Quarter of iPhones have a broken screen, says new poll

By Rich Trenholm on 7 February 2013, 1:40pm

As many as a quarter of iPhone owners are walking around with a broken screen, according to new figures.

iPhone owners were asked whether their blower's display is currently broken, smashed or cracked in any way, to which 23 per cent yes. The average length of time people have been putting up with their damaged display is six months.

Most people hadn't got round to fixing it, with roughly equal numbers saying they weren't insured, couldn't afford to fix it, or were happy to live with the damage.

31 per cent of those with a broken screen said they'd probably never bother to fix it.

The numbers come from mobile phone insurance website MobileInsurance.co.uk, which obviously has a vested interest in reminding us of the fragility of our valuables. But the survey polled a respectable 2,471 iPhone owners -- and I've certainly broken more than one iPhone screen, and I'm not alone in that in our office.

It's usually worth insuring your phone, especially if you've paid more than a few hundred quid for it or are particularly clumsy. Other gadget insurers include Protect Your Bubble and some bank accounts -- check out MoneySavingExpert for more valuable advce.

It's also worth registering your phone and other valuables with Immobilise, the national property register used by police forces throughout the country. Once registered you can report your phone or other valuables lost or stolen with a single click, allowing police forces to instantly check recovered swag against the database and potentially return your swiped phone to your its rightful place in your pocket.

Do you have a broken screen? What's the daftest damage you've ever done to your phone or any other gadget? And what's the toughest gadget you've ever owned? Break it down in the comments or on our pristine Facebook page.

Comments 32

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JSK73 7 February, 2013 14:27

I dropped my trusty Nokia N95 into the toilet (before any business had started), totally submerged. Took it out and it died on me. Two days of it sitting on the radiator with the battery out and cover off, put the battery back in and it worked! You couldn't do that with a new phone and definitely not an iphone as you can't even get the thing open (unless you have the tools and know-how)!

anonymous 7 February, 2013 14:46

I dropped my month old Samsung Galaxy S III in our local Tesco car park as I was getting out my car. It fell screen first on to the concrete ground and than proceeded to slide past my despairing grab for it onto the drive way where it was run over by a people carrier.
Cost me £160 to get it repaired :-(

anonymous 7 February, 2013 14:55

Motorola Defy. Nearly two years of abuse & just a few light scuffs & scratches. I have skidded it through a puddle on asphalt 3 times.
It's indestructible!
I may get a case for my next phone...

anonymous 7 February, 2013 14:59

If all else fails visit FixmiPhone Limited for fast, reliable repairs. facebook.com/fixmiphone

anonymous 7 February, 2013 15:16

Couldn't agree more with the Nokia N95 experience, mine proved well-nigh indestructible too ... falling onto concrete, tiles, tarmac, into the sink and still it was a full function smartphone. Not like these nasty little iPhones ...

leoevs44 7 February, 2013 15:21

Most people i know with iphones dont only have a cracked screen but the rear of the phone is also cracked, and apple fans keep on about quality apple products and android cheap plastic products, i've dropped my s2 multiple times and only got a few light scratches.....

anonymous 7 February, 2013 16:13

Dropped my LG Optimus 2X in a swimming pool while on holiday, was completely submerged. A day later everything was fine. The screen took a week to get rid of all the water bubbles.

PS I know couple of people going round with broken iPhone screens, and it is a common sight on public transport.

Peter Hudson 7 February, 2013 16:22

Here's an idea people. DON'T DROP YOUR PHONES

anonymous 7 February, 2013 16:36

I've dropped my Galaxy nexus from the top of a climbing wall (about 3 storey's high). Screen was untouched but the plastic side had a deep scuff and a small crack. The phone still works perfectly and the bodywork still feels completely solid.

anonymous 7 February, 2013 16:45

@Peter Hudson so you've never dropped a phone ever? Funny to see you get dropped lol!

brackvakic 7 February, 2013 16:45

Rant on about the 'premium' glass and aluminium built all you like, but it's not at all hard wearing. Glass is hard wearing? I've read comments like 'I'd only buy an iPhone because they're made so much better than other phones which don't look like they'd last a minute in your pocket'...so you buy a phone made of GLASS?

Peter Hudson 7 February, 2013 17:09

"@Peter Hudson so you've never dropped a phone ever? Funny to see you get dropped lol!"

No I haven't. Have you seen how expensive phones are these days. When I spend hundreds of pounds on something, I make a note of being careful with it.

anonymous 7 February, 2013 17:43

My trusty Nokia 5530 has survived many a fall, including a few feet high onto concrete. Your S3 or iPhone can't say that, can it?

leoevs44 7 February, 2013 18:09

Have you all noticed it doesn't seem like any iphone users are commenting on this article lol....

anonymous 7 February, 2013 18:25

@anonymous 17:43 yes my s3 can say that, I have have dropped my s3 several times on concrete and cant count how many times its taken a knock on wooden floor from 1 to 2 feet. So you stand corrected Sir.

anonymous 7 February, 2013 20:12

This was one of the reasons the first smartphone I bought was a Samsung S2...

Amazingly, I have subsequently dropped it on concrete numerous times without damage to the screen...

Most products displaying such a fault as the iphone would probably be subject to a product recall...

anonymous 7 February, 2013 22:15

Never dropped a phone or tablet or anything else that costs hundred of pounds. If I thought I was that clumsy I would buy a decent case. I have an iPhone 5 and its in perfect condition.

