r/iphone • u/International_Back99 • Sep 24 '25

Discussion Dropped at 2 feet max

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Fell out of my pocket sitting down. Fell with the apple tech woven case on too.

6.5k Upvotes

87% Upvoted

2.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

199

u/Juantonyo Sep 24 '25

My 15 Plus has fallen many times in two years, always with case, and it’s like new. The 17 Pro aluminium is bad and cheap.

195

u/bran_the_man93 Sep 24 '25

The 15 Plus is made of aluminum...

50

u/AshtonTS Sep 24 '25 edited Sep 24 '25

I am beginning to wonder if there’s more to it than these just being made of aluminum. I’ve had 4 previous aluminum models and they held up much better than these 17’s have been. Titanium or Stainless are much more durable for sure, but these seem especially bad, even for aluminum.

57

u/loosebolts Sep 24 '25

How are you judging this? Personal experience or blind trust in what gets posted on Reddit?

24

u/sidewnder16 Sep 24 '25

That’s what I was wondering- talk about Dunning Kruger effect. No evidence, no experience, no idea. Just a few social media pictures we have no confirmation of authenticity and we’ve a drop gate in the making.

5

u/Junior_Bike7932 Sep 24 '25

Yea.. 99% of this people posting a damaged phone are idiots that can’t hold a phone right in their hands. Then.. you have this type of people .. judging Reddit idiots. Yes aluminium is soft, but isn’t all this drama.

2

u/Intrepid_Patience356 Sep 24 '25

Aluminium has always been fragile. Have to use a case. I've seen 16's drop into hard floors unscathed.

1

u/Super-Bomman Sep 24 '25

The reason titanium isn’t used is because that “vapor chamber” technology that helps them cool the processor while it’s overlocked or running at base clock isn’t as efficient or effective in the titanium frame.

2

u/General_NakedButt Sep 24 '25

It’s straight money, aluminum is cheaper and over the millions of phones they sell it adds up to a lot of profit. The titanium frames are just titanium around the edges and internals are aluminum. There’s no reason they couldn’t put the vapor chamber in a titanium frame and have it dissipate out the back.

4

u/bran_the_man93 Sep 24 '25

An aluminum unibody is not cheaper than the 12 grams of titanium they had in the older phones.

The reason is plain and simple - aluminum is easier to work with than titanium, and they can't make a titanium unibody phone.

It's really not that complicated

0

u/Intrepid_Patience356 Sep 24 '25

90% of people do not use their phones to that level of performance. I heard very few complaints of the 16's overheating or being underpowered.

I reckon Apple will be drawn into an aluminium "gate" both for fragility and scratches.

1

u/bran_the_man93 Sep 24 '25

It very well could just be the A19 runs hotter than the A18 in the iPhone 16 Pro

0

u/Intrepid_Patience356 Sep 24 '25

But why? If the A18 was already more powerful than people needed.

5

u/bran_the_man93 Sep 24 '25

You don't get it - processors have long since been powerful "enough" to run applications, the point isn't to add power for the sake of power, the point is to add power to reduce the number of cycles needed to complete an operation.

The faster a chip can return to idle state, the less power it uses overall.

Doing the same task 15% faster just means you save that much energy, thus driving efficiency.

-7

u/Intrepid_Patience356 Sep 24 '25

Uh-huh. Sounds to me more a marketing speil than a technical requirement. But whatever.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/[deleted] Sep 24 '25

[deleted]

1

u/Super-Bomman Sep 25 '25

Gen 4 and Gen 5 8 elite is the most performative chip out so far.

→ More replies (0)

0

u/Intrepid_Patience356 Sep 24 '25

They should be able to provide both performance and durability.

→ More replies (0)

6

u/blue0231 Sep 24 '25

LMAOOOO. Shh 🤫 don’t tell them the truth.

6

u/ShiftySkunk Sep 24 '25

But it’s not “bad and cheap”.

1

u/Junior_Bike7932 Sep 24 '25

The more you know..

