Summer’s warmth and vibrancy are a perfect blend, making it truly unbeatable. As you find yourself surrounded by the serenity of oceanfront property, where the soothing rhythm of waves and whispers of seagulls create a sense of tranquility, it’s not uncommon to reframe life’s challenges with a newfound perspective. Regardless of whether we’re drawn to the ocean with fervor or find ourselves irresistibly swept up in its tides due to external factors, the seaside has become a home away from home for many of our team members.
As you’ve likely experienced firsthand, exposure to direct sunlight can significantly impact the brightness and battery performance of your phone’s display, and we’re well-versed in these effects. Despite this, we lacked concrete evidence illustrating just how much worse a phone’s lifespan becomes in such hostile environments; relying solely on subjective evaluations or anecdotal accounts from others is insufficient. We decided to conduct a small verification process.
While every attempt to model a real-world phenomenon using an engineering simulation necessarily entails imperfections. After exploring the most effective approach to replicate smartphone usage at the beach, we conducted initial trials on diverse configurations, ultimately arriving at this solution.
We placed the telephones correctly in the open sunlight, with no obstruction. For a preliminary attempt, we tested them under a diffuser, mimicking a seaside umbrella. Unfortunately, this setup yielded unsatisfactory results when it came to maxing out the ambient light sensor and spiking the phones’ maximum brightness levels – at least, until they stopped functioning optimally.
The ambient air temperature was a sweltering 30 degrees Celsius, or 86 degrees Fahrenheit, while the check floor – where the telephones lay waiting – soared to a scorching 45 degrees Celsius, equivalent to a blistering 115 degrees Fahrenheit. As a gentle zephyr caressed the area, occasional clouds drifted lazily across the sky, briefly interrupting the relentless heat and providing moments of respite from the sweltering conditions – a welcome reprieve that allowed our experiment to draw incrementally closer to its intended reality.
We selected four telephones representing diverse perspectives, driven by a thoughtful consideration process. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra truly represents the pinnacle of smartphone innovation, thanks in large part to its stunning glass-covered display. While the vivo X100 Extremely, as a China-only launch, boasts an impressive peak brightness range among those we’ve measured in our standard testing regimen.
The Poco F6 Pro and Motorola Edge 50 Pro, meanwhile, serve as representatives of Crew Mainstream – affordably priced handsets catering to the needs of everyday consumers.
As we carefully placed them on the check bench for a 30-minute acclimation period before commencing the test, I recall it’s akin to arriving at the beach, grabbing a cup of coffee, and then taking a moment to verify the water temperature – only after which does mindless scrolling set in. As they were all light-colored, the acclimation process didn’t present any disadvantages for any of them.
After flipping the devices, we adjusted the screen brightness to adaptive mode and executed our standard online shopping simulation, supplemented by a custom webpage featuring a plain white background to facilitate mid-range luminance assessments. A skilled photographer, the ROG Cellphone 8 Professional, set out to masterfully capture a time-lapse sequence of a methodology unfolding before its lens.
As it turned out, by the time we began testing, three-quarters of the phones were already warm enough that they didn’t require maximum brightness – only the Motorola needed adjustment.
Clearly, the intricacies of brightness habit plots hold a significant appeal; nonetheless, a concise overview is provided below. The Galaxy’s brightness dipped slightly, settling at around 300 nits roughly five minutes into testing, and maintained this level throughout the assessment.
The Motorola remained the brightest throughout the entire period, maintaining a value of around 1300s for approximately 15 minutes before decreasing to roughly 700nits for another 15 minutes, ultimately stabilizing at around 530-ish nits by the halfway point and remaining consistent.
The Vivo’s brightness started at a respectable 470 nits, but then stabilized at around 330 nits after approximately 20 minutes, where it remained until the end.
The Poco’s brightness peaked at 455 nits, achieved roughly three minutes into testing following an initial reading of 785 nits.
We extracted the battery life metrics from our testing subjects. To enable direct comparison, our results are based on the standardized evaluation process, wherein the display tests were conducted at a consistent brightness level of 200 nits for each smartphone model.
The findings from this test caught us off guard, as our initial assumption was that our phones would degrade much faster when used at the beach compared to their typical usage. It’s surprising to see such a significant divergence in market performance, particularly for Vivo, which one might have predicted. Notwithstanding its apparent anomaly in this modest yet diverse dataset.
It’s imperative to trust us on this point, as the phenomenon is inherently difficult to capture in a photograph or video; nonetheless, every phone retained its legibility throughout the test. It’s challenging to articulate that particular anecdotal finding, as we’ve been striving to move away from such subjective accounts, yet somehow struggling to present them in a tangible format. Additionally, there are distinct ways that phones can address ambient light, extending beyond mere screen brightness adjustment, such as the Galaxy’s anti-reflective glass or tailored tone curves specifically designed for sunny conditions.
While acknowledging our assessment’s complexities, we must admit that our findings may not directly translate to your unique beach experiences. Measuring and managing the interdependent factors of shade, ambient temperature, wind, usage frequency, app types, and user awareness proves arduous due to their complexity.
As we ponder the intricacies of human experience, it’s reasonable to assume that embracing life’s moments, unencumbered by technology, fosters a deeper appreciation for the world around us. Despite its limitations, your smartphone remains a reliable companion, available whenever you need it, regardless of the power source.
