An LA man has filed a class action lawsuit against Apple for the fragile rear of the iPhone 4. California resident Donald LeBuhn filed the suit after his daughter dropped the phone some three feet, and shattered its rear. LeBuhn claims that his previous iPhone — a 3GS — had suffered similar drops multiple times, and had come out more or less unscathed.
LeBuhn’s salient point — and I do believe he has one — is that Apple marketed the glass as being “ultradurable” and “20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic.” Which is true in that it’s very hard to scratch, but this usually goes hand in hand with being incredibly easy to shatter.
I know of at least one of my friends who has done this, dropped their iPhone from a small height and had the rear shatter. What about our readers, has this hit you? Do you think Apple was negligent in informing people about the fragility of the device? Or should you just be more dextrous, or throw a case on the thing?
[via 9 to 5 Mac]
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So far I’m good but my friend rear screen broke from having a case on!!
People try to sue over everything, should we forget common sense. I dropped my 3G many times before I got my IP4 but one time I dropped it on the wrong spot and the glass broke. It is GLASS, GLASS is better for scratches but not breaking.
I must agree. I have had every iPhone from day 1 and this glass by far is less durable while being advertised as the beat thing since bullet proof vests. I remember the drop test videos for the 1st and 2nd gen phones on YouTube. Try that with a ip4. You will be paying for a repair on the first drop. I agree that it is glass and if you drop it you should expect it to break, but in comparison to previous versions and their current marking to the glass there is a problem. Sorry Apple
If I remember correctly, the ultra-durable glass is on the front of the device. The back glass is a cheaper, less durable glass.
I own an iPhone repair business and personally, I think the glass on the iPhone 4 IS more durable. But the thing is, the phone has less protection. In other versions of the iPhone, the front glass had a chrome bezel that was a layer of protection between the glass and the ground. But the iPhone 4 hardly has any protection at all. Just a plastic band that runs along both the screen and the back glass. I think it’s stupid to sue over. If you buy a phone made of glass and expect it not to break, your nuts. I do agree that apple made it sound like this stuff is unbreakable, but not something to sue over. This dad that is sueing sounds like a jerk. I replace the back glass for $50. And I think a lawsuit costs more than that….
Well I figured this would happen anyway, thats why I bought an otter box. The phone is just stainless steel and glass, and I saw how bad the demo phones in ATT where scratched and so I knew it was fragile regardless what Apple says
I dropped mine from a tree stand while hunting and not a scratch on the phone…..
I had the full body invisible shield put on my phone as soon as I walked out of the Apple store. I dropped it about a month ago from at least 3 feet (fell out of my shirt breast pocket upon bending over), directly onto tile and nothing! Not even a scratch. If it had broken though, it would have been entirely MY FAULT, my incompetence because, guess what, glass breaks! Hopefully the judge who receives this case believes in personal responsibility, understands Apple’s claim about the strength of their iPhone 4 glass with regards to anti-scratching and throws this case out! Bottom line, accept responsibility and purchase a military grade film for protection!!!
The high failure rate of the rear glass panel is due to it being a different type of glass than what is on the front. Yes, it’s a bit retarded not to be using the same material on both sides, but that’s what they went with.
I will say this: I was also lead to believe that all the glass on the phone was this new super strong material. I believe the guy has a point to make against Apple. Strong enough for a class action suit??eh… i dunno about that.
I know the iPhone protective case business is a lucrative one, but if you’re looking at this from Steve Jobs’ perspective, wouldn’t you rather design an ultra-durable phone which never needs a case, so everyone who glances at it instantly knows it’s an iPhone? The way most people bundle these phones up, you can never tell what brand of phone it is while people are using them.
“ultradurable” and “20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic” do not equate to unbreakable. His own fault for personally reaching the breakable limits of an iphone.
Hmmm.. Remind me to sue Seiko the next time I drop my watch on the sidewalk and break the crystal. Perhaps I should sue the company that made the bowl I broke when I knocked it on the floor. Message to man suing Apple: ” HEY SCHMUCK…. IT’S GLASS, TRY NOT TO DROP IT YOU PUTZ!!”
If I dropped my IP4 the last thing I would do is sue. No, I’d simply write it off and get a new one. Oh, by the way, I could go on and on with the analogies, but I know you all understand what I mean.
Cool story, bro
I concur with Jason. Glass is prone to shattering. In other news, despite marketing efforts from Apple, water is, in fact, wet.
Well, I’ve had my Verizon iPhone4 for about 24 hours. It fell out of my pocket as I was bending over the the back is SHATTERED!! I mean, it fell maybe 2 feet. I’m so mad that I freakin’ bought this thing to begin with. And I think the deductible is $169!!!