Damien2701 7 February, 2013 22:55

I've had my 4s since launch and and it's in perfect condition. The trick is to look after it. People seem to buy phones based on how much they can get away with dropping them.... Weird

Damien2501 8 February, 2013 00:30

I don't care about what phone people buy, but your an idiot if you've spent hundreds of pounds on a device and no case. I've got multiple cases for my Galaxy S, all costing less than a fiver. Surprisingly, I don't think I've ever dropped a phone though.

And Damien2701, I expect a lot from my phone not for it to remain idle all day, build quality is important for people who don't upgrade every 2 years, now it's not surprising the Galaxy S2 is one of the best selling phones of January 2013, people will still be using it well into 2015.

anonymous 8 February, 2013 07:50

I have a nokia N8 and it's been dropped probably a dozen times from over a meter onto concrete or bitumen and it only had a single crack across the screen. A week ago it was on the dash of a car going about 40 - 50k/h and it slid out the open window and landed on its screen which only scratched it

anonymous 8 February, 2013 08:42

"-- check out MoneySavingExpert for more valuable advce"

*advice?

anonymous 8 February, 2013 08:56

Never bought a case for a phone, never broken a screen or any other part of my phones beyond scratches. Can't remember dropping my phone since I was a drunken idiot student 10 or so years ago (and that was a Nokia 3310, the only phone that could survive a nuclear explosion).

The last thing I want to do is increase the bulkiness of already plenty big enough smart phones with a case. I'd rather just be careful with it and pay attention to what I'm doing.

markiwyn 8 February, 2013 13:24

Look, it very simple. iphone's glass look was a design flaw.

Its ok saying dont drop your phone but the fact of the matter is that people will. If you have a phone that shatters there is no point in having the phone. Your not meant to crash cars but they do happen, hence the need for bumpers and airbags. Phone need to be durable.

anonymous 8 February, 2013 22:07

Shut the fuel tank on my Desire, crushing the corner, after I used it as a light source during a break down on my bike.

anonymous 9 February, 2013 01:54

Huh? Why anybody's surprised? Glass breaks. And iPhone has twice as much of it.

Worst part: there are no smart-phones with plastic screens anymore.

anonymous 9 February, 2013 04:34

Once a week, I go to John Lewis and they have the cleanest powder rooms. I make a note to always drop a log, but never the phone.

anonymous 9 February, 2013 07:09

I've gone through 4 screens on my trusty old bar of soap shaped iPhone 3GS. The first one was off 2 stories of scaffolding do a smashed screen was pretty much expected. Buy some of the breaks I've had since have been ridiculously easy. One fell of my bed, yes a fall of approx 18" on to wood laminate floor. Even worse that that the last one must have been dropped from no more than 6" while I was trying to untangle the charger cable again on to laminate floor (Hardly the hardest surface). The problem is once you've had the first break the phone will be repaired with substandard parts, well mine was as did the repairs myself as my insurance company wanted £100 excess (for a 4 year old phone that's probably not even worth that now). New screen £5 off eBay. I've become a bit off an expert at fitting them now. Got an iphone 5 now so you think I'd be a bit more carefull wouldn't you, but no dropped it within the first 3 day and cracked both the little glass panels on the back. The annoying thing was I was trying to put my new case on I'd just bought when the thing shot out of my hand. New glass panels ordered £3.99 off eBay so all is not lost.

anonymous 9 February, 2013 13:07

Its usually Not worth buying a fragile phone.

WHY do they make such fragile phones?

I'm sticking to my old Nokia C5 until the develop tough phones again.

the1beard 9 February, 2013 13:56

It's almost impossible not to drop your phone at least once a year if not more often.

anonymous 13 February, 2013 20:00

The law of unintentional consequences has meant Apple have not helped themselves imho. I have broken many phones over the years, including my trusty N95, however due to those signal probs when the iPhone 4 was launched, we were all given a free case, which I would not have gone out and purchased as the case didn't let me show off my shines new phone! As it didn't work without the cover I've used it ever since and 30 months later the phone still looks pristine even though it has been dropped, sat on and soaked on numerous occasions. Apple's sales of the newer phones must have been dented by those early signal issues due to the extended life of the iPhone 4 with its case
Colin

anonymous 27 March, 2013 16:21

I once dropped my phone down the loo as I was flushing it. Fished it out of the waste pipe and put it in a bowl of rice for a couple of days. Managed to get it to work but clearly wasn't going to put it to my ear anymore...
Just dropped my s3 today for the millionth time and cracked the screen. Hooray for insurance. I shouldn't be allowed a phone to be honest. But you can't ring for a pizza with a pile of bubble wrap.

anonymous 22 April, 2013 04:42

I own a 22 months-old Motorola Defy. While I'll agree it's HEAVILY outdated regarding tech specs, it has survived several drops, most of them unintentional (and some others intentional, in order to prove its sturdiness to skeptics).Screen has only one minimal scratch, which honestly I don't know how came to be. I continuously run it under tap water to cleanse the greasy screen (can you do that with your fancy iPhone? or any Galaxy phone for that matter), and it doesn't have the slightest water damage signal inside. I love this phone, it's REALLY indestructible. And I'm extremely disappointed that I can't upgrade my phone without sacrificing peace of mind; I buy a phone to be in touch with the world, not to babysit a gadget...