I’ve been using the iPhone 4S for a whole weekend now, and I have to say, this device is a magnificent beast. That dual-core A5 processor makes everything super speedy and incredibly seamless, while the 8-megapixel camera takes terrific photos, and the Siri assistant — although in the U.K. — is just plain awesome.
Externally, however, the iPhone 4S is just as fragile as its predecessor, and nowhere near as robust as its biggest rival, the Samsung Galaxy S II.
As the best Android device on the market right now, the Samsung Galaxy S II is the iPhone 4S’ biggest competition. Both devices have their advantages: the iPhone has the largest and best choice of apps, Apple’s awesome Retina display, and Siri. While the Galaxy S II has a bigger AMOLED display, more RAM, and… seems unbreakable.
In this video from SquareTrade, the iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S II go up against each other in a drop test. There are three drops that each phone must endure: one from waist height, one from shoulder height, and one directly onto their face.
As you’ll see, the iPhone 4S comes out completely battered, whereas the Galaxy S II copes surprisingly well with the impact.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elKxgsrJFhw
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
118 responses to “Your New iPhone 4S Is Nowhere Near As Strong As Its Biggest Rival [Video]”
Well duh, wasn’t this a given? iPhone 4S’s outer is made primarily of glass whereas the Samsung Galaxy S II is made of plastic. Go figure.
Why do people do this. If I drop a phone somewhere its impact will be 100% different than another person. Also like 99% of the rest of iPhone owners I have it wrapped in a case.
So don’t drop it then.
This has probably something to do with the gorilla glass that is used on the Galaxy S II, which quite possibly provides strength and support to the structure of the phone. You can also see that the glass was the main thing damaged on the iPhone anyway. That’s my theory at least.
this test doesn’t prove much of anything, but it would be nice if the iPhone was more robust and especially weather proof. it’s kind of silly that you can’t use your phone in the rain or that if you drop it from waist height it will shatter like a glass goblin.
The Samsung Galaxy S II needs to be indestructible for the amount of times their owners get pissed off with the hunk of junk, and throw it across the room.
Also Apple have caring staff, who understand when the unthinkable happens. I sat on my iPhone and cracked the screen, took it back, got my wallet out, and the Apple employee told me to put it away. What other company would turn down money like this?
I guess the real answer here is DON’T DROP YOU PHONE RETARD!! haha
The iPhone 4s and 4 also use Gorilla glass (as does do the iPad and iPad 2) which makes ithe screens very scratch resistant, but does not make it unbreakable.
Why do people crop HUNDREDS of dollars worth of smartphones just to see how they break? WTF does it prove? That they break? No shit it’s going to break. It’s just dumb and a waste of $$.
Correction…drop. Drop HUNDREDS of dollars worth of smart phones.
The Galaxy is made of mostly plastic… Of course it will fare better in a drop test, compared to the iPhone.
Yeah, it’s a piece of crap in plastic!
I wish theyd do a test with some cases! It would atleast show if the case offers any protection like it claims. I dont need to see a phone fall 5 and a half feet to know itll crack. What happens when a case is on it!
I don’t think this are private people doing this…they probably have some business behind this, like a blog or case manufacturing
or they get paid by samsung
Killian, and your a journalist (4 real). Let’s get some real stories, and not this crap that a third-grader cold of wrote!
Seriously!
At least they didn’t test this right outside an AT&T store with a dozen people waiting in line.
The last video hosted I think was trying to convince people waiting in line for a 4S not to bother buying a 4S.
I guess they do it to satisfy the curiosity of others… You might not agree with what they are doing it, but did you watch the video? If so, then why?
I also guess that the phones were paid for by the advertiser at the end of the video – so the curiosity of millions ensure their exposure.
Hey! I’m in the 1% club. I must be SPECIAL! :)
What’s the point?Anything you drop il get damage in some way.
Ridiculous. Any phone out there will do better in a drop test vs. the iPhone 4/4S. It is GLASS. Just like the iMac I’m viewing this from. Glass. And guess what – has anyone seen crash tests for Ferrari, Maserati, or other high-end vehicles? They don’t exactly fair very well, especially when compared to, say, a Camry.
Apple’s devices are not to be held lightly. They should be cared for. It’s just how Apple works, and how their intended user base works.
Curtis, you come down on this journalist and tell him he writes something a third grader could have written when you clearly do not understand how to distinguish “your” and “you’re.” also, “cold” and “could” are not the same. Is that irony? Anyway, before you come down on someone else, try looking at yourself first mate! Cheers!
That’s it.
Shocking! I thought the iPhone 4S was supposed to withstand drops at ANY HEIGHT… how disappointing. Here I thought all these phone case companies were dorks but looks like you can’t actually drive over, throw, or play baseball with an iPhone 4S… so disillusioned right now, going into depression.
