Apple’s latest iPhone 16 models feature second-generation Ceramic Shield hardware, which Apple says is even tougher than the previous generation’s Ceramic Shield.
Device insurance provider Allstate Protection Plans today released the results of its annual device drop test, giving us insight into the durability of the new iPhones.
Allstate tested the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is Apple’s largest iPhone to date at 6.9 inches. It continues to have glass front and back, and although Apple has introduced a better Ceramic Shield material that’s infused with ceramic for durability, the concrete pavement remains its nemesis.
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Using a “DropBot” to simulate six-foot drops, Allstate conducted several tests. In the front-down drop test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max screen cracked and there were visible scratches along the titanium frame. This drop rendered the iPhone 16 Pro Max unusable, although tactile responses were still felt, so it could be repaired.
In the back drop test, the back glass of the iPhone 16 Pro Max broke after one drop and the camera housing was damaged. It remained functional, including the camera, but it was unsafe to handle with bare hands due to the broken glass.
No glass smartphone has survived Allstate’s DropBot, so it’s no surprise to see the iPhone 16 Pro Max fail. Drop tests of all kinds are difficult to use to determine durability in real-world conditions, as the drop angle, height, and surface an iPhone is dropped on will always vary.
Allstate has stopped dunk testing because iPhone models now have such solid moisture resistance, and iPhone 16 models continue to offer the same IP67 water resistance as previous models.
Other YouTube channels have tested the iPhone 16 models and here are some of them: