In the next six months, one of every eight Samsung Galaxy S4 devices sold will be broken by the owner thanks to a drop, dunk in a toilet or worse.
According to a new set of data out from SquareTrade, Android owners need to be more concerned with accidental damage than from someone who will steal their new Galaxy S4. The company claims Android smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S4 are 13 times more likely to suffer from water damages, drops and cracked screens than a loss or theft.
This is an important statistic to keep in mind as the company claims one in five Americans plan to buy the Samsung Galaxy S4 and combined Americans spent $7.2 billion on damaged Android phones in the last six years.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 may not be able to survive drops any better than the Galaxy S3.
We’ve already seen how the Samsung Galaxy S4 can survive knives keys and coins, but we have yet to see how the plastic design and Gorilla Glass 3 cover can withstand a fall.
Samsung skipped over a metal design like the HTC One, using a stronger lighter plastic than the Galaxy S3 for the new flagship phone. This plastic back may scuff when dropped, but unlike metal, users can purchase a replacement back for the smartphone.
Unlike the Sony Xperia Z, the Galaxy S4 is not waterproof and it will likely take time for the Samsung Galaxy S4 waterproof cases to arrive. A year after the launch of the Galaxy S3 we are still waiting for the LifeProof Galaxy S3 case to hit the market.
We are already seeing a number fo Samsung Galaxy S4 cases designed to deliver protection from drops, including the official Samsung Galaxy S4 Protective case and the Samsung Galaxy S4 Otterbox Defender, but many users are turning to warranties to protect their Android phone.
SquareTrade’s in house data suggests Samsung users are 20% more likely to buy insurance of some kind for their smartphone or tablet than an iPhone owner.
SquareTrade sells smartphone and tablet extended warranties which cover accidental damage. The company is currently running a special on the Samsung Galaxy S4 warranty, offering two years of accidental damage protection for $99 with a $99 deductible on any claims. This does not include loss or theft of the phone like some services provided by carriers or smartphone insurance sold by other parties.
“13 times more likely” than what? An iPhone? a Windows phone? All other phone mobile OS put together? That study would be interesting to see. Obviously there are more Android phones than other varieties, so it makes sense there is more damage and theft occurring. I would like to see Damage/Theft between Android brands, i.e…Samsung vs HTC
“13 times more likely to suffer (damage)… than a loss or theft”.
finish reading the sentance, 13 times more likely to suffer damage from drops or liquid than lost or stolen
This research sponsored by the folks you can buy insurance from.
Exactly the type of Article an Apple fanboy would crank out.
If you aren’t being paid by Apple, Mr. Smith, that is sad.
That is called stastistics, what are the figures on how many iphones break a year? Or how many HTC Ones? Nokias? Droid Razors?
What a TOOL ^_^
Give me a break .
Obviously mad because you picked the losing horse.
I have 3 buddies that work at different carrier stores: One Verizon, 1 Sprint, and One for ATT. After I read your comment I did some research and asked some people I know (A bit confusing to them I’m sure) I asked 4 people that had iphone 5s and only 1 had insurance. Asked a few others that are hardcore android fans and all 7 had insurance on them. I myself have insurance on my new s4 and have had insurance through my carrier through every phone I’ve ever had which is about 6 now? Asked my buddy who works at Verizon and he said it’s a really rare day that they have someone bring a phone in that doesn’t have insurance through verizon or Asurion which is the largest cellphone insurance carrier in the us. Buddy at Sprint says they have more people bringing in Android based phones than anything else and the same story with them about it being rare that someone doesn’t have insurance on their products. Here’s the thing though, I had an iphone for work that I dropped a few times and nothing terrible happened to it. I accidently dropped an HTC Evo 3d and a Samsung galaxy 3 and both of them broke to the point of having to have a replacement. My sister dropped her phone she traded her Iphone in for, a new nexus and in a matter of a week the screen was broken by setting it down too hard but her iphone had survived hell and back. There are a lot of factors here so lets not jump to conclusions yeah?
Just bought my Galaxy Siii 4 days ago. dropped in grass and shatterred the entire screen. Can’t use it, verizon wireless won’t take it back, samsung will repair it for another 150 bucks. will not warrantee it. I won’t buy another one. dropped my old flip phone a million times. still works. Maybe I will try a droid. Seriously, Samsung. A hand held device has to be able to withstand some clumsy clientelle in this very competive market. Back to the flip phone for now, Hope the Samsung 4 is better protected. What’s the sense of a slimline phone, razor thin and sleek design if you have to put a bulky protective cover on it so it doesn’t break in 4 days?
Wow, you must be important since you picked up your S4 already and Verizon isn’t even selling the S4 til the end of May . . . something seems fishy Sharon. . . .
Marty, he did not, unlike you, travel through time. Read his sentence. Galaxy Siii. I count Three I’s.
Marty, she Sharon said the Galaxy SIII (3), not 4.
Sharon, actually $150 to repair the screen isn’t bad. The Square Trade warranty is $99 and a $100 deductible. So you’re actually $50 ahead. I would shop around and see who else can repair it cheaper. I bet you can get it done for about $100. If you’re that unhappy with the phone, someone will buy it off you for $200-300 you should be able to break even. I assume you didn’t pay $199 for the SIII??
Galaxy S4 hasn’t even come out for Verizon yet dumb ass
You must have some freak grass, I just dropped mine in a home depot on concrete, the back fell off, it popped back on, no scratches, no dings, this is not the first time I have dropped it either. My phone slides off my keyboard a lot, falls on the floor, it’s never taken damage so far.
My S and S2 also took no damage of all the times they fell, I don’t even bother getting cases for my newer phones anymore.
If somehow it breaks, well it breaks, I will buy another based on past experience, my sister has broken two iphone screens.
Hahahahahaha, Marty and Greg! Hahaha, how retarded can you be?
ill repair you screen for $75 if you local. if not it will cost another $25. Samsung is expensive place to send for repairs i can replace is will gorilla glass 3 or if you want to keep the same gorilla glass 2. i can do it for $50 instead. most like the upgrade. MisterFixIT@yahoo.com
because of the main flaw on its design: its wider than the average palm of your hands… so normally, it would be hard to hold on to, and will definitely be dropped somehow….
they are smart to know this which explains why they made it that way.
you suckers!
i dropped a phone once in 8 years.have people become so dumb,how many times have you dropped your new born baby?the hospitals must be full of babies with cracked heads.
iPhones have AppleCare. You wouldn’t need to get insurance from your mobile carrier — and that’s why you don’t see those people in the store. They are too busy standing in line at their nearest Apple Store or mailing their phone back in for repairs.