Apple just launched the iPhone SE 3. It foregoes a crucial break protection from the iPhone 13. So how does it fare in the drop test?
Apple devices are actually known for their very good workmanship and premium materials. The iPhone SE 3 that has just been released costs 519 euros and consists largely of tempered glass. Compared to the flagships presented in autumn, the iPhone 13 series, Apple does without the newer and better glass called “Ceramic Shield” on the front of the SE 3. This technology has been used since the iPhone 12 and is said to be even more robust than the previously known Gorilla Glass.
The iPhone SE 3 does not use Gorilla Glass, but Apple still calls it the toughest of all smartphones. The US company “Allstate Protection Plans” is now testing this. They dropped the test models on the display, back and side. Each time from a height of around 1.83 meters.
iPhone SE 3 convinces when it falls onto the display
The fall onto the display was particularly interesting. After all, Apple does without the Ceramic Shield on the front of the iPhone SE 3 and uses a different, very hard glass instead. Despite the lack of supposedly better glass, the SE 3 performs just as well as the iPhone 12 and 13. All models only had minor scratches and no broken displays.
Back does not withstand falls
Although no Ceramic Shield is used on the back, just like the iPhone 13, the iPhone SE 3 does worse here. The first fall on the back of the glass broke. “Allstate Protection Plans” explains this with the structure of the SE model. This looks like the iPhone 8 and accordingly doesn’t have the flat aluminum sides of the 13 series. This should have a negative effect on the stability of the back.
Pages themselves are stable
Even if the sides supposedly make the back less robust, they are quite stable themselves, as the fall test shows. The rounded sides of the iPhone SE 3 are in no way inferior to the flat sides of the iPhone 13 and survive the fall with minor scratches.
Also interesting: what happens if you drop an iPhone 13 on the floor?
Conclusion: iPhone SE 3 surprises in the fall test
Apparently Apple didn’t promise too much with the iPhone SE 3 and the glass is really extremely hard. The only weakness seems to lie in the old construction. All in all, a surprisingly positive result.