such as the loss of bass sound.
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Other issues include an increase in background sounds, such as airplane or street noise.
Users that experience one or more of the above problems can get in touch with Apple or Apple-authorized service providers to get their device examined. If Apple or the service provider determines that the devices are eligible for the service program, the AirPods Pro will be replaced. The program covers one or both earbuds.
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However, although the earbuds will be replaced, the AirPods Pro case is not affected by sound issues and is not covered by the service program.
Apple did not specify what might be causing the sound problems, although some have speculated that it’s a hardware issue. Users have been complaining about the issue for months. In May, Apple posted some troubleshooting advice on its website for people experiencing static and crackling sounds, which assumed that the problems were due to wireless interference or specific apps. We now know that was not the case.
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Considering that the AirPods Pro are not exactly cheap ($250), I’m glad users that experience this will be able to get these issues fixed. (I’ve experienced crackling, though not with the AirPods Pro, and it’s always made me fear my headphones would explode). Apple’s new service program covers devices worldwide, and covers affected AirPods Pro for two years after purchase.
Autonomous cars may be our future, but not many enthusiasts are excited by the prospect of watching driverless race cars go round a circuit.
That’s mainly because taking human skills and error out of racing equates to turning motorsport into a “sanitized” discipline where there’s very little room for unpredictability. In plain English, autonomous car racing is boring to watch. Unless of course you take into account this accident involving a Roborace self-driving vehicle.
It happened right at the start of the Season Beta 1.1 race when Roborace team SIT Acronis Autonomous’ self-driving car decided to drive straight into a wall instead of following the track. Footage shows that the AI controlling the autonomous racer “decided” to steer it to the right immediately after the start, plowing into the pit wall.
It’s not clear what led to the mishap, but in all likelihood it must have been caused by a glitch. Mind you, this wasn’t the only incident, as Autonomous Racing Graz’s car reportedly had positioning issues that led to it getting “lost” on the track, abandoning the race as a result.
Anyway, these incidents highlight the challenges of unleashing AI on a real race track. Unlike autonomous cars that are “taught” to drive on public roads, robotic racers run at far greater speeds and therefore have less room for error. They also have less time to react to hazards and make good calls.
The pandemic has created an environment where businesses need to be innovative to meet the challenges of the new normal. Online exhibitions and buyer-seller meeting platforms have emerged as the go-to destinations for those who want to expand and diversify in the changed scenario of current times. In sync with this thought, Zhejiang Export Online Fair 2020 has announced a unique opportunity for stakeholders in the auto parts industry to meet and generate business via video conferencing. The Online Fair on Auto Parts will be held from 9th to 13th November, 2020, and is targeted at auto parts buyers from Thailand who are looking to source innovative products and accessories from key Chinese suppliers.
Supported by CREAT, the expo will see more than 50 top manufacturers from Zhejiang showcasing their latest range of auto parts and accessories for Thailand buyers. There will be innumerable options to choose from such as - ENGINE BEARING, THRUST WASHER, AUTO REPAIR TOOLS, CAR WIPER SYSTEM, WASHER PUMP, BLOWER & FAN MOTOR SYSTEM, RADIATOR FAN ASSEMBLY, WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY CAR SENSOR, CAR AUTO SWITCH, BELT, OIL SEAL ,BEARING, EGR VALVE, AIR FLOW SENSOR, ADDITIONAL WATER PUMPS, EGR COOLER, HYDRAULIC PUMP,TRACTOR PUMP, TIMING CHAIN KIT, CONTROL ARM, ROCKER ARM, CLUTCH DISC, CLUTCH COVER, CLUTCH KIT, CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING, BELT TENSIONER, CYLINDER BLOCK, RIVETS FOR CLUTCH AND BRAKE LING, BOLTS, SCREWS, NUTS, FAN CLUTCH, CLUTCHES, TIRE VALVE, AUTO AC COMPRESSOR, AUTO FAN, BLOWER MOTOR, CONDENSER, AUTO HOSE, PACKING COOLER, HEATER, RUBBER BELT, AUTO TIMING BELT, AUTO FAN BELT, PK BELT, COGGED V BELT, WRAPPED V BELT, RUBBER BELT, AUTO TIMING BELT, AUTO FAN BELT, PK BELT, COGGED V BELT, WRAPPED V BELT, CONTROL ARM, ALUMINUM, PLASTIC LINEAR BEARING, OIL FREE SELF LUBRICATING BEARING, COPPER MESH SOFT BELT etc.
