SquareTrade: Samsung Galaxy S4 breaks easier than iPhone

SquareTrade has announced today that the Samsung Galaxy S4 scored worse than the Apple iPhone 5 in stress tests designed to test their durability.

On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the best, the S4 scored a poor 7.0, compared to 5.0 for the iPhone and a 6.5 for Samsung's Galaxy S III.

In the tests, the phone is dropped and also dunked in water.

The large display of the S4, along with a "more slippery grip," make it more susceptible to damage, says the company. "While the S4 proved slightly more water resistant than its predecessor the S3, Samsung's new Galaxy phone actually performed worse in most other categories," SquareTrade said in a statement.

Samsung's new flagship is expected to be a massive hit, with internal expectations for over 50 million units sold in the first few months of release.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 1 May 2013 0:43

mukhis

so what? do we expect any smartphone to be rugged anyway given the current trend? if you can't handle an expensive std. phone, go for a rugged one. else, drop the phone, and be prepared to pay high for repair or to look for a new one, period.

1.5.2013 01:50 #1

xtago

LOL, a company that does protection plans have suddenly rated the GS4 the worse out of 3 phones that just so happen to coincide when the phone is just about on sale and will sell tons.

mmm, I can't work out why they'd release that bit of info....

Talk about scams.

1.5.2013 04:24 #2

Interestx

...what's the fail rate when sane people put the phone into a protective case of some sort?

Cos I sure as hell wouldn't drop �500/$780+ on a phone without putting it into a case.

Did Apple fund this research?

1.5.2013 08:39 #3

dEwMe

Originally posted by Interestx: ...what's the fail rate when sane people put the phone into a protective case of some sort?

Cos I sure as hell wouldn't drop �500/$780+ on a phone without putting it into a case.

Did Apple fund this research? EXACTLY!!! My S3 went into an Otterbox Defender case straight out of the box as did my previous Droid X. As a matter of fact I can't think of anyone I know that doesn't have their phone in a case. Even the iPhone set! Even if you pay for insurance the pain of going through replacement process is a pain I want to avoid for sure.

Just my $0.02,

dEwMe

1.5.2013 09:13 #4

Gplanet

Otterbox Defender case problem solved.

AMD Phenom II 3.4 GHZ Core AMD OVERDRIVE OVERCLOCKED TO 3.6 GHZ. 8 GIG RAM. INTERNAL LG BLURAY BURNER. 3 TB INTERNAL HDD. 1 TB INTERNAL HDD. 1TB HDD EXTERNAL. 3TB EXTERNAL HDD. WINDOWS 8 64 BIT 32" 1080P WESTINGHOUSE LED. 7.1 SURROUND

1.5.2013 10:03 #5

Mrguss

BS. Just another Crapple Jealousy propaganda.

+5000

1.5.2013 15:18 #6

mukhis

Originally posted by Gplanet: Otterbox Defender case problem solved.
will it protect if the phone gets dropped with front face at the bottom? thanks.

2.5.2013 04:49 #7

SeventhSon

Got my hands on one of these for the first time today. Nice screen but did feel very cheap in comparison to latest HTC, Sony and Apple phones. Not sure why S3 owners would bother to upgrade. Certainly lacking any Wow factor.

2.5.2013 17:50 #8

cart0181

I personally hate any type of aftermarket protective case I have ever tried. I haven't used a case since my PPC days. It just adds so much bulk that the phone barely fits in your pocket anymore. They also can block reception depending on the case. For text-ers that may not be an issue, but for a real business person it is. In my opinion, the phone ought to be made of good quality materials. I walked in to my local AT&T branch the day they got the S4 in the store. I wanted to hold it in my hand. It was obvious the phone was a light-weight made of plastic. I was not impressed at all. I could see a light twisting motion putting way too much stress on the screen glass. I am still considering the device because I REALLY want the CIR feature, but it was a huge turn-off coming from the excellent build quality of an iPhone.

