iPhone X is Apple's most breakable phone ever

iPhone X
Damage to the front and back of the iPhone X Credit: SquareTrade

Apple has claimed the iPhone X has "the most durable glass ever in a smartphone", but an insurer has claimed the new £999 phone could be the company's most breakable ever after its glass design suffered in a series of drop tests.

Testers at SquareTrade said the £999 device was rendered inoperable after drops of a few feet, with potential repair costs of more £556.44.

A drop from six feet onto the side of the phone left the OLED screen smashed, its home swipe function broken and the glass back panel totally shattered. A front drop, meanwhile, killed the iPhone X's Face ID facial recognition camera and rendered the screen unresponsive.

The iPhone X did manage when submerged under water, however, surviving 30 minutes dipped under five feet of water. The steep cost of repairing the iPhone X, with a screen repair almost double that of older models, has added to the risk of buying the phone, according to SquareTrade. 

Apple says the glass in the iPhone X is 50 per cent more durable than in previous phones, and that its stainless steel border makes it more stable. As an insurance company, SquareTrade clearly has a vested interest in pointing out any phone durability issues, but it does appear to have a rigorous testing system that it applies to all phones.

On a scale of 1 to 100, with a higher score proving more breakable, the iPhone X was given a 90, compared to a 67 for an iPhone 8, 74 for an iPhone 8 Plus, and 80 for a Samsung Galaxy Note 8. The company said "the iPhone X is the most breakable iPhone we’ve ever tested".

A screen replacement, one of the most common forms of smartphone damage, starts at £286.44, almost double that of a screen repair for the iPhone 6 or iPhone SE. Any other significant damage would costs users £ 556.44 under Apple's iPhone repair pricing.

"You’d expect there to be a high price to pay for a beautiful phone like the iPhone X. Unfortunately for consumers, in the end it’s likely to be more than the $1,000 they’ve already invested," said SquareTrade creative director Jason Siciliano.

Apple's flagship iPhone's all-glass back, required for its wireless charging technology, has left the phone potentially vulnerable to front and rear smash damage.

Apple told tech website Cnet the iPhone X is designed to be "durable, but not indestructible, and goes through rigorous real world testing". The company said concerned customers should invest in a case for the iPhone X.

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