Drop Test: High-End Smartphones Have Nearly Identical Durability
Drop Test Shows Existing High-End Smartphones Have Nearly Identical Durability
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Drop Test Shows Existing High-End Smartphones Have Nearly Identical Durability
After the release of mainstream smartphone models, drop tests by consumers have become quite common, whether for educational purposes or entertainment.
While the experiments by YouTube users may often be dismissed for lacking scientific rigor, some media outlets do apply scientific rigor to their methods.
In the latest public test, Allstate Protection Plans compared the $1,199 iPhone 15 Pro Max with the $1,199 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the $1,799 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, and the $1,799 Google Pixel Fold.
The insurance company dubbed this the “Annual Most Expensive Smartphone” test.
All four devices passed the dunk test, which involves submerging them in six feet of water for 30 minutes.
For the drop test, each phone was dropped from a height of six feet onto the sidewalk. However, unlike the dunking, all devices ran into trouble.
The front screen drop test for the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S23 Ultra resulted in their screens shattering upon the first drop.
The Fold5 and Pixel Fold passed the screen-down drop test but encountered minor frame damage, corner abrasion, and outer screen dents after two similar drop tests.
In the rear drop test, the Pro Max and S23 Ultra shattered again after a single drop due to the impact, but the outer panels fared better if covered with a phone case.
The Pro Max’s system functionality remained intact after a rear impact, but both the main camera and ultra-wide camera were shattered, necessitating the use of a phone case.
The outer screens of the Fold5 and Pixel Fold also shattered during the screen-down drop test, rendering both displays unusable. The main screen remained fully functional but could only be safely used when the outer screen panel did not make contact with the skin.
The Vice President of Marketing and Global Creative at Allstate Protection Plans stated, “Despite today’s most advanced smartphones being made from space-age materials such as titanium, armored aluminum, and ceramic shielding for screens, they are still susceptible to damage when dropped on concrete sidewalks. Considering our recent survey shows that nearly half of Americans significantly underestimate the cost of smartphone repairs, this is particularly concerning.”
It is estimated that over the past 12 months, 93 million Americans have damaged their smartphones, with repair and replacement costs totaling $17.4 billion. Approximately 47% of people believe smartphone repair costs to be $1,450 or less, despite the average cost being $209, and even higher for high-end models like the Pro Max.
