(Credit: Allstate)
Apple says its iPhone 16 models are more durable than ever thanks to an improved “Ceramic Shield” over the glass casing, but don’t expect any miracles. Drop tests from insurance provider Allstate suggest the ceramic shielding can still crack if the iPhone takes a hard fall.
Allstate used a robot to drop the iPhone 16 Pro Max from a height of 6 feet. Despite the improved glass shielding, the impact of a drop can still cause large cracks along the phone’s casing when it falls either face down or on its back.
In addition, the iPhone 16 Pro Max failed to boot back up again when dropped face down from 6 feet. “While the iPhone 16s are largely safe from past threats like water damage from pools or toilets, they once again proved no match for the pavement, becoming inoperable after one drop,” adds Allstate, which offers insurance plans for smartphones.
That’s a bit disappointing since Apple outfitted the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models with the company’s latest-generation Ceramic Shield, which is supposedly 50% tougher than last year’s material and “2x tougher than glass on any other smartphone.”
So, those with an iPhone 16 should still consider buying a protective case. That said, the damage will vary depending on how the phone falls.
A drop test from the YouTube channel AppleTrack found that the phones incur far less damage when dropped on their side. This can cause minor dents and scratches along the frame but usually doesn't break the display. (That said, the Apple 16 Pro could no longer boot back up and developed a small crack on the bottom of the screen after a fourth drop on its side.)
AppleTrack also conducted the tests with an iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro and found that the newer device showed less damage across the glass casing after all the tests. So, it looks like Ceramic Shield can make a difference. On the downside, the thinner bezels on the 16 Pro can make the screen more susceptible to damage if it’s dropped on its side or corner, AppleTrack adds.