14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung introduced a new design in the Galaxy S series with the Galaxy S8 and S8+ Infinity Display and the glass back that makes the devices rather fragile. A number of drop tests have shown that the Galaxy S8 can break rather easily, resulting in loose glass and star burst cracks on the display and the rear panel.
The chances of the Infinity Display on the Galaxy S8 and S8+ to break really depend on how carefully users handle their devices, but despite the Gorilla Glass 5 coating on both side of the phone, Samsung’s latest flagships can break under certain conditions. Even though it comes with the latest Gorilla Glass coating, tests conducted by electronics insurer SquareTrade do show that the glass can’t really withstand drops or tumbles. The insurer concluded that the "Galaxy S8 is the first phone we've tested that's cracked on the first drop on all sides," mostly because it has glass on both the front and rear panel.
In addition, the Galaxy S8 was the most breakable smartphone put through dropping and tumbling tests conducted by the insurer. Still, some durability tests have revealed that the Gorilla Glass 5 coating does a good job of protecting the device from scratches.
Screen replacements for the Galaxy S8 aren’t costly
Motherboard publication spoke with a number of independent repair shops, which revealed that the Infinity Display can be replaced rather easily and without spending too much. The actual amount that customers would have to pay for a replacement screen starts at about $200, which is actually $50 to $100 less than the price of replacement screens for last year’s Galaxy S7.
By contrast, the price of a replacement screen for an iPhone 7 was about $300 at launch. Prices for the Galaxy S8 start at about $750, while the Galaxy S8+ costs more with its larger display and battery size. Considering the phone’s retail price and new display design, the price for the replacement screen is quite affordable, should the device’s screen break for any reason.