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The iPhone 8 Plus beats Note 8 in drop tests, including 'I left it on the car' one

by Daniel Petrov

Sep 25, 2017, 8:31 AM

There comes a time in a person's life when your heart sinks and the world loses its meaning. Yes, we are talking when you drop your all-new glass phones like the iPhone 8 Plus or Note 8 that cost at least $800, and you shatter either the backplate, the screen, or both. To avoid these scenarios, it's good to know exactly how durable the Gorilla Glass 5 on the Note 8 or "the most durable glass in the world" on the iPhone 8 Plus are. This is where SquareTrade's standardized drop tests come in handy.

Besides its usual drop and tumble machines, the phone insurance company has developed a new test called the Shot that simulates a phone left on the roof of your car and you speeding off, which apparently happens more and more these days. You can view all the test details in the video above, but, in the end, it seems that yes, glass back does crack, and, yes, the new iPhones do seem to score a tad more durability than the Note 8, latest Gorilla Glass or not, yet word to the wise - dress it up in cases the second you get it.

The Note 8 survived the face drop better in terms of cracks, yet it was completely out of commission afterwards, while the iPhone still worked. Apple's "aerospace-grade" metal band also protected it better in side drops, while the slingshot test mimicking your car roof smashed the Note 8 to more chunks and pieces flying off.

Apple iPhone 8 Plus vs Note 8 drop test scores

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60 Comments

1. ibend2

Posts: 159; Member since: Mar 16, 2016

Phonebuff's drop testhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unTZYFHExRs

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 8:35 AM 42

11. maherk

Posts: 7056; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

They'll post the videos and reviews where the iPhone wins. I've been on this site for 5 years now, and no matter how much you call them out for their bias, they will ignore you and keep on going with their pro Apple agenda.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 9:10 AM 34

15. Nine1Sickness

Posts: 896; Member since: Jan 30, 2011

The only constant here in PA is whiney Android fans.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 9:42 AM 7

25. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

Might as well say the only thing constant here in PA is whiney Android haters... But you know what, they're both different sides of a same coin!

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 10:22 AM 15

42. miketer

Posts: 546; Member since: Apr 02, 2015

And iPhone arena articles. Admit it.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 2:48 PM 4

29. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

"I've been on this site for 5 yearsnow, and no matter how much you call them out for their bias,they will ignore you and keep on going with their pro Apple agenda." On top of that, they aren't doing themselves any favor in that, because cause the more they do that, the more they'll have their Ads blocked by users... and it's not even funny.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 10:28 AM 9

30. kiko007

Posts: 7523; Member since: Feb 17, 2016

They are gonna have their ads blocked because their ads are invasive AF. I block their ads regardless of what they write because of it.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 10:34 AM 3

31. Finalflash

Posts: 4063; Member since: Jul 23, 2013

Well that is largely because their content is like a terribad porn website and their ads are as well. Now both of those things changing is a tough ask but at least one of those changing is well within their power to do. If they could just get their heads out of their rears and do that they may actually get users on their side enough to deal with whatever ads they might have.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 10:42 AM 1

51. NoToFanboys

Posts: 3231; Member since: Oct 03, 2015

Pretty much this. Also the ads only adds to the problem of this site being heavily unoptimized, sometimes being worse than Facebook.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 8:59 PM 0

53. L0n3n1nja

Posts: 1603; Member since: Jul 12, 2016

Phonearena ads freezing my keyboard is the reason I got an ad blocker originally, I tolerated them on other sites.

posted on Sep 26, 2017, 12:47 AM 0

49. gehrig

Posts: 423; Member since: Apr 17, 2014

Then why are you still here?

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 8:19 PM 0

16. Sammy_DEVIL737

Posts: 1529; Member since: Nov 28, 2016

Bro just stop pasting links in comment section. Sheeps are considering all those videos as s##t. And All those youtubers are paid by Samsung. And saying about drop test they had carried out them with their so called "SPECIALIZED TOOLs".