2.5.2013 18:37 #9

Interestx

Originally posted by cart0181: ...... coming from the excellent build quality of an iPhone. My brother has an iPhone 5.
It is largely made of plastic.

Perhaps you hadn't noticed?

(interestingly a lot of the internal components are Samsung too, so much for a big difference in build quality, hmm?)

2.5.2013 18:53 #10

cart0181

I am speaking from my personal experience here, there is no argument available. It was obvious to me which phone was made with higher quality standards when standing in the store. Having owned the iPhone MYSELF as explained in the OP, I had plenty of time to "notice" every detail about the device. Perhaps your BROTHER would care to comment? If you require quantitative terms, perhaps you could investigate the gauge or type of plastic used.

2.5.2013 19:17 #11

Bozobub

"Higher quality standards"..? You apparently don't realize that approx. 25% of iPhone owners have one or both glass panes shattered at any given time. Of course, this is a natural consequence of making a glass-backed phone, for starters.

Many cases exist that don't add all that much to the size of a phone; the Otterbox Commuter (one step down from the Defender, and somewhat less bulky) is a prime example. And yes, Otterbox cases protect from front impacts � as do most cases, in fact � if the phone is dropped on a hard surface (but not from point damage, of course), to answer mukhis. So, drop the phone flat on its face, no problem, but if there's a pebble that hits mid-screen, well, better hope that Gorilla Glass holds!

Next, not one case on the market interferes with reception; sorry, that's a silly, worn-out, discredited excuse for bad iPhone antenna design (kinda like "you're holding it wrong" - lol). A little PVC and/or rubber is NOT going to block any signal, folks, or your phone simply is the most underpowered piece of crap ever made. I'm going to have to see a citation, before I believe case interference claims are anything but utter bullpuckey. Furthermore, the claim that all cases add "so much bulk it barely fits in your pocket any more" is pure hogwash, which I show as false every time I put my phone in my pocket. So tell me, does your personal experience somehow trump mine? Or, for that matter, do you think the iPhone's even more dismal durability rating (5.0, compared to 7.0 for the S4) is somehow negated?

Less hyperbole, please, it does your argument no good. For that matter, speaking from personal experience does not, in fact, prove you to be correct in any way. Maybe if you tried discussions, rather than rants?

Here's something for folks to think about: If an iPhone had the same dimensions as an S4, it would, in fact, have some flex, even if it was made from titanium or some other very strong material. I have little trouble flexing most phones that are thin and large enough, and yes, I HAVE tried; the materials science used fascinates me. There aren't too many materials that can have the kind of stiffness you apparently demand in that type of construction, especially at an affordable cost, with those dimensions. Physics is as physics does.

2.5.2013 19:56 #12

Tazer247

I have the GS3 and I knew right away this wasn't worth the upgrade. No "Wow" factor like previously stated. I had the Defender on my old phone, this phone I have been running another dual layer case. It is slimmer than a defender, smoother, more attractive. I NEEDED a case on this phone for 2 reasons: I drop my phone a lot, and holy crap this phone is so thin without one, it needs the extra bulk.

Cases are a hell of a lot cheaper than insurance too. I got my old defender for 20ish, my current Incipio Silicrylic for $17, and I just ordered a new Acase with good reviews for like $10. Case was cracked in one corner but my phone looks brand new when it comes out.

2.5.2013 23:11 #13

Bozobub

Cases not only potentially save you money, in many instances they give you a much better grip on the phone, especially when held in landscape orientation. This is true of many (if not most) Android phones that have a curved back, making a solid grip somewhat shaky.

3.5.2013 01:15 #14

mukhis

Originally posted by Bozobub: Cases not only potentially save you money, in many instances they give you a much better grip on the phone, especially when held in landscape orientation.
+1
thanks for otterbox answer, too! i will have a look at commuter version as well. i do not want to "cover" my phone but i want full protection. this brand looks like the only one that offers virtually total protection w/o compromising functionality.

so far i have the best experience with silicone skins with my nokia N8, the only disadvantage being the lack of front side protection (used only a good scratch guard for the screen). it still can be a good option.

