Would you pay over £1,000 for a phone that can break in your hands?
Apple fans are now having to ask themselves that question as a review shows how fragile the new iPhone 15 Pro Max really is.
Apple’s new flagship might boast cutting edge construction with its lightweight titanium frame, but one reviewer found a serious problem with the phone.
YouTuber JerryRigEverything, whose real name is Zack Nelson, tested Apple’s most recent products to the point of destruction in his signature ‘Durability Test’.
With a slight bend from Mr Nelson the back glass of the iPhone 15 Pro Max shattered in his bare hands.
Would you pay over £1,000 for a phone that can break in your hands? Apple fans are now having to ask themselves that question as a review shows how fragile the new iPhone 15 Pro Max really is
YouTuber JerryRigEverything, whose real name is Zack Nelson, tested Apple’s most recent products to the point of destruction in his signature ‘Durability Test’
‘I’m gonna be honest,’ Mr Nelson said as the glass broke with a pop.
‘I did not see that one coming.
‘You’ve been watching me durability test smartphones for about 11 years now, and most phones do not break.
‘iPhones especially do not break, like ever.’
He added that the snap was ‘abnormally quick’ and that he was ‘kinda stunned’ by the results of his test.
The smaller iPhone 15 Pro, however, was not damaged by the same test and the back glass remained intact despite being subjected to the same level of stress.
Mr Nelson speculated that the glass may have broken so easily due to the titanium frame being far less flexible than the previous model’s aluminium and stainless steel construction.
While the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max still maintain a recycled aluminium internal frame, the outer bands are made of very strong and lightweight titanium; potentially making the phone less flexible and more likely to snap.
This same titanium band caused problems for other early reviewers as oils from users’ fingers caused the metal to change colour through routine handling.
However, Apple has confirmed that the discoloration is not permanent and can be removed with a clean damp cloth.
With a slight bend from Mr Nelson the back glass of the iPhone 15 Pro Max shattered in his bare hands
‘D*** that break was shocking’, wrote one commenter while others questioned whether the new model was worth its high price.
‘It’s seeming like this may be a year to skip,’ said one commenter on X (formerly Twitter), adding: ‘I’m seeing more and more issues arise’.
One social media user said that they had just purchased the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which costs between £1,199 and £1,599, and said this review ‘makes me even more nervous than before!’
These concerns over the iPhone’s construction come after Apple made design changes intended to make the back glass cheaper and easier to replace when broken.
In previous iPhone models the back glass was more deeply integrated with the metal casing, making it difficult and expensive to remove and replace.
According to Apple’s repair and service support page, repairing the back glass would only cost $199 (£163) for an iPhone 15 Pro Max and only $169 (£139) to repair the glass on the 15 Pro.
For comparison, the iPhone 14 costs $549 (£450) to repair -$350 (£287) more expensive than its successor.
