Oh the iPhone 4. The sexy, slim, glass-laden device that we have all grown to cherish since the late Steve Jobs introduced it to us a year and a half ago. Its popularity is unmatched, as is its design; I know it, you know it, Apple knows it.

All this being said, have you ever wondered how much of an impact the device can take? And I don’t mean no small tumble, clumsy drop, or light throw – I’m talking a nice juicy drop. Well, friends, wonder no more.  Last night a friend of mine was enjoying a glass of wine on the balcony of her third floor apartment when the unthinkable happened: her beloved iPhone 4 managed to fall over the ledge, a painful – and seemingly unending – 3 story drop (or 30 feet for those really keeping track). Did the ghost of Steve Jobs miraculously guide it to a soft, smooth landing in a bush or on a soft surface? Hardly. In one of the most dramatic sequences since Bella finally kissed Edward, the device dropped right smack dab onto concrete sidewalk and took no prisoners. The above is the aftermath, cracked screen and all.

On the bright side (yes, there is a bright side) the device actually still turned on and functioned. It even  still responded to all the careful swipes of the destroyed screen – such a trooper.

So what’s the moral of this? Even in times of complete boredom (or drunken debauchery) don’t ever attempt to throw or drop an iPhone off a balcony just to see what happens. The above can be used as an example of the effects of what will happen if you do. And, most of all, never doubt the financial investment when it comes to buying an iPhone; they may be expensive, but they sure can take a beating.

I wonder what the result would have been if she was using an Otterbox Commuter case…..

Thanks for the pictures Amanda!