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Samsung Galaxy S4: 1 in 8 Will Break in Six Months

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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.

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.

 

50 Comments

50 Comments

  1. mk

    04/23/2013 at 8:25 am

    “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

    • tp

      04/23/2013 at 8:38 am

      “13 times more likely to suffer (damage)… than a loss or theft”.

    • SLC

      05/31/2013 at 2:37 pm

      The article says: “…13 times more likely to suffer from water damages, drops and cracked screens than a loss or theft.”

      It is a comparison of the modes of loss (accident vs. theft), not a comparison between the S4 and other brand/type/class of mobile phone.

    • iphone

      06/11/2013 at 2:03 am

      13 times more likely than any other phone…

  2. fmftint

    04/23/2013 at 8:38 am

    finish reading the sentance, 13 times more likely to suffer damage from drops or liquid than lost or stolen

  3. [email protected]

    04/23/2013 at 3:36 pm

    This research sponsored by the folks you can buy insurance from.

  4. Jizz

    04/23/2013 at 8:25 pm

    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.

    • Judge and Jurry

      05/09/2013 at 10:48 pm

      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?

    • SLC

      05/31/2013 at 2:57 pm

      One might infer the iPhone has a greater probability of loss via accident damage then via theft or loss (i.e. misplacement?) too, but the ratio may less than 13:1 *if* one or more) of the following are true:
      1. iPhones (only 5’s? 4S’s & 4’s too?) are more attractive to steal that the S4 (S3’s too?)
      2. iPhones (or iPhones plus their ubiquitous cases/shells) are more rugged/robust.
      3. iPhone users are more likely to use protective cases on their phones than S4 (and S3?) users.

      The article makes no representation as to the accident vs theft-loss ratios for iPhones, Windows phones, or other brands/models of Android phones.

    • Nonya

      06/10/2013 at 10:58 am

      This is not saying it’s more likely than iPhones. The only time iPhones were mentioned was saying people tend to buy less insurance on iPhones. Didn’t compare the phones in any way. Did you even read the article? It just used this phone as an example because it’s the latest flagship. It is based off ALL android phones and how they are more likely to break than be stolen. Please read the article before turning into a raging Samsung fanboy.

  5. Sharon McCormick

    04/24/2013 at 8:10 pm

    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?

    • Marty McFly

      04/24/2013 at 9:18 pm

      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. . . .

      • Doc Brown

        04/25/2013 at 11:48 am

        Marty, he did not, unlike you, travel through time. Read his sentence. Galaxy Siii. I count Three I’s.

      • ArgoMC

        04/26/2013 at 5:49 am

        Marty, she Sharon said the Galaxy SIII (3), not 4.

    • ArgoMC

      04/26/2013 at 5:52 am

      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??

    • Greg Smith

      04/26/2013 at 5:26 pm

      Galaxy S4 hasn’t even come out for Verizon yet dumb ass

    • James

      05/02/2013 at 5:56 pm

      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.

      • S.A

        05/09/2013 at 12:50 pm

        Hahahahahaha, Marty and Greg! Hahaha, how retarded can you be?

      • SLC

        05/31/2013 at 2:58 pm

        Or it hit a stone in the grass just wrong.

    • SLC

      05/31/2013 at 3:02 pm

      “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?”

      Ah, therein lies the quandary… go thin & sleek or go robust?

    • Tinytacohead

      07/15/2013 at 2:24 am

      LOL.. you’re comparing a flip-phone to a smartphone with a bigass screen? I agree, it shouldn’t have broken so easily, (not sure how ya managed it tbh, unless there was a rock hiding in the dirt or something), but you’d have to be a retard to expect both to be equally as durable. (btw, it is possible to get really slim phone protectors that offer a great deal of protection) As for the $150 screen replacement, I’ve not checked into such for an S3, but have seen self-replacement screen kits for the S4 @ the tune of around $35 & apparently the actual job of doing so is pretty easy. Then again, if you don’t mind simply going back to a flip after sampling all a smartphone has to offer, you probably don’t really have much use for one anyways.

