Samsung Galaxy S4 Gets a Dangerous Seven Rating from SquareTrade's Breakability Score

SquareTrade is an extended warranty service provider for consumer electronics and appliances. The company prides itself on transparency and a human approach to customer service.

SquareTrade’s Breakability Score fills in the gap left open by traditional device reviews. Some of the reports that SquareTrade has produced show that in 2012, Americans spent $5.9 billion on damaged iPhones. It also reported on which states are the clumsiest when it comes to smartphone damage.

This week, SquareTrade released it Breakability Score for the Samsung Galaxy S4. This score is based on a number of factors, including the physical characteristics, such as front and back panel design, gripability, drop tests, water resistance and anything else that SquareTrade can do to a device. On a scale of one through ten, the higher the number is, the higher the breakage rate is.

In a comparison between the S4, S3 and iPhone 5, it appears that the iPhone was the clear winner. The following are some of the tests and their respected scores;

• While the S4 proved slightly more water resistant than its predecessor the S3, Samsung's new Galaxy phone actually performed worse in most other categories. 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. Breakability Score: 7
• While the Samsung S3 screen is more durable, it is less water resistant than the S4 and its plastic back and wide width decreases its gripability. Breakability score: 6.5
• The iPhone 5 scored the highest of the three phones tested. While it lost points for its larger size due to more breakable surface area, its excellent gripability and low friction coefficient make it far more durable overall. Breakability Score: 5

As you can see, the breakability score is a very high seven. I suppose that the results show that bigger is not always better.

It would seem however, that this is not a complete surprise to Samsung. It appears that over the summer Samsung is planning to deliver a new tablet as well as a new smartphone specifically designed to withstand harsh environments.

The more ruggedized version of the Galaxy S4 could show up as early July. It looks like it will be called the Galaxy S4 Active. The question will be how rugged will the new devices be on the drop test? Since the S4 is already more water resistant than the previous models, it will take more than that to call it rugged.

To explain a little more about the scoring, Ty Shay, CMO at SquareTrade, said, "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 affect how snugly smartphones fit in pant and jeans pockets.”

Shay also commented on the score by adding, “Our Breakability Score creates a new Richter Scale for accidental damage to help consumers assess when, where and how their phones are in danger. It's been two years since we created the first Drop Test video for the industry and we thought it was time to expand the concept."