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Ceramic "shield", as implied, is for scratch resistance. It's not a "shield" so when dropped, it magically does not break. Non news. Same as it is every year. Glass breaks.
 
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Absolutely 😤.
I hope the display of iPhone 17 will be made of corten steel.
It doesn't have to. If the glass has proper amortization behind and protective border, it could be several times more resistant. If you go for border-less design and decrease the thickness of the glass to achieve more vibrant colors and other visual effects, it is less durable.
 
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There's a reason a huge market for cases and screen protectors exist. No matter the marketing and promises....smart phones still shatter, scratch, scuff, and break. The only thing a company can honestly promise with certainty, is price increases.;)
 
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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
“Glass is glass and glass breaks”
JerryRigEverything
 


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
Nonsensical clickbait testing. Of course a phone can be broken, duh. Phones seldom get dropped from 6 feet, they get dropped from 2-4 feet. I have dropped my uncased 13-14-15 iPhone Pros many times to concrete, net result being scuffed edges, sometimes; never broken.
 
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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


I suspect most real-world drops happen from pants pocket height, you think you have a good grip, nope, drop.

I'd be much more interested in seeing results from more real-world heights. How high would a pro basket ball player have to hike their pants up, to have a pants pocket drop from 6 feet? Are they cosplaying Urkel???

smh
 


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
It’s still an incredibly durable and well engineered phone.
Everyone knows they will slap it in a case.

It’s not my cup of tea. I was hoping for something different or new.
But besides that it’s a top tier piece of tech.
 
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It doesn't have to. If the glass has proper amortization behind and protective border, it could be several times more resistant. If you go for border-less design and decrease the thickness of the glass to achieve more vibrant colors and other visual effects, it is less durable.
True, but only for side impacts. Nothing in iPhones can dissipate the considerable amount of energy released during impact on a hard surface. The back glass of my iPhone shattered following a very minor impact. You're right, they could increase the glass thickness but Apple is obsessed with thinness and people don't want heavier phones... Why don't they use high quality plastics or composites for the back?
 
People forgets that glass shatters. The day it doesn’t shatter is the day it stopped being glass.

Titanium gets scuffed, Tungsten Carbide doesn’t, but it could shatter like tempered glass. It’s also heavier.
Some day someone will discover how to make it unbreakable and light.
 
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Ceramic "shield", as implied, is for scratch resistance. It's not a "shield" so when dropped, it magically does not break. Non news. Same as it is every year. Glass breaks.
This isn't true, Apple doesn't mention the ceramic shield is for scratch resistance anywhere. They do claim that the original ceramic shield specifically is more drop resistant.
 
For the past 15 years I broke my screen exactly once. I think the trade-off is not worth it for me.
I don’t understand.

You haven’t broken your screen much… so you think Apple is doing something wrong? 🤔 Obviously, that’s a good thing.

The one time Your screen broke was probably more than 5 or 6 years ago as well.

Either way, there’s no way to tell in any one person’s case. What I’m saying is, the vast majority of the public seems to have issues with cracking screens. Apple would be lambasted for making scratch resistant, brittle screens if it meant the consumer had to pay hundreds to replace a cracked screen.

Scratches are gonna happen. Don’t like them, buy a bunch of screen protectors and swap them out every month or two.
 
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