Another cracked iPhone 4 screen

[aerodoc]

There appears to be a lack of understanding about these materials. I would consider myself an expert.

In the engineering world, there are definitions to terms like hardness and strength. There are also several ways to define them. "Static Strength" is defined also applying a load at "low speed" and determining the breaking strength. Impact strength is a completely different property.

I work work in the aerospace industry and with carbon fiber reinforced plastics quite a bit. It has good static strength when compared to metals, but poor impact strength. A common term is called "Compression after impact" since for composites, the compression strength may be significantly lower after delamination.

Now, ceramics and glass are different than carbon fiber composite laminates, but the point is that these materials have a different way of defining strength that people are often not used to.

I have not read the claims of Apple in detail, but they may in fact be telling the truth about 30X stronger. BUT that may the static strength. However, that is not a very useful property for a phone since it is unlikely one would break it by applying a static force. The impact strength would be a much more useful property, but of course Apple is trying to make money and may not be demonstrating the more useful way of describing the material for its intended purpose.

Apple lying, probably not.
Apple giving useful data, maybe not.

 

[daitalianjob]

wow a piece of technology broke when you dropped it onto the floor? unbelievable! i wonder what would happen if i dropped my macbook onto the floor from three feet up. if the screen broke, that wouldnt make any sense!

 

[IlliniGuy76]

I actually was at a party on Saturday evening. My phone slipped out of my pocket, fell to the ground, and completely shattered the front of the screen - it was a very very small fall out of my pocket.

I dialied Apple directly, spoke to a Supervisor - they replaced the phone for me at NO CHARGE. When I went to the Apple store to pick it up, the Genius bar associate I spoke to told me that if something like this happens within 2 weeks of buying the phone, usually they work with you.

I suggest you call Apple back and attempt to get this at no charge...

Where are you all finding cases for the 4?

 

[m3gutguy]

This is a really bad design. I love the look and feel but my son had his knocked out of his hand from about 3 feet and the back shattered. My 26 year old daughter had her fall out of her lap and the front shattered. There is no way the glass is 20 to 30 times stronger than the plastic. As excited as we were to get new phones 2 of the 5 have now broken and it has really taken the shine off the new design.

 

[IlliniGuy76]

This is a really bad design. I love the look and feel but my son had his knocked out of his hand from about 3 feet and the back shattered. My 26 year old daughter had her fall out of her lap and the front shattered. There is no way the glass is 20 to 30 times stronger than the plastic. As excited as we were to get new phones 2 of the 5 have now broken and it has really taken the shine off the new design.

It actually is very frightening how much I'm reading about people's phone's cracking after a tiny fall. Believe it or not, cell phones get used frequently - they fall/dop. Everyone, at one time or another, has dropped their cell phone. It shouldn't shatter by a simple small drop..

Has me very worried about my $200 investment in this phone.

 

[milerich]

I still can't get through to my Apple store tonight. I dropped mine off my lap and have impact cracking on the bottom right.

Is 199.00 the rate Apple will charge to repair/replace? Thanks!

 

[sushi]

there you go.

That picture is cool and sad at the same time.

Is 199.00 the rate Apple will charge to repair/replace?

I think that's the going rate for a replacement.

 

[antok86]

im planning on getting an iphone 4 once otterbox defender comes out. my question is that people using cases/bumpers...are you still getting cracks/chips

 

[Amnesia87]

There was that video of those two dudes dropping it 4 times before it broke, and each time they dropped it flat on it's face. So I think you have a valid point.

Everyone is dropping these on the side. That's a lot of pressure put on one point. It's gonna shatter.

It's a bit more specific than that.

It won't shatter unless it hit's the GLASS edge, you are fine if it hits metal or flat, but if hits that edge, there's a whole lot of energy without anywhere to go.

Metal can take the hit, and flat will distribute the force since the glass can bend. The issue is that the depth of the glass is very shallow, so it can flex that direction, so the front could probably take a pretty good impact, but the length and width make it such that there is no where for the energy to go.

What makes the phone so fragile isn't the glass, it's the fact that the edge is exposed.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were a minor design revision where they increased the size of that little plastic trim, or made it a different material or made it wrap over the edge of the glass a bit.

 

[deanj]

You can also add me to the list of cracked iphone 4's.

Had mine in the car door pocket along with a few other things. I opened the door and the phone flipped out and landed on the floor. It wasn't a very big drop at all, 1ft max probably less. Unfortunately this was all it needed to crack the corner of the screen with part of the crack going from corner-corner on the phone. My 3g had had far worst drops and never had a problem. It just annoys me more the small height which it fell from.

I'll take a better pic in the light tomorrow.

 

[InfinitiG]

Engineered Glass

All the breakthrough technology in iPhone 4 is situated between two glossy panels of aluminosilicate glass — the same type of glass used in the windshields of helicopters and high-speed trains. Chemically strengthened to be 20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic, the glass is ultradurable and more scratch resistant than ever. It’s also recyclable.



