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Topic: Hardware

Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

Summary: As this video shows, a few drops to the pavement can't save Apple's latest blockbuster.

Ricardo Bilton

By for The ToyBox |

The launch of Apple's iPhone 4S may have been successful, but how well does the device fare in a drop test?

That's the question that gadget warranty provider SquareTrade aimed to answer in the video posted below. Pitting Apple's latest device against the Galaxy S II, the test nets some fairly surprising results, with the screen on the Galaxy S II standing firm despite being dropped from a few feet above the ground. The iPhone 4S isn't quite so lucky.

For smartphone owners the drop test is likely the most important one of all, considering that, besides water damage, drop-induced trauma is probably the most likely cause of cell phone destruction. So if you are looking for a phone that can take its share of beatings, then the Galaxy S II is probably the right choice for you.

Topics: Hardware, iPhone, Mobility, Smartphones

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  • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

    Did you happen to view the video on how the new iPhone 4S failed the steamroller test?

    BTW, the reason the iPhone failed the test was because it was dropped the wrong way.

    Sorry guys. This was a silly post for a silly article. My apologies in advance.
    kenosha77a
    Reply Vote

  • Are you serious? Of course glass is more fragile than plastic, nothing ...

    ... has changed in physics.

    No matter how strong glass you use, it will never able to cancel the crushing force of collision with asphalt or concrete as well as creaky plastic.
    DDERSSS
    Reply Vote

    • On plus side, glass is way more scratch-resistant than any plastic, and it

      @DeRSSS: ... does not look or feel cheap.<br><br>High hardness of the glass and fragility are sides of the same coin. The same as being creaky, scratchable and drop-resistant for plastic.<br><br>For now, we can not have better sides of both coins at the same time. <br><br>That is because glass molecules are much simpler and have much stronger forces within and between themselves so the glass is very hard and bends poorly.<br><br>Plastic consists of big, fluffy, long organic molecules which absorb mechanical forces really well, but due to molecules' size and complexity there is no way they can keep their structure anywhere as good as glass.
      DDERSSS
      Reply Vote

      • If one were to read nothing but your posts

        @DeRSSS
        one would have to come to the conclusion that the iPhone is best at everything and you would have to be a complete and utter moron to buy anything else.

        Is that true? Can you list any examples where if someone came up to you and asked what kind of smartphone they should get, you would tell them to get something other than a 3GS (for $0), a 4 (for $99) or a 4S (for $199)?
        toddybottom
        Reply Vote

      • Are you trolling? I wrote above that both Apple's and non-Apple approach to

        @toddybottom: ... the way to make enclosure (glass and steel versus plastic) have advantages and disadvantages.
        DDERSSS
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

        @DeRSSS
        We should journey to the wonderful world of carbon composites.
        Ternarybit
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

        @DeRSSS
        We should journey to the wonderful world of carbon composites.
        Ternarybit
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

      @DeRSSS, i'd rather have a working creaky plastic than a lot of shiny pieces of broken glass
      d.marcu
      Reply Vote

      • then you'll be a happy man just getting any cheap cellphone.....

        @d.marcu
        devotto1967@...
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

        @d.marcu get anything but a notebook or a smartphone.if you mean to drop it moron.....there are many ways to protect your delicates expensives stuff.........go buy a toy phone with sound......
        devotto1967@...
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

      @DeRSSS Galaxy S II uses Gorilla Glass...LOLOLOLOL
      NeedsLoomis
      Reply Vote

      • SGS2 uses plastic (except for screen), and the screen glass' edges are not

        @NeedsLoomis: ... exposed as in iPhone 4. So of course SGS2 will be less fragile on <b>any</b> way you can drop it.

        (iPhone's steel frame is super firm and also can not absorb forces anywhere well).

        So you what yours "LOLOLOLs" are about it? As I said, laws of physics still intact, so it is quite ignorant to be surprised about results of this test.
        DDERSSS
        Reply Vote

      • There is an easy solution

        @NeedsLoomis
        The iPhone design basically requires you to use a case and with a case, the chances of breaking anything are minimized. My case is quite small and lightweight so my iPhone is only slightly larger than the average smartphone.
        toddybottom
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

        @NeedsLoomis Tapping the iphone4 screen with a fingernail, it sure sounds like plastic to me. however, shattering my iphone4 screen a while back left little doubt that it is in fact glass. However, I read somewhere that the ip4 screen IS gorilla glass.
        rickp619
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

      @DeRSSS The whole speed of light thing has changed in physics. Look it up.
      markh789
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

        @DeRSSS So you agree that the Galaxy has a superior design? "So of course SGS2 will be less fragile on any way you can drop it".
        I think the iPhone screen has an inherent design flaw and will generate a lot of revenue in touch screen repairs. Silly for what everyone thinks is one of the best engineered devices in the world.
        tahooker
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

        @markh789 No it hasn't. They forgot to calculate for the time differential in the communications between the satellites used measure the experiment. Einstien's speed limit is still very much in tact.
        Jammin72
        Reply Vote

    • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

      @DeRSSS I contend the glass in the floor of the CN Tower observation deck would have faired better than the Galaxy S2 in this test.
      slickjim
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

      @DeRSSS Ever heard of bullet proof glass crApple fanboy? All it takes is replacing the silicon in regular glass (SiO2) with a more reactive metal, something like potassium, to get a more crack resistive glass :|

      Sure it will still break in some way or another, but has a much lower probability of breaking if dropped from the same heights :p
      MrElectrifyer
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Samsung Galaxy S II beats iPhone 4S in smartphone drop test (video)

        @MrElectrifyer The hatred is strong in this small minded individual.
        non-biased
        Reply Vote
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