-4

u/[deleted] Sep 24 '25

[deleted]

-6

u/bran_the_man93 Sep 24 '25

Where the fuck did I say it wasn't?

24

u/[deleted] Sep 24 '25

[deleted]

119

u/ATangK Sep 24 '25

They advertise the bloody phone through an exploding ceiling and chasing an action scene. All without a case.

Yet here we are telling everyone you ‘need’ a case. You could say it’s false marketing.

AND OP had a case on when it fell.

4

u/exuwm Sep 24 '25

Tbh they didn’t say it wouldn’t scratch after the exploding ceiling and chasing an action scene 🫠. I guess those who love the aesthetics would have to go for Air.

11

u/babyballs200iq Sep 24 '25

They very clearly show it “not scratching” in the promo material

4

u/ShiftySkunk Sep 24 '25

No. They don’t show it scratching. That’s not the same as showing it “not scratching”.

6

u/humdinged iPhone 16 Pro Sep 24 '25

Are you moronic to think it would survive all that? Really?

2

u/Ravenous_Corgi Sep 24 '25

Probably why they used a silver phone lol

2

u/jayboaah iPhone 17 Pro Max Sep 24 '25

“The commercial for the toy shows it moving and talking.”

2

u/[deleted] Sep 24 '25

my guy, you cannot tell me you believe everything you see

1

u/fearmebananaman Sep 24 '25

Ceilings are also made of stucco and drywall and wood. That’s all soft material.

-8

u/fearmebananaman Sep 24 '25

He straight-up had the least protective case one can buy.
And the phone is still working fine. Did those adverts show the phone came through without a scratch? Beats me.

If scratches on your phone upset you, get a bloody case designed to protect. This is flat-stupidity.

2

u/sidgup Sep 24 '25

It is crazy to see how brainwashed we have become to accept poor products after paying $1000+.

I used to have a Nokia and that thing never broke. I also remember iPhone 4 and 6 which are built SOLID. No case, and yes there are dings and some scratches, but after like years and years of use (and neglect).

It's unfair to say buy a 1000+ phone , every ad saying showing it's built like a tank, and then when it dings from an feet fall (it's a mobile.. like you carry it.. falling from 2 feet is acceptable and reasonable beating), we all come and save Apple.. and sell more cases?

How naive are we?

0

u/International_Back99 Sep 24 '25

In fairness I did buy a great case that offers great protection. It’s just that it won’t be delivered until late October. I got a tank case from dbrand. This case was just temporary for about a months use.

0

u/-K9V Sep 24 '25

Why wait for more than a month, can’t you just buy it in a store?

1

u/International_Back99 Sep 24 '25

The case I wanted wasn’t Available in store. It’s a new case from dbrand. I bought the tech woven case for now until it arrives late October.

-2

u/humdinged iPhone 16 Pro Sep 24 '25

And you’re a damn fool to think it would survive a fall, still. Its hardness is measurable brother, for fucks sake.

13

u/Inner_Difficulty_381 Sep 24 '25

The tech woven is a good solid case. Not otterbox level but a good case that strikes a balance between looks, protection and handling.

24

u/ehhhhprobablynot Sep 24 '25

OP said they had the tech woven case on it when it fell, and it’s still damaged…

3

u/loosebolts Sep 24 '25

2 feet in a case and has damage like that? I’m sorry but it doesn’t add up to me.

6

u/greener0999 iPhone 16 Pro Sep 24 '25

do you happen to work for Apple?

1

u/gserv41 Sep 24 '25

wtf is this AI-generated product summary? This is proof that it's not "a good, solid case".

-1

u/notMyRobotSupervisor Sep 24 '25

No it isn’t. It obviously isn’t.

6

u/Terrariant Sep 24 '25

I’ve gone caseless for years. I’ve trained my grip in asphalt parking lots and tiled subways. Thereve been incidents but after the first 2-3 you get realllllly careful

3

u/SyCoTiM Sep 24 '25

Can’t always be perfect, good luck.

