The most expensive mobile devices on the market all exceed $1,000 yet consumers believe that smartphone repair remains relatively inexpensive.
The top device makers Apple, Samsung, and Google have not only seriously delved into the foldable market, but are also outfitting devices with top-grade components, including titanium, armor aluminum, and ceramic shield screens. These materials ensure devices remain expensive but do little for durability.
All three manufacturers have already released a host of flagship and high-end feature devices this year, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, and the Google Pixel Fold, which Allstate Protection Plans notes range between $1,200 and $1,800 in starting prices. Prices quickly increase with customizations including RAM, storage, and exclusive colors. As device prices increase, so do the cost of repairs; however, many consumers believe that fixing their pricey new smartphone won’t be as expensive. Having conducted a survey, Allstate Protection Plans has determined that 47 percent of American consumers believe smartphone repairs cost $150 or less, while repairs and replacements average $209. Consumers have spent $17.4 billion on mobile repairs and replacements, with 27 percent of device owners pushing to have a cracked screen replaced in a day or less.
Allstate Protection Plans has done its breakability tests on all the devices to see how they fare when immersed in water and when subjected to six-foot drops of different angles. The device insurance company has determined that water damage is now less of a concern for mobile devices, as engineering becomes more sophisticated. However, smartphones continue to be made of materials that break easily when dropped.
Allstate Protection Plans performed its dunk test on the devices, which entails submerging each model under six feet of water for 30 minutes. The iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra are both rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, meaning they can exceed one meter or over three feet submerged in water for 30 minutes. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google Pixel Fold are rated IPX8, indicating that they are submergible but not dust-resistant. Due to the movable nature of the foldables, there is no information on how else water or applicable trauma can affect the devices. However, all four devices passed the dunk test without issue, leaving Allstate Protection Plans to consider dunk tests might no longer be needed among its durability tests.
“Liquid damage was once a leading cause of smartphone repairs and replacements. Today, it doesn’t rank in the top five,” Allstate Protection Plans vice president of marketing Jason Siciliano said in a statement.
Meanwhile, its drop tests took center stage in causing some damage to all four models. The iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra had more traditional drop tests as slate phones. Both models experienced shattering, raising of the screen, and loosening of the glass when being dropped face down from a six-foot height. They were both rendered unusable. The devices also shattered when dropped back down on a first attempt. The Galaxy S23 Ultra remained functional but needed a protective cover for safe handling after the drop. The test not only shattered the main and ultra-wide-angle cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro Max but also made the back of the device unsafe to handle without a protective cover. The device had a similar fate to its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which was tested last year and suffered lens damage when dropped back first.
The foldable drop tests are not much different from a standard drop test, but Allstate Protection Plans does take into account the unique designs of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Google Pixel Fold. For the main screen drop test both devices were dropped unfolded and face down from a six-foot height. Both models survived two rounds of drops with minor damage, including scuffing and dents around the frame, remaining fully functional.
The outer screen drop test had the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Google Pixel Fold dropped in a folded position, face down as if in their standard slate phone style. Both devices experienced shattering, which rendered the outer screens unusable and unsafe for handling. The main screens remained fully functional.
Allstate Protection Plans’ tests have yielded some interesting results, showing that consistent durability can be found in the most unexpected of places. However, it hasn’t stopped other more common aspects of smartphones from being fragile. To help remedy that, device owners can use a case and/or screen protector and consider a protection plan.
