If you're torn between buying a new iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy handset, this study might sway you. It says the iPhone is the most reliable mobile money can buy.
Not only that, it's almost three times more reliable than Samsung's Galaxy handsets, which came in second place, five times more reliable than Nokia's Lumia range, and 25 times more than Motorola's Droid range.
Maybe an iPhone is worth the extra cash after all.
The screwdriver-wielders over at FixYa compared 722,558 problems its customers were having with their handsets. Using market share data from StatCounter, it gave each manufacturer a reliability score -- the fewer the problems relative to market share, the higher the score.
Apple came top with a score of 3.47, Samsung second with 1.21, Nokia third with 0.68, and Motorola fourth with 0.13.
Battery life is the main complaint from iPhone owners, which doesn't surprise me, especially as iOS 6.1 sapped the life of many mobiles. Those poor Motorola customers are suffering issues with the touchscreen, speaker and camera, and all the preinstalled bloatware that they can't get rid of. The microphone and speaker are bugbears of Samsung's customers, while Nokia's range has slower load times and fewer apps due to Windows Phone 8's limited selection.
I'm quite surprised at the results, seeing as the iPhone 5 hasn't been without its problems. Customers complained the device was easy to scratch, and the camera was adding a strange purple glow to snaps. Recently, a quarter of all iPhones were said to have borked screens, too.
I suppose components like the speaker and screen are more important than ever, seeing as if you're buying an Android phone, there won't be much difference in the software.
The Galaxy S4 -- set to be revealed next month -- is said to have an unbreakable screen made of plastic substrate to combat cracks and scratches.
Have you had any issues with your smart phone? What do you think of manufacturers issuing software patches to fix glitches, rather than making sure it works in the first place? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 42
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Josh Walker 25 February, 2013 12:03
Tech Vlog - Apple iWatch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc5aigHNfmo
Damien2501 25 February, 2013 12:05
They compared the iPhone 4, 4S & 5 with the Samsung Galaxy S series, Galaxy Note series & Galaxy Ace Series and lots of other Samsung Galaxy's?? Seem like a legit study.
anonymous 25 February, 2013 12:23
presumably that doesn't take into account the thousands of people out there with smashed iphone screens which shatter if you drop them more than an inch
Bassam Al-Mawry 25 February, 2013 12:36
They used market share data.... Most iphone owners go direct to apple when they have any slight problems with their iPhones... Apple doesn't share that data, and therefore this study is missing a big chunk of data. This study is not valid and was a waste of time and effort that compared apples with pears.
An iPhone owner.
anonymous 25 February, 2013 13:00
This survey is based on manufacturer market share as a whole, regardless of the handset model or OS:
http://gs.statcounter.com/#mobile_vendor-ww-monthly-201201-201301
This article and FixYa then relates the stats to specific models. Well done guys, great work!
anonymous 25 February, 2013 15:10
What's the definition of 'reliability' in this study?
anonymous 25 February, 2013 15:28
the iphone uses metal and glass so Its the best because samsung use plastic and paper on there phones because they are cheap rubbish.
also the iphone is handmade in the usa so is quality but samsung is made by a machine in austrailia so isn't as strong.
also apple phones have intel processors in and samsung have cheap amd rubbish in so are slow.
fact for you - the iphone 1 is faster than the newest samsung galaxy s3
I dont know why people buy cheap austrailian rubbish
Mark Anderson 25 February, 2013 15:36
"also the iphone is handmade in the usa"
Trolling or insane? You, the jury, must decide.
Matt Winston. 25 February, 2013 15:44
Reliability?? I simply refuse to buy a phone that doesn't have a removable battery - Whether its an iPhone or an Android phone.
Removable Battery.
Paul Clarke 25 February, 2013 16:09
iPhone made in the USA - really?? not made in China? by Foxconn where the labour is nice and cheap
anonymous 25 February, 2013 16:34
Removable battery? What's that got to do with reliability?
I accept that a deteriorating battery is something that makes a phone unreliable, but all a removable one means is that you can replace it yourself rather than have to send it away.
A failing battery is a failing battery. Doesn't matter if it's removable or fixed.
anonymous 25 February, 2013 16:46
no phone has a removable battery do it? like one that uses AA batteries or suttin. that has neva happened.
