iPhone 5 bests Samsung's Galaxy S4 in smartphone torture test
Samsung's design choices for the Galaxy S4 took another knock today, as phone insurance firm SquareTrade found the company's new flagship handset to fall short of Apple's iPhone 5 in terms of durability.
SquareTrade put the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S3, and Apple's iPhone 5 through a torture test of sorts, reproducing the perils that smartphones face in the hands of everyday consumers. The handsets were dropped to test case strength, skidded across tables to see how far they would slide, and dunked underwater to see how well they fared with submersion.
All three phones scored a "Medium Risk" in SquareTrade's evaluation, but the Galaxy S4 got a worse numerical score than the iPhone 5 and even its predecessor Galaxy S3. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst, Apple's iPhone scored a 5, while the Galaxy S3 and S4 scored 6.5 and 7, respectively.
In the drop test, the S3 and S4's plastic casing did little to absorb the impact of a 4-foot fall, and the screens on both devices showed cracking. Those plastic cases also apparently have a low friction coefficient, as the slide test showed them going farther than Apple's aluminum unibody iPhone.
Both the iPhone and the S4 survived the submersion test with their functions intact, still playing video and audio even while underwater. The S3 fared worse, though: its video function survived, but the speakers gave out.
SquareTrade also graded the devices on their ergonomics, under the assumption that a phone that is easier to grip is less likely to slip. The S3 and S4 scored poorly on the grip-ability test, while the iPhone 5 netted a positive score. All three phones got a neutral rating on weight, and all three scored poorly on overall size.
SquareTrade estimates that one in five Americans will buy Samsung's new flagship model. Of those buying it, the company estimates that one in eight will break it within six months. SquareTrade figures indicate that one in three smartphone owners break their devices within the first year.
SquareTrade put the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S3, and Apple's iPhone 5 through a torture test of sorts, reproducing the perils that smartphones face in the hands of everyday consumers. The handsets were dropped to test case strength, skidded across tables to see how far they would slide, and dunked underwater to see how well they fared with submersion.
All three phones scored a "Medium Risk" in SquareTrade's evaluation, but the Galaxy S4 got a worse numerical score than the iPhone 5 and even its predecessor Galaxy S3. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst, Apple's iPhone scored a 5, while the Galaxy S3 and S4 scored 6.5 and 7, respectively.
In the drop test, the S3 and S4's plastic casing did little to absorb the impact of a 4-foot fall, and the screens on both devices showed cracking. Those plastic cases also apparently have a low friction coefficient, as the slide test showed them going farther than Apple's aluminum unibody iPhone.
Both the iPhone and the S4 survived the submersion test with their functions intact, still playing video and audio even while underwater. The S3 fared worse, though: its video function survived, but the speakers gave out.
SquareTrade also graded the devices on their ergonomics, under the assumption that a phone that is easier to grip is less likely to slip. The S3 and S4 scored poorly on the grip-ability test, while the iPhone 5 netted a positive score. All three phones got a neutral rating on weight, and all three scored poorly on overall size.
SquareTrade estimates that one in five Americans will buy Samsung's new flagship model. Of those buying it, the company estimates that one in eight will break it within six months. SquareTrade figures indicate that one in three smartphone owners break their devices within the first year.
Comments
Fandroids have answer to everything except that they are not that rich to afford iphone and its ecosystem. Grapes are bitter (not sour) for them lol
Something doesn't add up. If we call the red icon 'bad', the gray one 'med', and the blue one 'OK', you get:
iPhone
6 OK
1 med
1 bad
Score 5
Galaxy S3
2 OK
1 med
5 bad
Score 6.5
Galaxy S4
3 OK
1 med
4 bad
Score 7
From the icons, the S4 should have been better than the S3, but got a lower score. The score between the iPhone 5 and S3 is much closer than the icons would indicate.
They must be using some arbitrary weighting scheme.
"Enter to win a Galaxy S4".. well.. I don't think I want a Galaxy S4 after watching this video! Why not giving us iPhone 5 instead?!
And what's a phone that rates "low" risk?
What number of people use a case?
20% of Americans will buy this specific Samsung?
The questions keep piling up for me...
As this is from a phone insurance firm, shouldn't the cost of repairs be considered?
From ifixit:
iPhone 5 Repairability: 7 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)
Samsung Galaxy S4 Repairability Score: 8 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)
I'm sure an Etch A Sketch is easier to repair than an iPhone too. What's your point?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolipsismX
Those tests seems to be fair and balanced. I can't see how anyone will say they stacked the odds against the iPhone but, well, as sfocal states...
He is saying that they will claim Apple paid them to find these results, but the fact they are giving away an S4 and claim 20% of Americans will buy the S4 kind of tells you where any influence might be coming from.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hentaiboy
As this is from a phone insurance firm, shouldn't the cost of repairs be considered?
From ifixit:
iPhone 5 Repairability: 7 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)
Samsung Galaxy S4 Repairability Score: 8 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)
No I think they are more concerned with the likelihood of it breaking in the first place. The amount of damage caused by normal mishaps if their focus.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jragosta
Something doesn't add up. If we call the red icon 'bad', the gray one 'med', and the blue one 'OK', you get:
iPhone
6 OK
1 med
1 bad
Score 5
Galaxy S3
2 OK
1 med
5 bad
Score 6.5
Galaxy S4
3 OK
1 med
4 bad
Score 7
From the icons, the S4 should have been better than the S3, but got a lower score. The score between the iPhone 5 and S3 is much closer than the icons would indicate.
They must be using some arbitrary weighting scheme.
I was wondering the same thing. Also, what does size and weight have to do with if its breakable? Does something break easier because it is bigger or weighs more?
The iPhone received 4 more smiles than the S3 and is only a score of 1.5 lower? Lets see. The S4 has one more smile than the S3 and is .5 higher (which is odd). So the iPhone, having 4 more smiles than the S3 should be 2 points lower at 4.5.
Unless as you stated some factors are rated differently than others.
Quote:
Originally Posted by helicopterben
"Because iphone has a smaller screen it does not break" by Fandriods
Fandroids have answer to everything except that they are not that rich to afford iphone and its ecosystem. Grapes are bitter (not sour) for them lol
Are they rich enough to afford a screen replacement, I wonder what an S4 screen will be worth?
Quote:
Originally Posted by nagromme
All of them rate poor on "size"?
And what's a phone that rates "low" risk?
What number of people use a case?
20% of Americans will buy this specific Samsung?
The questions keep piling up for me...
And 50 percent of people poled will buy an iphone. Just because some says they will buy does not mean they will.
I am on my 13th cell phone at least. The only ones I ever bough at the store were my very first ones well over 16 years ago. So much easier and cheaper to buy online in many cases especially with free overnight shipping. I have never had any reason in fact to visit a store for any carrier.
Whenever I read posts that are pro Scamsung - anti Apple, I always want to ask the poster this ... Do you ever wonder exactly what kind of phone Scamsung would be selling right now if Apple hadn't developed the iPhone and iOS?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesmcd
I'm currently on an iPhone 5, having previously had all models since the 3G. Can't say I've ever dropped one though. I'm going to buy an S4 today to see how that feels. The iOS interface and features of the iPhones have become to babyish/nanny state for me.
Hey an S3 screen replacement costs $NZ450 in New Zealand, better cradle that new phone like a baby.
Why do you think Samsung includes "easy mode"?
iphone users defend iphone Samsung phone users defend Samsung. It just go's back and forth and on and on.... My Dad could beat up your Dad!!! Childish is all it is. The best phone for anyone is the one they like the most who cares.
Now finding someone or some company who isn't biased at all would be priceless in helping help you decide which phone would work best for you!!! Not going to happen though.