  6. MisterFixIT

    04/30/2013 at 10:00 am

    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. [email protected]

  7. zorbee

    04/30/2013 at 4:02 pm

    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!

  8. Kenny Dunning

    05/14/2013 at 3:20 am

    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.

  9. Anita

    05/16/2013 at 7:15 pm

    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.

  10. mrs prince

    05/20/2013 at 9:34 pm

    Well I believe the stories my husband has gs4 dropped off bed and broke screen only had it for 4 days now I’m searching to find a replacement screen

  11. Bora

    05/21/2013 at 8:12 pm

    My Galaxy s4 screen is cracked in 3 days. I just put down to the table 200 mm away. Replacement screen costs $275. If you can get away from galaxy s4, do it. If you want to buy, ready to save your money for replacement screen. It is too easy fragile, cracked.

    I don’t think it is my physical damage. It is wrong manufactured. I don’t hate Samsung product but it puts down my strongly support for the product.

    Before I bought it with Vodafone plan, I waited for 4 months. My next phone I prefer to go with Iphone or Nokia and will dump away my galaxy s4 to the bin.

    • Tinytacohead

      07/15/2013 at 1:43 pm

      How are all you sheep getting these astronomical screen replacement prices? Buy one/do it yourself, for about $40 off Amazon, lol.

  12. Technology

    05/21/2013 at 10:20 pm

    I have never had a phone screen crack ever. I’ve always been very careful with my mobile phones.

  13. bobby

    05/24/2013 at 4:33 am

    take care of you phone and you can see how amazing a phone can last. I saw all products phone company with cracked screen, so this statistic sucks ball. This should be for all phone company since all of them are using Corning Gorilla Glass 3 anyway.

  14. Melissa

    05/26/2013 at 10:59 pm

    My screen has cracked within 10 days of getting my S4. I have never dropped or knocked it, so how would you explain that? It’s a load of bollocks. Gorilla glass seems more sh*t than normal glass if you ask me.

    • Killum Hader

      06/04/2013 at 1:02 am

      Melissa…. We’re you looking directly at the phone when this happened? Also do you have a lazy eye… The shear movement of your face must have overloaded and heated the processor to a point where the gorilla glass exploded. Hope you have square trade… Seriously screens don’t just break genius… I’ve had more brains shoot out of the the tip of my sausage and end up on my keyboard

  15. Rick Lewis

    06/01/2013 at 2:32 pm

    At the end of the day you need good phone insurance or warranty options. In my opinion esurranty.com beats squaretrade hands down. I’m sure squaretrade paid to post this, but in the end I say compare the two and see for yourself. Esurranty.com offers more including loss and theft and doesn’t have over 130 bbb complaints in a year as squaretrade does.

  16. JJ Jojo

    06/08/2013 at 8:46 am

    In other news, some people are idiots.

  17. Jon

    06/11/2013 at 1:29 am

    I just dropped my S4 on to gravel from a height of 4 feet and the screen has been damaged with spiders web scratches all over it. Luckily I have insurance, however, the excess is $50.00. I believe the S4 is not a robust phone compared to a iphone. In my view this is a definite flaw with the design of this phone.

  18. spiros aspi

    06/11/2013 at 2:28 pm

    Actualy it is pretty true…this phone is way too easy to break.I broke the lcd while walking with it in my front pocket (no skinny jeans and yes the screen faced my leg).
    I repaired it and ofcourse i paid for it (i broke the screen didnt i…?!?!).Fair to mention that the glass above the amoled didnt had a scratch
    and its not only me…there are a lot of people complaining about this on xda..
    10 days after the replacement the phone literally fell on my head while watching a video in bed.And guess what.It broke again.I dont know if im such an idiot,or realy that kind of an unlucky sucker..my previous phone was an iphone 3GS i droped it more than 20 times sat on it at least 3 times without noticing it.The worst thing was a broken glass which i replaced myself for 10 euros.
    I warned some friends who where thinking about bying this phone..Dont get me wrong its a great great phone but i dont need to pay more than 900 euros for this.Ill wait for the Xphone and stay with my 3gs

  19. Rob butler

    06/21/2013 at 7:08 pm

    Applecare offers a better warranty, 100 bones for 2 years, 2 placement phones, 50 bone each…free tech support…

  20. Kay

    06/21/2013 at 11:45 pm

    Has anyone broke their G S4’s with an otterbox defender on it?