^^^^^ lol rigggghhhttttt

 

[ouimetnick]

The new design does leave the glass more prone to breakage, but I wonder why it can't stand up to this wear and tear. Jony Ive was bragging about how strong the glass is.

 

[diabolic]

What makes the phone so fragile isn't the glass, it's the fact that the edge is exposed.

That's probably the main reason for the bumper. I'd guess it could really help for edge impacts.

 

[kellen]

You can also add me to the list of cracked iphone 4's.

Had mine in the car door pocket along with a few other things. I opened the door and the phone flipped out and landed on the floor. It wasn't a very big drop at all, 1ft max probably less. Unfortunately this was all it needed to crack the corner of the screen with part of the crack going from corner-corner on the phone. My 3g had had far worst drops and never had a problem. It just annoys me more the small height which it fell from.

Cracked my 3GS the same way. Luckily the genius took pity on me and replaced it.

 

[bmw000]

Think about the thickness of the iphone glass compared to the high speed train or helicopter windsheild.

I bet the iphone glass is much thinner making it less strong...

I already got a scratch on the back. It's pretty deep too as I can feel it with my finger nail. Not sure how it happend. My phone stays in my pocket or on my desk at work.

Can't wait for my case to get here!!

 

[movieator]

Perhaps the design is just more prone to breaking, as the edges of the glass are exposed, as there is nothing for the glass to brace against during impact?

Can we get this to the Mythbusters guys?

 

[antok86]

Perhaps the design is just more prone to breaking, as the edges of the glass are exposed, as there is nothing for the glass to brace against during impact?

Can we get this to the Mythbusters guys?

thats why im wondering if the people with bumpers are still getting cracks/chips

 

[sushi]

Angle of impact can make a huge difference.

Edge contacts are the worst to protect against.

 

[movieator]

thats why im wondering if the people with bumpers are still getting cracks/chips

I would hope so, as I think it does wrap around the edges.

 

[pvmacguy]

Ill be buying replacement front and back glass to have laying around just in case mine or the girlfriends accidentally takes a spill.

 

[Rovershack]

Otterbox case

I feel for all you out there that cracked your phones. Majorly sucks.

I was checking out the Otterbox Communter case, and this is what I think:

WHY do you have to take a beautifully engineered phone like the iPhone 4 and put it in such a fugly case. Makes it look like a pregnant iPhone 3gs. You might as well buy a 3gs and save your money.

Just my opinion. I will get a bumper and be careful as I can be.

BTW, I did get the SquareTrade warranty just in case.

 

[macduke]

Ill be buying replacement front and back glass to have laying around just in case mine or the girlfriends accidentally takes a spill.

The way I understand it, you can't just replace the glass on the front of the iPhone 4. It is attached to the screen in a way that makes it unable to be separated. However, the back you can. You have to buy the screen and glass assembly together, which would probably be rather expensive. But go for it if that's fine with you and you have the technical ability.

These stories are scaring me too. I wish someone would post a drop test video with the bumper on. I'm starting to wonder if I should upgrade to something a little more protective, especially after someone in the forums said that they dropped theirs in a bumper from four feet and it cracked (though Apple replaced it?). Out of 3 iPhones I've only dropped two, once each. First was the original and it put a slight dent in the metal (wish we still had metal as an option), and the second was my 3GS, which landed face down with an inCase Slider that luckily took the brunt of the impact (this actually just happened recently while on holiday). Never dropped my 3g. I'm super careful with my stuff. But when I'm out and about using iPhone 4, its like I'm so nervous holding it and always afraid it will drop and break that it makes me more likely to drop and break it. At least the bumper is nice and grippy. I kinda wish it was rubber inside the plastic frame that touches the metal to absorb side impact more, along with being slightly thicker, especially on the edges of the glass where it wraps around. Wish there were more case options available and in stores right now.

I won't be back in KC until late July, and that's the nearest Apple Store. How long can I wait before I return my bumper, if I find a better case? Just 14 days, or will they work with me? I know they worked with me last year when my inCase Slider broke (not even from a fall--the small piece at the bottom that bridges over the rim of the docking port), and replaced it with a new one, even after the 14 days (it had been like a month or so). But that was an exchange. Maybe by then I can exchange it for an inCase or something in the store?

 

[jtp098]

Picture or it didnt happen...

would people just stop with this crap really it's stupid.. u need a picture of a broken phone.. it will break if you drop it is that hard to believe really..

but about the thread. it does suck.. i agree about the angle part. that does mater. I got my bumper today they are amazing they look great. but lets see.


I will also be purchasing square trade.. it is a lot cheaper to pay 50 dollars then 200!!!!!! I suggest it to everyone it's the best..

 

[Vegastouch]

The best built phone is still the 2G, hands down!

 

[ClaireL]

I'm not taking my iPhone 4 out of the house now until I get a case like the frogz one. I have a backup prepaid phone with unlimited everything plan and will use that for now.