Key Takeaways
1. Both the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro can crack their screens when dropped face-first from six feet, despite remaining functional after impacts.
2. The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air bent under 200 and 190 pounds of pressure, respectively, but both still worked afterward.
3. The new Ceramic Shield 2 front displays are more vulnerable to face-down drops, while the new Ceramic Shield rear panels offer better protection.
4. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has a higher resistance of 240 pounds, making it slightly more durable than the other two models.
5. Users are advised to use protective accessories, as repair costs for damages can be very high, reaching up to $749 for the 17 Pro.
Post a successful bend test by well-known YouTuber JerryRigEverything, Allstate Protection Plans carried out independent breakability tests that showed Apple’s latest iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro can still get quite damaged due to gravity. The tests utilized robotic tools such as the “DropBot” and “BendBot” to mimic everyday accidents. Both phones passed controlled bending tests without losing their functionality, yet both screens cracked when dropped face-first from a height of six feet.
Drop Tests Reveal Weaknesses
In the drop tests, both the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro remained functional after the impact, but their new Ceramic Shield 2 front displays broke instantly when dropped face-down. When dropped back-side down, the iPhone 17 Pro only suffered minor cosmetic damage, while the Air showed cracks on its back panel but continued to work. According to Allstate, this is due to the new Ceramic Shield rear panels that have taken the place of the older glass backs on earlier iPhone models.
Bend Test Performance
During the bend tests conducted by Allstate, the iPhone 17 Pro bent under 200 pounds of pressure, whereas the iPhone Air bent at 190 pounds. However, both devices were still operational afterward. Although these numbers are lower than the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s impressive 240-pound resistance, they still surpass the durability standards set by the industry. The iPhone Air, which is almost 35 percent thinner than the iPhone 17 Pro, came close to matching its strength, likely thanks to its rectangular camera housing and titanium frame, as noted by Allstate.
As stated by Jason Siciliano, who is the VP of marketing at Allstate Protection Plans, it is recommended that iPhone 17 users utilize protective accessories for their devices, since repair costs can reach as high as $749 for the 17 Pro and $699 for the Air (not including AppleCare).
Accessory Recommendation
Consider purchasing the Spigen tempered glass screen protector for the iPhone 17 Pro on Amazon, to help prevent damage to your device.
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