This is an excellent platform to strengthen lighting trade between Thailand and Zhejiang at a time when business has hit a new low due to the restrictions on travel and transportation. The expo will give a boost to business opportunities and will help stakeholders in exploring new avenues to diversify and expand in the current business environment. The range of products has been selected keeping in mind the requirements of the Thailand market.
All discussion amongst participants will take place online via Zoom Video Conferencing platform.
Earlier this month, the public got its first glimpse of Iris Xe Max, Intel’s new discrete GPU for thin-and-light laptops, at an Acer press event. Today, Intel revealed the full first wave of laptops that will include this GPU, some of which are available for purchase now in certain countries.
The laptops include the Acer Swift 3X, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2-in-1, and the Asus VivoBook Flip TP470. The Inspiron 15 is available in the US at Best Buy; Acer has previously said to expect the 3X in the US in December. Both the Swift 3X and the Inspiron 15 are also available in China through JD.com. Intel says the Asus VivoBook is coming “shortly” to both the US and China.
Intel’s Iris Xe Max graphics are primarily intended for portable systems for content creators. “We set out to redefine the role of discrete graphics in thin-and-light laptops and address a growing segment of creators who want more portability,” said Roger Chandler, Intel vice president and general manager of Client XPU Product and Solutions, in a statement.
The three new laptops also include Intel’s 11th Gen “Tiger Lake” mobile processors, as well as Intel’s Deep Link technology, which allows certain applications to leverage both discrete and integrated graphics for creative work. Intel claims that Tiger Lake systems paired with Iris Xe Max graphics can provide “seven times faster AI-based creation” than similar laptops with third-party GPUs.
The company also claims its GPU can deliver “great thin-and-light 1080p gaming on popular games.” We shouldn’t get too excited about this until benchmarks come out — it would certainly be surprising to see laptops of this size running Microsoft Flight Simulator. But Iris Xe integrated graphics do a decent job with stuff like Overwatch, so you may very well be able to run lighter fare if Acer, Dell, and Asus can keep cooling under control.
I got some hands-on time with the Acer Swift 3X, which starts at $899.99. It’s a slim and portable machine, with a decent port selection and a nice-looking screen. But our test unit wasn’t finalized, so I couldn’t put the graphics to the test. Much of whether that system (and others like it) are worth their price tags for creators will depend on GPU performance, battery life, and display quality — so keep an eye out for our upcoming reviews.
The shopping spectacular is getting a pandemic-induced makeover, with many major retailers starting their sales earlier than ever and ending them later. Companies are hoping to avoid the crush of customers that crowd stores on the Friday after Thanksgiving by giving them more buying, pickup and delivery options.
This year, the Black Friday deals that are usually reserved for in-store shopping will appear online during the month. Nearly 51% of shoppers feel anxious about shopping in-store during the holidays and 64% of their budget is expected to be spent online, according to a new shopping survey from Deloitte.
"Black Friday has definitely transitioned more into a digital affair in the past five years," said Neil Saunders, retail analyst and managing director at GlobalData Retail, previously told CNN Business. "The focal point is not that single day anymore. It's an event spread out over several days."
And those who are brave (or crazy) enough to hit the stores on Black Friday will notice enhanced safety protocols and capacity controls.
Here's how major US retailers changed their Black Friday plans this year:
"As we've said, Black Friday isn't just one day this year — it's months long," Best Buy said in a statement.
That's true: Some Best Buy deals became available online in October with more deals going live in stores on November 1. On select days, Best Buy(BBY) shoppers can get deeper discounts from its Black Friday ad early via its website, with the first event beginning November 5.
Stores will open at 5 am on Black Friday with the retailer still requiring shoppers to wear face coverings. It's also enforcing capacity controls and there will be a "dedicated customer experience host" to help direct shoppers and answer questions.