3.5.2013 03:03 #15

Bozobub

If you want a full case, go with the Defender; the Commuter doesn't fully cover the screen.

3.5.2013 03:11 #16

Ryberg360

dropped my s3 numerous times. With a case on it, nothing happens. It's not a full case

3.5.2013 15:45 #17

justchuck69

Originally posted by Bozobub: "Higher quality standards"..? You apparently don't realize that approx. 25% of iPhone owners have one or both glass panes shattered at any given time. Of course, this is a natural consequence of making a glass-backed phone, for starters.

Many cases exist that don't add all that much to the size of a phone; the Otterbox Commuter (one step down from the Defender, and somewhat less bulky) is a prime example. And yes, Otterbox cases protect from front impacts � as do most cases, in fact � if the phone is dropped on a hard surface (but not from point damage, of course), to answer mukhis. So, drop the phone flat on its face, no problem, but if there's a pebble that hits mid-screen, well, better hope that Gorilla Glass holds!

Next, not one case on the market interferes with reception; sorry, that's a silly, worn-out, discredited excuse for bad iPhone antenna design (kinda like "you're holding it wrong" - lol). A little PVC and/or rubber is NOT going to block any signal, folks, or your phone simply is the most underpowered piece of crap ever made. I'm going to have to see a citation, before I believe case interference claims are anything but utter bullpuckey. Furthermore, the claim that all cases add "so much bulk it barely fits in your pocket any more" is pure hogwash, which I show as false every time I put my phone in my pocket. So tell me, does your personal experience somehow trump mine? Or, for that matter, do you think the iPhone's even more dismal durability rating (5.0, compared to 7.0 for the S4) is somehow negated?

Less hyperbole, please, it does your argument no good. For that matter, speaking from personal experience does not, in fact, prove you to be correct in any way. Maybe if you tried discussions, rather than rants?

Here's something for folks to think about: If an iPhone had the same dimensions as an S4, it would, in fact, have some flex, even if it was made from titanium or some other very strong material. I have little trouble flexing most phones that are thin and large enough, and yes, I HAVE tried; the materials science used fascinates me. There aren't too many materials that can have the kind of stiffness you apparently demand in that type of construction, especially at an affordable cost, with those dimensions. Physics is as physics does. " Or, for that matter, do you think the iPhone's even more dismal durability rating (5.0, compared to 7.0 for the S4) is somehow negated? "

" On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the best, the S4 scored a poor 7.0, compared to 5.0 for the iPhone and a 6.5 for Samsung's Galaxy S III. "

Please read the article before posting !

Good Luck and Take Care

3.5.2013 16:27 #18

Bozobub

Originally posted by justchuck69: " Or, for that matter, do you think the iPhone's even more dismal durability rating (5.0, compared to 7.0 for the S4) is somehow negated? "

" On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the best, the S4 scored a poor 7.0, compared to 5.0 for the iPhone and a 6.5 for Samsung's Galaxy S III. "

Please read the article before posting !
Oops! You're quite right. But that still doesn't explain the numbers for broken glass on iPhones, nor does it invalidate anything else I had to say =) . Yes, iPhones are reasonably well-made, but that does NOT excuse bad design choices (glass on the back, FFS?!).

To break it down: Anyone who doesn't protect the rather expensive super-compact computer that is a smartphone, no matter what brand or model, with some kind of case is asking for trouble. G-shock alone from impact is bad enough, much less point stresses from, for instance, hitting a pebble face-first; a case + ANY kind of screen protector will not go amiss when this happens! For that matter, partially (or even fully) waterproof cases might just make that little dive in the toilet a minor incident, rather than a phone-killer.

3.5.2013 17:01 #19

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