Consumer Reports Ranks iPhone X Below iPhone 8 Because of Durability and Battery Life

[Hodar1]

This is true, but....

Durability can be tested objectively, but the weight that it is given in an overall subjective.

If a user plans on using a case, or has a habit of babying their phones, then that user would feel that the weight given to the total score would be too high. If someone needs a very durable phone, then the weight given would be too low for them.

I am not going to bash CR for how the prioritize ratings, but just say that they have to pick something.

Wouldn't a user take the same care on the iPhone 8, as he would an iPhone X?
I had a good case on my iPhone 6, and I have a good case on my iPhone X. I think very few people buy a new phone (8, 8 Plus, or X) with the intention of abusing them. Given an unfortunate accident, the 8/8Plus is more likely to survive, than the iPhone X. Glass just doesn't absorb shocks, scratches and abuse like Aluminum can.

 

[44267547]

You can measure PRECISELY what you are doing.

That's absurd. You can't precisely measure every single angle or scenario based on what will happen to a phone on a drop with every variable possible. That will take a ridiculous amount of research and testing to even conclude a proper assessment based on the materials, drop, surface type, what was used protection or not, etc. Consumer reports test are not necessarily unreasonable, but not even they can quantify every single predicament that could happen to a smart phone based on how somebody chooses to use it and how it breaks, not why it breaks.

 

[Allyance]

Love my X, battery life not a problem, looked at the 8's, not enough change from 6s. 50 years ago when I was in the retail audio business, they were making recommendations on loudspeakers, which I always found to be a highly subjective product. Maybe a washing machine or electric shaver can be realistically evaluated, but not speakers (have been a compromise at best for years). Anyway, I never take their opinions as gospel.

 

[44267547]

If a user plans on using a case, or has a habit of babying their phones, then that user would feel that the weight given to the total score would be too high. If someone needs a very durable phone, then the weight given would be too low for them.

I think cases are a huge contribution to shock absorption and overall protection. It also depends on the protection level the case suggests from the manufacture when using it as well. Even a guarantee doesn't necessarily mean that a phone can't break from a fall.

 

[Juicy Box]

Wouldn't a user take the same care on the iPhone 8, as he would an iPhone X?

Yes, this could happen, but that doesn't matter.

The point was that there is subjectivity in the CR rating due to the weights given. The tests could be totally objective, but how important the tests are (the weights given) would be subjective.

A potential user could take that in account when picking their next phone.

Maybe using cars for an analogy, for some people, they would prioritize fuel economy over power, some might prioritize the opposite, others might prioritize brand/market. When CR rates the car, they can test objectively things like fuel, power, costs, but they subjectively prioritize (weigh) what is most important.

 

[Unami]

So they assessed the iPhone X lower than the iPhone 8 for durability based on a test with a high degree of random chance involved, while ignoring that both phones have the exact same back panel material? Did I read that right?!?

yes you did. Very similar results in German consumer-reports test a few weeks ago - three out of three iphone X were damaged in their tumble test with one having a shattered back and two suffering display damage (bars) - whereas the iPhone 8 models all survived the test without damage. Quote "The most breakable iPhone of all times". ( https://www.test.de/Apple-iPhone-X-Das-zerbrechlichste-iPhone-aller-Zeiten-5249243-0/ )

This seems not so random to me, but, speaking of random chance, it's a strange coincidence that they had the exactly same results over three trials.

They also gave the X bad marks for battery performance.

It also faired bad in a drop test by insurance cooperation "squaretrade". "the most breakable, highest pricest, most expensive to repair iphone, ever"

having said that: At least German and Austrian consumer reports often rate according to very strange and unrealistic parameters, so i would read the test before deciding about it's validity. standardized drop-tests and battery-running time still seem to paint a reliable picture when compared to other phones.

 

[ravenstar]

I have always found Consumer Reports to be reliable. I trust their findings and comparisons.

I also understand that a new phone with a larger screen and faster processor will eat more battery. Though I would take note of it, it would be only 1 factor in my decision making. A much larger factor might be "Holy Cow! Look at that SCREEN!"

The only thing I've found Consumer Reports reliable for is providing warnings for products to avoid. I commend them for documenting and justifying their ratings, but I've found their recommendations to often lack sufficient depth to be worthwhile. I purchased two different appliances guided by their recommendations to find that they weighed features and price far above reliability and repair cost. Quality issues that should have been first on their minds were clearly overlooked, something I could not discover until disassembling the prematurely deceased appliances to repair them. Even though they claim small differences in numerical scores are not statistically significant, they still present items numerically ranked which can give the impression that one item is significantly better than another when the entire test group is of similar quality. They're a source of information, but only if you are aware of their shortcomings.

 

[Juicy Box]

I think cases are a huge contribution to shock absorption and overall protection. It also depends on the protection level the case suggests from the manufacture when using it as well. Even a guarantee doesn't necessarily mean that a phone can't break from a fall.

I wouldn't disagree to any of this, but it wasn't really the point I was trying to make.

Personally, I hate cases. But, I would choose an iPhone X with AC+ over an outdated/boring design of the iPhone 8.

