iPhone Air impresses with durability and almost matches the iPhone 17 Pro

Allstate Protection Plans evaluated how durable the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro are with some more scientific drop and bend tests. The purpose of the test was to assess how the new designs have affected durability and provide people with a sense of what might happen during everyday use.

Starting with the bend, the iPhone 17 Pro withstood more than 90 kg of pressure, while the Air bent at 86 kg of pressure, despite being only 5.6 mm thick. Both devices remained functional after being bent, and testers say this is more than any scenario under everyday use would demand. It's clear then that the iPhone Air's titanium frame is quite sturdy.

When it comes to drop tests, however, the iPhone Air suffers more damage than its 17 Pro counterpart. While both devices survived a 1.8-meter drop test on their displays, meaning they remained functional, the Ceramic Shield 2 panels shattered and had edges too sharp to be used with bare hands.

Dropping the iPhone 17 Pro from the same height on its back resulted in a couple of scuffs, but no severe damage, unlike the Air, which had its back completely shattered.

Nevertheless, Allstate Protection Plans states that the new designs are superior to the older ones in terms of durability and exceed industry standards.

But don't be too confident. The general recommendation to use a case and screen protector stands, since repairs are very costly. For example, a screen replacement will set you back $329.