Posted on 30 Apr 2013 at 09:31, by Gareth Halfacree
Extended warranty specialist SquareTrade has suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is not as robust as its Gorilla Glass-protected screen and polycarbonate body would suggest - rating it lower in drop survivability than the last-generation Galaxy S3 or rival iPhone 5.
Subjecting all three devices to a barrage of durability tests shared on YouTube, the company found that the Galaxy S4 failed before any of the rival devices - including Samsung's own previous-generation Galaxy S3 handset. While the S4 was found to be slightly more waterproof than its predecessor, the drop testing didn't go so well for Samsung's latest flagship.
"Major strikes against the S4 include high breakability during SquareTrade drop tests, a slippery back panel, and a wider screen that reduces grip-ability, especially compared to the ultra-slim iPhone 5," the company stated following its testing. "Our research and experience shows that even the smallest device characteristics can dramatically affect its breakability: the weight balance of a device can affect the way it spins in free-fall, making it more likely to land on its screen; devices with rubber backs are less likely to slide, and device dimensions can effect how snugly smartphones fit in pant and jeans pockets. The likelihood of damage due to these common scenarios has never been higher."
The company's results may come as a surprise to iPhone owners: Samsung fans have long decried Apple's decision to include a glass back on the handset, doubling the likelihood that something will shatter when the handset is dropped. Samsung's handsets, by contrast, use a casing constructed from impact-resistant polycarbonate plastic - a material which is supposed to deform on impact and reduce the shock to the rest of the handset.
Whatever changes in the Galaxy S4 design have caused its drop survivability to lessen compared to previous-generation hardware, it's something Samsung will doubtless be keen to address in future revisions of the hardware: the company is already rumoured to be looking into moving to a metal unibody chassis for its Galaxy Note 3, despite having defended its use of plastics in the past.
Samsung has not yet provided comment on the results of SquareTrade's testing.
Marvin Hamlisch Megan Rossee grenada grenada Sikh Sanya Richards Ross decathlon
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.