 

[Unami]

Yep, they are right. Just dropped my X 100 times and it did break. . Seriously who drops a phone that many times?

I do. I keep my phones for 3-5 years and I drop them from time to time. So far my iphone 4 and later my 5s did survive maybe not 100 but at least 50 drops each. so it's not the glass back alone, as the 4 had one too. but maybe i was lucky, i saw a lot of shattered 4s back in the day. otoh, i dropped it pretty hard some time (once it fell onto gravel through a hole in my pocket while running, and went on sliding for about 5 meters - it got a few light scratches, but fortunately they were all parallel ).
i guess, rounded glass corners and larger, oval camera cutouts are more prone to breaking than just a flat, relatively thick sheet of glass.

still, i've had worse experiences with my previous mobile-phones (sony ericcson, siemens, alcatel, lg, motorola...) who mostly had at least developed some serious fault after about one year.

 

[44267547]

Personally, I hate cases. But, I would choose an iPhone X with AC+ over an outdated/boring design of the iPhone 8.

I realize the phone is a tool and I treat it as such. But I'm also fairly cautious with my devices in the same respect, and I have never purchased AppleCare or use cases in general, and I have never broken device before. It's a risk I'm willing to take based on my own habits, contrary to what could happen during an accident.

 

[jasonklee]

Do you realize that you are doing the exact same thing you are complaining about? Not only that, but you're actually doing worse by taking a complaint about a review of an entirely different product and conflating it with CR's review of the X. You are not complaining about CR's methodology for testing phones, which might have some validity. You are complaining about their methodology of testing coffee makers and trying to draw a comparison to their phone testing.

In the immortal words of Beatrice's friend, "that's not how it works, that's not how any of this works".

You ought try reading and comprehending my post before engaging in your love of logical fallacies as you are wont to do on these forums. Since you love quotes, you do know what Doris M. Smith said, right? Good day.

 

[2010lexus]

Consumer Reports has been hating on Apple since antenna-gate. They'll always find a reason to recommend Samsung over Apple. Nothing surprising here.

Yes thats it Consumer reports just hates Apple. Just like your not biased towards Apple.
Just love it when consumers make uo stupid excuses because some product they love doesn't get good reviews.

 

[DotCom2]

I don't know what they are talking about cuz my battery life is awesome! And I'm coming from a 7 Plus!

 

[dcp10]

Battery life and durability weigh more than actual usability? Goes to slow how outdated CR actually is. They’re smartphones not washing machines for Pete’s sake.

 

[mrzz]

I dont care, still rocking mine without a cover (unless im going out)...

U don't care until first drop lol

 

[JohnnyCanadian]

I'm glad the early adopters are psyched about the iPhone X. And I'm doubly glad for the people who like their iPhone X.

But for me, personally, I have learned to stay away from first-gen / first-rev technology. I'm patient enough.

... save for the Google Pixel XL. I took the plunge and picked up a Pixel 1 XL and man oh man am I pleased I didn't wait for the second generation which, by all accounts, is a dog's breakfast. The Pixel 1 XL? Brilliant.

 

[mcarthon]

I have an iPhone X, love it. But they are right I mean there’s more glass area on the front so easier to break. In a drop compared to the 8. It’s common sense. If I were buying a phone for a kid/teenager there’s zero chance I’d get him the x because how fragile it is.

My kids phone will be cheap and durable so doubt it’s the newest version of anything anyways lol.

 

[bruinsrme]

Prepare for lots of butthurt posts.

Butthurt?

Quite to the contrary. My butt hasn’t hurt since I replaced the 8+ with the X.

That and the enjoyable user experience no but hurt here

 

[TonyC28]

Durability shouldn’t be a part of these things. S$%t happens, I get it. But these devices are not designed be dropped on concrete.

 

[budselectjr]

The X has the best battery life I ever had on an iPhone. The first one I don't have to charge every night.

 

[az431]

After 50-100 tumbles, one iPhone X model suffered serious body damage, while two others had screen defects.

If you drop your phone 50-100 times it's probably time to visit the doctor to rule out a serious neurological issue.
[doublepost=1512506668][/doublepost]

The X has the best battery life I ever had on an iPhone. The first one I don't have to charge every night.

Mine easily lasts 2 days without charging, and that's with regular use throughout the day. Battery is a non-issue.

 

[Mascots]

Never had a plus so battery life has been a great improvement.

Surprised it's not: 8+ > X > 8 given their reasonings here. Is such potential significant event (and result from it) weighted heavier than battery longevity?

 

[DotCom2]

Who the heck is going to tumble their phones 100 times?
And note that only the back glass broke and not the front.
Put a back case on it and problem solved! SHEESH!

 

[dumastudetto]

Anyone who recommends iPhone 8 or 8 Plus over iPhone X is giving consumers terrible advice.

 

[capandjudy]

I don't know about the 8 because I upgraded from a 6S Plus, but battery life for me is outstanding.

But I agree that I wouldn't want to drop this without a case on, but that is true of every phone I've owned.

I have used a case and a screen shield with every iPhone I've had over the years. I think that it is nutty not to do so just to have the look of the bare iPhone.