The good news is that Apple’s iPhones definitely appear to be getting more durable, or at least more shatter-proof.
The better news is that you now have some bragging rights over your friends who own the Samsung Galaxy S22.
Per a series of drop tests conducted by Allstate Protection Plans, Samsung’s Galaxy S22 handsets appear to be more prone to damage when dropped than Apple’s current iPhone 13 models. With major new smartphone releases, Allstate does the same set of drop tests to determine the degree of front, back, and side damage when a device hits the ground, and the testing indicates the iPhone’s design is more durable.
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</center>When dropped face-down, Samsung’s S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra displays shattered on the first six-foot drop onto the sidewalk, and two of the three were unusable due to the severity of the damage. The middle tier device, the S22, was usable, but had notable damage at the corners.
The iPhone 13 models fared a bit better. In the face-down drop, the iPhone 13 survived a single drop with minor damage, cracking in the second drop test. The iPhone 13 Pro cracked along the bottom, but both phones were largely usable.
In the back-down-test, each of the Galaxy S22 devices had their back panels shattered, albeit all three handsets continued to work normally. While the handsets continued to work normally, it was now impossible to safely handle the units bare-handed given the glass damage.
The same test with the iPhone 13 models wound up with no damage after the first two drops, and minor cracks along the camera and the corner after the third drop, while the iPhone 13 Pro back glass shattered more similarly to the S22 devices.
Allstate also performed a side-down test for the Galaxy S22 and S22_ models, both of which survived with minor damage, while the curved glass of the S22 Ultra shattered at the corners and along the display. All of the smartphones remained functional.
A comparable test was not done for the iPhone 13, but back in 2020, the iPhone 12 models were dropped on their side in the same test and survived intact with minor scuffing because of the aluminum steel edges, similar to the S22 and S22+, which also use an “Armor Aluminum” frame.
The S22 Ultra has a curved display and thus takes more damage at the sides than Apple’s iPhones. All in all, it seems the S22 may be more vulnerable to breakage than Apple’s iPhone 13 models, which use Apple’s “Ceramic Shield,” purported to be more durable than traditional glass. Samsung’s S22 devices are using Gorilla Glass Victus+, Corning’s most durable glass.
The drop tests themselves are variable with resulting depending on the angle of impact at which the handsets collide with a surface. Although Allstate Protection Plans endeavor to use the same variables for all of its tests, there’s always an element of unpredictability. Even if the iPhone fares better during controlled tests, that may not reflect real-world results.
As always, please be careful with your smartphone, and consider investing in a protective case to avoid damage and heartbreak.
Via MacRumors