What Is a Military Grade Phone Case? - How Impact Protection Ratings Are Measured

When it comes to military drop test standards these days, there’s definitely a mental aspect to all of it as well. It taps into this deep-seated desire we have to feel secure. This is especially true when we live in a world where smartphones just happen to be so fragile. When you see that label, you automatically associate it with top-notch quality, something that can handle whatever life throws at it. And let's be honest, that perception can come with a higher price tag. But the thing is, the term isn’t really regulated. That means that some companies may try to use it loosely. This is why it’s absolutely vital to look past buzzwords and understand the actual standards and testing involved.

If you want to see a true head-to-head of military-grade action, check out our Rokform vs OtterBox comparison.

Forget those wimpy single-drop tests you might see out there. When you're talking about true military drop test standards, they take things to a whole other level with what's often called the 26 drops challenge. It’s far from conventional testing. It isn’t just one accidental drop. Basically, it’s a full-on assault from every possible angle.

They're dropping the device or case on each face, every single edge, and all the corners. It's a systematic beatdown designed to expose weaknesses. And after each and every one of those 26 drops, they're inspecting the device for damage and making sure it still works. But they don't stop there. To really ensure the results are solid, they typically run this entire gauntlet not just once, but three times.

The table below shows different drop test parameters and which military drop standard goes along with that test:

When they're putting these cases through the military drop test standard, they're not just using one type of surface. They mix it up with concrete, steel, and even water. Honestly, dropping your phone on rough concrete is a totally different impact than it hitting a hard steel surface.

Each of these surfaces tests different aspects of how well the case can protect your device. Concrete is great for seeing how the case absorbs the overall shock of a fall. And when they introduce water into the equation, they're checking for ingress protection (ours is rated IP67, giving you dust-tight protection and temporary protection from submersion in water). Ingress protection judges how well the case keeps liquids out and prevents damage. In our case, (IP67), the 6 indicates complete dust protection. And the 7 tells you how protective we are from temporary splashes.

To see what we’re made of, check out this YouTube on insane drop tests where our very own Rokform Rugged Case for the iPhone 13 Max Pro was tested and delivered awesome results!

The challenge here is managing the heat your phone generates itself. Creating a case that insulates without trapping that internal heat requires some smart engineering. You'll often see multi-layered designs and the use of advanced materials that can help dissipate heat. Importantly, the concept of using advanced insulation like aerogel to protect phones from extreme cold is definitely out there. Aerogel is known for its incredible insulating properties, even in very thin layers.

At Rokform, we know all about magnets and phones, including why our neodymium magnets are completely safe to use. However, when it comes to EMI shielding your devices, this could potentially interfere with wireless signals. It's a double-edged sword. If you completely encase your phone in metal, it's going to have a hard time connecting to cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth networks. So, the engineers have to get clever. They might use selective shielding that targets specific problematic frequencies while allowing the signals you need to pass through. You might even see designs with "windows" made of non-conductive materials strategically placed around the antenna areas of the phone. Some advanced designs even use tuned resonators to help enhance the desired signals while still providing that crucial EMI protection.

And then you get into the whole biodegradability question. Imagine a military grade phone case that could not only survive a beating but also break down safely after you're done with it. That's a serious challenge. The materials need to be tough enough to protect your phone through all sorts of abuse but also capable of degrading in a controlled way once they hit the landfill. Some companies are experimenting with bio-based polymers for parts of the cases, but making sure these materials can hold up to the demands of a "military grade" standard throughout the product's life, and then break down properly afterward, is a challenge that must be solved.

While you’re here, check out our guide to the ultimate protection for your iPhone 16.

Then there's self-healing surfaces. Forget those annoying little scratches and dents that accumulate over time. We're talking about materials that can automatically repair minor damage. This could involve microcapsules embedded in the case material that rupture upon damage and release a healing agent, or even polymers that can reform their molecular bonds when exposed to light or heat. This self-healing capability could eventually extend beyond just the surface, potentially allowing the case to maintain its structural integrity for much longer.

Then you’ve got nano-engineered surfaces. Some cases are incorporating these incredibly thin coatings that can do some pretty amazing things. Hydrophobic coatings can make water bead right off the surface, achieving contact angles of over 150 degrees. Oleophobic treatments repel oils from your fingerprints, keeping your case cleaner. In fact, when it comes to camera lens protectors, ours have oleophobic coatings that you can count on.

Below, we’ve provided a table showing nano-coatings and their advantages:

Designers have to think about how these protective layers affect the tactile feedback. You still need to be able to feel the buttons click and have your touchscreen respond accurately, even through the extra layers of protection. They test button mechanisms across different temperatures to ensure they always have that consistent feel. Capacitive touch sensors are carefully calibrated to work flawlessly through the case. Some even incorporate haptic feedback to make up for any reduced tactile sensation.

So, think about this for a minute. If a phone case has advanced shielding, could that unintentionally interfere with law enforcement in specific situations? Could an ultra-durable case, in a worst-case scenario, be repurposed for something it wasn't intended for? Honestly, if cases were to get smarter with integrated tech, then we would need to be mindful of the data they might collect. Could a case inadvertently create a unique electromagnetic signature for the user? If a case has logging features for impact detection, could that data be vulnerable? And if it connects to the cloud, who has access to that information? These are important conversations to have.

Creating a truly versatile solution in military grade protection requires some serious ingenuity. Modular designs that allow users to customize their case based on their specific needs or the situation they're in are one way to tackle this. And the ongoing research into things like shape-shifting materials could eventually lead to cases that adapt their form for optimal ergonomics. Here at Rokform, our Rugged Case collection is built with this in mind, aiming to provide that top-tier military grade standards while still being ready for whatever.