    • Michelle D.

      07/07/2013 at 2:47 pm

      Broke G S4 with Otterbox commuter case a couple of days ago. Phone completely inoperable, Samsung no help. Going back to iPhone.

  21. CaTrina

    06/27/2013 at 10:20 pm

    I decided to upgrade to an iPhone 5 and a Lifeproof case (the case has a built in screen protector and encases the phone buy is super thin and waterproof) it also has all the protection of Otterbox Defender and Griffin Survivor again without the bulk-I’ve owned both cases). I have Verizon and I’m a 2nd grade teacher so I need all the protection available loI so I have the case AND insurance through Verizon. I passed my iPhone 4S to my husband and got the 5. Yep converted him from Android to Apple. Just easier because we have iPads etc. so NO OFFENSE TO ANDROID LOVERS…. I think any phone is vulnerable to drops and the phones keep getting thinner so just get a great case AND the insurance :)

  22. Sirluke99

    07/12/2013 at 1:10 pm

    Just got my replacement S4 and the screen broke and could not see anything and it was in a Otter box type case in my pocket. The call the unbreakable glass…SO FUNNY. I also carry a Iphone and have dropped it so much that the Otterbox case had to be replace but the Iphone keeps on ticking. I guess I will have to treat this S4 with kid glove hands….for the cost of this S4 I should be able to do anything with it.

    • Sirluke99

      07/12/2013 at 1:12 pm

      “they call this near unbreakable glass”

  23. Leefeller Guy

    07/15/2013 at 3:24 pm

    I lasted two months! My S4 has a small hairline crack, which is not really noticeable for now, it is under the gorilla glass. I am not sure how it may have happened, I was changing the shocks on my pickup and it fell out of my shirt chest pocket onto the concrete at less than a one foot drop, and it has a heavy duty hard plastic rubber edged case, I love the phone but Samsung should have made it more durable. I have insurance but since the phone still works great, unless it acquires more extensive damage I will endure the hairline crack for now. My last phone a Samsung Exhibit took quite a beating and never had anything show up on the screen, it also had a hard plastic case, evidently built stronger than the S4?

  24. chris

    07/22/2013 at 6:04 am

    Dropped my phone at 4 feet after three weeks of the day I got it. Landed on a rubber doormat, and I have an otterbox defender. Still cracked badly.
    in this case though I blame the otterbox.

  25. StormRider

    07/22/2013 at 8:28 pm

    In six months?! Try just two weeks after it was purchased! Not even a drop or water damage, my phone looks new like the day it was just bought – NOT a scratch! Now the screen stopped working. I sent it in and they wanted to charge me $200 for the repair that’s not covered by the warranty. I WILL NEVER BUY Samsung F*ING POS ELECTRONIC EVER AGAIN!!!

    • Kim Galvin

      10/07/2013 at 9:47 am

      amen!!!!!!!!!!!!they are a piece of sh**

  26. tony

    08/05/2013 at 9:03 pm

    mine broke by pushing the volume key what a pile of !!!!

    • Hah

      08/09/2013 at 1:54 am

      Rubbish. I’ve owned every Galaxy since the S was first launched, and we have 290 people in the company I work for that have the new S4, more so that have the S3, and few hangers-on that still have the S2. Not one user has complained of button quality, button breakage, etc. All broken S devices that we’ve gotten are issues with either software or screen, and given that we have a user community of around 1100 smartphone device users that I and my team support, I have a reasonably big pool actual business users (ranging from technophobe to geek) to relate.

  27. Poo

    09/23/2013 at 11:54 pm

    This is an obvious paid ad run by this josh Smith and his campaign of terror… Just look at the last link, you dumb zombies! Please, stop bitching around and make better use of your time. Thanks

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