Cracked glass, chipped edges, shattered screens; these are all common occurrences with the iPhone 4S. Reports say it’s so common that many iPhone 5 shoppers have previously damaged iPhone 4S’.
A study by gadget insurer Square Trade reveals that out of 2,000 customers 30% of iPhone users damaged their devices within the past 12 months. This data also reveals that accidental damage is 10 time more likely than loss or theft of an iPhone.
This kind of information hints that many people may be getting the iPhone 5 out of not only desire, but also necessity. About 11% percent of iPhone owners have a device with a cracked screen, while a smaller 6% have actually taped up their device. 50% of these individuals with a damaged iPhone are under 35 years old.
With a thinner and lighter iPhone, durability does come into question. How much punishment will the new design of the iPhone 5 be able to handle? The bigger screen could also make the device more susceptible to screen crack or shatters. Then again the aluminum build, as opposed to the previous glass-on-both-sides build, may increase the lifetime of these devices.