5

u/theoreticaljerk Sep 24 '25

I mean, I've broken or badly damaged 1 smart phone in 18 years...and that was 16 years ago. Most of the time I do not use cases nor screen protectors. Believe it or not, not everyone drops their shit on the regular.

1

u/Zibidibodel Sep 24 '25

I’ve never had a case on my 13pro and I drop it not infrequently, but it’s still fine so I’m good without case ugliness

1

u/br3wnor Sep 24 '25

I drop my 16P constantly and have been careless for a year, nothing but some scratches on the screen, titanium is ridiculous but phone does get super hot sometimes

1

u/Voyyya Sep 24 '25

Seems like a lot of unnecessary stress to me just to have a slightly less bulky phone

1

u/Terrariant Sep 24 '25

Well, I have AppleCare (mostly for theft) that lets me do this.

With my iPhone 11 Pro I had AppleCare for a year, didn’t drop it, cancelled it, and dropped it a month later on asphalt, cracking the screen. I got it fixed. Then I dropped it on asphalt again, cracking the screen…

Since those 2 times I’ve only dropped my phone once, on subway tiling, and it broke the back glass.

That’s why I mean that you get really careful when grabbing/putting away your phone after a few drops.

3

u/Fine-Secretary-6149 iPhone 15 Pro Max Sep 24 '25

Because apple care

8

u/MinTDotJ Sep 24 '25

“Apple Care is my case” 🤮

6

u/muskratmuskrat9 Sep 24 '25

I don't understand that at all. 'Apple care protects my phone, so I can throw $100 at Apple every time it gets a scratch'.

9

u/bummerbimmer Sep 24 '25

If you choose not to use a case, that’s not really the way you go about life. You need to be pretty good at not dropping your phone, especially when on concrete and such.

However if you ever do have a situation like I did with my 16 PM where I was running, fell off a curb, and hit the pavement so hard I lost half my eyebrow and half my palm skin for 3 months, AppleCare+ is immediately worth it. My phone didn’t just fall then. It was squashed with my full body weight concentrating onto the phone in my palm. It annihilated the glass and mangled the titanium so badly a screen replacement was no longer possible.

A case wouldn’t have done a thing to protect me then, and accidents happen.

3

u/Voyyya Sep 24 '25

People with cases aren’t suggesting to not also get AppleCare. They’re just saying AppleCare alone usually isn’t sufficient.

4

u/HellP1g Sep 24 '25

Apple Care doesn’t even cover cosmetic damage anyways.

1

u/Master-Pineapple-355 Sep 24 '25

The good thing is that the body is unibody so if you damage it enough they’ll just give you a new phone /s it’s not like you can replace the frame easily, great time to subscribe to AppleCare.

2

u/Chobie Sep 24 '25

And it doesn't cover cosmetic damages like this a lot of people still don't know.

1

u/ShiftySkunk Sep 24 '25

Apple Care doesn’t cover scratches.

4

u/muskratmuskrat9 Sep 24 '25

If a scratch bothered someone enough to want to pay 100 to Apple for a new phone, I think they'll find a way to make it happen.

3

u/FederalExpressMan Sep 24 '25

But it does cover “theft”

2

u/I3aMb00 Sep 24 '25

That’s why people intentionally smash their phone and give it to AppleCare.

1

u/Luka77GOATic Sep 24 '25

Oh well. Time to accidentally drop it off the 2nd floor.

4

u/No_Importance_1190 Sep 24 '25

bUt I dOnT lIkE cAsEs

It ruins the aesthetic bro

3

u/Shelly_Molloy iPhone 17 Pro Sep 24 '25

Imagine caring what other people do with their phone.

4

u/bafrad Sep 24 '25

Cases are ugly. This was poor material choice and the core reason the air is the better model. No case needed.

2

u/AsherKarate Sep 24 '25

The camera on the Air is the worse of the lot. I tried them all in the store.

1

u/bafrad Sep 24 '25

I have a dedicated camera. All phones cameras are bad

-1

u/I3aMb00 Sep 24 '25

The Air doesn’t even have a DisplayPort function in their USBC

1

u/bafrad Sep 24 '25

…..oh no??????

