What to Do if Your Phone Failed its Drop Test
Let’s say in trying to lock your phone after a frustrating call with your mom, you fumble it and drop it to the ground. Or maybe you throw the covers off your bed, only to hear the tell-tale thunk of your phone hitting the floor.
Do you know what to do when the worst happens? There isn’t muchwhen the worst is a cracked screen — save for sending it away for repairs and hoping they’re cheaper than an outright replacement. Preventative care, by comparison, is much easier and a lot less expensive!
Let’s take a look at three big-time phones with surprisingly poor drop test results to see what you can do to help prevent yours from meetings its final end on the floor.
iPhone XR
As the modest generation released alongside the iPhone XS and XS Max, it should come as no surprise that Apple’s version of an affordable phone doesn’t perform as well as the more expensive flagships.
Although the XR may share the same A12 Bionic chip as the XS-series, it isn’t made of the same materials. While the XS phones are made of surgical-grade stainless steel, gold finish, and glass body, the XR is made from aluminum and glass.
This lower-grade material results in an iPhone that’s easy to scratch and shatter. After the first drop, the camera gained a scratch and the aluminum frame gained several scrapes. After the fourth drop, the camera shattered completely.
Pixel 3 XL
As the latest flagship from Google, the Pixel 3 XL represents the best of what Androids can do in 2018 and will do until the next Pixel comes out in the fall. Although it may have the latest Snapdragon processor and Android Pie OS, it didn’t wow critics in its drop test.
In fact, the Pixel 3 XL didn’t have to undergo drop tests to pick up damage. The Pixel 3-series suffers
from a scratchgate controversy.
The Pixel 3 and 3 XL share the same Soft Touch backing. It’s a special process that frosts part of the new glass enveloping the latest series. This frosted or matte part of the two-tone back picks up micro-scratches and larger scuffs with equal aplomb.In a video about the Pixel 3 XL, Marques Brownlee, a popular YouTube personality and tech expert, revealed he accidentally scuffed the back of the handset in making his video.
Fortunately, it’s easier to scratch the Corning glass than break it, but cosmetic damages are still annoying!
iPhone X
Last and least is the iPhone X. It was a heavy weight when it was first released in 2017, debuting with features that have become synonymous with modern flagships—including the display notch, the lack of headphone jack, and near bezel and chin-less designs. But the iPhone X’s performance in all its drop test isn’t something other manufacturers want to copy.
With some of the worst results for a flagship phone, the iPhone X shocked critics with just how badly it did. After just one drop from roughly pocket level, it showed obvious signs of damage. After a second drop landing face down, the screen shattered.
This is disappointing, especially considering it retails for $999. Imagine throwing away nearly $1k after just one accidental drop.
Word for the wise: use protection
Unless you’re willing to gamble with a phone that cost you several hundreds of dollars, protection is a no-brainer. You can’t expect your handset, whether it’s an iPhone XR or Pixel 3 XL, to stand up to daily wear and tear without it.
Protection can be a tricky thing for someone purchasing the latest flagships. Big, clunky cases add considerable bulk to these smartphones and hide the ultra-sleek designs you want to show off. Luckily, you aren’t stuck choosing between one bulky case and another — there are iPhone wraps and Pixels skins that help defend against scratches and scrapes.
When you shop from a designer like dbrand, you get to choose from textures that enhance your grip—making it easier to keep your phone in your hands and away from the ground. While you’re customizing an iPhone skin or Pixel wrap, make sure to check out this awesome screen protector the engineers at dbrand just released. It stands up to the force of a hammer without showing a single crack, so it should stand up to an accidental drop, as well as normal wear and tear.
Phones are delicate things—some more than others. As an increasing number of flagships swap out durable materials for glass in their frames and bodies, the frequency of damaging your phone will increase, too.
Shattered screens and scratched bodies may seem like a normal part of owning a phone, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You can improve your chances of never suffering from these damages if you know how to protect your handset.
