Apple's iPhone XS, XS Max fail drop tests

Apple's pricey iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max might be billed as having 'the most durable glass ever in a smartphone' but neither device could survive being dropped onto a pavement.

Drop tests from device insurer SquareTrade confirmed that both handsets would be damaged significantly if dropped onto cement from six feet.

While the glass on both phones shattered when dropped, the fate of the iPhone XS was worse in that the screen also malfunctioned.

Repairing these problems would cost the owner hundreds of dollars in replacement fees.

SquareTrade didn't stop there. Both phones were also placed in a 60-second tumble test, which caused hairline cracks, loose glass and scratches.

The iPhone XS also suffered the greater damage during a pressure test, with the phone cracking under 250 pounds of pressure and screen becoming completely inoperable.

Both phones were, however, impressively resilient to beer.

Despite being submerged in five feet of beer for 30 minutes, both phones remained operable. Which is to say that dropping your phone into a glass of your favourite tipple isn't quite the risk it once was.

Overall, the iPhone XS scored 86 in SquareTrade's test, making it a high-risk device.

The iPhone XS Max came in much more durable at 70, which, according to the company's scale, makes it a medium risk.

Although both devices still rate as quite breakable, they are a significant improvement on the 90 rating of the iPhone X - which SquareTrade previously dubbed the "most breakable iPhone ever."