Oliver Haslam on October 26, 2020, 10:48 pm

iPhone 12 Drop Tests Show It To Be ‘Better Than Any Other’ Smartphone Tested [Report]

Apple’s iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are now here and people have been using them for a few days. One thing that is very much a topic of discussion already is the Ceramic Shield that Apple touts to be four times more drop resistant than previous iPhone glass.

Some had wondered how accurate that was and now insurance company Allstate reports that, actually, it seems to be spot-on.

During its testing both an iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro were able to withstand six-foot drops onto a sidewalk. The devices continued to work after, although they did obviously show signs of damage depending on which angle they were dropped from.

Face-Down Drop Tests: The iPhone 12 suffered only small cracks and scuffed edges when dropped on a rough sidewalk from 6 feet. This is significantly better than both its predecessor, the iPhone 11, and the Samsung Galaxy S20. The iPhone 12 Pro, which is 25 grams heavier than the iPhone 12, cracked across the lower half of its Ceramic Shield screen but sustained no malfunctions or noticeable functional damage. While it fared slightly worse than the iPhone 12, it also performed considerably better than the iPhone 11 Pro, its predecessor.

Back-Down Drop Tests: While it scuffed along its corners and edges after impact, the iPhone 12 was virtually unscathed when dropped on its back on a rough sidewalk from 6 feet. The rear panel of the iPhone 12 is not made of Ceramic Shield, and its improved durability may, in part, be due to its flat side design. The iPhone 12 Pro shattered when dropped on its back, resulting in loose glass and cracking on its wide camera. The damage was not catastrophic, and the iPhone 12 Pro functionality did not appear to be impacted.

Side-Down Drop Tests: When dropped on their sides, both iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro suffered scuffing and sharp steel edges, especially along their corners, but were otherwise unharmed.

According to the report the new Ceramic Shield did have an impact on durability, with Allstate calling it a “huge improvement” over previous handsets. The company also said that the new iPhones performed better than any other smartphone that it had tested.

The Ceramic Shield front is a huge improvement. That said, both phones were damaged when dropped on a sidewalk. Given their hefty repair costs, we encourage everyone to use a protective case and treat their new iPhone 12 with the care you would give an expensive camera […]

During facedown Breakability Drop Tests, the Ceramic Shield screen improved durability, though both
devices sustained damage after landing on a rough sidewalk from 6 feet.

Both the new iPhones are available to buy now, while iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max will be available for pre-order on November 6. They’ll then be made available to purchase on November 13.