Contactless curbside pickup and expanded same-day delivery will also be available.
The retailer recently said it decided to "reinvent" Black Friday this year to reduce stress for consumers who typically rush to stores in droves to grab the best deals. Given the pandemic, the company indicated that maintaining safety was also a factor in its decision.
Home Depot(HD) gave its app users advance access earlier this week to some of the discounts.
Loyal customers will see an expanded selection of items, with the company selling more home goods, exercise equipment and other items people wouldn't normally associate with the home improvement retailer.
Lowe's(LOW) "Season of Savings" already began last week — its earliest start date ever. The Black Friday-like event includes "competitive deals in-store and online" through December.
One notable addition this year: Free delivery of fresh-cut trees and wreaths on orders more than $45.
Black Friday sales at the department store will begin online and in stores beginning November 4.
On the day after Thanksgiving itself, Macy's said shoppers can "expect to shop those same deals safely in-store" with additional cleaning, employees wearing personal protection equipment and "occupancy checks with an emphasis on traffic flow to anticipate and mitigate crowds."
Macy's(M) is also promoting curbside pickup, buy-online-pick-up in store and same-day delivery through DoorDash.
Deals will be sold online and in stores for the entire month of November in a promotion called "Black Friday Now." Target will offer "weeklong discounts and digital deals every day" beginning on November 1. It's also extending its price-match policy from two weeks after the purchase date to two months.
Target(TGT) is also bolstering its safety features at its stores — including contactless payment in its app, reducing lines by having employees rove the store to let customers pay and letting shoppers make reservations.
America's largest retailer is spreading Black Friday sales over three weekends, which will begin on its website before hitting stores a few days later. "Black Friday Deals for Days" encompasses the first, second and fourth weekends of November, with the deals appearing online Wednesdays.
Although it's pushing people to shop online and use its curbside pickup option, shoppers that go to its stores won't experience the pandemonium of the past. Instead, they will form single-file lines at the entrance and be given sanitized shopping carts. "Health Ambassadors" will be stationed at entrances to remind people to put on their masks. Social distancing will be enforced inside with capacity controls and one-way lanes.
Walmart(WMT) said the changes at its stores "will be safer and more manageable for both our customers and our associates."
(Reuters) - A central piece of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s bid for the White House is a drastic change in U.S. environmental policy.
FILE PHOTO: Speaking in front of a backdrop of American-made vehicles and a United Auto Workers (UAW) sign, Democratic U.S. presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks about new proposals to protect U.S. jobs during a campaign stop in Warren, Michigan, U.S., September 9, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis
Here is a detailed look at Biden proposals that would impact automakers should he defeat Republican President Donald Trump on Tuesday:
VEHICLE EMISSIONS
Biden’s climate plan includes the promise to reinstate and advance more stringent fuel economy standards that were implemented during the Obama administration but rolled back by Trump.
Under the 2012 Obama rules, automakers had to reduce carbon dioxide emissions for passenger and light-duty vehicles by 3.5% annually from 2017 to 2021 and by 5% per year from 2022 to 2025. California has been allowed to set its own, stricter zero-emissions standards, which are followed by 12 other U.S. states.
Voicing concerns over the standards’ cost to manufacturers, Trump in April finalized rules that lowered year-over-year emissions reductions to 1.5% through 2026. The administration also withdrew California’s waiver to set stricter standards, sparking a legal battle and forcing automakers to pick a side in the fight.
Automakers said the policy reversal saved them at least $1 billion in annual compliance costs but left the industry divided.
Ford Motor CoF.N, Honda Motor Co7267.T, Volkswagen AGVOWG_p.DEand others reached a compromise with California on emissions requirements, while General Motors CoGM.N, Toyota Motor Corp7203.Tand Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NVFCHA.MIsided with Trump in an effort to freeze out California and roll back emissions requirements.
Biden’s plan states he will work on fuel economy standards that go beyond those set up under the Obama administration, but has not provided additional details. A June plan by the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives proposes reductions of at least 6% per year, starting in 2026.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Biden has promised $400 billion in public investment to transition to clean energy, including advanced battery technology and electric vehicles.
