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CUPERTINO, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Apple CEO Tim Cook announces the new iPhone X during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on the Apple Park campus on September 12, 2017 in Cupertino, California. Apple is holding their first special event at the new Apple Park campus where they are expected to unveil a new iPhone. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The iPhone X boasts a remarkable OLED screen, wireless charging, and is near bezel-less. However, all of those incredible new features may cost the phone in the durability department. This is definitely a factor to consider when purchasing a $1,000 smartphone, especially when the costs of repairs on the iPhone X are unprecedented. The iPhone X is the most expensive iPhone of all-time and repairs can cost as much as $549. According to new drop tests, if you purchased an iPhone X you are going to want to purchase a case immediately (Here are 11 great iPhone X cases that may suit your needs).
A drop test performed by CNET found that the iPhone X suffered cosmetic damage when dropped from the height of three feet, which is about the same height as your pockets. On the very first drop, Apple’s latest flagship phone cracked. A second drop landed on the face of the phone and it became even more fractured. The phone was physically damaged but it was still fully functional.
SquareTrade also performed a drop test and declared that the iPhone X is “the most breakable, highest-priced, most expensive to repair iPhone, ever.” SquareTrade dropped the iPhone X from a rather ridiculously high height of six feet, which seems excessive. The drop test onto the handset’s face damaged the iPhone X’s screen and the TrueDepth sensor array became unresponsive. The iPhone X was dropped on its side and it also caused the screen to be inoperable. The new phone was then dropped on its back and shattered the glass back. The new iPhone X features a glass back for wireless charging, which makes the handset more easy to break.
Next, the iPhone X was put through a tumble test, which is a washer or dryer-like scenario where the phone is jostled about for 60 seconds. After the full minute of being slammed all around the device’s swipe-to-unlock gesture was not functional. The next test was to simulate a phone falling from the roof of a car when it drives off. The iPhone X cracked on both the back and the front, and Face ID stopped working. The iPhone X is waterproof and it performed well when submerged underwater for 30 minutes. SquareTrade gave the iPhone X score of 90 out of a possible 100 in breakability (the lower the number, the more durable the device). The iPhone 8 did not fare much better in drop tests.
It should be noted that SquareTrade is a company that offers extended warranty service on consumer electronics such as an iPhone X. So they would have a vested interest in convincing consumers that the iPhone X is easily damaged in an effort to sell more extended warranties.
Apple has responded to the notions that the iPhone X is not durable:
“The new iPhone is designed to be durable, but not indestructible, and goes through rigorous real world testing. iPhone X is made from the most durable glass ever in a smartphone with a 50 percent deeper strengthening layer using our dual ion-exchange process, further reinforced by an internal laser welded, steel and copper structure. And the surgical-grade stainless steel band that wraps around and reinforces iPhone X is a special Apple-designed alloy that is both durable and more pure. If anyone is concerned about dropping their iPhone and damaging it, we suggest using one of the many beautiful cases available to protect iPhone.”
11 Great Cases To Protect Your iPhone X Because Repairs Can Cost $529 On Apple’s Newest Phone
[FoxNews]