Celebrating its 25th anniversary – and the 13th anniversary of its Breakability tests – Allstate Protection Plans took the newly launched iPhone 16 Pro Max to the street with its longest-running test, the sidewalk drop.
“As smartphones enter their AI era, they’re also entering a new era of durability,” said Jason Siciliano, vice president of marketing and global creative director at Allstate Protection Plans. “Advances in design, materials, and technology over the years have made them less susceptible to liquid damage. And yet, as their capabilities grow, and so do the size of their glass displays, they’re still vulnerable to screen damage—the most common type of smartphone damage according to our most recent mobile survey.”
The iPhone 16 Pro Max boasts the largest display in iPhone history at 6.9 inches, with Apple claiming it also has “latest-generation Ceramic Shield material that’s two times tougher than any smartphone glass,” making it the most durable iPhone ever.
While Allstate Protection Plans has retired its dunk tests due to recent iPhone models surviving with so little impact, all smartphones remain vulnerable to drops, including Apple’s flagship Pro Max models.
Results of Allstate Protection Plans Breakability Drop Test of the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Front-down Drop Test: After one face-down drop on a sidewalk from six feet, the iPhone 16 Pro Max shattered across its display and suffered scuffing along its titanium frame. Upon impact, the display went black, then flickered white for approximately two minutes, before finally going permanently black. This rendered the device unusable. However, haptic responses could still be felt when pressing the power and camera buttons, so it’s possible the device could be saved with repair. Apple.com lists the iPhone 16 Pro Max front screen repair as $379 (without AppleCare).
Back-down Drop Test: After one back-down drop on a sidewalk from six feet, the iPhone 16 Pro Max shattered across its rear panel and suffered damage to its raised glass camera housing. The device remained fully functional, including all camera capabilities, which is an improvement over the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, it was not safe to handle with bare hands due to raised and loose glass. Apple.com lists the iPhone 16 Pro Max rear panel repair as $199 (without AppleCare).
Evolution of Breakability Tests
In 2014, the Allstate Protection Plans (then known as SquareTrade) iPhone 6 dunk test was 10 seconds in less than a foot of water. Five years later in 2019, the iPhone 11 remained functional after being submerged by the DunkBot for 30 minutes in five feet of water. Later in 2014, ‘Bendgate’ emerged after iPhone 6 Plus users reported their phones bending in their pockets. Allstate Protection Plans responded with the BendBot revealing that the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge cracked under the same pressure as the iPhone 6 Plus. With the rise of foldable phones, they introduced the FoldBot, demonstrating Samsung’s folding models could handle up to 120,000 folds. However, no smartphone has survived DropBot.
With the iPhone 16 Pro Max starting at $1,199 and repairs costing as much as $749 (without AppleCare), Allstate Protection Plans highly recommends the use of phone cases and screen protectors. For added security, consumers are advised to get a mobile protection plan. For more information, visit AllstateProtectionPlans.com.
About Allstate Protection Plans
For almost 20 years, Allstate Protection Plans has transformed the extended warranty industry with service innovation and an obsessive focus on the customer experience. Today, Allstate Protection Plans is trusted by over 150 million customers in addition to major retailers and mobile operators in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Allstate Protection Plans are available for mobile devices, furniture, appliances, electronics, and more than 20 other product categories. Allstate Protection Plans is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation.
See also: Allstate Protection Plans: Sofa Stains Top List Of Furniture Fails