One time I dropped a rock and it didn’t even break. Then I dropped a crystal vase and it just SHATTERED, destruction was epic. Stupid vase, I’ll never buy one again.
Things happen beyond your control. If you drop your phone maybe it will break maybe it wont, but its all down to chance.
Lets say they both broke,…(not covered by warranty)
An iphone4S user can walk into any Apple retail store, and get a replacement for $199(assuming the same cost as the iphone4) and be back up and running in an hour.
I dont know what the warranty process is like with Samsung.
Visually stunning, lightweight, and highly damage-resistant, Corning® Gorilla® Glass is changing the way the world thinks about glass. It helps protect the world’s coolest smartphones, tablets, PCs, and TVs from everyday wear and tear
Quick fix. Don’t drop you iPhone. I would rather use an iPhone and risk breaking it then to use an android because that in itself sucks more than a cracked screen. trust me i know
It’s because everyone says that Apple always has superior build quality in their products so that is what this test was about. With the iPhone it isn’t about how stronger it is, it is about how pretty it looks. Apple does know how to make some very strong products like the Macbook Pro. I’m sure a Macbook would beat any Samsung laptop in a drop test.
It looks like it shatters only if it happens to land screen or back directly down. That is just chance of the fall. Sometimes it will land on the side and you’ll get a few scraps, sometimes it will land directly down on the screen and it will shatter. Buy AppleCare+ and live your life without fear.
Also, why are you standing in the rain talking. If you can afford an iPhone, you can afford an umbrella…ffs.
The unemployment rate is over 9%, rich getting richer, poor getting poorer, and the economy is still in disarray. And with all that going on kids in our country can afford to intentionally damage very expensive devices for sport.
Stupid video and stupid post…
Well duh! Galaxy S is made out of plastic, while iPhone is made out of glass and aluminum. Why don’t they test which phone still runs after 2 years of usage.
pointless video! your comparing a piece of cheap plastic to GLASS!!!! what point is trying to be made here??? that glass is more fragile than plastic?! need i add more! pathetic!
Let me replace the glass and crystal sculpture i have in my house with a hollow plastic one…you know because its mor durable and higher quality (yes mobile phones should be able to stand wear as opposed to sculptures but you get the point).
Why would I give two craps about this? If I drop my iPhone…I won’t be thinking “Damn, I should have gotten that other phone”. I will be thinking “Damn, I wish I wouldn’t have dropped my iPhone”. Durability is fine and dandy but taking care of your stuff is even better.
I don’t think so. If you look at Corning’s website they don’t list Apple as a user of Gorilla Glass.
some people have money, some don’t. it’s no crime to be successful.
Thank your CofM of reminding me that things that are made of glass break if you drop them on to concrete. I will not buy an iPhone 4s based on this information now. Does anyone know if a car that crashes into a concrete wall will survive? Because I don’t want to buy a car if it breaks.
There should be an article about why this article is news.
I feel that the “if i drop it, it breaks” is a dumb argument to make on which phone is better. The more RAM is a moot point considering the iPhone can take photos faster, edit video faster and about everything else faster with less memory.
The screen is larger, i’ll give you that, but not as sharp. That MIGHT be the only thing to compare between the 2 phones. maybe an article comparing on which is more usable in real life would be better
I dropped my S2 out of the window of a moving car on the weekend, it got run over by 2 wheels of a small 2 door, and the front right wheel of a land-cruiser, screen protector was totaled otherwise unmarked.
I stowed away in the landing gear compartment of an Airbus A340 and accidentally dropped the phone from approx 28,000 feet. After landing and backtracking the US Northwest over 800 miles, calling the phone every minute so I could hear it ring, I finally found it resting in a shallow pool of water on a rack slab. The snap on case was scratched but the phone was fine. I immediately ran speedtest and was getting 4MBps down and 1.8MBps up.
This is done by a warranty service for publicity dumbass.
The difference is, Curtis isn’t claiming to be a journalist or writing a news blog. For all you know, he could be a third grader wanting to read some real news.
Because only silly older people use umbrellas? Where I live it rains almost every day, almost no one uses an umbrella unless it’s raining really really hard.
The point is iPhones and iPads are not very durable nor are they made for outdoor conditions (iPads are hard to use in the sun for instance and almost impossible to use in the cold). These design points (if fixed), would be much more helpful to the average individual than a faster processor or more graphic power.
The problem is that the designers all live in California where it’s never cold and doesn’t rain much.
Build quality is quite different from material strength. The iPhone 4/S has superb build quality but is made out of glass.
The only thing the video showed was that glass isn’t as strong as plastic.
They use a glass with the same properties but not branded “Gorilla Glass.”
