With every passing 12 months, Apple tries to make its pricey smartphones increasingly proof against bodily injury. In lots of respects this mission has been a hit: actually right this moment’s iPhones are way more waterproof than was the case a decade in the past. And the Ceramic Protect function launched with the iPhone 12 in 2020 means the glass of the display is tougher to interrupt, too.
One of many trumpeted upgrades for the latest 16-series iPhones is the inclusion of a brand new model of Ceramic Protect, which Apple claims is “two times tougher than any smartphone glass.” Which may be correct, however don’t assume it means you possibly can toss your iPhone 16 Professional on the ground and stroll away scot-free.
The insurance coverage agency Allstate Safety Plans often exams the drop- (and dunk-) resistance of assorted units, and yesterday revealed how the iPhone 16 received on within the newest spherical of simulated spills. The information isn’t completely constructive.
The corporate makes use of what it refers to as a “DropBot” to simulate falls from six toes (which is maybe on the excessive aspect if we’re imagining the telephone being dropped from a pocket or hand until you’re a large) to offers a basic (and constant) sense of how properly every system stands as much as this type of impression. And the reply is that even the newest iPhones don’t stand as much as it very properly.
“When dropped face down on a sidewalk from six feet, the 16 Pro Max shattered, and the display failed completely, rendering the device unusable,” Allstate experiences. Dropping it on the again panel was much less catastrophic, however nonetheless inadvisable: whereas remaining absolutely purposeful, the telephone shattered and suffered vital injury to the digital camera housing.
“So while the iPhone 16 may be the smartest smartphone to date, one thing hasn’t changed,” the corporate concludes. “It’s still made of glass.”
This will likely sound unhealthy… and definitely isn’t reassuring to listen to. However as MacRumors factors out in its protection of the story, that is only a actually onerous take a look at. The iPhone 16 Professional Max has glass on each back and front, and no glass-based smartphone has ever survived Allstate’s DropBot take a look at.