This iPhone case is going viral for surviving a 100,000-foot drop from space — and it just earned a Guinness Book World Record

An iPhone case, called the RhinoShield AirX, went viral after it survived a 100,000-foot drop from space. The case's ability to protect an iPhone 17 Pro earned it a Guinness World Record. The incredible stunt took place when the phone was dropped from a high-altitude balloon at 30,607 meters (19 miles) above Kiruna, Sweden. The phone had no parachute or safety net as it plummeted for 25 minutes, encountering temperatures between -40 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees.

Despite the extreme conditions, the phone still functioned, able to make calls and take photos. RhinoShield revealed that the preparation for the drop took a year, involving collaboration with a professional aerospace company and costing $500,000. While the stunt might have been unnecessary, the physics of falling objects suggest that the height of the drop didn't matter much in this case.

The AirX case is made from thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) plastic, featuring a 360-degree air-cushion chamber and a three-point compression structure, which RhinoShield claims can reduce an impact by 97% in their internal tests. After surviving 24,000 tumble impacts without the phone cracking, the AirX is priced at $62, making it a viable option for everyday protection against falls from common situations like parking lots or even a random drop from a balloon.