SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) With Apple’s latest smartphone lineup featuring the biggest physical redesign in years, you may be wondering if it’s time for a mobile device upgrade.
New rectangular camera housing on the iPhone Air and 17 Pro models designed to accommodate more advanced camera systems, and 4K video recording in the Pro models, among other fresh features, certainly make the idea of an upgrade appealing. But before purchasing a new device, first check out the results of Allstate Protection Plans’ Breakability Drop and Bend Tests. The independent evaluation used robotic testing equipment to evaluate how the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro withstand everyday accidents. The tests can be viewed online and include the following results:
Improved Drop-Ability
Facing the Allstate Protection Plan’s DropBot, which drops devices 6 feet onto a sidewalk, both iPhones showed improved durability when dropped back-down, but still suffered significant damage when dropped face-down.
Face-down drop tests: Both the iPhone Air and 17 Pro shattered after one face-down drop. While both models remained fully functional, the damaged Ceramic Shield 2 front displays were too sharp to use with bare hands. Both iPhones would need their front screens replaced to be usable again.
Back-down drop tests: The iPhone 17 Pro survived one back-down drop with only cosmetic damage, including minor scuffing on its camera housing and along frame edges. The iPhone Air cracked across its rear panel after one back-down drop but was otherwise fully functional. These results are a big improvement from previous glass-back iPhone models, and most likely due to the models’ new Ceramic Shield rear panels.
No Bendgate 2.0
iPhone Air’s slim design raised concerns of another Bendgate, which plagued iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge devices. But BendBot, which applies controlled pressure to measure breaking points, discovered bending isn’t an issue.
• The iPhone 17 Pro bent at 200 pounds of pressure and was fully functional after Allstate’s bend test. The iPhone Air bent at 190 pounds of pressure and was also fully functional after the test. Though both models bent at fewer pounds of pressure than the iPhone 17 Pro Max (240 pounds), they were still well above industry standards for bend durability and the stresses most users encounter in everyday use.
• Though the iPhone Air is 35% thinner (0.22-inch depth) than the iPhone 17 Pro, it was nearly as durable in the bend test. This may be due to added reinforcement from its rectangular camera housing and titanium frame.
Watch the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro take on the DropBot and BendBot in a full results video on Allstate Protection Plans’ YouTube channel.
Damage Costlier Than Ever
Smartphones have become the single device people use to capture, store and share their lives. In fact, 82% of Americans say their phone has replaced their digital camera, according to Allstate Protection Plans research. With the iPhone 17 Pro starting at $1,099 and repair costs reaching up to $749 without AppleCare, and the iPhone Air starting at $999 with repairs as high as $699, protecting these essential devices is more important than ever. Visit AllstateProtectionPlans.com to learn how to keep your new device protected from real-world damage.
“Apple avoided another Bendgate, but gravity still wins,” says Jason Siciliano, vice president of marketing at Allstate Protection Plans. “If you’re spending more than $1,000 on a phone, a case, screen protector and protection plan are smart investments.”
