With the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus being introduced, Apple has also brought back one of its more iconic designs with the glass back that first debuted with the iPhone 4. We’re sure that with the glass back design, many are questioning just how durable it is, although recent scratch tests have shown that it does hold up pretty well.
Unfortunately it seems that while the glass back holds up well under scratches, it does not do so well when dropped. This is despite Apple’s claims of a reinforced glass. In the video above, the folks at PhoneBuff decided to test the iPhone 8 against the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 which also has a glass back.
In this case, it seems neither phone survived the drop test, with both handsets having their glass backs shattered. While PhoneBuff suggests that the cracks in the Note 8 appear to be more severe, this is only one test so it’s hard to consider it conclusive, but regardless it seems that neither device will survive if it falls directly on its back.
If you are planning on picking up the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or even the iPhone X, then it seems that you’ll definitely want to protect your investment with a case lest you find yourself with a smashed device.