GALAXY S 4 fragility causes concern amongst droptesters

This week the Samsung GALAXY S 4 has appeared in two separate drop test examinations in which its ability to withstand day-to-day accidents has been called into question. While the Samsung lineup of Galaxy-branded smartphones and tablets has never really been known for its ruggedness specifically, this particular release appears to finding a special place in the books of groups like SquareTrade and TechSmartt, both of them known for their fragility tests of smart devices.

While the Samsung GALAXY S 4 brings a reinforced glass face with rounded corners and a flat face, its back casing and rim are made of hard plastic. In the feature video you're about to see coming from TechSmartt, the GALAXY S 4 is compared to the iPhone 5 for it's ability to withstand basic drops. You'll see the GALAXY S 4's corner suffering some damage through both plastic and glass from a drop a bit higher than 7 feet.

Meanwhile a much more involved set of tests was run by SquareTrade, a company that considers a variety of factors in their breakability tests. Front and back panel design, materials, size, weight, friction quotient, edge construction, and more are considered in SquareTrade's rankings for device breakability. SquareTrade did series of tests and comparisons between the GALAXY S 4, the Galaxy S III, and the iPhone 5, noting the iPhone to have the least breakable hardware of the bunch.

"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 effect how snugly smartphones fit in pant and jeans pockets. The likelihood of damage due to these common scenarios has never been higher." – Ty Shay, SquareTrade CMO

According to SquareTrade, the iPhone 5 ranked a 5 (halfway between least breakable at 1 and most breakable at 10) due mostly to its palm-sized body, able to be gripped easier than either Samsung device. The GALAXY S 4 ranked a 7, SquareTrade mentioning its larger body and slippery back panel reducing grip-ability significantly. One must remember also that the Samsung Galaxy Note is larger than the GALAXY S 4, and the Galaxy Note II is larger yet.