Apple Introduces New Guidelines Requiring iPhone Cases to Protect Phones From 1 Meter Drops

bbplayer5 said:
Um what? How about no. I want my extra thin case because I DONT DROP MY PHONE...

I just want something on it to protect from scratches..
Click to expand...

I assume you'll still be able to get such cases, they just won't be certified "MFi" (Made For iPhone).

With the iPhone 6, I use an extra thin case that doesn't even protect the top and bottom ends (Spigen Thin Fit Smooth Black), because I only want a case to provide grip. Pretty sure this case couldn't be certified MFi.
 
Did Apple have to make the iPhone 6 so slippery and hard to hold?

Being a conspiracy theorist myself, it is convenient that Apple produced about the only case on sale when most people bought their phones. Then it charges heaps for all the repairs of cracked screens.
 
Excellent

This is very good news. Forward thinking, consumer-focused and commendable. Everything that Apple should be. Top marks. And it will definitely "sort the men from the boys" in respect of case suppliers.
 
How exactly would this be tested and enforced?

Two people can drop phones, with identical cases, from 3 feet and one might get cracked and the other not have a scratch.

Unless Apple does its part and make the phone change angle in midair, of course. Then it would make tests more consistent.
 
samcraig said:
Not sure how many case manufacturers case about the MFi program (I could be dead wrong) but given that a non-battery case has little need to have that accreditation for many consumers to buy it, why adhere to strict guidelines like this.

Clearly Apple wants to have as much control if they are allowing their branding. Makes sense. Esp since broken screens and bent phones are something the genius desk has to deal with.

I do wonder if in the future, AppleCare will adjust their policy to only be inclusive of accredited cases, etc for claims.
Click to expand...

The cheap case manufacturers won't care, but I as a consumer will. I'll spend the extra money to get an MFi compliant case if it gives me some extra guarantee that my phone won't break as long as it's in the case.
 
discounteggroll said:
I don't get it...how can apple force a third party company to ensure their product protects a device from accidental damage? Will the company be banned from making cases for their products?
Click to expand...

I'm sure they won't be banned from making cases. Apple can't do that. They just won't be able to put the "MFi" logo on the case's box. I think MFi is a largely meaningless thing anyway. Most consumers I know don't even notice the MFi logo if it's there anyway -- nor do they have any clue what MFi means.
 
discounteggroll said:
I don't get it...how can apple force a third party company to ensure their product protects a device from accidental damage? Will the company be banned from making cases for their products?
Click to expand...

No. They can't force any case manufacturer to do anything. This is about certification. Apple will simply not certify the case if it doesn't comply with the standards. I guess this would also mean that the case would not be sold in Apple stores.
 
ArtOfWarfare said:
The cheap case manufacturers won't care, but I as a consumer will. I'll spend the extra money to get an MFi compliant case if it gives me some extra guarantee that my phone won't break as long as it's in the case.
Click to expand...

A guarantee would be hard to get. There's always the chance that something could happen that causes damage to the device even if the case *should* have provided protection under the circumstances.

I don't really see the benefit to the consumer when Apple starts certifying cases. What is Apple going to do? Replace your device for free if you can prove that it was in an MFi certified case and was dropped from a height of 1 meter or less? Good luck being able to prove either of those things to a Genius.
 
Rychiar said:
how does apple's case comply with that wide open bottom edge? you can make a case with a lightning adapter/dock compatible opening at the bottom and not have it be wide open. Elago is doing so with the glide... I dropped my iPhone 6 plus on an eliptical machine from about 3 meters and that open edge on the apple case hit the machine just right and shattered the screen. not fun:mad:
Click to expand...

it doesn't comply yet but they might fix that once they realise.
 
How many "Made for iPhone" certified cases are there out there? Not many, and with more requirements, i can see that number dropping.

Most people just want minimal protection, for as little money as possible. Honestly, the price of cases is absurd. $25 to $30 for a little piece of injection-moulded plastic? I got my latest case at a kiosk at the mall for less than $10, and it does the job just fine.
 

In regards to the title of your comment, I agree the phone is very slippery. It feel right out my hand and hit the table at the Apple store when I first picked it up. At that point I kind of joked to myself that this was going to be nicknamed the dropphone 6 :p
 
avanpelt said:
A guarantee would be hard to get. There's always the chance that something could happen that causes damage to the device even if the case *should* have provided protection under the circumstances.

I don't really see the benefit to the consumer when Apple starts certifying cases. What is Apple going to do? Replace your device for free if you can prove that it was in an MFi certified case and was dropped from a height of 1 meter or less? Good luck being able to prove either of those things to a Genius.
Click to expand...

Pretty much my point. I see little value for case certification unless it's a powered case. Then most consumers would want to know that the battery isn't going to fry their phone.
 
jm527 said:
this is a dropped iphone 6+ in an Apple leather case. you know, one of the two that cost $50 right after they came out.

AFTER a .5 meter drop. Please take notice the fine details of CRACKS EVERYWHERE!!! View attachment 519046
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but I don't believe you. There is NO way an 18" drop did that to the screen, even on concrete. I've dropped my naked iPhone 5 many times from the pocket (I'm a klutz) and it got nicked up, but haven't had one issue with the screen. Perhaps you got ticked off with iOS 8 and threw it on the ground :eek:
 
dave2010 said:
Being a conspiracy theorist myself, it is convenient that Apple produced about the only case on sale when most people bought their phones. Then it charges heaps for all the repairs of cracked screens.
Click to expand...
I'm sure that was the exact business plan/conspiracy: "Let's make an inferior case so that we can flood the Genius Bar with shattered screens and make enough to keep the lights on..." :rolleyes:
 
This phone is damaged and was in an mfi case. Clearly it was dropped from higher than 1m. That'll be 320.00 please - genius
 
The way iPhone owners express righteous indignation after dropping their phones and shattering their screens cracks me up. "It's all APPLE's fault!!" Sorry folks, anything made of glass has the possibility of shattering when dropped, so let's not fault them for trying to help protect against accidents by asking for sturdier cases.

Incidentally, this isn't an Apple-only complaint as some would like to believe. I was in an AT&T store waiting to get a glass screen protector installed and there was a guy with a Galaxy S5 absolutely losing his mind. His phone looked like someone took a ballpene hammer to it with big chunks of glass missing. He was yelling at the manager claiming that he knocked it off his 3 foot nightstand onto a shag carpet and it just "exploded".

No one wants to take personal responsibility anymore.
 
Your smartphone is basically a small laptop nowadays or priced as such. So why is it we are so careful with our laptops making sure we are gripping it correctly so we don't drop it, but then whip out our phones like they're a dime a dozen? Treat the smartphone like a laptop and just be wary of how you're holding it/using it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Back
Top