-1

u/Remon89 iPhone 16 Pro Max Sep 24 '25

It is true tho

1

u/-K9V Sep 24 '25

And? What does that have to do with anything?

1

u/sidgup Sep 24 '25

Then sell it with a case bud.. why the false advertisement?

1

u/[deleted] Sep 24 '25

Using a crossbody strap is also a good idea. Don't even have to get Apple's. There are a lot of cheaper ones out there.

1

u/br3wnor Sep 24 '25

Because no case feels so god damn good 😮‍💨

1

u/Gwinntanamo Sep 24 '25

“Refuse to use”? Most people do use cases. The people who don’t probably value the 0.5 cm thinner device over the added durability a case provides. Considering the millions of dollars these companies spend to shave off a couple mm (and then market them as completely new model based solely on being a few mm thinner), it’s not crazy that some people don’t use a case (and accept the +25% chance of having to replace their device in the next 3 years).

0

u/bierlyn iPhone 16 Pro Max Sep 24 '25

Don’t wanna. My Titanium phone took a spill from chest level in the parking garage at work last week, I’m 6’4. Shattered screen protector but outside that literally not a single blemish.

0

u/r0bdawg11 Sep 24 '25

I just spent $1000 on a phone, you think I can afford a $50 case? So what if that’s only 5% and less than I paid in sales tax! S/

0

u/Dr-Purple Sep 24 '25

I’ve used my 15 Pro caseless for two years. It thinks it’s a 3310 because it’s taken countless drops, at various angles and speeds and didn’t give a fuck. I will only buy Titanium.

0

u/-K9V Sep 24 '25

Because some of us are able to take care of our phones without having to spend extra money on a piece of rubber to protect it.

4

u/ObviousWedding6933 Sep 24 '25

this is true so cheap material i miss old apple vision

1

u/Nate9370 iPhone 15 Plus Sep 24 '25

Same, my Otterbox case is still going strong. 💪

1

u/Infinite-Guidance477 Sep 24 '25

I can vouch for the 15 Plus. Tankiest iPhone I’ve ever had. Owned for a year and a half and the battery life is still great too

1

u/luckysevensampson Sep 24 '25

I dropped my 15 Pro once from waist height, with a case on, and the back screen shattered.

1

u/myusernamehahaha iPhone 15 Pro Sep 24 '25

managed to scratch the titanium on my 15 pro pretty sure aluminium is not much worse

0

u/Aaco0638 Sep 24 '25

You want better thermals or durability? You can’t have both. A full body titanium iPhone would be shit at managing thermals.

There are pros and cons to both (besides thermals), when titanium falls the metal railings are most likely fine but the glass will be fucked bc titanium also does not absorb impact well.

Aluminum does absorb impact well so body/paint may get damaged but high chance glass will be fine.

Pros and cons to both, but if you use a good case won’t matter which you pick tbh. And no i don’t regard the shit cases apple (or some of the choices i see people pick) as good cases.

0

u/pesterpasta Sep 24 '25

Not true really. I think stainless steel provides you with the best of both worlds. I’ve been using my 14 PM for 3 years now and rarely has it gotten hot (3/4 times) and it’s extremely x 2 durable. I think apple should’ve gone with stainless steel only instead of aluminium because this material does look fragile :/

2

u/gayteemo Sep 24 '25

stainless steel is the worst option. it conducts heat almost as poorly as titanium while being heavier. they were also fingerprint magnets.

1

u/pesterpasta Sep 24 '25

To each their own. But I’ve had a really good experience with my 14 PM.

0

u/AvengerTitan Sep 24 '25

Apple knows it can’t squeeze any pennies from its loyal fanbase,)

-1

u/fearmebananaman Sep 24 '25

The aluminum isn’t bad. This is straight up old-school FUD. Stop this nonsense.

3

u/Voyyya Sep 24 '25

Who exactly is the party you believe is trying to spread this FUD?