Apple’s iPhone 4 Glass-Durability Claims Shattered, Literally

I don't get what the big deal is. I understand that Apple said it's a stronger glass, BUT IT"S GLASS PEOPLE!!!! IT WILL SHATTER!!! What is the big surprise?!?! You had to drop multiple times to shatter it. I bet that people who spend a few hundred on any device buy a case, screen protector and also try not to drop it. There is no need for a video to prove that glass will shatter. Apple did not claim that the phone will never shatter!

If it makes the PC fans feel better about their beleaguered tech existence in the shadow of Apple, it's served it's purpose. That and a few ad impressions.

it cut my fingers

I received my iPhone by mail on a Thursday, on Saturday it slid off my laptop which was on the coffee table and shattered. This was the first time it was dropped. When I contacted Apple the said it would cost $200 to repair and that's the same price I paid. Very disappointing!

It's just a problem because it shatters after dropping ONLY a few times... I've dropped my phone a million times and it's never broken(Nokia 5800) I'm thinking of getting the iPhone 4 but I don't want to have to worry how many times I've dropped it already... I like Apple but they mustn't claim that it's so awesome when it's not

People wonder why this is such an issue. Truthfully I've seen the comments from the original test that had people claim it wasn't comprehensive enough to outright conspiracy, truth is... Most of that negativity came from over zealous Apple fanboys who hear Job's explain it's stronger but in their heads hear "zomg teh iPhn is teh Supermans," or something equally as retarded... Truth is (like the poster above me said." glad breaks, if you drop it enough it will shatter... And in an ideal world someone would not drop their iPhone four times in a row. And if you take into account minute differences in every drop, a phone screen can shatter on he first drop, or it can walk away with skiff scars. Take the 3GS for that matter, I've dropped it several times and never experienced a shatter, I even dropped it a few times outside of the case i house it in. My friend for example dropped it about as much as mine and his was shattered (sad day). The truth is, with any device you own, you have to be responsible enough to take care of it. The truth is, when someone drops and iPhone and it shatters the immediate response is "damn you Steve Jobs!" when in reality, you have noone else to blame other than yourself.

I am very upset and I feel misleaded by apple. I invested to a flip hard leather case, my handset dropped after I 've been 10 days in my contract and the back glass shuttered to pieces. Eventhough the drop was from a table height, and the handest landed flat on vinyl floor, it was enough to break the back glass.

correct. i totally agree! kudos 2u =)

Well, here's what happened to me:

iPhone slipped out of my hand at about hip height, landed face down flat and the front is completely shattered. First time I've dropped it.

I would love to have purchased a case for it but couldn't find one in a store or online. Apple did have those bumpers in stock but I thought $30 was a bit much and, in this case, a bumper wouldn't have made a bit of difference. In fact, after searching the internet, I ordered the first case I could find that was available last Saturday. The cost of expedited shipping was more than the cost of the case but I paid it. Turns out, it wasn't actually in stock and they are now refunding my money.

So there's my sad tale. I have a feeling I won't be the last.

My new IPhone 4 dropped out of my lap and fell less than a foot on concrete. Now there is a small crack and scratch on the front. It's just as fragile as a glass cup or plate! Don't believe the durability claims get some type of case or skin. I need to do more research on helicopter and train glass:(

I have had my iphone 4 less than a week and I dropped mine from about 3 feet with a bumper on it and it shattered the back glass. It fell flat on it face. That sucks. THey can not make such an nondurable product. phones get dropped and abused. $199 bones is a lot of money to get it fixed after spending $500.

The 4 is fantastic. But not durable. I dropped mine and the back glass shattered- I wish I hadn't bothered buying one - never again, it's not worth the heartache or the expense...

Like most, I know glass breaks. And on yesterday, I personally watch my phone drop and break a beautiful picture iphone4. What troubles me isn't the fact htat glass breaks, it's the response I received when I called to see how to get it fixed. Apple informed me that I was to send it in and it would be $199.00 to repair. Almosst the cost of a new phone. I love this phone...but the cost is excessive....I think. Bottom line, I think I will walk around with a cracked phone....

Wow, at least you managed to drop it 4 times before it smashed... I dropped it once, it fell out of my bag as I was leaning over, so not even a distance of 2 feet from the ground, and the screen is totally shattered. It still works, but its hard to use when you risk glass splinters in your fingers...

Oh, and I had it for a week, barely, and I'm super careful normally, there isn't even one superficial hairline scratch on it front or back yet. :(

The glass should be easily and cheaply replaceable if it's that fragile. After less than a week of getting mine IP4 I dropped it accidentally from 2 feet on concrete. It shattered. I paid Apple genius $100 to replace not fix. I probably got a refurb. I regret having bought the damn phone

If this glass is supposed to be made from the same stuff as a helicopter, I wouldn't like to ride in that helicopter !!!!!!!! crap to that story about being good glass !!!!

apple has let everyone down once again, i bought the iphone 4 specifically because apple said it was more durable and less likely to crack, and what happens i drop it ONCE glass side UP

Defective glass. Bought 3weeks ago. Dropped once from 2 ft while sitting at a football game. Shattered!!! Product should be recalled. Apple wants 200 to replace glass that is 20 times stronger and 30 times stiffer. Our ipods have been dropped many times without problem. Obviously didn't do enought product testing. I'm hoping more people will complain. It doesn't seem right to be charged for a defective product...

Hi Guys,

IPhone 4 Glass is not durable, its more likely to broken than 3 G

I have similar experience, My IPhone 4 just sliped from my hands from 10meters and broken glass.

