iPhone 15 Pro drop test suggests it's not as durable as iPhone 14 Pro

iPhone 15 Pro drop test alongside iPhone 14 Pro
(Image credit: YouTube)

A new video suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro may be more prone to accidental-drop damage than the outgoing iPhone 14 Pro

The video, by Sam Kohl of AppleTrack (via 9to5Mac, compares the two iPhone Pro models during a series of drops. The iPhone 14 remains in apparently as-new condition even after the drops reach double figures, but by that point the iPhone 15 Pro is completely trashed.

It's important to keep perspective here: when you accidentally drop your iPhone, you don't then pick it up and drop it again several times; it took multiple drops to do any damage to the iPhone 15 Pro in the video. But there does appear to be a structural difference between the outgoing iPhone and the new one, and that difference could seemingly make the Pro more prone to spiderweb cracks when dropped onto a hard surface. 

Why is the iPhone 15 Pro getting damaged differently?

The new iPhone 15 Pro makes extensive use of titanium alloy, which is strong and light, and has a titanium alloy frame rather than a stainless steel one. However, while titanium is stronger it's also a little more flexible, and that along with the move from a vertical to a curved edge appears to have removed some of the shock-absorbing properties of the iPhone 14 Pro's stainless steel band. 

What that means in practice is that while the titanium itself is very tough, it may transmit more vibration to other parts of the phone – such as the glass back, which is what you can see cracking in the video. So while the structural integrity of the iPhone remains undamaged, the shock can be transmitted through the glass, causing that to crack.

It's unlikely to be a significant issue for most users, especially those of us who put their phones in a case (partly for protection and partly to protect the resale value). But it's perhaps fortunate timing that Apple has made it cheaper to repair the glass back of the iPhone 15 Pro: according to Apple's latest repair price estimates, the cost of replacing the back glass on the iPhone 15 Pro is $169 / £169 / AU$275, rising to $199 / £199 / AU$319 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. That's significantly less than the previous models, which were $499 / £519 / AU$879 and $549 / £559 / AU$899 respectively. 

Still, if you're clumsy you might want to consider AppleCare on your new iPhone: that gives you unlimited repairs for accidental damage and cuts the cost to $29 in the US, £25 in the UK and AU$45 in Australia. 

More iPhone stories

TOPICS
Carrie Marshall
Contributor

Writer, broadcaster, musician and kitchen gadget obsessive Carrie Marshall has been writing about tech since 1998, contributing sage advice and odd opinions to all kinds of magazines and websites as well as writing more than a dozen books. Her memoir, Carrie Kills A Man, is on sale now and her next book, about pop music, is out in 2025. She is the singer in Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind.

Read more
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW
Leaked iPhone 17 renders hint at major design changes – including 3 controversial changes for the Pro and Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
New iPhone 17 Pro rumor predicts bizarre new camera bar design, but we're far from convinced
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
I switched from an iPhone 12 Pro to an iPhone 16 Pro – here are 5 things I love and 3 disappointments
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Review
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra seemingly scratches more easily than its predecessor
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
iPhone 17 Pro: latest rumors, tips and everything we’ve heard so far
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
The iPhone 17 series could get a curvy upgrade, and I'd welcome the change
Latest in Phones
A phone displaying the Google Messages logo
Google Messages could finally be getting this WhatsApp-style group chat feature
Apple iPhone 16 Plus Review
Apple expert just tipped a load of iPhone 17 upgrades: here are 7 things we’ve learned
Google Pixel 9 front and back
The Google Pixel 9a has gone up for sale and it’s not even out yet
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
New rumors predict a foldable iPhone will launch next year – and cost almost twice as much as the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S24 hands on handheld back straight white
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is getting one of the S25’s biggest video upgrades with One UI 7 – here’s why Log Video matters
iPad mini 2021
Huawei might have beaten Apple to the folding phone finish line by creating a foldable 'iPad mini'
Latest in News
A woman sitting in a chair looking at a Windows 11 laptop
Microsoft is supercharging Windows 11’s voice commands on Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon CPUs, and fine-tuning a few Recall features
MacBook Air M4
Apple's rumored foldable iPad tipped to launch sooner than expected with an exciting software twist
A phone displaying the Google Messages logo
Google Messages could finally be getting this WhatsApp-style group chat feature
The Future Games Show Spring Showcase
The Future Games Show returns this week for its Spring Showcase, here's how to watch and what games to expect
NordProtect logo
Standalone identity theft protection from Nord Security is now available
A man holds a smartphone iPhone screen showing various social media apps including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, Instagram and X
Ofcom cracks down on UK tech firms, will issue sanctions for illegal content