Durability Tests Suggest New iPhones Can Survive Some Drops, But Still Break From Major Falls

[macgician]

What's with iPhone 11/Pro's camera module alone stopped working with all "drop tests", it seems something wrong with Camera module connectors.

 

[hellopupy]

The iphone 11 pro actually performed pretty well in the drop tests.

Hand height drop tests yielded really good results. Most drops occur from this height. The ones from the ladder are pretty unusual. You shouldn't expect a glass phone to survive a drop from ladder height anyways.

 

[willnpc]

Wow, once again Apple's claims dont match up to the tests...Worlds toughest by butt....And have you seen the FaceID tests on the new 11 that was supposedly 25% faster according to Apple....Yeah its the same as last year models ...And still slower than touchID...I'll stay with my 8 plus

 

[T-R-S]

duh! buy a case from Amazon $5.00 ....

 

[EEzycade]

Revolutionary! This article will be remembered for generations to come. Truly groundbreaking

 

[PastaPrimav]

Imagine if every time a new year of a car came out, people tested to see if you could still scratch it?
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Apple could theoretically make a more durable device. Short of a direct face hit they could protect better from an edge hit by increasing the corner padding between the case and glass. Sort of like crumple zones on cars. I'd take corner damage over glass damage any time.

They could also theoretically make the entire thing out of plastic and thus negate all concern over drops.

 

[digthewell]

That is why you get a good case, put a tempered glass screen guard on the front AND the back. Protect your investment and make it last.

 

[5105973]

Eh, I had thought my Note would be the fragile one.

 

[zorinlynx]

I see a lot of people complaining about drop tests in this thread. Let me provide a counterpoint.

I love drop tests. I love to see the phones fall and the results of the falls. So far the 11 series is a great deal tougher than the phones that came before, and that gives me peace of mind and makes me feel better knowing the phones can take more abuse.

My phone is in a case, but I look at these tests and think, "Wow, if these phones are this tough WITHOUT a case, imagine WITH a case?" I can pretty much relax and not worry about my phone falling, which is great when doing things like getting photos in odd positions.

 

[dmaxdmax]

Maybe the 12 will come encased in an airplane’s black box.

 

[iMEric984]

Like seriously, what’s the point of these tests? It’s glass, it’s gonna break! I’m not saying you should baby the thing, but put a case on it and just be a little conscious of where you put it. Going two years with my iPhone X and not a single scratch or drop. I guess this is for the clumsy.

I agree. I’ve owned iPhone 4, iPhone 6, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone XS Max and NEVER broke the front or back of any of them. Always use a quality case and screen protector.

 

[Stridr69]

I’m clumsy, absent minded, have moderate tremor which doesn’t help, and going back to my 4 or 5 I’ve dropped my phone at least once a week. It slips out of my pocket, or off the arm of a reading chair, or I knock it off the kitchen counter. Wood floors, tile, asphalt, anything you can imagine. Rarely if ever has it fallen from more than kitchen counter height.

It always lives in a silicone or leather case and has never broken. It’s currently in a $7 clear case. I wish these drop and tumble tests would be done in the Apple cases.

YES!!! A 1,000 times YES. Try a drop test using an Otterbox case, or other heavy duty case's and see what happens! C'mon testers, whatdoyasay!!

 

[Stridr69]

Maybe with the next one we can forgo the glass back? I get it, visually striking... blah blah blah. What I don't understand is... all those people that praise it for its looks are just going to slap a case on it to protect the glass anyway! Seems like an exercise in futility if you ask me. Just make the back metal and give us less to worry about.

It's glass for wireless charging.

 

[iExpensive]

Glass is generally going to be more scratch resistant than plastic. It would be a trade off between breakability and scaratchability. I wonder how sapphire would hold up.

I wonder if they could make the backing out of some non-yellowing plastic and then do a small layer of glass kind of like a tempered glass screen protector. That way, if the tempered glass goes, you can just replace that protective shield while still having a pristine device.

 

[dmaxdmax]

YES!!! A 1,000 times YES. Try a drop test using an Otterbox case, or other heavy duty case's and see what happens! C'mon testers, whatdoyasay!!

I had an otterbox and came to realize that I didn’t need to turn it into a brick - it just needs a little cush, not a football helmet.

this assumes that you’re not a rock climber or roofer.

 

[Crowbot]

I wonder if they could make the backing out of some non-yellowing plastic and then do a small layer of glass kind of like a tempered glass screen protector. That way, if the tempered glass goes, you can just replace that protective shield while still having a pristine device.

It sounds like it could be a good 3rd party product.

 

[imola.zhp]

The more videos like these are watched on YouTube, the more these types of videos will continue to be made. The makers will make several times the value of the phones in revenue generated from ads.

I'm so shocked that glass breaks when dropped, how shocking.

Stop watching these videos to stop the madness.

 

[Tech198]

There is no such thing as a totally unbreakable phone..

The more videos like these are watched on YouTube, the more these types of videos will continue to be made. The makers will make several times the value of the phones in revenue generated from ads.

I'm so shocked that glass breaks when dropped, how shocking.

Stop watching these videos to stop the madness.

Everyone likes a good 'splash' from time to time.. None of this should be treated as 'black' and 'white'

 

[jlhaworth]

I'm not rolling in cash, but I would pay a premium for a phone that made cases and screen protectors obsolete. double the glass screen thickness. (I don't have issues with tactile response with a screen protector on). Make some of the frame and components out of high quality plastic, carbon fiber, or acrylic to make the phone lighter. Make it break proof (or nearly so) at terminal velocity and waterproof (which it already is) and I'd fork out a couple hundred extra in a heartbeat.