Regards,
Srini

10 meters? I don't think they'll ever make a phone, or any consumer electronic device for that matter, that can withstand a 30 foot drop onto a hard surface...

I dropped my iPhone 4 from 2 feet and it shattered. I had it fixed at the cost of 175$. That was 2 weeks ago. Today I had it in my back jeans pocket sat down in a canvas director chair and it shattered again. I am so * . I am done with the iphone4. Who thought it a good idea to make a freaking phone out of glass ????.

Glass breaks, so do what anyone with a half a brain would do....get a case and screen cover for it. Yes, my old phone was alot more durable....a crappy LG that could do nothing. Before i even left the phone store, it was wrapped in a case and screen shield.
Cannot blame Apple when you are the one dropping your phone and not having it protected. I don't know why you would ever spend $200-$600 for a phone and not slap a $20 cover on it......

Mine was in a cover and still shattered so that blows your argument out of the water. It's glass and you would expect people to take extra care but accidents happen and all these people on here can't be wrong. Apple is ripping people off by charging over £100 for a repair. It stinks!

I'd be sure to buy those rubbery exterior cases but I'd be even more careful not to drop my iPhone 4 three times in a row. There is no doubt that plastic will definitely survive a fall better than most glass. Still, most high-end device manufacturers would go with a material that isn't plastic. The plastic makes them feel junky. I also think that most manufacturers would think a consumer would definitely take better care of high-end device.

Apple will most likely have to go to carbon fiber on iPhones in the future. Apple could certainly use Lexan plastic for survivability, but it scratches so easily. Apple would have to devise some sort of thin outer glass coating for hardness. No way to win 100%. There'll always have to be some compromise.
http://www.whatisguide.net/0112-gorilla-glass.html

Agree that all glass shatters but these phones are ridiculously fragile . Day 2 with my new iPhone 4 which I was treating like fine bone china. I had a cover which set me back 30 bucks but says protects from shattering in falls up to 6 feet. I stood up and it slipped out of my pocket and shattered at much less of a height. So I'm shelling out another 200 to apple this week because not much choice. I truly love the phone but guess they need to be carried around in the original package.

I left my iphone 4 on top of my car n forgot. It survived about 1 mile until i heard it slide down the back window n onto the ground. I was doing about 60mph on a small curve. Lets just say there is a dent and a small nick where it landed and scracthed on the bottom from sliding. Glass did not break or shatter and my $300 phone is just fine. Listen people if you like to buy $300 phones n drop them be my guest. I think i have Apple and LUCK to thank

You bought an iphne 4 for $300?!

My son just had the same problem of shattered touch pad. He dropped it from his pocket on the corner and both sides of the flat surfaces shattered.

Why don't you guys try taking helicopter glass and drop it?

The Iphone 4 is a complete rip off. My daughter has had the phone for 3 months and has shattered the glass twice. Both times from just falling off of her lap onto the floor. The worst part is that the salesman in the at&t store talked me into buying the Apple warranty for $100 because he told me the regular insurance doesnt cover breaking glass. Seems he was full of s**t. Apple warranty only covers manufacturer defects. I hope his commission helps him sleep at night.

I think that is the same thing because its still glass and they not give you the warranty when its going to braked off

I have had my Iphone 4 for three days and it fell two feet to the floor and the face shattered.

I dropped my HTC EVO once and it shattered. Get a case. Who's gonna drop a 5 to $800 phone with out one. Otterbox if you never heard of them. Plus helicopter and train glass is thicker then our phones. Common sense it's less stronger. And it wasn't one drop.

Share your thoughts on this story... Well I had a case since day one I got my iphone 4 about 4 months ago, I bought it used not very expensive on C-list, I have dropped it about 5 times and I never had a scratched on it once. I have an incase thin case. Though I only dropped it inside not outside cause if I dropped it outside I would die, since I bought off contract so it's was way more than what u pay for. Well I can happily say I haven't dropped it since and I love my iphone 4 coming from an iphone 3GS it's a dream phone. I'm not bored with it and probably never will. I change everything from wallpaper to find new tweaks and it's just amazin idk how careless people drop it, if I go out I always bring my rubberized case. I missed my 3G,3GS and when the new iphone 6th gen comes out I will miss my iphone 4 much more. I do almost everything with my iphone even watch movies on it and will soon get Apple tv for Air Play since I have a few new videos to share w my HDTV. I'm sorry but for all those fools (and excuse the term but they are fools) u need to really be so * enough not to spent $70 on a shatter proof case. I would spent that much on a battery case or a water proof case. There is no excuse u have shattered iPhones.

Am I the only one that cringed whenever the iPhone hit to ground...?

When I got my first iPhone in 2007 I was with a friend who also got one. He let someone hold his who immediately dropped it and broke the screen. Worst iLuck ever.

I got my iPhone 4s last December, awesome phone by the way... First thing I did was get the invisashield screen protector front and back, month later, dropped it twice, no damage... After the second time I purchased a rubber case...after a week of having it in a case, I dropped it, again, no damage... The one thing I did, that I noticed no one else did, was purchase apple care, best investment I made. If I wanted to go outside right now and through the phone across the street, I could and not feel the least bit worried, 50 bucks gets me a new phone... My suggestion to anyone that gets an iPhone and doesn't want to worry about it for 2 years, get apple care, best 100 bucks I have spent to protect anything I own... Car warranties aren't even that good...