Apple’s new iPhone 12 boasts a Ceramic Shield that the tech giant says is ‘tougher than any smartphone glass’ – and Allstate put this claim to the test.
The American insurance company dropped both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro on a rough sidewalk from six feet in the air.
The smartphones were landed face-down, back-down and side-down to see if the shield actually provides up to four times the drop protection, as Apple has stated.
The tests reveal that the improved display helped the iPhone 12 withstand the drop ‘significantly better’ than the iPhone 11 and Samsung Galaxy S20 families, and Allstate says the ‘iPhone 12 is the most durable smartphone’ they have tested.
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The tests reveal that the improved display helped the iPhone 12 (pictured) withstand the drop ‘significantly better’ than the iPhone 11 and Samsung Galaxy S20 families, and Allstate says the ‘iPhone 12 is the most durable smartphone’ they have tested
Apple revealed the new iPhone 12 family on October 13 during an livestreamed event, saying the smartphones has a new design with rounded edges and a Ceramic Shield that ‘increase drop performance by four times.’
The shield adds more protection using a new high temperature crystallization step that grows nano-ceramic crystals within the glass matrix.
Allstate set out to see just how durable the new design is with a series of Breakability Drop Tests, which dropped the devices three different ways onto a sidewalk.
The iPhone 12 landed face-down for the first test, which caused a few small cracks and scuffed the edges.
Allstate dropped both the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro on a rough sidewalk from six feet in the air. The smartphones were landed face-down, back-down and side-down to see if the shield actually provides up to four times the drop protection, as Apple has stated
‘This is significantly better than both its predecessor, the iPhone 11, and the Samsung Galaxy S20,’ Allstate shared in a press release.
The iPhone 12 Pro, which is 25 grams heavier, cracked across the lower half when dropped in the same manner.
However, the device was still functioning as normal – and the insurance company said it still outperformed the iPhone 11 Pro.
The iPhone 12 landed face-down for the first test, which caused a few small cracks and scuffed the edges
The iPhone 12 Pro, which is 25 grams heavier, cracked across the lower half when dropped in the same manner
The next portion of the study dropped the smartphones back-down.
The iPhone 12 was ‘virtually unscathed,’ but the iPhone 12 resulting in loose glass because it is not designed with the shield on the rear.
‘The damage was not catastrophic, and the iPhone 12 Pro functionality did not appear to be impacted,’ Allstate shared.
The next portion of the study dropped the smartphones back-down. The iPhone 12 was ‘virtually unscathed
The iPhone 12 resulting in loose glass because it is not designed with the shield on the rear. ‘The damage was not catastrophic, and the iPhone 12 Pro functionality did not appear to be impacted,’ Allstate shared
The final experiment dropped the devices on their sides and both only suffered minor scuffing along the edges after hitting the rough sidewalk.
Jason Siciliano, vice president, and global creative director at Allstate Protection Plans, said: ‘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.’
