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28 March 2024

Samsung Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5 crash test: And the winner is…

Published
By Vicky Kapur

It's Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) vs. Samsung (NASDAQ:SSNLF) all over again. 

Smartphones are a must-have accessory today, and there aren’t many who don’t carry it – practically – anywhere they go during the day or night. Little wonder then that the devices have to go through the rigours of everyday life, from the occasional drop to a dunk in the water or even the dog chewing it all up.

With new devices being launched on a regular basis, one thing is for sure – they’re getting sturdier by the day. But does ‘new’ necessarily mean sturdier?

How likely are you to drop your smartphone, or let it ‘accidentally’ slide from your desk, or even slip it into the wash basin or sink? Well if you are prone to any or all of the above, read this.

SquareTrade, a US-based smartphones insurance firm, put the all-new Samsung Galaxy S4 to its ‘Breakability’ test, along with the old (in smartphone years) horse Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 5, and the older Samsung sibling, the Galaxy S3.

The results are out. And they don’t make good reading for the new stallion from Samsung’s stables.

The Samsung Galaxy S4, the challenger to iPhone’s supremacy (at least perceived) in the smartphones domain, fares badly in the San Francisco-based SquareTrade’s crash test, which put the Galaxy S3, the Galaxy S4 and the iPhone 5 through a set of three ‘dangerous’ tests.

“The SquareTrade Breakability Score ranks today’s top devices based on how prone they are to break due to accidents. Evaluating key elements such as front and back panel design, edge construction and materials, size, weight, friction quotient, water resistance and grip-ability, SquareTrade’s Breakability Score fills in the missing gap left by traditional device reviews: it tests devices in everyday danger situations brought on by our lifestyles and habits,” the insurance firm said in a media statement.

Watch the video here: 

 

“Our Breakability Score creates a new Richter Scale for accidental damage to help consumers assess when, where and how their phones are in danger,” the statement quoted Ty Shay, CMO at SquareTrade, as saying. “It’s been two years since we created the first Drop Test video for the industry and we thought it was time to expand the concept.”

Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S4 to the S3 and Apple’s iPhone 5, the iPhone 5 was the clear winner, the firm announced. SquareTrade’s Breakability Score revealed the following:

• 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. Major strikes against the S4 include high breakability during SquareTrade Drop Tests, a slippery back panel, and a wider screen that reduces grip-ability, especially compared to the ultra-slim iPhone 5. Breakability Score: 7

• While the Samsung S3 screen is more durable, it is less water resistant than the S4 and its plastic back and wide width decreases its grip-ability. Breakability score: 6.5

• The iPhone 5 scored the highest of the three phones tested. While it lost points for its larger size due to more breakable surface area, its excellent grip-ability and low friction coefficient make it far more durable overall. Breakability Score: 5

“Our research and experience shows that even the smallest device characteristics can dramatically affect its breakability: the weight balance of a device can affect the way it spins in free-fall, making it more likely to land on its screen; devices with rubber backs are less likely to slide, and device dimensions can [affect] how snugly smartphones fit in pant and jeans pockets,” continued Shay. “The likelihood of damage due to these common scenarios has never been higher.”

So how has your smartphone survived so far?

Americans and Android don’t mix

Incidentally, SquareTrade announced just days ago that one in five Americans is likely to buy the Galaxy S4, in what can be considered great news for the South Korean giant. But it also added that one in four Americans who do buy the Galaxy S4 are likely to break it – yes, break it – within 12 months.

“The study also found that Americans have spent more than $7.2 billion on damaged Android phones including Samsung, Motorola, LG and HTC since 2007,” it said in a statement. That’s not good news for Android in general, but what’s worse for Samsung is that more than half of the damages suffered were by Samsung devices. Of the $7.2 billion in damaged, Android phones, Samsung’s share was $3.7 billion, or a little more than 51 per cent.

“As Americans integrate their phones into an increasing number of daily routines and habits, accidental damage is 10-13 times more common than loss and theft,” the firm said. That’s a great insight (at east for me) – I was about to insure my smartphone against theft. Now I won’t bother, but will do so against accidental damage.

The research goes on to reveal Samsung loyalists are far more prepared than iPhone users should an accident occur: they are 20 per cent more likely than Apple owners to purchase a protection plan of some kind for their devices.

In some actual good news for Samsung, SquareTrade said more Americans were ditching their iPhones and switching to Samsung devices.

“Samsung continues to gain momentum in the market: 21 per cent of Samsung owners previously had iPhones but defected according to our research,” said Shay. “And while Samsung owners seem to be savvier about protecting their devices, millions of people will suffer the unexpected drops and spills that are so common today.”