One test subject isn’t that conclusive. Try 5 of each phone and see how it is. The test is bogus if its not reproducible. And if you do decide to do that, just don’t. Send them too me, the poor guy because I will look after them unlike all of you cruel cruel people. >:(
I wouldn’t go that far… It is a pretty decent phone as well.
Your comparing apples to rocks here… I can say if you drop your baby on to concrete it will break but this cockroach will just get up and walk away… Just sayin.
I’d rather have a fragile beauty iPhone 4s, then a plastic, frankly ugly Samsung Galaxy S II. Thats not me being an Apple fanboy, the phones just ugly!
The use of the word “retard” is offensive to many people, maybe try using dufus or some such similar term that would not offend mentally challenged folks and their supporters
Then what you need is the NEW Samsung “Eston Morton S3” Car – It looks just like an Aston Martin – but is entirely made of beautiful, durable plastic! You’ll fly through concrete like a bird through water!
Interesting that the great aesthetic appeal of the iPhone’s glass design – which intrinsically makes it more prone to breakage – was not considered in this article when listing the advantages of each.
I’ve also noticed that Samsung appears to have started sponsoring Cult of Mac.
Just sayin’.
I get so tired of people senselessly breaking things. I wish I had the money to get an iPhone. I sure don’t have the $200 bucks to drop one on the ground and see if it breaks. I was taught to appreciate the value of a dollar and to take care of my things.
Wow, you people are idiots.
Samsung appears to be sponsoring Cult of Mac? I haven’t seen any advertisements on here. Also, I believe that most of the ads on here are fisher ads. They know your browsing history and develop advertisements according to that.
For instance, the advertisements currently shown on this page for me are one for the new MINI Coupé (because I own a MINI and visit MINI discussion forums) and for the new Ford Focus EV (cause I own a Focus and visit Focus discussion forums). The ads that appear to be static are those on the right column in small squares. Like the ‘Clean Your Mac’ ad, which I can only assume leads to MacKeeper, because I am CONSTANTLY getting pop-up tabs of that stupid thing.
That’s a fare trade off. A tough but not so clear display screen. I’ll stick to my iPhone 4s thank you.
The s2 is thinner, lighter, faster(.8 ghz total more clock speed), has twice the ram (which you need to do real multi tasking) and more durable. Has a much clearer, easy to read(especially in sunlight) screen. looks and feels amazing in your hand because of how light it is, the iPhone feels like a piece of glass and metal and looks far too bulky to be good looking in 2011 and the s2 feels like a piece of engineering
I feel that i have to comment on what can only be described as complete drivel!
this is why android users are known the world over as people that really don’t know a lot and are just Apple haters!…
Lets take the first point – ”Thinner, Lighter, Faster”…. Thinner? as everyone on the planet and probably in the universe know you measure a product at its THICKEST point to measure how thin it really is! So to burst your bubble, the S2 isn’t thinner! research before you spout nonsense. – Lighter, yes it is lighter but then it would be, its made of plastic and mass produced in an easy way to keep the costing down so that Samsung can make maximum profit. – Faster, now this really is interesting as on paper the S2 is quicker but as with all product that use another companies software and put all these bits together make the device slow! now I’m not saying the S2 is slower than iPhone4 but it really is milliseconds difference! i can give you that 1, iPhone 4s sorts that little issue out though!…. Also you comment saying you need more sped to do ”real multi tasking”….. that fact that little comment has been typed proves you know nothing and have never compared the difference as the iPhone4 is not only easier to use multitasking but quicker to, and all on a Phone that is so much slower than the S2???!!!!! hhmmmmmm
Durable? its made from cheap plastic and not premium products! Which samsung use in their high end TV’s but when it comes to mobile devices they opt for the cheapest solution! Completely pointless point to make but I’ve answered you!
Much clearer and easy to read screen! i won’t waste much time on this as i am blown away by the ignorance used in this comment! because something is BIGGER does not make it clearer! retina display beats the S2 screen hands down and anybody that says different has never compared the screens!
Feels amazing in your hand! this is not a comparison this is personal preference and just for the record, people with small hands and a lot of females have actually reported than the S2 and HTC handsets are almost impossible to use with 1 hand! That isn’t great if you ask me! But then that is my opinion!
”feels like a piece of glass and metal” – Them 2 being the main materials would make it feel like that! and being to ”bulky for 2011”….. i bring you back to my first point! measure the s2 at its THICKEST POINT!
S2 feels like a piece of engineering! The S2 is forms by melting plastic over a cast! the iPhone structure is actually engineers and drilled! again, maybe you should research before you bore any more of us with your cretinous views on something you actually know nothing about!
I would like to end this post by advising that i am not actually a ‘FanBoy’ aswel, i just get frustrated when peoples ignorance rules their small brains! Facts are what i follow not fiction!
Next we will be reading about how Fuji make and build better quality cameras that leica!!!