Glass-Bodied iPhone 8 Shatters Repeatedly in Drop Tests

[Analog Kid]

I'm thrilled about the glass back. I've yet to find a phone I like the feel of as much as my iPhone 4. I've never broken a phone, so stuff like this doesn't freak me out much. I spent a lot more on my car, and it doesn't drop well either, but I don't put a case on it.

That said, I am a big believer in bicycle helmets. No glass in your noggin, but treat it with respect.

Drop tests are never scientific and are not a reliable measure of durability because of the many variables involved when a device is dropped

...but let's talk about these YouTube videos like they mean something anyway...

With AppleCare+, Apple charges $29 for replacement for a broken display, but a broken glass body is subject to the $99 "other damage" repair fee rather than the screen replacement fee.

Apple needs to update their policy here. No reason I can think of that the back glass should cost more than a display. "Other damage" is a catch all-- it probably shouldn't apply to the obvious points of failure.

Yeah, carrying the phone "naked" may look and feel nice but the average person WILL break it at some point. It's inevitable.

I've never broken a phone. I'm trying to figure out if that makes me above or below average...

Square trade is a warranty/insurance company. They have to do these tests to know what to charge to cover these devices. They aren’t mindlessly destroying.

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.

 

[Defthand]

<sarcasm>After all, there are only two possible materials to use for a cell phone case: glass and metal. It's not like there's a more durable, nearly RF-transparent case material that has been used for decades.</sarcasm>

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.

 

[definitive]

That breakability risk chart is pointless. There's a 50% chance that the phone's glass will crack from the first time it's dropped.

In other news, water is wet.

 

[MadeMyDay]

It will be a good year for iPhone case manufacturers.

 

[69Mustang]

6 pages and 120+ odd comments. 276,154 of them are some form of the astute observation that glass breaks.

Good job MacRumors, good job. The internet politely smiled, pretended to get a call and walked over to a site with more creative people.

 

[calisurfboy]

I had two iPhone 4 shatter due to the glass body. Chunks came out. They went with glass to allow wireless charging but the charging oly reached 7% after 25 minutes so the trade off of durability for wireless charging just does not seem to be there.

 

[Analog Kid]

Both of the iPhone 8 models and the Galaxy Note 8 shattered on all sides in every single drop test, including front and back drops at a distance of six feet, a 22-foot shot drop test, and a tumble test. Each test was conducted using the same equipment.

Shot drop is measured in mph, not feet. They fire the phone from a slingshot at 22mph along cement to see what happens... You know, in case you drop your phone from the car window when driving about the residential speed limit...

 

[Rogifan]

Wow you drop glass and it might shatter who knew? Next thing square trade will tell us is water is wet.

 

[ovo6]

Phone got bigger less durable and all for a stupid slow charging wireless charging

 

[KPandian1]

What happened Corning? I believed in your advancement 3-4 years ago!

Or, has Apple rejected you like they did with sapphire?

 

[capandjudy]

The glass back on my 8 Plus looks a lot like the aluminum back of my 7 Plus. It looks like the case it is in.

I've always had a case of some sort as well as a screen shield. I value piece of mind over losing some of the cool factor. Glass screens as well a glass body will accumulate micro scratches over time without protection breakage worries aside.

 

[stevie grant]

...is water is wet.

How does it feel to have said the same thing a dozen people have already posted?

What would Prince say?

 

[macfacts]

6 feet drop test? Is this for those people that constantly give hi 5s to each other?

 

[Rogifan]

How does it feel to have said the same thing a dozen people have already posted?

What would Prince say?

He never owned a smartphone so I’m not sure.

 

[deany]

Not entirely sure why these devices need to have a glass back for wireless charging.

I have a Google Nexus 7 16GB 2013 Tablet that wireless charges, with plastic back.

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

Timmy says shattering is a feature because the screen still works despite the fact that the glass shards rip open your ulnar artery, allowing you to safely call 911. Don't worry about the blood. It's waterproof! YAY!
(bells, whistles, balloons fall)

 

[Mainsail]

Does wireless charging work if iPhone 8 is placed in a sturdy case....say Otterbox defender? Just wondering?

 

[aimbdd]

How many times has anyone dropped there phone from six feet? Anyone? Waist high 99.9 percent of the time. So basically their tests are useless.

 

[mabhatter]

Duh. Don't drop your phone.

All fashion should have iPhone Plus compatible pockets! Then we can talk about not dropping things.
[doublepost=1506388740][/doublepost]

Looking forward to the X drop tests... In 2018 when they can get their hands on one!!

And of course “Will it Blend?” Ahhh, oldies but goodies.

 

[naturalstar]

Dropped my phone for the first time today.

It survived.

It was in a case... with a screen protector. I was more worried about germs than breakage since the floor wasn’t really clean.

Glass cracks and shatters. Unless I’m home on my sofa, in bed, etc, the case goes on.

 

[mabhatter]

In which case (no pun intended) having a glass back at all on the iPhone 8 is irrelevant.

I don't understand why some people don't use a case... but they don't.

An unfettered, free range, au natural iPhone is a thing of beauty!

But even supermodels wear clothes normally because life is messy and hot and cold and pokey... and making bacon for sandwiches is risky business without coverage.

I kept my iPhone 6+ in a case it’s entire little life. I’ve also replaced two cracked tempered glass screen covers from unplanned gravity events. But it still looks great.

 

[Braderunner]

Apple simply presented alternative facts. Big deal.

 

[Scottsoapbox]

Steve Jobs would have never let glass shatter.

rofl. thank you for that.

 

[s15119]

but will it survive a blender.

words cannot express how stupid I think this "article" is. and on the front page too....

sigh
[doublepost=1506390459][/doublepost]

Personally I think the person in the video should drop the iPhone 8 and Galaxy 8 into a volcano pit, and then jump inside the pit to retrieve them to see which one handles the heat better... oh he'd fry instantly? ooops. Some things he's gotta do in the name of science!
[doublepost=1506383200][/doublepost]

Thank God! Captain Obvious reporting on the scene... any other tidbits we already know that you think we don't?

Yeah, if you download crap from unknown sources and put in your admin password, you might get hacked.

Some of us remember when MR was a techy website, now it's a home for kids to say Tim should be fired.
[doublepost=1506390530][/doublepost]

How many times has anyone dropped there phone from six feet? Anyone? Waist high 99.9 percent of the time. So basically their tests are useless.

I slammed on into a car door. It bent to all hell, but it still worked.

 

[maverick2007]

It has shattered my money and 5 years of R&D and heart