Under Biden’s plan, the federal government will support states and local officials to build 500,000 new electric vehicle charging outlets by the end of 2030.
That would mark a significant increase from the United States’ current charging infrastructure, which counts 87,600 charging outlets, according to U.S. Energy Department data. The European Union, by comparison, currently has 192,000 charging outlets, according to the European Alternative Fuels Observatory.
CONSUMER EV INCENTIVES
Biden has said he wants to encourage consumers to buy electric cars through tax credits. The U.S. federal government is currently subsidizing electric cars with a $7,500 consumer tax break for the first 200,000 vehicles an automaker sells.
So far, only Tesla IncTSLA.Oand General Motors have hit the cap. Subsidies for Tesla finished at the end of 2019, while those for GM ran out on March 31.
Congress at the end of 2019 declined to extend the cap to 600,000 electric vehicles per carmaker.
Biden has said he wants the tax credit to benefit middle-class consumers and prioritize the purchase of vehicles made in America.
That could pose a challenge to some automakers other than Tesla. Ford plans to build many of its future electric vehicles in Mexico and Canada. GM is planning premium-priced electric Cadillac and Hummer models costing more than $100,000.
Biden has also said he wants to set up a “cash for clunkers” rebate program that would encourage Americans to trade their older, polluting cars for new electric vehicles.
That plan could be modeled after a $450 billion program introduced by U.S. Senate Democrats last year, aimed at replacing 63 million gas-powered cars with electric vehicles within 10 years. Under the plan, consumers would receive a rebate of at least $3,000 for trading in their car.
JOBS AND WORKERS
Biden has said his climate plan aims to create 1 million new jobs across the auto industry, from suppliers to manufacturers and infrastructure.
He has also said his policies should benefit union workers and create more unionized jobs.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union, representing more than 400,000 active members, in April reliably endorsed the Democratic presidential candidate. But nearly a third of UAW members defied their union’s recommendation in the 2016 election by voting for Trump. Many auto workers are concerned that a switch to electric vehicles will destroy their jobs.
TRADE AND CHINA
It is not clear how Biden would wind down the trade war with China, which has restricted the flow of U.S. exports of vehicles and auto parts. The Biden team has said he would “re-evaluate” tariffs on imports of Chinese-made vehicles, parts and materials.
Since those tariffs were levied, prices have risen on materials such as steel and aluminum, while manufacturing jobs have declined, according to the Federal Reserve.
Biden would likely take a multilateral approach with allied countries to blunt China’s economic clout through stronger support for the World Trade Organization (WTO) and enforcement of existing trade rules, according to the Center for Automotive Research.
Biden is also expected to seek membership for the United States in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Reporting by Tina Bellon in New York; additional reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit; editing by Jonathan Oatis
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — At least 3 firefighters were hurt and more than 190 responded to a massive fire at an auto shop in Brooklyn on Saturday, according to the FDNY.
The fire started around 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Atlantic and Autumn avenues in East New York.
The FDNY said hazmat crews were requested due to chemicals at the scene.
Three injured firefighters were hospitalized, officials said.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
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Saturday is your last chance to get in on Best Buy’s multi-day sale, but don’t worry if you miss out. Black Friday is a few weeks away, and this year, retailers are offering very good sale prices almost every day. Wherever those deals come from, we’ll be putting them in deal posts for you to check out. What follows are the best deals that have made the rounds on The Verge earlier this week, as well as some new inclusions we think you’ll enjoy.
Sony’s WH-1000XM4 wireless noise-canceling headphones come recommended if you want a comfy over-ear model with excellent sound quality and long-lasting battery life. Normally $350, they’re down to $278. This matches the lowest price yet.
There are some big discounts happening on LG and Vizio OLED TVs at Best Buy. Their design and feature set vary slightly, but with both you’ll get great picture quality and rich contrast. They’re still very expensive compared to LED TVs, but it’s a good investment if you watch a lot of movies and play games. Both TVs have HDMI 2.1, so they can display compatible PS5 and Xbox Series X games at 4K resolution and up to a 120Hz refresh rate.
If having a bigger TV is more important than the kinds of features it has, Samsung’s 70-inch 4K TV is just $530 at Best Buy through Saturday.
