Dropped your phone: the 10-point checklist

The display survived – but a drop can leave damage that only surfaces days later. This checklist works through every typical drop consequence systematically.

Right after the drop

1. Visual inspection in good light: cracks often start hairline-thin in the corners. Check frame and back too – a bent frame means a hard hit. Display or back cover lifting? Don't press it down; get it checked.
2. Screen image: open a bright picture. Stains, lines or tints right after a drop can spread. The dead pixel test with its fullscreen colors reveals subtle damage.
3. Touch across the whole surface: drops create dead zones you only notice when a keyboard key stops responding. The touchscreen test checks the full surface in a minute.

The hidden damage

4. Cameras: optical image stabilization is particularly drop-sensitive. Jittery live view or focus hunting? The camera test shows it – also cycle through all lenses in your camera app.
5. Speaker and microphone: crackling after a drop suggests a loosened membrane. Speaker test and microphone test cover both.
6. Vibration motor: rattling or silent? The vibration test settles it (Android).
7. Sensors: does the screen still auto-rotate? The sensor test reveals frozen or jumping values instantly.
8. GPS: antennas often sit in the frame – after frame damage, run the GPS test outdoors.
9. Charging port: plug in, plug out – does the status react instantly? The battery test describes the loose-contact check.
10. SIM and Wi-Fi: browse briefly on mobile data (Wi-Fi off), make a call, reconnect Wi-Fi. Reception problems after drops come from loosened antenna contacts.

Afterwards: watch and back up

Some drop damage develops over days – cracks grow with temperature changes, loosened connectors gradually lose contact. Back up now, while everything works, and repeat the critical tests after a few days. If all ten points come back clean, your phone very likely survived the drop unharmed.