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 9:42 AM 0

28. Arch_Fiend

Posts: 3951; Member since: Oct 03, 2015

So in all honesty the Note 8 and at least the iP8+ are pretty much the same on a durability stand point. I've seen drops that didn't even damage a phone kill it so it's really all up to chance with most devices.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 10:28 AM 5

33. ecmedic4

Posts: 520; Member since: May 02, 2013

Dont wanna post the link for the other test of the iPhone 8 vs S8? Since the iPhone faired better in that one. Your showing your bias right now.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7QS4ogH-qY Just shows that no matter how controlled these tests are made, it can go either way and all phones are susceptible to cracking and breaking. Best thing is to just put a case on your phone, they are expensive devices.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 11:32 AM 1

2. ShadowSnypa786

Posts: 655; Member since: Jan 06, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unTZYFHExRs In that video its the Note 8 that survives and the Iphone screen gives up :D iBend beat me to it LOL :D

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 8:36 AM 16

8. Landon

Posts: 1248; Member since: May 07, 2015

Dang it. You both beat me to it haha. I prefer the drop test that you linked because it's a more controlled drop test.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 8:48 AM 2

3. PhoneInQuestion

Posts: 496; Member since: Aug 20, 2017

Drop tests are too varied to be useful, actually conduct drop tests on phones designed for active lifestyles, like the Kyocera's or Galaxy Active.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 8:38 AM 0

9. mikehunta727 unregistered

Agreed. One test a a iPhone 8 will win in and another a Note will

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 9:00 AM 2

4. Plasticsh1t

Posts: 3109; Member since: Sep 01, 2014

"most durable" my ass. Don't believe these companies bulls**t.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 8:40 AM 10

5. jeroome86

Posts: 2314; Member since: Apr 12, 2012

So glass does break. Need to know info. Thanks.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 8:41 AM 4

6. talon95

Posts: 1009; Member since: Jul 31, 2012

Yeah, I'll stick with a Note. On average it has done just as well, even with curved glass.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 8:42 AM 1

7. twens

Posts: 1186; Member since: Feb 25, 2012

Iphone arena will post one that the iPhone wins. Lol

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 8:43 AM 13

10. Cat97

Posts: 2022; Member since: Mar 02, 2017

You mean the one in which iPhone wins, because in every other test that I watched, Note 8 won :)

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 9:04 AM 9

36. ecmedic4

Posts: 520; Member since: May 02, 2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7QS4ogH-qY And in this one from the same youtuber, the iPhone faired better. It just comes down to chance. Both will crack and break and eventually stop working. Drop tests are stupid, all they show is that glass breaks, which is pretty common knowledge. If you don't want your phone to break, put it in a case.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 11:52 AM 2

12. peace247 unregistered

Typical iphonearena...only posted that article in which iphone won.... All other tests show otherwise

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 9:24 AM 6

13. slannmage

Posts: 289; Member since: Mar 26, 2013

They both broke... How about we stop making phones from metal and glass? I'd rather have plastic back as you didn't need a case and if you dropped it the thing was fine.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 9:35 AM 2

14. nctx77

Posts: 2540; Member since: Sep 03, 2013

Drop test are just as useless as speed test these days!

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 9:40 AM 1

17. sissy246

Posts: 7129; Member since: Mar 04, 2015

In that video the iPhone's were just as bad if not worse then the note, so how did they win.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 9:46 AM 3

18. darkkjedii

Posts: 31764; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

All I have to say is, phonebuff says different. https://youtu.be/unTZYFHExRs

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 9:50 AM 7

37. ecmedic4

Posts: 520; Member since: May 02, 2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7QS4ogH-qY And this video from the same person shows the iPhone 8 do better than the S8. Its simply chance, they will both eventually crack and break. I take drop tests with a grain of salt cause no matter what, glass will crack thats just how it is. I don't take chances, and put my phones in a case.

posted on Sep 25, 2017, 11:56 AM 2

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