Study: Apple’s new iPhones score big in durability

Apple’s new and bigger iPhones are more durable than last year’s model and a leading Android phone, a study says. The iPhone 6, whose screen measures 4.7 inches, did the best across a variety of tests that measures how prone smartphones are to break due to everyday accidents, according to SquareTrade, a company that provides extended protection plans. The iPhone Plus 6, whose screen measures 5.5 inches, wasn’t far behind but lost points because it could slip out of a person’s hand since some users may have a hard time gripping its large but slim form.

The phones are getting more and more durable. Manufacturers are paying more attention.

Ty Shay, chief marketing officer at SquareTrade

The Samsung Galaxy S5, which measures 5.1 inches, got poor marks on several tests including the slide test. The more a phone slides, the greater its chance of falling off the edge of a table. SquareTrade examines the phones based on eight factors, including size, weight, grip and the quality of the front and back panels. The company measured how far the phones slide when pushed across a table on their backs and how well they withstand drops from 4 feet and being dunked in water for 10 seconds.

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