For many parents, the sight of a child picking up a smartphone is enough to cause panic. New research from global smart device provider HONOR has found that 40% of UK adults have experienced a child breaking or damaging a phone, with 25% taking out insurance specifically for child-related mishaps.
To address the issue, HONOR has put its latest smartphone, the Magic7 Lite, through a series of extreme durability tests – conducted by children themselves. Dubbed the ‘Tantrum Tests’, the trials aimed to prove whether the device could survive the chaos of everyday family life.
Smartphones at Risk in Children’s Hands
HONOR’s study highlights just how vulnerable smartphones are when handled by young children. The research revealed that 50% of parents have invested in extra protective cases, while 47% admitted to hiding their handsets altogether to avoid potential damage.
When asked about their emotions when a child picks up a phone, 40% of UK adults reported feelings of anxiety, while 19% admitted they go into full panic mode. The findings also detailed the most common ways in which children have damaged phones, with the top ten including:
- Dropping the phone
- Phones falling down toilets, stairs, or into the bath
- Devices being stepped on or thrown during tantrums
- Phones ending up in washing machines, mud, or paddling pools
Extreme ‘Tantrum Tests’ Push Magic7 Lite to the Limit
To showcase the durability of the Magic7 Lite, HONOR enlisted a group of young testers to put the device through its paces. The children devised a series of chaotic experiments designed to replicate real-world scenarios that parents often dread.
Among the most extreme tests:
- Crash Landing: The phone was attached to a parachute and dropped from a height, crashing to the ground but remaining intact.
- Remote-Control Car Ride: Secured to the roof of a high-speed remote-control car, the device survived a dramatic jump over a swimming pool.
- Frozen in Ice: The Magic7 Lite was encased in a block of ice, then smashed free with a hammer – with an incoming call still coming through.
- Buried in a Sandpit: The phone remained buried for hours, with its battery life outlasting the lifespan of the surrounding sandcastles.
Bond Zhang, CEO of HONOR UK&I, said: “Child’s play is all fun and games, but the struggle of keeping devices safe from tiny hands and big adventures is real. That’s why we brought in the best testers possible – children – to push the Magic7 Lite to its limits. Our most durable phone yet is built to withstand whatever comes its way, from muddy puddles to yesterday’s leftovers.”
A Phone Built to Last
The HONOR Magic7 Lite is designed for durability, featuring an Anti-Drop Display, dust and water resistance, and a powerful battery. With everyday accidents proving to be a major concern for UK families, HONOR aims to provide a solution for parents worried about their devices surviving the chaos of family life.
