Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over iPhone 4 Glass Breakage

[davidwarren]

As my third consectutive iPhone model, the iPhone 4 has been the absolute worst as far as durability. My previous two, a 3G and 3GS, lasted a full year, albeit in a a case, and I sold them in nearly new condition. The glass on the back of my 4 was scratched the first day I had it, I have no idea how. That was before I had it in a case, so I can take the blame on that one. However, the screen glass has two pits and a large crack from a short (hip to ground) fall. My previous two iPhones survived countless drops like that without a hint of damage.

Now, I might just have been lucky with my old phones, but the iPhone 4 has really left me disappointed as far as durability. I hope they fix this in 5.

 

[greytmom]

Apple SHOULD be held accountable for this. They've made some bold claims over the years, and if you watch the video of the iPhone 4, where they talk about how amazing the glass is, it's easy to see how consumer could be misled by the language--and really, the theatrical production of the message--and lulled into believing something that isn't technically true.

I'm a consumer, and I never for one second thought that this phone wouldn't break if dropped. I fail to see how any one company can be held responsible for the inability of some people to use their heads.

The glass IS amazing... but it is still glass.

 

[anim8or]

Ps I will mention that I have never, in 4 iPhones, ever broken/shattered/scratched/etc my phone... Most likely due to using a suitable case (not a flimsy bumper) to protect my devices from any accidents.

 

[BC2009]

no, but maybe he thinks apple shouldnt make an iphone whose front and back are made of glass? which makes total sense.

If he thinks so, maybe he should not buy an iPhone with the front and back made of glass -- that would make more sense.

 

[0815]

Agreed. (And I'm American).

I'm sorry this idiot with the lawsuit deserves to go to prison for 30 days (thats my solution to frivilous lawsuits) in order to realize its not good to waste the courts time.

Next I'm sure he will want to sue someone for dropping a laptop out of his own stupidity an suing because it broke too.

Very well said ... maybe he can try to sue his parents for his own stupidity - must be bad genes ?

 

[lileoj]

I used to have a 3gs and that damn thing fell 3' for me also and just shattered the front glass. I was SoOOOOO pissed it was only 3 weeks old! Cell phone is GONNA fall its a fact of life. WHY can't they make these things MORE shatter resistant?

I ended up getting a Squaretrade Warranty with drop and theft protection for 100 bucks and 3 years of coverage to make up for this lack of consumer protection.

 

[Geckotek]

He seeks to have everyone who had to pay apple $200 to get the glass replaced, reimbursed. I think that's a great goal.

QUOTE]

absolutely right, who in their right minds designs a device which is essentially a glass sandwich, when they know it’s going to be used by millions of people, constantly throughout the day, while on the move etc...

and we're probably stuck with this design for another 18 months!

This and the fact that Apple is replacing the glass backs for free has me believing more and more that the iPhone 5 is a complete redesign. Apple knows they screwed up.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that portable devices should be made to withstand being dropped.

 

[Surely]

I disagree. I have a hairline crack running up the back of my 3GS from a drop. I have no scratches, no cracks, nothing on my iPhone 4. And I've dropped it on concrete, hardwood, etc... You name it. I will say this though, I'm really lucky my iPhone 4 hasn't broken... but I am also really lucky my 3GS didn't break either. Plastic or Glass... it doesn't matter. If you want an indestructible phone... pretty sure they make those. Aren't they called rugby's or something to that nature?

From Squaretrade:

From MacRumors:
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/10/12/iphone-4-more-prone-to-accidental-damage-than-3gs/

 

[kyle555]

Another Waste of Time

The iPhone 4 is so much more durable my 3GS looked like crap on the back around the corners but the iPhone 4 design is so much nicer Other then a single scratch on the screen (only visible by close inspection)from sliding across some pavement. But hey if you drop it flat and it lands flat then it will break. that is just basic physics to have so much force on a single side. Simple solution is if you drop it just make sure it doesn't land flat i normally hit it with my foot before it hits the ground works perfectly Oh and no i have never used cases with any of my iPhone's.

 

[jwheeler]

Good lord you guys, is this seriously that hard to comprehend?

Everybody knows that glass breaks. No ****. This isn't about that.

This is about Apple's BS claim that it's 20-30 times stronger than plastic - a statement that is completely misleading. It gives the impression that the iPhone 4 is 20-30 times more durable than the older models, when this is clearly not true.

I swear, people on this entire forum drive me to drink heavily...

Perhaps you should do your maths again. You are right the design is flawed. However the marketing is not incorrect at all. The glass is 20 x stronger 30 x harder. However there's two pieces of glass now. Also the iphone 3g/3gs were glass too. But even still it may be an decrease in chance of breaking per side. But you have to double the chance because of the two pieces.

Numberwise, yes, of course the iphone 4 is more breakable. Physics!

