This test is usually used to simulate the free fall that a product may experience during transportation, and to examine the product's ability to withstand unexpected impacts. Usually, the height of a drop is based on the weight of the product and the probability of falling, and the surface of the drop should be a smooth, hard, and rigid surface made of concrete or steel.

For different international standards, even products of the same weight may have different drop heights. For handheld products (such as mobile phones, MP3 players, etc.), most drop heights range from 100cm to 150cm. IEC recommends that handheld products weighing ≤ 2kg should meet a drop height of 100cm and not be damaged. MIL recommends a drop height of 122cm, and Intel recommends a drop height of 150cm for handheld products (such as mobile phones). The severity of the test depends on the drop height, number of drops, and drop direction.