The iPhone 5 can really take a fall

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No sooner had people got their hands on the iPhone 5 did they gleefully chuck it to the ground to see how well it could take a drop. Two impact tests are already showing that the iPhone 5 is a tough little cookie, thanks in no small part by the lack of a glass rear like that on the iPhone 4 and 4S. One test puts the iPhone 5 against Samsung Galaxy S 3, while the other shows the front face of the latest iOS device can handle scratches just as well as drops. It's worth noting that other reports suggest the rear backing is prone to wear and scratching, however. It looks like the only real way to shatter the front glass is by purposefully spiking the iPhone 5 on the ground, though I'm sure it depends entirely on what kind of ground your dealing with and the point of impact.  

Gaze ye upon the wanton destruction of finely-crafted gadgetry, and cringe. 

Have you ever seriously busted up your iPhone from a drop? How satisfied have you been with iPhone build quality up until now?

Source: iFixYouri, Android Authority, MacRumors

Simon Sage

Editor-at-very-large at Mobile Nations, gamer, giant.

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More of: Iphone 5, Drop Test, Build Quality, Ruggedization ? PreviouslyHundreds of iPhone 5 units stolen in Japan and UK Next up ?Sprint retailer only sells iPhone 5 if customer buys accessory bundle too There are 40 comments. Add yours. CristianTM says: Sep 21, 2012 at 12:58 pm - 2 days ago

I dropped so many times my Iphone 4, and so many times thought "this time it MUST be broken", but it survived... that I really think "luck" plays a great role on that. Depends too much how you drop it, probably the back glass of ip4 can break, but my survived really "ugly" and "loud" drops withouth any noticiable scratch.

Reply plugtwo says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:04 pm - 2 days ago

I have owned every iPhone (no 5 yet) and I have dropped them all many times. The first time I dropped the iPhone 4, it was simply because it slipped right out of my hand. Having never used a cover for any phone, I then snapped on my free bumper case. I agree with ChristianTM above, the 4/4S CAN survive a pretty good fall, but the glass back and metal design makes it slippery and terrifying for clumsy people like me. Hoping the 5 will be better in that respect!

Reply CHIN087 says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:05 pm - 2 days ago

I don't care who you are, the f'n impressive. 2nd vid he had to give it a little thrust for it to break the screen!

Reply Ginbill says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:51 pm - 2 days ago

And even then, it cracked in the corner! I've seen some older iPhones that were cracked throughout the whole screen with less force drops. Pretty damn good if you ask me!

Reply okli says: Sep 22, 2012 at 4:54 am - 1 day ago

that iFixit Dude had to smash it with fool power for no one knows how many times to get a crack
as U can tell by how happy he was as he finally succeeded ... LOL

Reply v1nn1e says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:05 pm - 2 days ago

Looks like the iMore store should start carrying black Sharpies! haha. :(

Reply althekiller says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:10 pm - 2 days ago

But will it blend?

Reply Simon Sage says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:14 pm - 2 days ago

+1

Reply Denika says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:17 pm - 2 days ago

lol

Reply FlopTech says: Sep 21, 2012 at 2:32 pm - 2 days ago

LOL. It always blends.

Reply Keneo says: Sep 21, 2012 at 9:22 pm - 2 days ago

I heard a rumor that the iPhone contains a new secret alloy that prevents blending

Reply johnmarki says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:11 pm - 2 days ago

"No one really cares about the cover, its cheap plastic anyways!" My favorite line in the whole video! Great videos.

Reply kew028 says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:35 pm - 2 days ago

Does it feature Gorilla Glass?

Reply ab304945 says: Sep 21, 2012 at 3:07 pm - 2 days ago

nope

Reply drnggaj13 says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:46 pm - 2 days ago

he said it looks good but we cant really see it lol

Reply RMCSteve says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:53 pm - 2 days ago

Disappointed that in the first video he didn't do the full-height drop test. I really wanted to see the S3 dropped from 6 feet. My guess is that he didn't have a broom handy to clean up the mess.

Reply GreatNeal says: Sep 21, 2012 at 11:27 pm - 2 days ago

LOL. They are the android fans. They wouldn't want to push S3 to the limit and disappoint android users. Apple without saying a word has completely pushed the android fans to bite their own mouths already. Doing that full height drop test will kill them.

Reply Ginbill says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:53 pm - 2 days ago

Every drop is like a stab to my chest! But I was pretty impressed with the second video. Even after he dropped it by kind of throwing it down, It didn't shatter across the whole screen. I've dropped my iPhone 4 so many times. It's still in near mint condition. Thanks to my speck case. I'm always scared to pick it up and check after it's face down on the floor, but it's always survived. If the iPhone 5 is even the same / more resilient than the 4 I am going to be very happy.

Nice!

Reply BillyB4 says: Sep 21, 2012 at 1:58 pm - 2 days ago

My iPhone 5 arrived this morning from UPS and I refuse to even open up the shipping box until I buy me a good case to protect it in. Going out to Apple store tomorrow to see what cases they have in stock - if they're not all sold out already.

Reply pyr789 says: Sep 21, 2012 at 2:21 pm - 2 days ago

I just got paid $6784 working off my laptop this month. And if you think that's cool, my divorced friend has twin toddlers and made over $9k her first month. It feels so good making so much money when other people have to work for so much less. This is what I do, Red97.com

Reply KarrieLyne says: Sep 21, 2012 at 2:53 pm - 2 days ago

Ack!!! Dont' drop em!!! Why ruin a perfectly good iPhone 5??!! Send it to me instead if you don't really want it!! =P

Reply ab304945 says: Sep 21, 2012 at 3:06 pm - 2 days ago

Funny with my crappy plastic galaxy s3. I dropped it 3 times in the street so far. only damage was on the bottom edge. And since it is plastic(quality plastic) you cant see it at all. with the iphone5 chips away the paint and very noticable

Reply okli says: Sep 22, 2012 at 4:42 am - 1 day ago

*it is plastic(quality plastic)*.... U're a Ffunny LOLdroid....DUDE

Reply okli says: Sep 23, 2012 at 2:24 am - 22 hours ago

: )

Reply FFSJared says: Sep 21, 2012 at 3:07 pm - 2 days ago

The one and only time I dropped my 4, the entire front shattered. It was only a height of about 1 1/2 feet, but it fell face down on asphalt (no case). I'm very happy to see that the 5 handles falls well.

Reply Chex313 says: Sep 21, 2012 at 3:44 pm - 2 days ago

My i4 survived a cycle crash that nearly killed me....Just before surgery I used it to call work. The fireman were nice enough to return it to me when I was loaded on the ambulance, It was in a Speck case and holster.

I wasn't even surprised when I was shingling my roof last fall and bounced it off from 2 stories up, no damage(Landed in the grass). Plus at least 12 drops over 2 years. May not have survived if not for the thin Speck case...one of the freebies fron Antenna gate. :)

Reply Kidtachyon says: Sep 21, 2012 at 4:39 pm - 2 days ago

I wonder if I need AppleCare or not. I was told it will cost $299 to replace my phone the first time I break it and then pay the full price the second time I break it. AppleCare costs $99 plus a $50 deductible to repair my damage.

Reply TFausett says: Sep 21, 2012 at 5:40 pm - 2 days ago

Wow that was pretty awesome how well it took those falls on to a stone sidewalk. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

Reply felface says: Sep 21, 2012 at 7:31 pm - 2 days ago

well obviously if you smash an iphone by on purposely throwing face down that's not surviving a fall that's tech destruction (or at least an attempt of)

Reply lungho says: Sep 21, 2012 at 7:39 pm - 2 days ago

Look how he drops the iPhone compared to the S3. He intentionally tries to drop the iPhone on it's corner (the weakest part) while he flips the S3 out to the side, where it has a higher probability of landing flat at the point of impact.

What a turd.

Reply Phorge says: Sep 21, 2012 at 8:06 pm - 2 days ago

I've dropped my 4S once. I dropped it from approximately 20-30 centimeters, and it was damaged on the white border on the edges of the glass. I have been threating the phone like it was my own child, so I have only gotten that one crack. Otherwise, the screen and back is completely crack and scratch free.

As I mentioned, I have been threating it carefully. I am going to buy the iPhone 5, and I can already tell that I don't have to be that careful with it. It even takes less damage than the Galaxy S3!

Reply 0pusX says: Sep 21, 2012 at 9:46 pm - 2 days ago

How can people afford to buy these phones just to break them?

Reply dloveprod says: Sep 21, 2012 at 9:59 pm - 2 days ago

Why do I torture myself by watching these. At first it was freakishly thin and light, I can barely tell it's in my pocket, my 4s had a nice presence on my body.

Reply Mrdevali says: Sep 21, 2012 at 11:52 pm - 2 days ago

I left my 4s on my car roof after changing a flat tire with it (led at night) launch day... Heard it fly off and saw it bounce off the road in my rearview... It was in a case I got for 2$ shipped from eBay, while the case completely disintegrated, the phone survived. I got some chips in the edge of the glass but other than that it's been fine. My 5 is due next week.

Reply Appletitude says: Sep 22, 2012 at 12:53 am - 1 day ago

What the f^&k is the matter with you people??!?! LOL I refuse to drop my phone! Hell,I won't even hand it to people until they securely grasp it, then I'll finally release my grip. These are amazing electronic devices people, treat them as such.I recieved my 4S on release day. Now that I have the 5, my wife is getting a "out of the box perfect" 4S to use. :)

Reply KDors says: Sep 22, 2012 at 8:48 am - 1 day ago

+1

Reply GPAbsinthe says: Sep 22, 2012 at 5:51 am - 1 day ago

Anodized aluminum on the back does not fare so well under scratch tests though... It seems the 4/4S does better.

Reply KDors says: Sep 22, 2012 at 8:48 am - 1 day ago

Although I am extremely careful with my phone, it's reassuring to see what type of durability the 5 has!
I received my 4S two weeks after launch and I never put any case or protective skin on it. My 5 arrived yesterday and I plan on keeping it "naked" as well (I did purchase applecare+ this time though). My wife is getting my 4S and its just like it was the day it came out of the box ( I actually cleaned it off and gave it to her in the original box so she didn't feel as bad about getting a "used" phone)

Reply freight48 says: Sep 22, 2012 at 11:09 am - 1 day ago

Any phone would break if you threw it to the ground from shoulder level. What a useless test. Poor iPhone...

Reply summer_a says: Sep 22, 2012 at 3:42 pm - 1 day ago

I have a sad 3GS which is 5 years old. I am clumsy so I have dropped it many times. I would say its survived about 50 (no joke) with not a problem. However the most recent drop cracked a small part of the screen and now the screen is stuffed, constantly freezing meaning I have to lock and then unlock my phone to get my screen to work again. However, the build of the iPhone 5 seems amazing, so I'll be relieved when my new iPhone comes soon.

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