Despite the new model number and the second-generation Ceramic Shield material, Apple’s new iPhone may be just as vulnerable to certain kinds of drops and damage as its previous iterations.
Device insurer Allstate Protection Plans on Tuesday published the results of its annual device drop. Throughout the study, Allstate tested the new iPhone 16 Pro Max, which features the improved Ceramic Shield material, which Apple states to offer increased durability. The results show that the new material is still no match for a concrete sidewalk.
Using a “DropBot” to simulate drops from a height of six feet, Allstate conducted several tests. In the front-down drop test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max display shattered and there were visible scuffs along the titanium frame. This drop rendered the iPhone 16 Pro Max unusable, though haptic responses were still felt so it could be repaired.
In the back-down drop test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s rear glass shattered after a single drop and the camera housing was damaged. Both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the camera remained functional, but it was unsafe to handle with bare hands due to the broken glass.
At present, no smartphones with class have survived Allstate’s DropBot.
AppleCare+ for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is $179 for two years or $8.99 per month, and for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, it’s $199 or $9.99. With AppleCare+, an iPhone 16 Pro Max display replacement costs $29, and without, it’s $379. Cracked back glass replacement is $29 with AppleCare+ and $199 without, and if both the front and back are cracked, it’s $499 ($58 with AppleCare+).
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.