Level 1

5 points

iPhone Glass Shatters/iPhone Not Durable

I just dropped my iphone.. just one drop and it's ruined. I thought they made these things durable! I'm not sure a protective cover would have even helped in this case, because the glass front is what broke. I tried to get a cover early last week and the place I went was out of stock! Just my luck. The top front is shattered and there is a big crack down the front of the glass. It seems to be working ok in Brooklyn, where I live. But I was getting no service in New York City. I couldn't make any calls. I've heard that Apple won't cover this. I am willing to pay some money for this because it was half my fault, but Apple should bear some responsibility. I can't believe it broke so easily.. who doesn't drop their phone now and again???? Does anyone know how much this is going to cost me. Please don't tell me I have to buy a whole new iPhone at $600 price tag. I'm devastated.

iPhone 3G

Posted on Aug 11, 2008 5:19 PM

38 replies

Andrew J

Level 3

790 points

Aug 12, 2008 11:53 PM in response to Zanne33

I'm sorry for you Zanne33. Have a look at the youtube link up in a previous post, and the guy drops the phone a half dozen times, even right on the screen, and no scratches. What can I say, take a look.

Peachy

Level 2

285 points

Aug 13, 2008 12:43 AM in response to Zanne33

sorry for your iPhone Zane33 but the thing is the iPhone is, just like many people here said, not unbreakable !
and it is one of a kind, no other phone can compare in terms of size/weight/ease of use !
mine fell about +10 times and the screen is still as new !
another good comparison as your problem is with the glass part : by a pair of nice sunglasses (Oakley, UTOPIA optics...), wear them, they'll probably fall and eventually break in a week or two as well if they fall on the wrong side!
you just weren't lucky enough this time !
a matter of luck I guess !

Message was edited by: Peachy

Aug 13, 2008 2:40 AM in response to Peachy

LOL, It never ceases to amaze me the posts people make on these forums. How apple can be accused of design flaws for you dropping your phone is beyond me!

If you had not dropped it you would not have broken it. I have read the instruction manual this morning and nowhere does it claim to be drop proof or give instructions for the correct method of dropping the phone. Therefore one would assume that the phone was not designed to be dropped. A bit like my waterford crystal decanter. I have other decanters made from plastic that I have dropped and they have not broken, but when I dropped the waterford decanter it broke. I think I might sue Waterford for not making it more robust........

Aug 13, 2008 6:44 AM in response to steve copeland

Wrong. It's a design flaw, clearly. Apple did not effectively balance the weight of the phone so that when dropped, it has a greater probability of landing, from whatever height, on an area that will not damage the phone in any way.

Bryan Mick

Level 6

13,026 points

Aug 13, 2008 6:59 AM in response to Zanne33

While it is unfortunate that your phone broke when you dropped it (I would be heartbroken if it happened to me), you really can't blame Apple's design for this.
When purchasing a phone with a large, glass screen, one has to assume that it's not going to be as durable as a plastic or rubber encased phone and take precautions based on that assumption. It's just common sense. Get a case, or your taking your chances.
Personally, I have a invisishield backing on mine. It does nothing to protect the screen, but it adds a more grippy surface to the back, so it's not as slick. I know that if my screen does break someday, it will be something I may have avoided by adding a more protective case.

Good luck getting yours repaired.

Cheers!
-Bryan

Bryan Mick

Level 6

13,026 points

Aug 13, 2008 7:01 AM in response to 6eniousbartender

Apple did not effectively balance the weight of the phone so that when dropped, it has a greater probability of landing, from whatever height, on an area that will not damage the phone in any way.

Please tell me you're kidding with this.

Aug 14, 2008 12:03 PM in response to Bryan Mick

I'll be interested to see what happens when I go to the Apple store tomorrow. I have dropped mine a few times without any problem, but a couple days ago as I was getting out of the car, it slipped out of my pocket in a parking lot and the front was totally smashed. I've had mine since day 1, and did not buy insurance for it at the time - that's my problem. At this point, I'll probably just buy a new 3G phone... still, I too was surprised at the break! Granted, the phone still works perfectly, even with the glass shattered. The touch screen works and the phone operates as if it were new... so GOOD design there!

