The first batch of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are now out and about, meaning it’s time for a slew of test videos to pop up on YouTube. One of the earliest ones is by TechSmartt, challenging Apple’s claims about the handsets having the “most durable smartphone glass in the world.”
Apple said the same thing last year about the iPhone X, but plenty of tests showed that this wasn’t really true. However, it might have cracked the code this year since the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max both did better than their predecessor, at least in this particular durability test.
TechSmartt starts off with a simple pocket drop test. The iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max each get dropped from about pocket height. None of them got seriously injured, so that’s one hurdle cleared. The second test sees each of them getting dropped from head height.
The iPhone X strikes out in this test thanks to a large crack on its screen. The iPhone XS does much better since it’s relatively unscathed. The iPhone XS Max wasn’t as lucky since it got some scratch marks near the top.
iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max 10-Foot Drop Test
The final test involves a 10-foot drop onto solid concrete. The iPhone X’s back glass immediately breaks into pieces when it touches the ground. At this point, both its front and back are busted. Surprisingly, the iPhone XS again escapes without any major damage.
The iPhone XS Max didn’t catch a break in this evaluation either. It fell face-down on the concrete and shattered its display in the top-left corner. The phone then began to malfunction, flashing light constantly. The iPhone XS is clearly the winner among the three.
Also Read: iPhone XS beats iPhone X, OnePlus 6, Samsung Galaxy Note 9 in speed tests
At the end of the day, it’s hard to judge just how strong the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are since there are so many variables in real life. It’s better to err on the side of caution and buy a case rather than risk catastrophe and pay for expensive repairs.