Amazon discounted most of its Echo and Fire TV devices earlier this week, and those deals are still going strong. You should definitely expect most of these to remain somewhat constant throughout the holiday shopping season. But if you want to shop early, here are the standout deals from its sale.
Apple has covered its new iPhone 12 with a brand new type of glass called "ceramic shield", which it says is the toughest glass ever on a smartphone. Every year Apple makes a similar claim about its glass, but this time may be different because this is no ordinary glass. While it may look and feel exactly like glass, the ceramic shield covering the screens is, as the name suggests, a combination of glass and ceramic (which is harder than most metals). It's a totally new cover material for the iPhone and it's unlike anything we've ever tested before.
And testing it is exactly what we did. To find out how this new material holds up to the elements, we put two brand-new iPhone 12s through a few scratch and drop tests. And as it turns out, this new glass is incredibly durable. (This rival says its screen is three times harder than Apple's ceramic shield.)
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The ceramic shield only covers the front -- the screen -- of the iPhone 12. The back is covered with the same glass as last year's iPhone 11, which Apple says is the toughest in the industry. Both types of glass are made by Corning.
The glass on the iPhone 11 (left) curves up, while the glass on iPhone 12 (right) is flush with the frame.
Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
Aside from the glass, the other factor that may play a role in how well this phone holds up to drops is the design. The glass on the iPhone 12 lies flush with the metal frame rather than curved up like in previous models which left more of the glass exposed. Apple says that design choice alone will make the back and front twice as durable as older models.
All four models of the iPhone 12 (iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Max) have the same ceramic shield on the screen and the same type of glass on the back. The only difference in materials is the frame. The two Pros have a stainless steel frame, while the Mini and the 12 are aluminum. The performance of the frame may vary depending on the material, but the glass should offer the same type of protection across the board. For our tests we used the regular iPhone 12 in blue and green.
For the first test, I put the iPhone 12 in a small makeup bag with some of the common culprits that scratch up our phones: a set of keys, a half dozen quarters and a metallic pen. I shook the bag vigorously for about 30 seconds to simulate what happens after a few weeks of bouncing around in a purse or pocket before inspecting it.
After wiping the phone down with a cloth, I couldn't find a single scratch on the glass or the frame of the iPhone 12.
Click on the video below to see the results from the scratch and drop tests.
Now playing:Watch this: iPhone 12: How tough is the glass?
14:47
Scratch 2: No scratches on the screen after sliding on tile
Next, I wanted to see how the screen would hold up if it came in contact with a hard surface like a marble table, kitchen counter or bathroom floor. I slid the iPhone 12 back and forth 10 times on a textured ceramic tile, first along the screen, then on the back of the phone.
The screen had a bid of debris from the tile, but after cleaning it off I struggled to find any visible damage to the glass. Testing the back of the phone was trickier. The raised camera module doesn't allow the phone to lay flat on its back, so I did a few slides with the phone at an angle. This didn't damage the glass, but it caused some of the metallic paint on the frame around the bottom camera to rub off. It was barely noticeable and the lenses themselves were still in pristine condition. Then I did it again with the camera module hanging off the edge of the tile. After inspecting the back closely, I finally managed to make out two microscopic scratches, one on the silver Apple logo, and another right below it on the blue glass. Both were thinner than a strand of fine hair and about a quarter of an inch long.
The two tiny scratches on the back of the iPhone 12 that resulted from sliding it on floor tile. The screen came out flawless.
Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
Scratch 3: Rubbing it on sandpaper made a mark
Having passed the two scratch tests with flying colors, I decided to conduct one more (extreme) test on this iPhone 12: rubbing with 80-grit sandpaper. This is probably the real-world equivalent of sliding your phone across a driveway or sidewalk, which hopefully won't happen too often.
I rubbed the phone back and forth across the sandpaper 10 times on either side, applying light pressure. This time, both sides of the phone were scraped up. The screen had the most damage, with lines running horizontally through the middle of the phone. A few of them were deep enough to feel with my fingernail, but it was still in working condition. The back of the phone has significantly less damage, again because of the protection offered by the raised camera module, but it still had visible scrapes in the center and on the lower edges. The metallic finish on the lens frames had continued to peel off, but the lenses themselves were still scratchless.
Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
Scratching the phone compromises the glass and makes it a lot more likely to break during a fall, so my colleague, CNET Managing Producer Chris Parker, used another brand-new iPhone 12 for our drop tests onto the sidewalk.
Drop 1: 3 feet, screen side down
One of the more common times you might drop your phone is when you're putting it in and out of your pocket. While dropping a phone from hip height can be harmless, if it lands on the street or sidewalk, you're likely to end up with a broken screen.
When dropped from hip height, the top of the iPhone 12 hit the ground first, then the bottom. Then it bounced in the air once more before landing flat on the sidewalk, screen side down as intended.
The aluminum frame had a few dents around the edges of the phone, but nothing serious.
Drop test 2: 3 feet, back side down
Next, Chris did the same drop, but this time with the back of the phone facing the ground.
The iPhone 12 seems to be top heavy: It landed almost in the exact same way as it did before, with the top (where the camera module is) hitting first, then the bottom. Finally it landed back side down on the sidewalk.
The main difference on this drop was the sound when it landed, a louder thud than before. Sure enough, once we turned it over, we noticed the bottom half of the phone was broken. The edge felt a bit rough to the touch, mainly from the dents on the frame, but there weren't any shards falling off the back of the phone, and it still felt smooth despite the cracks.
With the back cracked, we narrowed our drops to the screen only.
The second drop from hip height broke the back glass of our iPhone 12.
Chris Parker/CNET
Drop 3: 6 feet, 6 inches, screen side down
This is about as high as Chris could drop the phone without needing a ladder.
The top left hand corner of the screen, opposite the camera module, hit first, then the right side, then the left until it flipped on its back, landing screen side up. The most noticeable dent was on the top where it hit first and it almost looked like it had caused a crack in the screen right where it met the metal frame. But after rubbing it off we realized it was just metallic residue from the frame and the glass was still in perfect shape.
The aluminum frame on the iPhone 12 absorbed the brunt of the fall from six feet.
Chris Parker/CNET
Drop 4, 5 and 6: 9 feet drop, screen side down
With the screen still holding strong, we decided to go even higher, using a step ladder to reach nine feet. Again this is not a realistic drop unless you happen to slide your phone off a second floor balcony, but we wanted to see how far we could take it.
At nine feet it became even harder to control the landing. While Chris was aiming to drop it flat on the screen, the iPhone 12 had a mind of its own and landed in almost the exact same way as the previous six-foot drop. With the top right-hand corner of the screen hitting the ground first, then bouncing off the left side and landing screen side up.
The dent on the top right-hand side of the frame got deeper, but the screen survived yet again.
We repeated this drop two more times hoping it would at some point land flat on its face, but the weight of the camera made it hard for it to land at that angle, especially at that height. The iPhone 12 finally landed with the screen down on the last drop, but only because it bounced off the side of the porch step. The frame had a few more bumps and bruises, but the screen still looked like new after three back-to-back drops from nine feet. The only way up from there would've been to climb up on the roof or rent a scissor lift, which we weren't exactly prepared to do.
The screen of our iPhone 12 survived without a crack after we dropped it on the sidewalk six times.
Chris Parker/CNET
Let's break it down
Because our tests aren't scientific, we can't say for a fact that the screen is stronger than any other phone in the market, but we can definitely say that our iPhone 12 was incredibly tough to crack (and scratch) even on tile and sidewalk.
The back of the iPhone 12, however, doesn't seem to have the same drop resistance superpower as the screen. And while you may feel comfortable using this phone without a screen protector, we -- and Apple -- recommend using the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro with a case, as getting the screen or back replaced without AppleCare Plus coverage costs anywhere from $279 to $549 depending on the repair.
In a statement to CNET, Apple said, "iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro represent the biggest jump in durability ever on iPhone ... iPhone 12 models have gone through rigorous real-world testing and are designed to be durable, but not indestructible. If anyone is concerned about dropping their iPhone and damaging it, we suggest using one of the many beautiful cases available to protect iPhone."
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