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

Unami said:
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.
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Yes, Stiftung Warentest also has its fair share of criticism for their sometimes questionable testing conditions and kinda opinionated bias, but reviews from different outlets often turn out different so one should always read a few reviews to get a good impression of a new device anyways..


I, for one, am impressed that CR measures by "50-100 tumbles" and not single (small) drops. I haven't yet dropped my iPhone X and I didn't drop previous iPhones often in past years so I'm not really worried about reaching that count. Still, I put my X in the original Apple leather case from day one to protect it further and I must say that the case also gives it a brilliant feel in everyday use, makes it a great accessory.
 
3 iPhone 8/8 Plus models have been purchased by my family. Zero iPhone X. I think we made the right choice for this year.
 
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They didn't drop it right.

Actually, they did not give adequate weight to face ID, which makes it the best phone on the market by a wide margin.
 
I think CR drops the ball assuming OS doesn't matter. That alone crosses all android phones off my list.

For iphones and nothing but, durability isn't an issue. You either have a case or you're careful. This is a waste of time by CS as you don't want to drop a phone period really. Battery tests are wastes of time. You're topping off throughout day, have a battery charger, or get by.

The X boasts the best tech in an iphone and that was enough to edge it out over an 8 or 8 Plus (for me). Is the difference enough? I'd probably say no for most people. I'd have loved to see more RAM, faster chip, or an additional feature or two. Face ID can be meaningless to some to game changing for others so this is hard to quantify. From that standpoint, I can see CR rating the 8 series a bit higher given its audience.
 
Those tests don't seem statistically significant. I remain skeptical that there is any real difference between the 8 and X in durability, since their construction is essentially the same.

And compared to the 8, the X has smaller bezels, better camera, and face ID. No contest, in my judgement.
 
MacRumors said:



Consumer Reports today shared its final iPhone X testing results, and while the site has given the iPhone X a recommendation, Apple's new flagship smartphone has been ranked below the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus in the Consumer Reports recommended list.

The iPhone X did make the Consumer Reports list of top 10 smartphones in the number 9 slot, but the site says it did not beat out the iPhone 8 or the iPhone 8 Plus because of its poor performance on a durability test. Both the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus better survived a tumble test for emulating real-world drops and fumbles of about 2.5 feet that can result in device damage, despite the fact that all three devices have glass bodies.


After 50-100 tumbles, one iPhone X model suffered serious body damage, while two others had screen defects. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus ended up with just a few scrapes after the test. Front displays for the iPhone X, 8, and 8 Plus all came away unscathed, and the iPhone X did well on scratch tests and water resistance tests.

iphonexconsumerreports.jpg
Consumer Reports also had some complaints about the iPhone X battery life, which does not last as long as the battery in Samsung phones like the Galaxy S8. The iPhone X lasted 19.5 hours in the Consumer Reports battery test, compared to 26 hours for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and 21 hours for the iPhone 8 Plus.

The iPhone X didn't fare well on durability or battery tests, but it did earn the highest camera score out of all the smartphones tested by Consumer Reports. The site also listed the OLED display and the Face ID facial recognition system as iPhone X strengths.Overall, Consumer Reports continues to rank the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Samsung Galaxy S8+ as its top two recommended smartphones, mainly due to superior battery life, followed by the iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone 8 in spots number three and four. At number nine, the iPhone X is at the bottom of the list, but only a few points separate all of the devices tested.

Article Link: Consumer Reports Ranks iPhone X Below iPhone 8 Because of Durability and Battery Life
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stanleyRoper said:
3 iPhone 8/8 Plus models have been purchased by my family. Zero iPhone X. I think we made the right choice for this year.
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Confirmation bias? You see this report that sides with your decision and confirm you made the right choice.

Go drop your 8 on the floor and see if it breaks.

The X is the better device. The 8 is cheaper.
 
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Consumers Reports uses an evaluation theory derived from Scriven that values certain individual properties of a product arbitrarily defined (and almost always by engineers, not end-users). It also deliberately fails to consider system-wide properties of Apple products. I could care less that the Galaxy has a slightly longer battery life or is more durable when repeatedly tumbled (hey, that's a natural test). What I do want is integration with my apple watch and other products across the line, as well as Apple Care, genius bars and groves, etc., and I certainly consider that (as well as other non-measured values) to be part of ease of use, more important than many other phone-specific mechanical properties. Since some consumers are looking for that as well as specific product qualities, they need to test the product using a different evaluation theory and method, i.e., not compare apples and oranges (sorry).
 
BaltimoreMediaBlog said:
I think it should be noted that The most expensive phone, the iPhone X, came in LAST!

That in a nutshell explains its lack of value for the buck. You can do better Apple.

Steve Jobs would be showing up at their houses or firing people if he his phone came in last. 'Nuff said.

Oh, and to add insult to injury, iPhone 7's are selling out. The model I was going to buy is now out of stock. :D
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I think the reason it came in last should be noted, before the goofiness flows any further.
The fact that it's more fragile and might have lower battery life don't necessarily have anything to do with cost. A decked out 15" MacBook Pro has lower battery life than an entry level 15" MacBook Pro, because the hardware is more powerful while the rest of the device is more or less the same. By the same token, you pay for some of the new features (larger OLED screen in a not-so-much-larger body) that are a huge improvement but aren't going to save battery life in most cases.
 
Not sure about the quote on the last part of the video and it seems CR is just quoting yet they don't say anything if Apple claims is realistic or not. So they done this so called as CR claims extensive testing all look at those props they got. They did a drop test and as we all know the phone is made of glass obviously the glass breaks. Then they drop the quote on the last part not knowing if they agrees Apple's statement or not. They sound like you know what Apple claims it so what? As if they are scared to make a statement if Apple claims is true, people will accused CR for being paid by Apple and having a biased opinion. Or if they said otherwise they seems to be scared they might offend Apple and may not get a review units next time or will be taken out of the payroll. I prefer Youtube reviews nowadays they're more honest and if they're biased it's pretty obvious. The way I look at this they're like BBB.
 
Relentless Power said:
Durability is completely subjective. That's based on how someone treats their device and what type of protection they use. Every iPhone will react differently to a drop based on angle and impact.
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Like any device the "iPhone will react differently to a drop based on angle and impact", but if the iPhone X cracks say 9/10 times when dropped and some other phone cracks 3/10 times, the other device is more durable. As you said every drop is different based in angle etc, but over a large enough number of "tests" you see a trend, one phone can be more durable than another.
 
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Durability is a moot point. I had a friend shatter their iPhone while it was in an otterbox during a normal drop from about waist height. I dropped a previous iPhone without a case screen first into concrete from ear height and it didn't have a scratch.

Chance / luck > durability.
 
A rock is way more durable than either, and doesn’t even need a battery.

Guess that would rate pretty damned high.
 
Relentless Power said:
Durability is completely subjective. That's based on how someone treats their device and what type of protection they use. Every iPhone will react differently to a drop based on angle and impact.
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iPhone X user. Durability isn’t subjective when the devices are tested for durability the same way.
 
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Consumer Reports was replaced by The Wirecutter, Sweethome and Amazon reviews long ago.
 
I agree with CR, the x isn’t an everyday phone that you beat around, unless you have no concern throwing away $1200.

It is like a car, the Camry is boring as hell, but reliable, perfect for driving to work and running errands. An European sports car is fun to drive and turns heads, but about as reliable as a crackhead, and fragile as a baby bird.
 
The machinations Apple enthusiasts are going through in this thread are nothing short of amazing! I wish people were this passionate, even if misguided, about important issues in the real world.

When you start arguing with unbiased, objective tests, that should trigger some serious introspection.

To be clear:

A reasonable point of view is: "Despite these limitations I like my iPhone X ad would buy it again."

An unreasonable point of view is: "The guys at CR suck and are hacks. The testing is arbitrary." Etc. etc.
 
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