Edit: They obviously had to use the special glass, because breakability wud have been ****! The marketers just decided its a good advertising point

 

[sbrhwkp3]

If he was worried about dropping it, he could have bought one of these:

 

[awalkerca]

Shouldn't he file a lawsuit against his daughter for dropping his phone?

 

[anim8or]

Not true, those debris aren't fixed in place, so they are knocked out the way.

The ground is fixed. So the iphone has to knock away itself. Too heavy.

Formally stated, Newton's third law is: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Meaning the force exerted by debris on a helicopter is equal to the force exerted by the helicopter on the debris!!

Thus your argument about size over force is irrelevant!

 

[0815]

If he was worried about dropping it, he could have bought one of these:

don't know - the screen doesn't look really protected. It could fall an a sharp pin like object and scratch or break - that screen needs to be covered. Also dirt might enter the device through the open connectors ... I smell another lawsuit coming up if this idiot is going to use this one.

 

[VanNess]

Sounds like a glass action lawsuit to me.

And obviously the kid was dropping it the wrong way.

 

[HONDAxACURA]

I crashed a car accidentally. I believe the manufacturer should help me replace it. It's ridiculous. If you want an unbreakable phone, buy something else! Stupid stupid stupid lawsuits.

People throw their phones on the desk, put it on the ground. It can't stay pristine all the time. All my phones get slightly beaten up, even though i take care of them.

Point is, it's up to the consumer to change the outcome of a device's life. Good or bad ownership. This is just like, my coffee is too hot with McDonalds

 

[BC2009]

My iphone 4 cracked as well. It was probably a little less than 3ft. It slid out my pocket will exiting my car. Funny thing about it is I had the "recommended" cases from the iphone case program. I hope the lawsuit is successful. Had I known a case cant prevent a cracked screen I would have purchased an android phone.

Exactly! Because the glass on an Android phone is indestructible.

 

[Mac.World]

This forum is starting to get ridiculous!!

Why do so many of you blindly defend apples products?

The ad clearly states 30 times stronger than plastic... An exact replica of the iPhone 4 made with plastic on the outer casing would likely withstand a 3 or 4 foot (or more) a lot better than the current glass does.

Please re-read the Apple ad carefully again (you left out an important word), then reference said definition, and then come back to this thread. What you said here and what Apple have stated in the ad are not one in the same.

Ps. Citing dictionary definitions is a somewhat childish way to defend your blind faith... How do you know what went through the engineers mind when they wrote that description!!!!

P.S. This is exactly what lawyers will do though. They will argue any reference, word or term to a judge to make their point. Childish? Maybe.

 

[jwheeler]

Formally stated, Newton's third law is: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Meaning the force exerted by debris on a helicopter is equal to the force exerted by the helicopter on the debris!!

Thus your argument about size over force is irrelevant!

Um no...

There is a equal and opposite force, but only at point of contact. Plus this isn't very much. This goes back to the thickness of the glass.

The momentum of the helicopter is far greater than the momentum of the debris. (You know cause the helicopter;s mass is hugh in comparison). In a perfect world, the debris then travel with the helicopter at a reduced speed. But because the glass flexes on contact, it then pushes the debris away.

Now for the iphone, well i'm pretty sure the earth's mass is greater than the iphone, so...

PS, reply soon as i'm leaving soon. I'm open to being wrong. But i'd like to know where i;m wrong...

 

[0815]

Shouldn't he file a lawsuit against his daughter for dropping his phone?

Or maybe his daughters mother (probably his wife) for not teaching her not to drop things out of glas.

 

[Mac.World]

Formally stated, Newton's third law is: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Meaning the force exerted by debris on a helicopter is equal to the force exerted by the helicopter on the debris!!

Thus your argument about size over force is irrelevant!

You have excluded 'mass' in your logic. Force = mass x acceleration

 

[0815]

I crashed a car accidentally. I believe the manufacturer should help me replace it. It's ridiculous. If you want an unbreakable phone, buy something else! Stupid stupid stupid lawsuits.

People throw their phones on the desk, put it on the ground. It can't stay pristine all the time. All my phones get slightly beaten up, even though i take care of them.

Point is, it's up to the consumer to change the outcome of a device's life. Good or bad ownership. This is just like, my coffee is too hot with McDonalds

I forgot which manufacture they had - but one had some advertisement where the car was hit from the side by some objects and there was no scratch because they use this super durable material - I'm mean, this implies that it shouldn't have a single scratch after a crash ... so go for it, file the law suite.

 

[Royale w/cheese]

So is this a glass action suit? ba-dum-bum.

 

[jwheeler]

have fun quarreling you guys i'm off out. See ya

 

[princealfie]

The iPhone 4 needs Corning Gorilla Glass. I dropped a Droid and never had any issues even when it hit concrete.