RHINOSHIELD AirX Case Sets Guinness World Record in Stratospheric Drop Test

Protective tech accessories brand RHINOSHIELD announced that its AirX Ultra-Cushioned Phone Case has set a Guinness World Record for "The Highest Drop of a Mobile Phone in a Phone Case (Natural Landforms)." The milestone was achieved during an extreme test conducted on June 24 at the Esrange Space Center in Sweden.

During the mission, an iPhone 17 Pro fitted with a commercially available AirX case was carried into the stratosphere by a high-altitude balloon. The device reached an altitude of 30,607 meters (100,416 feet)—more than three times the typical cruising altitude of a commercial airliner. The project was carried out in partnership with UK-based aerospace company Sent Into Space, utilizing a custom test payload equipped with a remote-release mechanism, GPS positioning, and flight-tracking systems.

During the 25-minute descent, the case was directly exposed to near-space conditions, including temperatures ranging from –40°C to –60°C and ultra-low atmospheric pressure at approximately 1% of standard sea-level pressure, without any additional heating equipment or protective products.

Following its free-fall impact in the Swedish wilderness, the test team used GPS signals to recover the device. A Guinness World Record official adjudicator verified that all essential phone functions remained fully operational, allowing the device to power on and off, make calls, and take photos while its exterior remained intact.

Co-founded by material scientists from a University of Cambridge lab in 2012, RHINOSHIELD developed the AirX case using a mono-material design philosophy inspired by airbag and air-cushioning technology. According to the company, the case features a multi-layered internal damage protection system designed to disperse impact forces without relying on multiple materials that complicate recycling.

Eric Wang, co-founder and CEO of RHINOSHIELD, stated that the world record validates the product's performance while demonstrating that circular design and sustainability do not require a compromise on high-performance protection. The company's entire phone case portfolio has been verified by independent third-party laboratories to have no detectable levels of Bisphenols or PFAS.

Alongside product testing, RHINOSHIELD operates the RHINOLOOP circular ecosystem, connecting company-operated stores in Taiwan with recycling locations at FamilyMart stores, alongside mail-back programs in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

"This achievement by RHINOSHIELD highlights how rigorous product testing and advanced material engineering can validate functional claims in consumer hardware. By pushing performance boundaries through extreme real-world testing, brands can build strong differentiation while addressing growing consumer expectations for durability and circular design principles in manufacturing." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes