Despite New Ceramic Shield, iPhone 16 Models Still Vulnerable to Drops

[MacRumors]

Apple's latest iPhone 16 models feature a second-generation Ceramic Shield material, which Apple says is even tougher than the prior-generation Ceramic Shield. Device insurance provider Allstate Protection Plans today published the results of its annual device drop test, giving us insight into the durability of the new iPhones.

Allstate tested the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is Apple's largest iPhone to date at 6.9 inches. It continues to have a glass front and back, and though Apple has introduced better Ceramic Shield material that's infused with ceramic for durability, it's still no match for a concrete sidewalk.

Using a "DropBot" to simulate drops from a height of six feet, Allstate conducted several tests. In the front-down drop test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max display shattered and there were visible scuffs along the titanium frame. This drop rendered the iPhone 16 Pro Max unusable, though haptic responses were still felt so it could be repaired.

In the back-down drop test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max's rear glass shattered after one drop and suffered damage to the camera housing. It did remain functional, including the camera, but it was not safe to handle with bare hands due to the broken glass.

No smartphones that have glass have survived Allstate's DropBot, so it is not surprising to see the iPhone 16 Pro Max fail. Glass and hard surfaces do not mix, so it is a good idea to have a protection plan of some kind like AppleCare+ or a protective case. Drop tests of all kinds are hard to use to determine durability in a real world situation, as the angle of the drop, the height, and the surface that an iPhone is falling on are always going to vary.

Allstate has stopped doing dunk tests because iPhone models now have such solid water resistance, and the iPhone 16 models continue to offer the same IP67 water resistance as prior models. Other YouTube videos have tested the iPhone 16 models with drops, hammering, scratches, and other damage for those interested.

AppleCare+ for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is $179 for two years or $8.99 per month, and for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, it's $199 or $9.99. With AppleCare+, an iPhone 16 Pro Max display replacement costs $29, and without, it's $379. Cracked back glass replacement is $29 with AppleCare+ and $199 without, and if both the front and back are cracked, it's $499 ($58 with AppleCare+).

Article Link: Despite New Ceramic Shield, iPhone 16 Models Still Vulnerable to Drops

 

[vertsix]

Despite all my best efforts, I am still unable to get women.

Water is wet.

 

[haruhiko]

Scratches on the screen is a much more serious problem starting from the iPhone 15 series. I wish Apple made the iPhone 16 screen more resistant to scratches.

 

[icanhazmac]

And yet people want a foldable?

Edit: So do all these YT jerks drop their phones as a "test" then run to get them fixed them under AC+?

 

[GrayFlannel]

Glass breaks when impacting concrete. Smashing development.

 

[JapanApple]

The iPhone goes SMASH. Another Youtuber breaks an iPhone. No big deal

 

[Radeon85]

What do people expect for christ sake!, glass is glass and it breaks. Make it 100x stronger and it's still going to break.

 

[Mousse]

No smartphones that have glass have survived Allstate's DropBot,

Time to replace glass with Scotty's transparent aluminum.🤓

 

[Seoras]

"Son, before you were born, they used to put the new iPhone in a blender to see if it would blend. That's how real men used to test them back in my day"

 

[sw1tcher]

Despite New Ceramic Shield, iPhone 16 Models Still Vulnerable to Drops

How is a new ceramic shield suppose to stop people from dropping their iPhone?

 

[usmaak]

They need to make them out of the rubber that they use in superballs. When it drops, it’ll bounce right back up and they can catch it. Imagine all of the youtube videos.

 

[now i see it]

and why are they test dropping the phone from 6 feet?
That’s not relevant to anything.

(Likely because a phone test dropped from 4 feet rarely cracks)

 

[toobravetosave]

How is a new ceramic shield suppose to stop people from dropping their iPhone?

according to the laws of physics you can only drop a phone that cracks

 

[JPack]

Thinner bezels look cool but will negatively impact durability. It counters any improvements to Ceramic Shield.

If you drop it on any corner or edge, it's basically impacting glass now.

 

[HylianKnight]

Glass breaks when impacting concrete. Smashing development.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[dannys1]

Oh great, we've got the year round up of people smashing glass on concrete for Youtube views.

Anecdotally i've had every iPhone since the first one - I used a case twice on around the iPhone 6s-7 which were my least favourites - all the others were caseless and not one of them smashed when dropped.

I have a solid microcement floor at home, the iPhone 15 Pro bounced off it many times with no issue - in fact I tried to break the iPhone 14 Pro by throwing it at it a few times and that never broke either. Realistically no one is dropping a phone from 6 foot in height, who's throwing it from their head? It drops from your waist, out of your pocket, from your hands at a usable level. 99% of the time it'll be when you go to pull it out or put it away or much more likely when it falls off the arm of a chair.

I even had the iPhone 15 Pro fall out of my pocket on an electric bike going 15 mph and it bounced on the tarmac a bit, whilst there was a little tiny scuff you had to look for it and the glass was perfect. They really are quite hard to break in normal usage and dropping, a case is not needed.

 

[kuito]

I would love for Apple to explore anything but glass if it meant a droppable phone. It’s pretty annoying knowing I have to have a case because without a doubt it will be dropped on occasion against my best efforts not to.

I know the phones “back in the day” were so different, but I do remember dropping my phone and not being as worried as I am now. Sigh

 

[Entilzha]

My god, say it isn’t so! Glass will break when dropped from a certain height?

THE SCANDAL.

 

[Rychiar]

All of this fancy glass technology has really changed nothing over the years. They break just like they did with the first iPhone, ya still need a case and a screen protector and the heavier the phones get the more likely they are to break

 

[ghanwani]

You are dropping it wrong.

 

[Darren.h]

wow. first drop on both the front and the back and the phone is unusable junk.

lets see someone do something as easy as open it up and replace the battery now.

SAD. disappointed.

I'll hold on to my Samsung S24.

 

[Greenmeenie]

Of course it shattered. No matter what new name Apple gives the latest glass screen, it’s still glass. Glass shatters When hit or dropped. Always get a case & screen protector to reduce chances of shattering the screen when dropped.

 

[FattiesGoneWild]

And yet people want a foldable?

Edit: So do all these YT jerks drop their phones as a "test" then run to get them fixed them under AC+?

They do! Stupid Apple honors it as well with video proof them destroying it on purpose.

 

[AppleEnthusiast1995]

While advancements in glass are appreciated, I still use a screen protector and a case, even though the iPhone looks so "exotic" and elegant without them. I understand the applecare+ argument for replacement phone or glass but who really wants to deal with that hassle.

 

[tobybrut]

I find drop tests to be pointless. There are just too many variables, such as flooring type and air buffeting. Even using a robot to drop test, the iPhone isn’t going to land at exactly the same angle every time. Even 1 degree difference from the last drop could mean the difference between a scuff and total shattering. That’s why you see some drop tests break the iPhone from 6 feet while on other drop tests, it may survive a 10 foot drop. If it hits at just the wrong angle on the wrong floor, it’ll shatter even if it’s from waist high.