Damien2701 25 February, 2013 16:55
Got a 4s at launch, still in perfect condition. I look after my phone though and think that's the main factor in a phone lasting and being reliable
anonymous 25 February, 2013 17:04
Drop an iPhone 4 or 4S and it's likely one of the glass panels (screen or back) may break.
But it's repairable and there are ample ways to get it fixed.
Drop a Nexus 4 and it is also likely to have a broken screen or back panel, except there are no repair options and never likely to be.
Drop a Galaxy S3 and it will smash to bits.
James Good 25 February, 2013 17:47
I have dropped many iPhone on many surfaces many times and I have never had a cracked screen, and that is without any kind of case.
Matt Winston. 25 February, 2013 18:08
@ anonymous 16:34 You and I, the commenters above and FixYa have very different definitions of 'reliable'. I can use my phone to the maximum in the morning, afternoon and evening without worrying about battery life because I got a spare battery for my phone in my jacket. Some people may be happy not using their phone for half their day or charging their phones midday - I will not compromise.
Oh look, my battery is down to 5% because I was catching up on EastEnders this morning but I got to make an important call hmm thank God/Samsung for making brilliant phones with removable batterys... Reliable. Phones with removable battery. Are.
ViewRoyal 25 February, 2013 18:09
@anonymous: "presumably that doesn't take into account the thousands of people out there with smashed iphone screens which shatter if you drop them more than an inch"
Mr. anonymous, I think you are talking about other phones (like Samsung's GS3) shattering... not the iPhone 5.
You need to watch this video of a drop test done by AndroidAuthority:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M5q5TRuAsY
anonymous 25 February, 2013 18:25
@anonymous go troll your mother see if she finds it funny!
anonymous 25 February, 2013 18:41
@anonymous 17:04 NO! You say it like it's facts when it simply is not. Just wondering how much would it cost to fix an iphingy with a cracked screen? lol
@ ViewRoyal how stupid! Drop tests are great but they don't mean s@#t you are always going to get different results, so your point s irrelevant.
anonymous 25 February, 2013 18:50
everyone knows nokia 3310 is the most reliable handset ever
Goldsmith 25 February, 2013 19:19
Very Good article , totally agree
The fact is the iPhone is the most reliable in terms of software and hardware.
My iPhone 4 is almost 3 years old and functions just like new.
Steve Jobs said in the introduction of the iPhone in 2007, the iOS was 5 years ahead of any mobile software. Until now Android and others still trying to catch up
I laso have Galaxy Note 10.1 and the original iPad,
Bassam Al-Mawry 25 February, 2013 19:45
anonymous 13:00 sounds like someone who works for FixYa or cnet
anonymous 25 February, 2013 19:50
You get what you pay for. Always.
KashAli 25 February, 2013 20:12
You can trust apple with security: smooth running software: easy to use and regular updates.
anonymous 25 February, 2013 20:19
@anonymous 19:50 yes with Apple you pay for a rip off. Always
anonymous 25 February, 2013 20:26
You got to hand it to CNET, they're certainly fighting to the death with Apple. They can't really make the "iPhone is better" argument any more without looking like fool so this is all they have left.
Dubious claims based on dubious statistic. A joke!
anonymous 25 February, 2013 20:43
I completed a survey for Nokia and said that their lack of connectivity to PC's and Outlook in particular was a serious negative. They rejected my comment as not valid.
I also said the 820 wasa fairly good email device but pretty naff phone.
anonymous 25 February, 2013 21:30
I work in a large European mobile company. As staff, we all use refurbished handsets, ones which have gone wrong and been repaired. I hadn't really noticed until a supplier was on site and mentioned it, but we all have iPhones. There is the odd samsung, but hardly any blackberries at all. Can't really talk about Motorola, as we rarely buy them in Europe
anonymous 25 February, 2013 22:31
apple invented the smartphone so they have the technology to build the best handsets. other companies like sony are just chasing them and making poor quality stuff because they have not got as advanced technology so they can catch up with apple but its been a long time and the iphone is still the best piece of technology ever invented. im not surprised that it was 100% proven that the iphone is the most reliable because apple are the best at hardware (like i proved at the beginning of what i said) and the best operating system because its fast and works portrait and landscape. I dont have either phone and have never used either an iphone or an android phone so I am not biased and am qualified to say which one is the best and obviously its the iphone.