Aug 14, 2008 12:37 PM in response to Zanne33

Zanne33 wrote:
I just dropped my iphone.. just one drop and it's ruined. I thought they made these things durable! I'm not sure a protective cover would have even helped in this case, because the glass front is what broke. I tried to get a cover early last week and the place I went was out of stock! Just my luck. The top front is shattered and there is a big crack down the front of the glass. It seems to be working ok in Brooklyn, where I live. But I was getting no service in New York City. I couldn't make any calls. I've heard that Apple won't cover this. I am willing to pay some money for this because it was half my fault, but Apple should bear some responsibility. I can't believe it broke so easily.. who doesn't drop their phone now and again???? Does anyone know how much this is going to cost me. Please don't tell me I have to buy a whole new iPhone at $600 price tag. I'm devastated.

WELL? WHat do you expect. It doesn't mention anywhere that Iphone is indestructable. SOme people just want and expect too much. HELLO?

Aug 14, 2008 12:45 PM in response to Zanne33

How about you blame Apple for making the iPhone's screen out of glass instead of plexiglass or better yet, transparent aluminum? I'm sure you have a legitimate case against them. It'll have the same effect as claiming the iPhone secretes butter so that it easily slips out of your hands on purpose. I'm sure if the iPhone was made out of rubber and clear plastic, we wouldn't have these sort of problems. Screw quality altogether!

Aug 14, 2008 11:12 PM in response to AbsintheBleu

I'll be interested to see what happens when I go to the Apple store tomorrow. I have dropped mine a few times without any problem, but a couple days ago as I was getting out of the car, it slipped out of my pocket in a parking lot and the front was totally smashed. I've had mine since day 1, and did not buy insurance for it at the time - that's my problem. At this point, I'll probably just buy a new 3G phone... still, I too was surprised at the break! Granted, the phone still works perfectly, even with the glass shattered. The touch screen works and the phone operates as if it were new... so GOOD design there!

You can get replacement glass, and required tools here:
<http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Original-Front-LCD-Screen-Glass-Cover-For-iPhone-3G W0QQitemZ180276013369QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item180276013369&_trkparms=72%3A1076%7C 39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&trksid=p3286.c0.m14&timeout=1218780502528>
Take apart instructions:
<http://www.rapidrepair.com/guides/iphone3g/iphone3grepairguide.html>

Aug 19, 2008 12:51 PM in response to desmo999r

On a more serious note...anyone SAT on their iPhone? Seriously!

Well this was what happened to me. I'm always careful with my iPhone. Yesterday while in the car, and saying good bye to a girl, I put my iPhone down on the arm/elbow rest. I figure it's the best location, in MY car, as it's away from the cup holders. Well, the girl reached over and kissed me...putting ALL her weight on my iPhone with her ELBOW!!!! It still works hehe...

Sep 5, 2008 2:52 PM in response to Zanne33

I dropped my iPhone onto a marble floor but I think it landed on it's back and literally "bounced".

I feared the worst but when I looked at it, there was not even a scratch on it and it still worked !!!

Impressive !!

Tmar23

Level 1

35 points

Aug 11, 2008 7:15 PM in response to Zanne33

Yep you guessed it glass breaks under stress. Most people know this without having to be told.

gdgmacguy

Level 7

21,891 points

Aug 12, 2008 5:52 PM in response to Zanne33

If you didn't want feedback, you shouldn't have posted, especially since these are the technical support forums and you really didn't have a technical support question.

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Aug 12, 2008 6:23 PM in response to Zanne33

You may want to watch this to see how durable the iPhone actually is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUR70xhmqv4&feature=related

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iPhone Glass Shatters/iPhone Not Durable