SquareTrade iPhone X drop-test video disagrees with iFixit's repairability assessment
Device insurance purveyor SquareTrade calls the iPhone X the "most breakable iPhone ever" in a series of drop tests -- but the assessments that the company did of the repairability differ with iFixit's teardown of the device.
SquareTrade performed a series of tests, dropping the iPhone X from six feet on to what appears to be concrete. Unsurprisingly, the first drop of the device onto its face saw the glass shatter, and the Super Retina screen become unresponsive.
Other angles of impact saw the iPhone X fare no better. Dropping the device onto its side or back also caused catastrophic damage to an unprotected iPhone.
A "shot test," simulating the iPhone falling off the roof of a car, and a 60-second tumble in a chamber without protection of any sort also showed the expected destruction.
The same video shows an iPhone X disassembly, with multiple cables being called harder to unplug, a smaller logic board harder to repair, and a "divided battery" that is harder to remove than previous models. However, a breakdown by iFixit sees no notable difference between the iPhone X and other models in these regards.
SquareTrade is correct in its assessment of repair prices. Apple's own service costs are higher for the iPhone X than other models, with an out-of-warranty incident costing the user $549, and a screen replacement without AppleCare+ selling for $279.
The iPhone 4, with front and back glass, had similar destruction from six-foot drops. However, the devices sometimes remained functional, albeit with shattered glass and sometimes exposed components. A more typical drop-height while in use is between three and four feet.
Both SquareTrade and iFixit have vested interest in producing repairability and damage susceptibility examinations. SquareTrade sells device accidental damage insurance, and iFixit sells parts for repair to end-users.
A variety of protective cases for the iPhone X shipped alongside the device from Apple itself and myriad other vendors.
SquareTrade performed a series of tests, dropping the iPhone X from six feet on to what appears to be concrete. Unsurprisingly, the first drop of the device onto its face saw the glass shatter, and the Super Retina screen become unresponsive.
Other angles of impact saw the iPhone X fare no better. Dropping the device onto its side or back also caused catastrophic damage to an unprotected iPhone.
A "shot test," simulating the iPhone falling off the roof of a car, and a 60-second tumble in a chamber without protection of any sort also showed the expected destruction.
The same video shows an iPhone X disassembly, with multiple cables being called harder to unplug, a smaller logic board harder to repair, and a "divided battery" that is harder to remove than previous models. However, a breakdown by iFixit sees no notable difference between the iPhone X and other models in these regards.
SquareTrade is correct in its assessment of repair prices. Apple's own service costs are higher for the iPhone X than other models, with an out-of-warranty incident costing the user $549, and a screen replacement without AppleCare+ selling for $279.
The iPhone 4, with front and back glass, had similar destruction from six-foot drops. However, the devices sometimes remained functional, albeit with shattered glass and sometimes exposed components. A more typical drop-height while in use is between three and four feet.
Both SquareTrade and iFixit have vested interest in producing repairability and damage susceptibility examinations. SquareTrade sells device accidental damage insurance, and iFixit sells parts for repair to end-users.
A variety of protective cases for the iPhone X shipped alongside the device from Apple itself and myriad other vendors.
Comments
This is also why you put a case on it...also why you get AppleCare+. If you can afford a $1000 phone then you can afford AppleCare+.
And you don't think that Apple did all of this testing themselves? They have specialized machines that put all kinds of stress on the phone from tumbling to bending, heat, cold, etc. Its not like Apple just designs and builds a phone without testing this stuff.
My thoughts exactly! *Knock on wood* I've never cracked a phone from dropping it because I've had a case on it.
I started using speck with my iPhone 6s, and have been lucky enough to not have any issues. I plan on continuing with them, until their cases prove other wise.
I’ve owned iPhones since 2009 (not an early adopter) and never used a case. Dropped them a number of times on carpeted floors and a few times on sidewalks. Aside from getting some metal on the corners slightly dented I’ve never had any appreciable damage to any of my iPhones.
The iPhone is designed to be held and for me it’s better without a case. But your mileage may vary. Each of us has to do what we think best.
That said, I big concern I have with the 8 and the X is the glass sandwhich design. Time will tell on that, though. Regardless, there’s a bit of randomness as to whether and how any phone will break when dropped. My brother in law’s phone had a case and still broke when it fell about 3 feet on to a tile floor. My son dropped his 4 feet without a case and it didn’t drop. Does that mean that cases make phones more likely to break? Even for the most sure-handed people, cases are a relatively cheap insurance policy that reduce the likelihood of damage. How much of a case you need depends on you
That said, I would like to see more tests and comparable tests for strength that don’t involve a company trying to sell you insurance before we can come to a conclusion. My guess is that it’s going to be about the same under normal conditions. Some pros and some cons will likely be noted.
Apple designs iPhone to look and feel amazing. I’ve notuced iPhone X feels better than any iPhone in the hand. It’s the perfect size and the whole iPhone feels like one solid piece of smooth glass.