Damien2501 25 February, 2013 22:59
@anonymous 25 February, 2013 22:31 I 100% agree with you.
anonymous 25 February, 2013 23:26
@anonymous 25 February 22:31 Obviously thats just your opinion.
anonymous 26 February, 2013 00:17
Anonymous @1950
Ever heard or Fernando Torres?
Rich in Brum
P.S. completely agree with the Nokia 3310 comment. Replaceable battery and works with ALL panels AND the keypad smashed off.
Rokhead 26 February, 2013 09:58
Just from my experience.....my wifes first iphone 3g, dropped 2 feet onto ground and completely sh*t itself, had to be replaced, lost all data and photos etc. Second Iphone 3G worked ok but after about a year home button was malfunctioning and phone was soooo slow. Next was her Iphone 4, brand new had issues with the mic, nobody could hear a word she was saying, that was replaced, she then dropped that one and broke the rear glass. Her latest iphone 4 is still going ok, but is super slow on many applications. Also have had numerous friends with dodgy home buttons, slow freezing phones and cracked screens?backs. I have had a Samsung i8910 hd, Samsung Gs2 and now a note 2 and none of them have ever skipped a beat, never been in for repair and been completely reliable. anyhow...thats from my personal experience.
anonymous 26 February, 2013 10:34
Blackberry invented the Smartphone before the iPhone. I think someone is getting there timelines mixed up. Steve Jobs brought into the Smartphone the ability to play music and use apps. The reason this all worked so well is of what Apple already had (ie, iTunes).
With regards to iPhones reliability, yes they are reliable. But the software is a little boring and iOS 6 is quite bugger and before anyone says about as bugged as Android :).
marcus_h 26 February, 2013 13:47
My current and last Nokia both had problems, whereas my other half's iPhones 3GS has been great over almost 5 years.
anonymous 28 February, 2013 09:11
I've had my iPhone 3G for a few years. No case. I use it constantly at work in a veterinary ER/ICU. No trouble with battery life, no breaks or scratches. It freezes once in a blue moon, but is fine with a power down & restart. I can't compare it to any other smart phones, because it's the only one I've ever had.
smartdave 1 March, 2013 16:20
You do read a lot of rubbish.
A) Apple have not invented anything in 20 years! The Ipad is a copy of a tablet used in a Star Trek film from the 1990's. Did Gene Roddenbury invent the tablet? I don't know.
Samsung is a Korean company, and so the Galaxy is made in Korea, not "austrailia" (not even Australia)
70% of the iphone is made by Samsung in Korea. So the iphone is made in Korea. I think the badge is made in the USA, though maybe that is imported from Taiwan!
Peter Thompson 1 March, 2013 17:59
@anonymous 22:31 - Apple did not invent the smart phone they simply made the most popular one. Blackberry, While I'm not a fan, has been around far longer than the iPhone.
I also disagree that other manufacturers are making sub par phones. If anything it feels like Apple has went from a company inventing to a company simply copying. What did the iPhone 5 bring that was so brand new and lacking in the other phones?
Lucas Baker 2 March, 2013 15:25
Cnet just admit it, Samsungs are better. This story is just a desperate attempt to make people think the iPhone is better. Look at the difference between the 4s and the 5 apart from the screen size they're almost exactly the same. The iPhone has a dual-core processor still, come on its like
they're seventh iPhone. The Galaxy range went Single, Dual and Quad so it only took them three phones to get to quad.
anonymous 2 March, 2013 19:01
@Lucas - Computer could have 12 cores and still not be as fast as dual core if it is badly programmed. iPhones use GPU to maintain usage speed (which is more efficient)
But cnet is just showing a stat from another source.
I find cnet has little bias towards any brand, but individuals read into things from the view of their own agenda.
anonymous 19 March, 2013 19:34
The first time i've commented on a story purely because the writer has no idea what there talking about when they say
"What do you think of manufacturers issuing software patches to fix glitches, rather than making sure it works in the first place?"
Clearly Joe Svetlik you've never actually engineered software, there are always going to be bugs and glitches which only become known after continuous usage. Whilst its true that you can eliminate bugs through testing , you can not eliminate all of them, hence why its important that when bugs become known they file bug reports. Please think before you write such idiotic things
anonymous 26 March, 2013 10:07
I had issues with my S2. But it was a common issue where if you had a case on the microphone would echo in a call. But its durability was epic. Its been dropped on tile, wood, glass all from various hights and not a dent or chip is on the body. Imust agree however after buying the S3 it is alot more fragile compared to the S2.