Google’s official blog tells the story of a man named Andrew Prag who went skiing in France and accidentally dropped his Pixel 6a in the snow on a mountainside. Unable to locate the device due to heavy snowfall, he returned to the same spot after 6 months and finally found the Pixel 6a nestled in the grass, covered in mud. After cleaning the device, he plugged it in, turned it on, and it worked perfectly. Ajay Kamath, Head of Product Integrity Engineering at Google, responsible for hardware durability, explains their rigorous testing methods in various real-life scenarios.
Google designs hardware tests in situations like repeatedly picking up and putting down a tablet with a robotic arm, drop tests from low heights, and continuously shaking devices to see when they fail. This process, known as Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), focuses on understanding potential failure modes rather than just when failures occur, enhancing preventive design measures.
Kamath admits there are no guarantees that a Pixel will survive being dropped in the snow every time, but if it does, it’s not surprising. Pixel devices undergo testing from as low as -30 degrees to as high as 75 degrees Celsius, along with waterproof and dustproof standards. Key components are securely wrapped, and the device being buried in snow ensures safety from external elements. The charging circuit is also disabled to save battery power.
TLDR: Google’s testing methods ensure that Pixel devices are durable in extreme conditions, even surviving being buried in snow for months.
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