The iPhone 16 Pro Max has hit the market for only a few days, and JerryRigEverything’s Zack Nelson has quickly put it to the test with his signature durability assessments.
Since being posted online on Saturday, Nelson’s testing video has garnered over two million views. This demonstrates a significant interest among viewers eager to witness how Apple’s latest, largest, and most expensive iPhone withstands severe trials, including scratching, burning, and bending.
Watching Nelson scrape a box cutter blade across the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a nerve-wracking experience—it’s tough to look away from him testing any device. However, this exercise does provide valuable insight into the durability of the glass and frame under extreme duress. Nelson highlighted Apple’s assertion that this year’s Ceramic Shield glass is 50% tougher than its predecessor and twice as resilient as any other smartphone glass. Yet, in his testing, he found that it scratched relatively easily with his various tools.
As is typical for his style, Nelson delivers some biting commentary directed at Apple during his durability evaluation. For instance, as he examined the device’s three rear camera lenses, he quipped: “The cameras are aligned this way to capture spatial video for the three people who own Vision Pros.” He continued, “I’ll admit that recording at 120 frames per second in 4K would be impressive if Samsung hadn’t already achieved that first with their S24 Ultra. But that’s just how things roll at Apple—yesterday’s technology at tomorrow’s prices.”
In true fashion, Nelson next introduces a flame to the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s display. Impressively, even after more than 10 seconds of direct heat exposure, there are no visible signs of damage. Though, as he cautions, it’s best not to try this at home.
Given the unexpected outcome of last year’s bend test with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, where the back glass shattered on the first bend, there was keen anticipation surrounding the performance of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Did it pass the test? You’ll need to view the video for the answer…
