RHINOSHIELD has put its flagship AirX smartphone case through an extraordinary real-world durability test, sending a phone protected by the case more than 30 kilometers into the atmosphere before releasing it into free fall.
The test took place at Sweden’s Esrange Space Center on June 24, 2026. The phone and AirX case reached an altitude of 30,607 meters (more than 100,000 feet) before beginning their descent. Following the successful recovery of the device, RHINOSHIELD secured a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the highest drop of a mobile phone in a phone case over natural landforms.
A Phone Case Tested at Near-Space Altitude
RHINOSHIELD designed the test to push the AirX far beyond conventional smartphone drop testing. The company partnered with UK aerospace firm Sent Into Space for the mission, which took approximately a year to prepare.
A high-altitude balloon carried an iPhone 17 Pro fitted with a commercially available AirX case into the stratosphere. Once the payload reached its target altitude, a remote-release mechanism sent the phone into a free fall toward the ground.
The mission was designed to demonstrate whether the case could protect the phone not only from the eventual impact but also while exposed to the harsh conditions found at extreme altitude.
AirX Faced Extreme Cold and Low Pressure
The test exposed the smartphone and case to temperatures estimated between -40°C and -60°C, along with atmospheric pressure of approximately one percent of normal sea-level pressure.
RHINOSHIELD says the test was conducted without heating equipment or additional protective gear. After approximately 25 minutes of descent, the phone eventually reached the ground.
The recovery operation presented another challenge. The GPS signal led the team deep into the Swedish wilderness, where they located and retrieved the phone and AirX case.
The Device Remained Fully Functional
Following recovery, the test team examined the phone and reviewed video footage and witness evidence from the mission.
According to RHINOSHIELD, the Guinness World Records adjudication confirmed that the device’s essential functions remained operational. The phone could still be switched on and off, make calls and take photographs, while its exterior remained intact.
The result earned AirX the Guinness World Records title for the highest drop of a mobile phone in a phone case over natural landforms.
Multi-Layer Air Cushioning Helps Absorb Impact
The AirX case was developed around a protection system inspired by airbags and air-cushioning technology. Its internal construction combines air-based impact isolation with a resilient, compression-resistant structure intended to distribute impact forces and reduce the possibility of internal device damage.
The design includes 360-degree wraparound air cushioning, an embedded-button construction and additional pressure-relief chambers on both sides. Sculpted grip areas are also intended to improve handling and comfort.
Before its launch in 2025, AirX underwent a series of laboratory evaluations covering drop performance, tumble drops, resistance to internal damage, torsion, airtightness, temperature and humidity stability.
Protection and Recyclability Take Center Stage
RHINOSHIELD is using the record-setting test to highlight another aspect of AirX: its mono-material construction.
The company says the case is designed to be 100 percent recyclable, challenging the idea that highly protective phone accessories must rely on multiple materials that can be difficult to separate at the end of their useful lives.
RHINOSHIELD has pursued mono-material product development since 2017, with the goal of combining durability and circularity in its accessories.
The company also says its broader phone case portfolio has undergone independent third-party testing and has been verified to contain no detectable levels of Bisphenols or PFAS.
AirX Also Brings an Award-Winning Design
The AirX’s design has received international recognition in addition to its durability claims. RHINOSHIELD says the case earned both the 2026 iF Design Award and a Red Dot Design Award.
Its appearance draws inspiration from air-filled structures, while functional elements such as the grip contours and cushioning chambers are incorporated directly into the design.
Space-Themed Collection Celebrates the Record
Following the successful near-space mission, RHINOSHIELD is introducing a collection of space-inspired designs based on the record-breaking challenge.
The company says the new designs are intended to give customers a visual connection to the mission while highlighting the AirX’s officially recognized extreme-drop achievement.
RHINOLOOP Expands Recycling Opportunities
RHINOSHIELD is also continuing to develop its RHINOLOOP circular ecosystem, which is designed to make recycling used phone cases more accessible.
The network currently connects 11 RHINOSHIELD-operated stores in Taiwan with more than 4,300 FamilyMart recycling locations across the country. The company has also introduced international mail-back recycling options covering France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.
