The era of ultra-durable smartphones

Many types of advanced tempered glass have been used to protect smartphone screens – preventing scratches, shattering, and cracking from impacts.

A series of high-end, and even budget, smartphones have recently been released by technology companies with groundbreaking improvements in impact resistance and increased operating system update times.

Many choices for consumers

For foldable smartphones, durability becomes an even greater challenge for manufacturers. This is especially true as manufacturers race to create devices that are thinner, lighter, and more durable.

In early April, OPPO launched the OPPO Find N5 smartphone, measuring just 8.93 mm when folded and 4.21 mm when unfolded. Weighing 229g, the Find N5 is even lighter than current flagship bar-style phones. This foldable device features a back panel made from aircraft-grade fiber material; the frame is constructed from 7000 series aluminum alloy, increasing durability by 30%. Ultra-thin Nanocrystal glass improves the outer screen's impact resistance by up to 20% in case of drops. The Find N5 is the world's first foldable smartphone to achieve IPX9 water resistance, surpassing the previous IPX8 standard. The titanium alloy hinge technology makes the hinge 26% smaller and 36% stronger than its predecessor. The OPPO Find N5 has received TÜV Rheinland Reliable Folding Certification – one of the most stringent durability assessment standards on the market. To solve the problem of creating thin, lightweight yet durable devices, smartphone manufacturers are choosing to use aluminum frames and bezels instead of plastic frames in mid-range and higher-end models. They even use aerospace-grade aluminum (as seen in all three mid-range smartphones, the Reno 13 Pro, Reno 13, and Reno 13F, launched by OPPO in Vietnam in early 2025).

Smartphone screens are a "sensitive" component that is easily "damaged." The cost of replacing a cracked screen often accounts for half the price of the phone. Since the beginning of 2025, users in Vietnam have had access to the mid-range HONOR X9c Series smartphone with a new generation impact-resistant screen, the HONOR Anti-Drop Display, tested for durability even when dropped from a height of 2 meters at any angle. In addition, many advanced types of tempered glass have been used to protect smartphone screens – enhancing resistance to scratches, breakage, and cracks from impacts and drops. Examples include: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (on Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G, Note 14 Pro+ 5G); Corning Gorilla Glass 7i (on OPPO A5 Pro); Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (on Redmi Note 14 5G); Schott Xensation α (on Vivo Y29)…

The OPPO Find N5 smartphone features a back panel made from aircraft-grade fiber material, increasing durability by 30%. Photo: PHAM ANH PHU

In the mainstream market segment, many ultra-durable smartphones have also been introduced. The Realme C75x smartphone features ArmorShell protection, meeting the US military standard MIL-STD 810H for shock resistance, with internal airbags, custom cushioning around critical components to absorb maximum impact force, and a high-pressure die-cast aluminum frame that resists warping and minimizes damage from drops. Notably, the upgraded 0.23 mm bezel protection reduces the risk of screen cracks and breakage upon impact. Most shock-resistant devices (OPPO A5 Pro, Realme C75x, etc.) have passed 14 US military standard MIL-STD 810H durability tests and SGS certification, including multi-angle drop tests, high-intensity impact tests, and other high-standard durability tests. The devices' batteries are mostly over 5,000 mAh, made from new, more durable and lighter materials. Combined with CPU and operating system power optimization, hardware design, and AI-powered battery management and protection algorithms, battery life is extended. More and more smartphones are being released that can still maintain over 80% battery capacity after more than four years of use.

Many mid-range smartphones (OPPO Reno13 Series, POCO X7 Series, OPPO A5 Pro Series, etc.) have upgraded their dust and water resistance to the highest IP69 standard. With this standard, the device can withstand submersion in water up to 2 meters for 30 minutes without any protective equipment, and can withstand high-pressure water jets at temperatures up to 80 degrees Celsius.

Software upgrade support

Previously, even high-end smartphones only received about two operating system updates from the manufacturer. In early 2022, following the global trend of sustainable development, Samsung announced an extension of software updates to four years for the operating system and five years for security updates, starting with the Galaxy S21 Series.

Chinese smartphone manufacturers have also quickly joined this race. OPPO's flagship models, starting in 2023, will receive four operating system upgrades and five years of security patch updates. Xiaomi, starting in 2023, has increased this to three operating system upgrades and four years of security updates for its latest flagship models. Google continues to lead in terms of Android operating system upgrade support. From the Google Pixel 8 Series in October 2023 to the present, Google has officially announced a software update period for Pixel smartphones of up to seven years, including annual Android operating system upgrades and regular security updates. In early 2025, Samsung announced the Galaxy S25 Series flagship smartphones, which will support seven generations of operating system upgrades and seven years of security updates (starting from the global launch date).

In the mid-range segment, the 2025 Samsung Galaxy A Series all run the latest Android 15 operating system with One UI 7 and have extended update periods. The Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A26 5G receive up to 6 Android updates (equivalent to 6 years) and security updates for up to 6 years. Even the entry-level Galaxy A06 5G, the cheapest in the series (under 4 million VND), is guaranteed 4 generations of Android and One UI operating system upgrades, along with 4 years of security updates.

Reduce electronic waste.

Enhancing durability will extend the lifespan of devices, helping to reduce electronic waste and the waste of natural resources, thus protecting a greener and cleaner environment.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thoi-cua-smartphone-sieu-ben-196250419203810837.htm