iPhone 4 Glass Shatters Easily?

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Posted June 10, 2010 at 1:42pm by iClarified

A new report by iFixYouri suggests that although Apple claims the iPhone 4 glass is incredibly strong, it shatters very easily.

Apple says the glass is "chemically strengthened to be 30 times harder than plastic, more scratch resistant and more durable than ever."

iFixYouri notes that 95% of glass shattering is caused by shock and sudden impact rather than bending. They decided to put the glass to the test.

We have a full iPhone 4(minus the circuit board), here at our shop and decided to do a little drop test. This drop was performed from 3.5 ft up. Mind you that these parts ARE original apple parts. Laser etched and all. The iPhone 4 did survive 2 drops, as expected, but on the 3rd drop there was a loud POP, and yet again, shattered glass.

The site believes that the new design has flaw which contributes to this easy shattering. On the new iPhone, the glass basically sits on top of the aluminum frame. On the old iphone, it was recessed and protected by a chrome bezel.

This may be why Apple has announced its own official cases for the iPhone 4. These cases called "Bumpers" slip around the edge of your iPhone 4 and likely cushion the impact to the glass when dropped.

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Jay - June 11, 2010 at 2:25pm

#1, Gizmodo reports there were no internal components. #2 I believe it was hit with a round object (Hammer), notice the spidering of the glass is coming from the round circle where the glass isnt cracked. Some object struck the phone it wasnt just dropped.

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Dek - June 11, 2010 at 2:24am

This is just funny! Phones are not seat belts they are not going to save your life, for this kind of testing.

di - June 10, 2010 at 7:05pm

is it just me that have notes that the article says "On the new iPhone, the glass basically sits on top of the aluminum frame" if it use original parts shouldn't it be stainless steal.. but anyway.. its true.. that the new design does put the glass in a very exposed position..

al - June 10, 2010 at 6:17pm

anyone here planning on dropping their new iphone 4g? or any phone for that matter?

Jay - June 11, 2010 at 2:23pm

NOT ME AL! I tend to care for things that I pay $300 for and cost $700 to replace!

tognio - June 10, 2010 at 5:56pm

If i sell hamburgers i will look for hungry ppl. The old iPhone is very fragile too we always buy cases for our iphones

Roger Ramjet - June 10, 2010 at 3:42pm

Comment from original ifixyouri.com/blog/?p=59 article: "I hate to break it to you but you guys used a Dead Blow Hammer to make this impact. Ive got an industrial design specialist who tests durability willing to testify against this garbage of a test. The hammer head impact on the screen is plain as day in the upper right hand corner of the unit. I dont think anyone who knows industrial materials would be so stupid to think this was from a drop. Nice try guys but you fail. Theres your culprit." hmmm.......

samK - June 10, 2010 at 2:53pm

sigh... isn't it obvious to people that you should get a case and a screen protector to begin with? using anything bare is cool and all but you never know when you'll drop it.

c - June 10, 2010 at 2:42pm

I guess I'll be gettin me some bumpers

sand0 - June 10, 2010 at 2:22pm

Bull SHOT :) They probably used FAKE!!! FAKE not genue replacement glasses The 2G/3G/3GS fake glasses where peace of shoot tooo.!!!

Benjamin - June 10, 2010 at 7:38pm

LEMMING!!!!

Calvin - June 10, 2010 at 2:19pm

I don't care, I just wanna buy it no matter what! People are always yelling but still buying it !

madcow - June 10, 2010 at 2:03pm

The phone didn't have a circuit board so it was hollow? Did they bother to put something INSIDE the case? If not then this test is garbage. A hollow object will create much more vibration than one that has something inside to help absorb the shock. But of course they are in the business of fixing iphones so why not right?

geemack - June 10, 2010 at 1:54pm

This was my concern, the fragility of exposed glass on the edges. Aesthetics have been prioritized over the likely risk of damage from a dropped phone. I'm keeping my 3gs thank you.

iceblu121 - June 10, 2010 at 4:26pm

so this stuff is made of glass right? and glass does shatter right? so whats the problem.? we all bitch we want touch screens! well there made of GLASS. and the glass has to be somewhat THIN! how strong can they make it! get those bumpers that they will sell and for christ sake stop setting ipads on fire with blow tourches and dropping iphone 4 serves no purpose cause we all know yea its GONNA BREAK DUHH! it that gonna stop me from buying it NOT AT ALL!