Allstate Protection Plans Finds the Apple iPhone 12 Ceramic Shield Screen is Significantly More Durable but Not Indestructible

SAN FRANCISCO – October 26, 2020

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro hit the market last week with  new camera capabilities and retro looks. Apple says both phones have four times better drop  performance thanks to new front display Ceramic Shield screens. To evaluate these claims, Allstate  Protection Plans put each device through its Breakability Drop Tests (formerly SquareTrade Breakability  Drop Tests) and found they performed better than any previously tested smartphone.

During face-down Breakability Drop Tests, the Ceramic Shield screen improved durability, though both  devices sustained damage after landing on a rough sidewalk from 6 feet. Additionally, the iPhone 12 and  iPhone 12 Pro’s flat side design appears to improve durability when dropped on their rear panels. The  iPhone 12 suffered virtually no damage when dropped on its back, though the iPhone 12 Pro shattered.  

The full Breakability Drop Test video can be found here and reveals:​​

• Face Down Drop Test: The iPhone 12 suffered only small cracks and scuffed edges when  dropped on a rough sidewalk from 6 feet. This is significantly better than both its predecessor,  the iPhone 11, and the Samsung Galaxy S20. The iPhone 12 Pro, which is 25 grams heavier than  the iPhone 12, cracked across the lower half of its Ceramic Shield screen but sustained no  malfunctions or noticeable functional damage. While it fared slightly worse than the iPhone 12,  it also performed considerably better than the iPhone 11 Pro, its predecessor.  
• Back-Down Drop Tests: While it scuffed along its corners and edges after impact, the iPhone 12  was virtually unscathed when dropped on its back on a rough sidewalk from 6 feet. The rear  panel of the iPhone 12 is not made of Ceramic Shield, and its improved durability may, in part,  be due to its flat side design. The iPhone 12 Pro shattered when dropped on its back, resulting in  loose glass and cracking on its wide camera. The damage was not catastrophic, and the iPhone  12 Pro functionality did not appear to be impacted.  
•  Side-Down Drop Tests: When dropped on their sides, both iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro  suffered scuffing and sharp steel edges, especially along their corners, but were otherwise unharmed.  

Consumers today rely on their smartphone’s camera more than ever. In a survey, Allstate Protection  Plans found that 86% of smartphone owners report using their phones as their primary photo and video  device, with 80% saying they don’t need a separate digital camera anymore. 

“For many of us, smartphones have become cameras with phone capabilities rather than phones with  camera capabilities. iPhone 12’s amazing cameras, plus its improved durability, is sure to be a hit with  consumers,” said Jason Siciliano, vice president, and global creative director at Allstate Protection Plans.  “The Ceramic Shield front is a huge improvement. That said, both phones were damaged when dropped  on a sidewalk. Given their hefty repair costs, we encourage everyone to use a protective case and treat  their new iPhone 12 with the care you would give an expensive camera.”

Allstate Protection Plans recommends the use of phone cases and screen protectors at all times. For  added security, consumers are advised to get a phone protection plan, like those offered by Allstate  Protection Plans. The newly available Allstate Phone Protection Plus conveniently combines several Allstate products into one package, including accident protection, premium tech support, identity theft  remediation from Allstate Identity Protection, and one Allstate Roadside Assistance service per year.

For  more information, visit Allstate.com/phone-protection-plus. 

Methodology

Data Sources:

1. Allstate Protection Plans Smartphone Camera Usage Survey, conducted in September 2020 using  RepData among a sample of 1,013 American smartphone owners.