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Glass-Bodied iPhone 8 Shatters Repeatedly in Drop Tests

Analog Kid said:
They also sell more insurance to people more worried about breakage. Just like Anker sells more cases.

Not saying the glass isn't more delicate than the aluminium, but there is an incentive here to be a bit one sided. A 6' drop test, for example, is biased toward a result.
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Yes there is that but glass is glass. Never bothered w/ AC before... typically do break my screen once every couple of years. In the past that meant $99 or $129 for an official repair. Much less than AC cost + $29 repair. But a mostly glass exterior + Apple’s new repair cost prices makes AC or other insurance not a terrible idea for the 8 or X. Not sure if I’ll go that route or just a ruggedized case. Those are so bulky and heavy though. Kinda ruins the experience. So no matter how ridiculous those tests might seem they make a point. I’ve had some crazy falls when running so I can see some of those tests being realistic.
 
redman042 said:
Who cares, really? I ALWAYS keep my phone in a case. The Apple leather one fits perfectly, looks great, and has saved my phone from ANY damage after about half a dozen drops onto concrete since I got the phone a year ago (and I'm careful with my devices, but s**t happens).
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I completely agree and that has been my experience too. However, will the plugless charging work without removing the case? Not that plugless charging is all that useful, just curious if it is even practical for real world use.
 
X38 said:
I completely agree and that has been my experience too. However, will the plugless charging work without removing the case? Not that plugless charging is all that useful, just curious if it is even practical for real world use.
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Yup, I have my 8 in a Spigen case I got off amazon for $11, and no problems with a $22 Anker wireless charger. Perfect for work, where I can plop in down on the charger, and then just grab and go when going to a meeting or whatever, and not having to deal with the plug. The case itself is a little too thick (and that still isn't inhibiting the wireless charging), I'll get a more streamlined case soon.

I've never had a phone without a case anyway, but yeah, with the glass backs again, the 8/8+/X are all going to need cases for sure.
 
OMG! You mean that glass BREAKS when you drop it? THANK GOD THESE YOUTUBERS SHOWED US THIS!!

Maybe a better title for these videos would've been "COMMON SENSE: BROUGHT TO YOU BY CAPTAIN OBVIOUS".
 
spacemnspiff said:
wonder why Apple didn't go with something like that.../
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-seems like innovation is in the back seat, all these cell phones are about the same price & performance and they should be because the phone market is saturated.

-confess you know a lot of people who dont use the technology beyond text voice...

the bad is now:
-there are two surfaces to shatter, will create a costly repair
-more than ever you must consider a case
-the new case design is such that it must not slow down the rate of battery charge so you might not be able to have additional features a case could bring like additional battery, credit card storage
 
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Defthand said:
Naaaaaaah. No one would be crazy enough to use polycarbonate. It’s too light, too durable, and too cheap (comparatively speaking) to manufacture.

All joking aside, people want some visible assurance that their expensive phone is expensive for a reason. Right before they cover it with a cheap-looking case.
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Poly scratches very easily; While not a major failure, it would produce a "cheap" looking phone after a while jingling around in pockets.

Also the face would still be glass, right? and just as prone to breakage... so, if you expect to drop the phone then wouldn't you need a case to protect the display?
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spacemnspiff said:
Moto Z2 seemingly has better shatter resistant glass than the iPhone 8. I wonder why Apple didn't go with something like that.

https://9to5google.com/2017/08/03/moto-z2-force-review/
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The moto Z2 has a plastic screen; which has been noted in the review scratches really easily.

That is the trade off between glass and plastic;
glass is harder and far more scratch resistant is more transparent (slightly) and never becomes hazy with use. But it can shatter.

Poly is reasonably shatter proof, but scratches very easy which can become a real problem after while. Also, poly can become hazy(oxidizes) (though probably not in the lifespan of a phone)

Also one has to take into consideration that a phone, in normal use encounters far more scratch causing events that shatter causing events...
 
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i noticed early iPhone's, possibly the 5S, had stronger glass.

for the new iPhone8's could apple have put a plastic back and reduced the possibility of damage by 50%.
 
dilbert99 said:
Apple didn't invent the smart phone, just made them better...
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True. But what you think of now when you hear the term "smartphone" was invented by Apple. A (relatively) large multitouch screen with no physical keyboard. Multi touch actions like pinch-to-zoom. An App Store. Then, after that, a high-resolution screen. An "assistant" you can speak to. The best point-and-shoot camera you can own. A device which reads your fingerprint. Etc.
 
it just everyone has a "smart phone" and the greater portion of the users dont even use the contacts app. flog this with a lot or magic marketing but the key words are "was invented". time to move in to the next got to have thing.
 
Apple-"Man, we haven't innovated anything for the 8 and our repair numbers are way down, what will we do?! I know, put a glass back on the phone and call it groundbreaking! These kids who hate to case their phones will be lined up at the stores to get the cracked screen and glass back replaced. Man we are good."
 
X38 said:
I completely agree and that has been my experience too. However, will the plugless charging work without removing the case? Not that plugless charging is all that useful, just curious if it is even practical for real world use.
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My Nokia 950XL charges fine in a case
 
I just hope they don't put glass on the back of the SE replacement when it comes out. I thought the glass back was a stupid idea, when I remember that my daughter's iPhone 4 had pretty much a constantly broken back and you could get that repaired at third party repairers, whereas I think the 8's can only be repaired by official shops. Glass breaks - wow who would have credited that. There is a reason they don't make hammers out of glass.
 
Ghost31 said:
You could just like...not drop it
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That's been my approach since the first iPhone. It means I don't have to buy cases, I get to touch my phone instead of a cheap plastic covering, and it just looks so much nicer the whole time.
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ani4ani said:
Yes they did...there is more than one Video - shock 7 is more durable
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From a bendability perspective, the 8 is significantly more durable than the 7. From a scratching perspective, the 8 more scratch resistant than the 7. From a drop perspective, the 7 is more durable from really high drops ... but very few people drop their phones from 6' up. From the much more common 3' drop range, they fared equally well.
 
I had never dropped a phone until I got the 6. It was just too slippy.

I'm more interested in whether the glass back makes it less likely to be dropped in the first place. The 6/7 might resist breakage slightly better (but a smashed screen is a smashed screen), but it's a fat lot of good if it's easier to drop in the first place.
 
Packers1958 said:
Wow, this is big, really big. Dropping electronics can cause them to break. And I was just about to drop my tv from 6 feet.
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Yes...and that's why it is stupidity to cover the phone from both sides in glass. Actually these tests have surprised me. It is worse than I've expected. I am probably the only one from my friends who has never had broken screen on my iPhone...but honestly...I was more than lucky. If both sides were covered with glass in previous models then it would happen to me certainly as well. Phone is something what you just drop by accident sometimes even though you really care. This step from my favourite company is just one more from many which makes me feel that - something is rotten in the state of Apple...
 
Makitamak said:
Yes...and that's why it is stupidity to cover the phone from both sides in glass. Actually these tests have surprised me. It is worse than I've expected. I am probably the only one from my friends who has never had broken screen on my iPhone...but honestly...I was more than lucky. If both sides were covered with glass in previous models then it would happen to me certainly as well. Phone is something what you just drop by accident sometimes even though you really care. This step from my favourite company is just one more from many which makes me feel that - something is rotten in the state of Apple...
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If you want wireless charging, you have to accept the glass back.
 
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